
India's gaming market is projected to grow from roughly $5 billion in 2026 to $9.89 billion by 2031 at a 14.52% CAGR, with mobile commanding close to 80% of that market, according…
India's gaming market is projected to grow from roughly $5 billion in 2026 to $9.89 billion by 2031 at a 14.52% CAGR, with mobile commanding close to 80% of that market, according to a Mordor Intelligence report cited by Freepress Journal. The smartphone has become the country's primary gaming device, driving demand for higher refresh rates, richer graphics, and better thermal management.

AI is now central to gaming performance, with 89% of Indian smartphone buyers saying AI features influence their purchase decision, per the Flipkart x Counterpoint Smartphone Insights Report 2026. The Realme P4s 5G exemplifies this shift with a dual-chip architecture combining the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra and a dedicated Hyper Vision+ AI Chip, paired with a 144Hz Samsung 1.5K AMOLED display and up to 3000Hz touch sampling, targeting the Rs 30,000 segment.
The Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 smartphone segment accounts for the largest volume of 5G phone sales in India, making it the battleground where brands like Realme, Xiaomi, and Samsung compete on features beyond processor speed. Dedicated AI chips for gaming were once limited to premium flagships, bringing them to this price band pressures rivals to match or lose share. The 14.52% CAGR projection from Mordor Intelligence implies the market will nearly double in five years, but sustained growth depends on network quality and affordable data plans. The next signal to watch is how competitors respond with their own AI-gaming hardware in the same price bracket over the next two quarters.
The 89% AI-influence figure from the Flipkart-Counterpoint report is a self-reported metric and may not translate directly into sales, but it sets a marketing baseline that every OEM in India will now have to address.
Source: freepressjournal.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.