A smartphone’s success is ultimately decided by the people who buy it. In India, where consumers weigh features against price and have no shortage of options, even a well-equipped device must prove its worth in the market. For brands, the real measure of a launch lies in consumer demand, sales, and its ability to stand out in a competitive price segment. The Smartphones category at the ET Product of the Year Awards 2026 recognises devices that have made a mark in the Indian market, looking beyond specifications to the performance that sets them apart.
When Market Performance Matters More Than Specifications
A smartphone may feature a powerful processor, an advanced camera system or a premium design, but these attributes alone do not establish its success. What matters is how effectively the device translates its features into consumer demand and commercial performance. Did it attract buyers in a competitive price band? Did it help strengthen the brand’s position? Did it offer value that influenced consumer choices?
These questions are particularly relevant in a market where buyers have an extensive range of devices to choose from. For smartphone brands, understanding what resonates with Indian consumers is as important as developing new technology. The Smartphones category seeks to recognise products that have demonstrated this connection between product proposition and market performance.
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Recognising Smartphones That Make a Difference
The ET Product of the Year Awards 2026 provide a platform for smartphone brands to demonstrate the impact of their products through evidence of sales, market-share movement and performance within their respective price segments. The evaluation considers what a device has achieved in India, rather than relying solely on its global specifications or launch claims.
For brands, this offers an opportunity to present the commercial story behind a product: how it has performed after launch, the response it has received from consumers and the value it has delivered within its segment. Recognition through The Economic Times also offers an opportunity to strengthen the product’s market credibility and bring its achievements to the attention of consumers, industry stakeholders and business decision-makers.
Who Can Enter the Smartphones Category?
The category is open to smartphone brands with devices launched or significantly upgraded in India between January 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, and available for purchase in India during the eligibility period. Entries must be submitted by the brand or its official India entity, supported by relevant evidence of market performance.
Eligible smartphones may also be considered for the Make in India, Sustainable and People’s Choice categories, subject to the respective category requirements.
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Put Your Smartphone’s Market Impact in the Spotlight
In a competitive market, product differentiation matters, but demonstrated performance gives that differentiation credibility. For smartphone brands that have translated product development into measurable results in India, the ET Product of the Year Awards 2026 offer an opportunity to showcase that achievement.
Nominate your smartphone for the ET Product of the Year Awards 2026 and make its impact in the Indian market count.