82% of Indian Smartphone Buyers Consider AI Features, Amazon Survey Finds

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a standard feature buyers expect from smartphones, but a new Amazon India survey suggests that traditional features such as performance and battery life still matter more.

Amazon India's first Best in Tech Survey, conducted in July 2026 with more than 40,000 responses across consumer-electronics categories, found that 82% of smartphone buyers consider AI features when deciding which phone to purchase.

AI Is Becoming a Smartphone Expectation

The survey suggests that AI is moving from being a premium feature to something many consumers now expect to find on a new smartphone.

However, buyers appear more interested in practical AI tools than flashy demonstrations. Contextual assistance was the most preferred AI capability, selected by 25% of respondents, followed by generative photo editing at 18% and visual search at 17%.

These features can help users with everyday tasks such as understanding information on their screen, editing photographs or searching for objects using images.

Performance and Battery Life Still Matter More

Despite the growing interest in AI, smartphone buyers are not willing to ignore the basics.

According to the survey, 87% of respondents considered performance and speed important, while 79% considered battery life and 77% considered camera quality when choosing a smartphone.

Battery life was also the most commonly mentioned area that buyers wanted manufacturers to improve in their current phones. About 22% identified battery life as a weakness, followed by camera quality at 17% and performance at 12%.

Indian Buyers Are Spending More on Smartphones

The survey also points to increasing interest in higher-priced smartphones.

The ₹25,000–₹50,000 segment was the largest price range, selected by 42% of respondents. Meanwhile, around one in three buyers said they were considering spending more than ₹50,000 on their next smartphone.

This indicates that buyers may be increasingly willing to spend more when a phone offers meaningful improvements in performance, battery life, cameras and software.

Reviews Can Matter More Than Discounts

Another interesting finding concerns how consumers decide what to buy.

The survey found that 47% of respondents considered reviews and ratings important, compared with 35% who highlighted price and deals.

For smartphone brands, this means specifications and discounts may not be enough. Buyers are increasingly looking for information from other customers before making a purchase.

What This Means for Smartphone Brands

The survey highlights a changing smartphone market in India.

AI features are becoming increasingly important, but manufacturers still need to deliver strong battery life, performance and camera quality. Simply adding an AI feature may not convince consumers if the overall phone experience does not improve.

For buyers, the findings offer a useful reminder: AI should be one factor to consider, not the only reason to purchase a smartphone.

The Bottom Line

Amazon India's survey shows that AI has become an important part of the smartphone buying decision in India, with 82% of respondents considering AI features when choosing a device.

At the same time, performance, battery life and camera quality remain crucial. The message for smartphone makers is fairly simple: consumers want smarter phones, but they still expect them to work well when the AI marketing slides are turned off.

This article is based on findings reported from Amazon India's Best in Tech Survey. Survey results reflect respondents' preferences and should not be interpreted as representing every smartphone buyer in India.