India Tech Throwback: Top Gadgets & News from May 2025
May 2025 marked a period of significant advancement in India’s technology ecosystem, with breakthroughs in semiconductor manufacturing, record startup funding, and widespread AI adoption across industries.
Consumer Technology & Gadget Launches
The Indian consumer tech market saw unprecedented activity in May 2025, with manufacturers focusing on three key trends: AI integration across devices, premiumization of mid-range products, and sustainable design.
Smartphone Market Evolution
- iQOO Neo 10 launched on May 26 featuring Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset and 7000mAh battery with 120W fast charging – representing the new standard for performance smartphones under ₹40,000
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge began early deliveries from Noida manufacturing facility, showcasing India’s growing importance in global smartphone production
- Foldable segment expanded with upcoming Motorola Razr 60 series and more affordable options, indicating maturing of flexible display technology
- Budget segment saw strategic moves with Realme C73 and Tecno Pova Curve 5G bringing premium features to entry-level pricing
The smartphone market is bifurcating into two clear segments – premium devices focusing on AI and gaming capabilities, and budget devices emphasizing battery life and core functionality.
Computing & Wearables
- Indian PC market grew 8.1% YoY in Q1 2025, driven by gaming laptops and AI-powered PCs – the strongest growth among major global markets
- Acer Swift Neo AI laptops and HP OmniStudio X AI all-in-one PCs launched, featuring dedicated NPUs for on-device AI processing
- Titan Eye+ Ray-Ban Meta AI Smart Glasses introduced practical AI integration into eyewear, allowing real-time translation and visual search
- Audio segment saw intense competition with Skullcandy Push ANC and Truke Buds Mega 9 pushing the boundaries of affordable audio tech
| Category | Product | Key Specifications | Price Range (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone | iQOO Neo 10 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, 144Hz AMOLED | 31,999-40,999 |
| Gaming PC | Asus ROG G700 | Intel Core Ultra 9, RTX 5080 | 359,990 |
| Wearable | Urban Genesis Smartwatch | Stainless steel, IP67 | 3,999 |
| Home Appliance | Samsung Bespoke AI Washing Machine | AI wash features | 24,490+ |
| Audio | Truke Buds Mega 9 | Spatial Audio, ENC | 2,499 |
Artificial Intelligence Advancements
May 2025 proved to be a watershed month for AI adoption in India, with applications moving beyond experimentation into core business processes and consumer products.
Sector-Wide Adoption
- Microsoft and Yotta partnership expanded AI cloud infrastructure, enabling more Indian businesses to access enterprise-grade AI tools
- Myntra implemented Google Cloud AI for personalized shopping experiences, resulting in 22% increase in conversion rates
- Zoho integrated advanced AI capabilities into its CRM platform, challenging global competitors in the SME segment
- Healthcare saw breakthrough applications with AI-assisted diagnostics achieving 94% accuracy in preliminary trials
The most successful AI implementations combined global cloud AI with local data training, creating solutions tailored for Indian market conditions.
Policy & Ethical Considerations
- National Technology Day 2025 emphasized human-centric AI design with focus on regional language support
- Growing discussions around AI content moderation following incidents of deepfake misuse in election campaigns
- TCS announced plans to integrate AI agents across operations, potentially impacting 30% of routine IT jobs
- New guidelines issued for AI use in financial services, requiring explicit consent for AI-driven recommendations
“India’s AI adoption is transitioning from experimental implementations to core business operations across all sectors. The challenge now is balancing innovation with ethical considerations and workforce impact.”
Semiconductor & Hardware Development
India’s semiconductor ambitions took concrete shape in May 2025, with several critical developments in domestic manufacturing capabilities:
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed first indigenous semiconductor chips (28-90nm) for 2025 release, initially targeting automotive and industrial applications
- Six fabrication units currently under construction across India with combined investment of $12.4 billion
- Dixon Technologies formed JV with Taiwan’s Inventec for local PC manufacturing, aiming for 50% localization within 3 years
- Karnataka government approved incentives for three semiconductor projects worth ₹22,000 crore
While progress is impressive, India’s semiconductor journey remains in early stages. The 28nm chips will address only 15% of domestic demand initially.
Startup Ecosystem & Funding
May 2025 set new records for Indian startup funding, with several notable trends:
| Company | Sector | Amount (USD) | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| PB Fintech | Fintech/Healthtech | 218M | Series G |
| Porter | Logistics | 200M | Series F |
| Udaan | B2B E-commerce | 114M | Series E |
| Citykart | Retail Tech | 63M | Series C |
| Farmley | Agritech | 40M | Series B |
- Total venture capital funding reached $1.45 billion, up 103% from April – the highest monthly figure in 18 months
- Logistics sector led funding (28% of total), followed by healthtech (19%) and fintech (17%)
- Bengaluru accounted for 42% of total funding, with Delhi-NCR (31%) and Mumbai (18%) completing the top three
- Notable emergence of Chennai as deep-tech hub, attracting 12% of AI/ML investments
Policy & Infrastructure
- Government emphasized digital public infrastructure development with focus on healthcare and education applications
- 5G network expansion reached 85% population coverage, enabling advanced IoT implementations in smart cities
- IoT India Expo 2025 highlighted AIoT (AI + IoT) convergence with 120+ exhibitors showcasing industrial applications
- New data protection framework came into effect, requiring stricter compliance for tech companies handling user data
Corporate Transactions
- Lytus Technologies acquired AI startup Bold.in for $85 million to enhance its conversational AI capabilities
- Brookfield acquired ATC India Tower Corporation for $2 billion in largest infra deal of the year
- Reliance-Disney merger created $8.5 billion media giant, reshaping OTA and streaming landscape
- Capgemini acquired Kognitiv to strengthen its AI-powered retail solutions
May 2025 demonstrated India’s accelerating position as a global technology hub, with simultaneous progress in hardware manufacturing, software innovation, and digital infrastructure development. The unique combination of strong domestic demand, policy support, and entrepreneurial energy is creating a distinctive Indian tech ecosystem that blends global technologies with local solutions.
