Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has suspended its sales in India following directions of the Delhi High Court, restraining sales of its products.
Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com gives you the lowdown on the latest Redmi phones in the market.
Microsoft has launched its first 4G device, the Nokia Lumia 638 with Windows Phone 8.1 at a price of Rs 8,299.
The way video is being watched and monetised is changing. This is the first thing that stands out as the penetration of smart TVs continues to rise.
Similar discounts compared to online led to a spike in demand for offline, where customers can get a more personal and hands-on product experience.
As many as 37 per cent of smartphones sold in India in 2022 cost Rs 15,000 or more.
Home-grown companies, including electronics manufacturing services (EMS) firm Dixon Technologies and mobile device maker Lava International, have started exploratory talks with Chinese sub-assemblies and component players for setting up joint ventures (JVs) in the country. Sources in the industry say many domestic companies have also had preliminary discussions with original design manufacturers (ODMs) in China to look at a JV model for manufacturing smartphones. Key ODM players in mobile devices in China include Longcheer, Huaqin, and Wingtech, which has already set up a plant in Tirupati.
Experts say launches would pick up pace from mid-March.
India's smartphone market has fallen by one per cent in the first half of 2022, as shipments of Xiaomi - the top-selling brand - declined 28 per cent due to weak consumer demand in the quarter ended June. According to the International Data Corporation's (IDC's) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, 71 million smartphones were shipped from January to June this year. The highest decline was in the below-$100 segment, which lost its market share by 5 per cent.
Though leading brands like Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Oppo managed to absorb the initial lockdown shock and resumed their local production back to 60 per cent, they would likely suffer a 20-25 per cent loss of sales in the October-December quarter.
Will the Redmi Note 6 be a bestseller? Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com finds out.
The low price tag makes it a great buy for those who are looking for a performance-centric phone.
In spite of being attacked from all corners, a faltering supply chain and negative sentiments soaring high among the local consumers, top Chinese smartphone brands gained market share during the most critical phase - the April-June quarter of this year.
Xiaomi topped the chart as the most sold smartphone brand by its users with 26 per cent share, followed by Apple (20 per cent), Samsung (16 per cent), Vivo, and Motorola (6 per cent each) among others, it said. Most smartphones sold by users were in the sub-Rs 10,000 brackets, it added. Among models, the iPhone 7 was the hottest selling model along with some other models as well as Redmi Note 4 and OnePlus 6 during the year. The number of smartphone repairs was the highest in Delhi in 2020.
Mobile device maker Realme has overtaken South Korean giant Samsung to grab the second spot in the branded smartphone market, with 18 per cent volume share in October this year, revealed Counterpoint Research. Its rival Samsung ended October with 16 per cent share. Xiaomi (including its brand POCO) was at 20 per cent; Vivo at 13 per cent. The ascent brings Realme closer to its ambition to reach the No. 1 berth by 2022 when it hopes to sell over 40 million smartphones annually.
Their favourite alternatives: Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Note, India is missing from that list. And this is despite an attractive financial incentive scheme for OSAT players. The reason, said a senior executive of a US chip company who had a meeting in Taiwan just a few weeks ago, is that "they want more predictability in government policy because they plan to put in big money."
Has Asus cooked the right recipe to dethrone Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro as India's best selling budget phone?
The Moto G6 has a modern screen, a front-facing fingerprint sensor, dual cameras on the rear, a glass build, a USB type-C port and water resistance that could save it from accidental splashes, says Khalid Anzar.
The Korean electronics giant says it will get more aggressive on pricing and focus on a narrower set of products for its mid-to-low tier products.
At Rs 8,999, this 'Made in India' budget smartphone competes with Chinese rivals Xiaomi Redmi 4, Nubia N1 Lite and Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. But can it win Micromax the lost ground?
A number of smartphone players such as Xiaomi, Samsung, LG and Micromax also have smart TVs in their product portfolio.
With an impressive resume, the Meizu m1 Note phablet will attract users who would like to lay their hands on a big screen device which is well built, cost effective, and not a slouch in performance either, says Himanshu Juneja.
The smartphone category as a whole was expected to spend around Rs 1,000 crore on marketing and promotional activities over the next six months, even as India unlocks gradually, said media industry experts. This spending is expected to come down, as firms temper their launches.
The SoundOne X60 neckband wireless Bluetooth earphones are good, affordable and comes with decent sound and battery life, says Ashish Narsale.
The GST rate on mobile phones will be hiked to 18 per cent while that on maintenance repair overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft will be lowered to 5 per cent with effect from April 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday. The GST rate on handmade and machine-made matchsticks has been rationalised to 12 per cent from 5 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.
Streamlining its delivery network and shifting focus back to the mass segment - at a time when competitors were struggling to restore normalcy in operations due to the pandemi - aided the firm's revival.
In the coming weeks, online retailers are expected to further raise the pitch with shopping festivals, discounts, and cashback offers.
With its new line-up, the firm has managed to touch the right chords, but to regain market share from the established players, Micromax will have to fight a protracted battle.
172 firms participated in the final placement process.
Searching for a good phone that does not cost the earth? Ashish Narsale gives you his expert suggestions.
According to research firm IDC, a slowdown in smartphone shipments began showing up as early as late February, though companies insist that the March quarter was fine, albeit on a low base.
After six weeks into the second half, the faltering offline channel, which traditionally rakes in 60 per cent of sales for the market, has become the biggest hurdle towards the path of revival.
Chinese mobile brands are deeply entrenched in the Indian market. A move to bar them may send a bold diplomatic message. But its cost for the local industry is anybody's guess. In the event that Chinese brands face curbs, two handset makers - Samsung and Apple - squarely stand to gain.
The biggest attractions of the phone are the Sunlight Display and virtual IVR.
As 4G internet completes coverage of the entire country, rural markets have become the primary generator of sales.
Digitally driven businesses have cut short the time to market significantly.
Yes, Nokia phones are back. This time with android Nougat OS and fingerprint scanners.
The Mi A2 launches in India today. Ashish Narsale reviews Xiaomi's latest offering for you.
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