If you are waiting for the launch of the Galaxy Grand 3, perhaps you should consider buying the Samsung E700.
The phone, which is available on Croma Retail website for Rs 23,000, has exactly the same specifications as are expected on the Galaxy Grand 3.
They include a 5.5-inch, 720p Super Amoled display, 2 GB of RAM and a quad-core processor. It also comes with a big, 2950 mAh battery.
What the Samsung E700 does not have is LTE, though the 3G version on the E700 does support download speeds of up to 42 Mbps. Still, the absence of LTE would be a major drawback, considering that LTE enabled phones such as the HTC Desire 820/820g are priced at Rs 21,000 and come with nearly all the qualities of the Samsung phone except the Amoled display.
But if Amoled displays are big priority, Micromax has launched its Canvas Hue, which comes with an HD Amoled display and a 3,000 mAh battery. However, RAM, at 1 GB is half that of Samsung E700, while the display is smaller at 5 inch.
In addition, Samsung phones typically have better build quality and last longer. The Samsung A5, priced Rs 25,000, does come with LTE, but has a 5-inch Super Amoled display.
Meanwhile, there is no news of the Galaxy Grand 3, which should have hit the market by now. The phone is expected to come in both LTE and non-LTE versions, and the 3G only version is likely to be priced around Rs 21,000-22,000.
Samsung is under intense pressure in India, where research firm Canalys said it has been overtaken by Micromax in the smartphone market. Samsung has disputed the claim with numbers from market research firm Gfk.
However, the company faces a ‘price’ problem in India, and has been finding it difficult to match prices of competitors.