Wobble has been making waves in the Indian consumer tech scene with a flurry of launches across all categories. In September, the startup also raised USD 20 million in a Series B bridge round. BW Businessworld attended the launch of the Wobble One smartphone in November, which was positioned in the extremely competitive mid-premium segment.
During this launch, Anand Dubey, CEO of Indkal Technologies, parent company of Wobble, showcased the Wobble One in all its glory, and with that, gave us a glimpse of the potential of home-grown tech manufacturing. Apart from smartphones, Indkal also manufactures consumer durables such as refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, and even PCs.
The consumer durables market in India is poised to touch Rs 3 lakh crore by fiscal year 2029. As of FY2024, this market contributed a total of about 0.6 per cent to the country’s GDP. The sector is booming, without question, due to a concoction of factors. However, it does face challenges related to affordability, import-dependence and high costs of indigenisation, lack of economies of scale and an underdeveloped vendor and support services ecosystem.
We approached Dubey to better understand the company’s approach to doing business in a field as unforgiving as consumer technology, its 2026 playbook, and what he thinks will shape the Indian consumer electronics landscape in the next 12 months. Here are the excerpts.
2025 saw Wobble move aggressively into the 'feature-rich' segment, distancing itself from the entry-level price wars. As we look to the year ahead, is the strategy to compete on specifications with the legacy giants or is the goal to dominate the mid-premium Indian smartphone market via a feature-rich offering like the Wobble One?
Anand: We’re not interested in competing on specifications in isolation. That race is endless and rarely sustainable. Our focus is on owning a clearly defined mid-premium experience - one that feels complete, reliable, and thoughtfully balanced.
Wobble One represents that intent. It’s feature-rich, but more importantly, it’s cohesive. The goal is not to dominate through spec escalation, but to win trust in a segment where users want refinement without excess. That’s where we see long-term value being created.
We are seeing a convergence of hearables and AI, with TWS acting as voice-command gateways. For 2026, does Wobble plan to integrate native AI assistants or health-monitoring features into its audio lineup, or is audio fidelity the primary focus?
Anand: We view audio as a deeply personal experience, not just a functional interface. While AI and health integration are important, we’re cautious about adding layers that don’t meaningfully improve daily use.
For us, audio fidelity, comfort, and reliability remain non-negotiable foundations. AI will be integrated where it enhances usability in a natural, non-intrusive way - not as a feature checklist. We’re more interested in thoughtful integration than headline announcements.
With the Acer brand, you’ve successfully transitioned from TVs to a broader ecosystem of large appliances in 2025. For the year ahead, how do you solve the 'ecosystem' puzzle?
Anand: An ecosystem isn’t built by launching more products; it’s built by ensuring they work well independently and together over time.
Our approach is to focus on shared design principles, service infrastructure, and user experience rather than forcing interconnectivity for its own sake. Reliability, consistent service, and intuitive operation matter more to Indian consumers than complex integrations.
If we solve those fundamentals well, the ecosystem forms naturally.
The Smart TV market in India saw massive consolidation last year. As we head into 2026, where is the next growth engine for Indkal’s display business?
Anand: The next phase of growth will come from experience-led differentiation rather than volume expansion. Display technology is maturing, but how consumers engage with content is still evolving.
Larger formats, immersive viewing, and content-optimised performance will drive demand. At the same time, strong after-sales support and predictable ownership experiences will become key differentiators as the market consolidates further.
2025 was a pivotal year for localising production and the whole Make in India movement. As we look at the roadmap for 2026, are you planning to deepen backward integration?
Anand: Yes, but selectively. Backward integration only makes sense when it improves control, quality, or speed, not just optics.
Our focus is on areas where localisation strengthens resilience, shortens supply chains, and allows faster iteration. Deepening integration is a long-term process, and we’re approaching it with patience rather than urgency.
I want to explore your stance on Swadeshi tech. As a country, what do we still lack when it comes to having a full-stack manufacturing ecosystem like China?
Anand: India has made strong progress in assembly and scale, but a full-stack ecosystem requires depth across components, materials, and specialised manufacturing.
What we still lack is tightly integrated supplier networks and long-term capital commitment to deep-tech manufacturing. These things take decades to build. The opportunity is real, but it requires consistency in policy, investment, and skill development.
There has been talk of Indian brands becoming exporters rather than just serving local demand. Is 2026 the year Indkal starts exporting Wobble or Acer-branded appliances to neighbouring markets like the Middle East or Africa?
Anand: Export markets are a natural progression, but only when the domestic foundation is strong.
We are evaluating select markets where our products and service capabilities translate well, particularly regions with similar usage patterns. Expansion will be measured - we’re not chasing scale for its own sake. The focus is on building credibility market by market.
You expanded your offline footprint significantly in 2025. For the year ahead, what is the ideal revenue mix for Indkal?
Anand: We see offline and online as complementary, not competing channels.
Offline provides discovery and trust, especially for large appliances and premium products, while online offers reach and efficiency. Over time, we expect a balanced mix that allows us to leverage the strengths of both without over-dependence on either.
The Indian buyer in 2025 became highly spec-conscious. What is your prediction for the consumer behaviour shift in 2026?
Anand: Specification awareness will remain, but it will be tempered by experience. Consumers are beginning to distinguish between what looks impressive on paper and what actually improves daily life.
In 2026, I expect buyers to prioritise longevity, service reliability, and real-world performance over raw numbers. Brands that deliver consistency will benefit.
If we sit for an interview exactly a year later, what headline would you want to describe Indkal Technologies’ position in the country and in the consumer tech space?
Anand: I’d like it to say that Indkal built brands people trust, not just products people notice. If we’re known for disciplined execution, dependable experiences, and thoughtful growth, that would be a meaningful milestone. Everything else follows from that.
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