Reasons Why Smartphone Companies are Manufacturing 5G Models in India

Padget Electronics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dixon Technologies inked an agreement with smartphone giant, Motorola, for manufacturing smartphones in India in December 2020. Earlier that year, the subsidiary had attained approval to manufacture 5G mobile phones in India under a PLI scheme. Furthermore, Padget Electronics signed a deal with HMD India to manufacture 5G phones for the Nokia brand. 

While 5G networks aren’t in India yet, they are still, realistically, on the horizon. Yet, companies are investing in the manufacture of 5G handsets, and one can’t help but wonder about the plausible reasons. Already, smartphone makers like Realme Mobile have launched their flagship 5G phones in the country. 

Furthermore, Chinese brands like POCO, iQOO and OnePlus have launched new 5G handsets as of June 2021. Moreover, some of these are affordable and are being lapped up by Indian consumers. Apple recently launched the iPhone 12 series (2020) — all 5G phones, and consumers clamoured for these as well. 

Is a 5G Phone Necessary? 

When the Realme 5G mobile was launched for the first time, it was overbooked and flew off retail shelves in no time. It’s no wonder then that competitors like Samsung and Apple have since been launching 5G mobiles to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. 

Perhaps the reason for this is the fact that telecom service providers have begun field trials of 5th generation broadband technology. Moreover, the buzz going around is that there will be a commercial launch sooner than later. 

With the grapevine such as this prone to an atmosphere rife with the possibility of 5G making its mark in India, consumers want phones that are future-ready. Obviously, smartphone makers have to meet this demand and produce 5G phones by the thousands, if not millions. 

Competition is Key

To say that the smartphone market is a very competitive place today would be an understatement. On 24 June 2021, Realme Mobile introduced its Narzo 30 5G smartphone. On a similar note, Vivo is gearing up to launch its own 5G handset, the V21e 5G phone. 

Additionally, the Korean juggernaut, Samsung doesn’t want to be left behind, and will soon bring its latest Samsung Galaxy F22 5G phone to Indian shores. So, what can we infer from all this? Competition begets more competition. 

At the moment, 5G is an advanced feature that is being talked about and no smartphone brand wants the tag of being the ‘odd one out’ by not making 5G phones. It’s the same with any other feature of smartphones. 

Once one brand introduces something new, that’s a benchmark that other brands consider with each of their subsequent models. It’s the same with 5G-enabled smartphones. 

Consumers Drive Manufacture 

Whether you agree or not, it’s the consumer that drives the manufacture of smartphones these days. Yes, the technology may be initially launched by the manufacturer, but the demand is exhibited by consumers, i.e. photography enthusiasts starting a photography business, youth aspiring to become social media influencers, and even the ordinary population looking to experience the newest technologies. 

Without this demand, smartphone manufacturers wouldn’t make sales targets or continue manufacturing specific smartphones (or new versions of in-demand phone models). In February 2020, when the X50 Pro was launched by Realme, it was the first 5G Realme mobile, and the first 5G-enabled mobile to be launched in India. 

Moreover, at just under 40,000 INR, it proved an affordable future-proof handset for plenty of Indian consumers. This spurred its demand in the consumer segment. Other brands got on the bandwagon and produced 5G handsets, trying to make them as inexpensive as Realme’s phones. 

Affordability

Analysts claim that 5G phones are popular in the Indian market despite the 5G unavailability. Consumers wish to be prepared for the future, and the future of phone networks is 5G. Furthermore, the prices of 5G handsets have dropped since they first launched, and now, they are on par with 4G handsets. 

Simple logic, then, dictates that buying a 5G phone is a good choice. Besides this, 5G phones come with more advanced technology (in terms of better processors etc.) and better performance than 4G smartphones. 

Hence, more and more consumers are opting for 5G mobiles, and joint research by Counterpoint Research and Realme has found that the market share of 5G phone sales touched 7% by the first quarter of 2021. The same research suggests that this will likely be in the region of 21% for the whole of 2021. 

5G in the News

Constant news about the rollout of 5G networks appears in the media every day. This just boosts demand and sales of 5G phones. India’s two leading telecom operators, Jio and Bharti Airtel make no bones about the news of the layout of their 5G network trails. 

Brands and consumers catch on to information about technology and want to be at the centre of new innovation and cutting-edge advancement. Therefore, smartphone manufacturers will likely dish out more 5G models, as consumers want those to purchase.

At the forefront of new advancements in 5G handsets is the Realme mobile, which you can easily buy at the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store. These models are affordable, as you can avail alluring discounts and deals. Additionally, you can pay for your latest 5G mobile with the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network Card at no-cost EMIs.