"Samsung's First Smartphone of the New Year, Not Galaxy S21" Budget Model Launch in India Before Unpack Event

[Asia Economy Reporter Joeslgina] Samsung Electronics is launching the budget-friendly 'Galaxy M02s' in the Indian market a week before the Unpacked event, which has been the stage for unveiling its new flagship smartphones. This is the first smartphone to be introduced in 2021.

IT specialist media PhoneArena reported on the 4th (local time), citing Samsung India, that the budget model Galaxy M02s will be released in India on the 7th. The retail price is known to be $135. PhoneArena stated, "Samsung fans are highly anticipating the upcoming Galaxy S21, but the first smartphone Samsung Electronics will release in the new year is not the Galaxy S21," adding, "Another smartphone (Galaxy M02s) will be unveiled a week before Unpacked."

The Galaxy M02s features a 6.5-inch HD Infinity display, supports 3GB or 4GB RAM, and 32GB or 64GB memory. It is equipped with a triple camera and a large 5000mAh battery. Since Samsung Electronics targeted India with this model, the media added that it is unlikely to be released in other countries.

India is the world's second-largest smartphone market after China and is an indispensable region for Samsung Electronics. With a population of 1.4 billion, the Indian market still has a low smartphone penetration rate, offering significant growth opportunities. Market research firm Statista estimated that smartphone usage in India would be less than 40% as of 2022.

Especially since the second half of last year, pent-up demand suppressed by the COVID-19 pandemic has surged, and anti-China sentiment has intensified following bloody clashes at the Himalayan border, positioning Samsung Electronics as a beneficiary company. Market research firm Canalys estimated that Samsung Electronics held a 20.4% market share as of the third quarter of last year, ranking second after Xiaomi. Among the top five brands in the Indian smartphone market, four (Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme, Oppo) are Chinese companies, excluding Samsung Electronics.

Samsung Electronics has also been strengthening its mid-to-low-end lineup, including the Galaxy F series, while accelerating online marketing efforts. The Galaxy M series is Samsung Electronics' strategic model for India, available for purchase through online channels.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.