Samsung seems all set to launch a new dual-core, 5-inch Android Kitkat phone in India over the next 5-8 weeks with a price tag of Rs 10,500-11,500.
The phone, whose model number is SM-G530H, will be the Korean brand’s cheapest 5-inch model in India when launched. At present, that title is held by the Galaxy Grand Neo GT, which is priced at Rs 14,000 and comes with a quad-core processor.
The new phone, G530H, seems to be optimised for the entry level market, will have only 512 MB of RAM, the resolution on the display will be quarter HD, or 540 pixels * 960 pixels (0.5 million pixels). In contrast, the Grand Neo has a resolution of 0.38 megapixels.
The phone will be aimed squarely at capturing some of the mid-range smartphone market – an area where Samsung has slipped in the last one year. The Korean brand has seen its presence diminish in this price sensitive category due to its policy of charging a high margin on its phones.
While brands like Micromax, Lava, Spice, Lenovo and Xiaomi are coming with razor thin margins into the segment, Samsung continues to price its smartphones 50% higher than those of other brands.
A five-inch, dual-core qHD phone is avalable in the Rs 6,000-8,000 range from other vendors, though Samsung’s brand perception could still allow it to sell the phone at Rs 11,000 range. It is not known whether the unit will come with an Amoled display or a normal LCD display.