It’s Saturday, January 24, 2026, and if you’ve noticed more people sporting that “M” logo lately, it’s not your imagination. Motorola just dropped their new “Signature” flagship, and their Asia Pacific head, Prashanth Mani, is basically calling his shot: 10% market share by the end of 2026.
The thing is, they aren’t just trying to be “another” Android brand. They’re coming for the top three spot. Or nothing.
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The Motorola Takeover: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the “underdog” is now the fastest-growing brand in India. Here’s the ground reality from the launch event:
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The Numbers Game: Motorola just clocked a massive 52.4% annual growth. For context, Apple grew at about half that (25.6%). The thing is, they’ve already climbed to an 8.3% market share (as per IDC). That 10% goal? It’s basically just a few more successful launches away. Those too.
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The “Signature” Move: They just launched the Motorola Signature at ₹59,999. It’s not just a phone; it’s a “Club.” You get 24/7 concierge support for things like booking travel or wine tastings. Let’s be real—they are chasing the “Apple vibe” but with a concierge twist.
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The RAM Crisis: Memory costs have doubled since October 2025 because AI data centers are eating up all the chips. But here’s the kicker—Motorola says they’re fine because their parent company, Lenovo, is one of the world’s biggest buyers. They’re basically “buying early” to avoid hitting you with price hikes later. Or nothing.
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The “Connected” Dream: They’re pushing something called Smart Connect. It’s their version of the Apple Ecosystem—making your phone, tablet, and PC talk to each other seamlessly. The thing is, they know if you buy three of their gadgets, you’re never leaving.
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Motorola’s 4-Pillar Strategy for 2026
| Pillar | The Plan | The “Ground” Reality |
| Premium Focus | 60% of revenue now comes from high-end phones. | They’re moving away from “budget-only” to “luxury-lite.” |
| Local Hero | “Made-in-India” for both local and global markets. | 25% of what they make here is now being exported. |
| AI Integration | Design and AI-led differentiation. | Moto AI 2.0 is being baked into every new Signature model. |
| The Ecosystem | Expanding “Motorola Things” (Watches, TWS, etc.). | They just launched a Moto Watch powered by Polar for athletes. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
Prashanth Mani is so confident, he’s already looking past the 10% share. He wants Motorola to be in the Top 3 by FY 2027-28. The thing is, they’re currently at #7, chasing giants like Vivo, Xiaomi, and Samsung. Let’s be real—it’s a messy climb, but with 50%+ growth, they’re the only ones with that kind of momentum right now. Those too.
One side comment—the new Signature phone comes with a 6-month Perplexity Pro subscription. It’s an ongoing situation where hardware brands are desperate to prove they “get” the AI era. Or nothing.
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End…
