Samsung's new Galaxy M will launch in India first to counter Chinese rivals
Samsung Electronics plans to launch a range of inexpensive smartphones in India ahead of a global release as it seeks to tap into the world's second biggest smartphone market and compete with Chinese rivals like Xiaomi.
The trio of Galaxy M-series phones — which will be on sale in India in February — have been “built around and incepted around Indian millennial consumers,” Adam Warsi, SVP at Samsung India Electronics, told Reuters.
He said that the range will help the firm achieve “strong double-digit growth” in 2019.
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Priced below 20,000 rupees (US$283) apiece, the devices will be sold on the Samsung India online store as well as Amazon India.
The phones will feature a 5000mAH battery, at least two cameras and 6.2 inch screen size.
Later, the South Korean manufacturer says it will take the devices to other markets.
India is the second-most populous country yet only 24% of Indians own smartphones, according to Bloomberg.
Therefore, it a key emerging marketing market for smartphone manufacturers.
In July last year, Samsung announced it was doubling down on India’s surging demand for smartphones by opening “the world’s largest mobile factory" in Noida, about an hour outside of the country’s capital.
On top of this, the firm also unveiled the world’s largest experiences centre for its devices in Bangalore.
