Nowadays, almost everyone has a smartphone. But have you ever thought about how much profit a shopkeeper makes on a phone that costs Rs 10,000 or Rs 50,000? You may be surprised to know the truth. Let’s hear from Alok Sharma, a Reliance store manager, about the profit on a Rs 10,000 phone.
Some Reliance store managers shared on social media that Samsung phones have the highest profit margin, about 11–14%. Vivo and OPPO (Chinese brands) have a margin of 8–10%. OnePlus, Redmi, and Motorola have only 3–4%, and iPhone (Apple) has only 4–5% margin. This is why shopkeepers often show Samsung, Vivo, and OPPO phones first.
How Shopkeepers Earn on Phones
Today, almost everyone has a phone. But do you know how much shopkeepers earn on a phone? Profit changes by price and brand. A phone worth ₹10,000 gives about ₹1,200–1,300 on Samsung. Other brands give ₹300–800. A phone of ₹20,000 gives ₹1,500–2,500. A phone of ₹30,000 gives ₹2,500–3,500. A phone of ₹40,000 gives ₹3,500–4,500. A phone of ₹50,000 gives ₹5,000–6,000.
iPhones cost more but give less profit. For phones up to ₹1 lakh, profit is 4–5%, about ₹4,000–5,000. Samsung has the highest profit, 11–14%. Vivo and OPPO give 8–10%. OnePlus, Redmi, and Motorola give 3–4%. iPhone gives 4–5%. That is why shopkeepers show Samsung, Vivo, and OPPO first.
The top brands sold in 2025 (Q1) are Vivo 22%, Samsung 16%, Xiaomi 12%, OPPO 12%, and Realme 11%. Women check camera and design first. Men check battery and speed. Young people check processor, RAM, and memory.
Shopkeepers earn less when there is a sale on Flipkart or Amazon. They have to match the price, and profit can fall by 50%. Phones sell most in festivals like Diwali, Dussehra, and Eid. Special sales on 26 January and 15 August also sell many phones.
Prices are different in different stores. Big stores give extra discounts to get customers. Local shops sometimes sell cheaper phones by giving less profit. Customers go where the price and offers are best.
Shopkeepers make money not just from selling phones but also from profit, accessories, and offers. Samsung, Vivo, and OPPO give most profit. iPhone and OnePlus give less profit.
