NEW DELHI: Samsung, the leading smartphone manufacturer in India, seems to be facing heat from the scorching growth of Apple in the country. The two flagship phones of the company – Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III – are available at prices that are much lower than their official cost.
The 16GB version of Samsung Galaxy S III bears an official price tag of Rs 29,480. However, the smartphone is available for as low as Rs 27,499 on the internet, though the price varies depending upon colour. This phone was launched in May 2012 at a price of approximately Rs 43,000 and has clocked over 30 million in sales globally till now. The phone received an approximate price cut of Rs 3000 in December 2012.
Galaxy Note II, the successor of the original phablet Galaxy Note, is now officially priced at Rs 35,600, while it was launched at Rs 39,900. Online sellers, on the other hand, are retailing the device for Rs 34,900. Its sales touched the 5 million mark worldwide within two months of its launch.
Recently, it was reported that Apple – the fiercest rival of Samsung in the smartphone arena – has successfully increased its sales in India. In India, it is in the middle of an extensive advertising and marketing campaign for its iPhone, pivoting away from a strategy that relied on tie-ups with mobile operators. The company has started selling its iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 with EMI options, making it easier for buyers to purchase a relatively expensive smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III compete against smartphones like Apple iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920, HTC Butterfly and the upcoming BlackBerry Z10 in India.
