Micromax has launched two new 3G smartphones under its Bolt series – Bolt S300 and Bolt D320 starting with an exciting price tag of Rs 3,300. The smartphones come bundled with attractive 2 months free data plans for Vodafone users.
“With one of the widest distribution networks in the country spanning across more than 50,000 smartphone retail outlets, we are uniquely positioned to accelerate the 3G ecosystem further, thus contributing to country’s vision of 600mn broadband users by 2020. As always we have taken time to understand the consumer need & delivered superb value to the first time 3G user. The new range of 3G smartphones is designed to deliver an unparalleled experience through a combination of faster speed, large screen, good battery life and optimal processing power.”
First up is the Micromax Bolt S300. The smartphone features 4-inch WVGA display. It runs Android 4.4.3 KitKat OS and is powered by a 1GHz processor. Other important features of the phone include is 512MB of RAM, 1200 mAh battery, 32GB expandable storage, 0.3MP front and rear cameras, and dual-SIM support. It is priced at Rs. 3,300.
Next is the Bolt D320. It features 4.5-inch FWVGA screen. The smartphone runs Android KitKat and is powered by 1.2GHz dual core processor along with 512MB of RAM. Other important features include dual-SIM, 1600 mAh battery, 3.2MP rear camera and 0.3MP front facing camera. Pricing of the smartphone is not available yet but we expect it to be less than Rs. 4,000. It will be available in the market from mid-April.
Even as the smartphone market is growing, competition is getting stiffer in the budget segment, especially after entry of the likes of Asus, Xiaomi and Motorola. Micromax, among the top smartphone brands in India, has been a dominant player in the budget segment. That said, a new competition is brewing in the entry level segment.
DataWind recently launched three new entry level Android smartphones in the market, the PocketSurfer 2G4, 3G4 and 3G5 with prices starting as low as Rs. 1,999. Also read: First Impressions: DataWind PocketSurfer 3G4
Entry level smartphones are growing in the country despite offering very basic set of specifications. Ultra low-cost has remained their main selling point, however, 3G and dual-SIM connectivity are also important. We hope to see more entry level smartphones focussing on content as well as decent set of specifications, and breaking the price barrier.