South Korea’s Samsung plans to launch a budget smartphone series in India ahead of a global release, aiming to regain ground from Chinese rivals such as Xiaomi in the world’s second-largest mobile phone market. According to Hong Kong-based technology researcher Counterpoint, in two of the three 2018 quarters for which data is available, Samsung’s India market share by shipments, has lagged.
Asim Warsi, chief of marketing and products for Mobile Business at Samsung India Electronics Private Limited said that the three new M-series phones, which Samsung plans to sell only through its website and Amazon.com’s India operation, will help the company to double online sales. He added that the phones will be rolled out globally after the Indian launch at the end of January.
Samsung is sharpening its focus on India, which has more than a billion wireless subscribers and where roughly 350 million users still do not use smartphones. “A lot of our insights, R&D and developments for consumers in India have great connect with many other consumers in many other parts of the world,” Warsi said. The India-made phones, priced from less than $140 up to $280, will carry chunkier batteries and include features such as an ultra wide camera, and quick charging among others.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
