LG aims to regain ground in India with more affordable devices

Korean tech giant LG will launch more affordable and flagship devices in India this year as it looks to regain lost ground in the domestic smartphone market. The company, which competes with the likes of Samsung, Apple and Sony in the premium category, will launch 5-6 devices in the sub-Rs 15,000 category to cash in on the burgeoning Indian smartphone market. It launched its flagship smartphone G5 today, priced at Rs 52,990. “LG is a leader in consumer durables but that is not the case for mobile phones. We are starting to analyse that. We will prioritise (presence in segments),” LG Electronics India MD Ki Wan Kim told PTI. He added that LG is studying various segments and will launch products in the affordable category, which accounts for a significant portion of the Indian handset market. “We are looking at sub-Rs 10,000 and sub-Rs 15,000 range tentatively. Till Q3, before Diwali, we are looking at launching 5-6 models to test the market,” Kim said. He added that depending on the response, the company may look at launching smartphones designed for the Indian consumers. India is the second largest smartphone market globally, after China. Samsung, Micromax, Intex, Lenovo, Lava and Xiaomi are some of the leading brands in the space. Asked about the contribution of the handset business to LGs overall revenues in India, he said it is not yet “meaningful”. The G5, which features a modular design, is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 5.3-inch display, 4GB RAM, 32GB memory (expandable up to 2TB) and 2,800 mAh removable battery. Launched first in the Mobile World Congress in Spain earlier this year, the handset comes with two rear cameras – 16MP primary rear camera and a 8MP rear camera for wide-angle shots. It has a 8MP front camera. “This phone will certainly amaze the smartphone users with its ability to be transformed into multiple devices like digital camera, Hi-Fi player and more. G5 will certainly redefine smartphone experience for consumers,” Kim said. Along with the phone, the company has also introduced a range of companion devices like 360 Cam, 360 VR and LG Friends Manager. PTI