South Korean smartphone giant Samsung has launched the Samsung Galaxy A8 smartphone in India. The device packs the Exynos 5 octa-core processor, along with 2GB of RAM and a 16MP rear camera, in what Samsung calls flagship specifications at an affordable price point. Interestingly though, the company has decided to sell the Galaxy A8 at a price point of around Rs. 32,500, which ranges in the mid-range to premium segment. The Galaxy A8 also follows Samsung’s newfound interest metallic smartphones, sporting a full metal unibody design. This of course means that there is no removable battery on the Samsung Galaxy A8.
Speaking of the battery, Samsung has put in a 3,050 mAh battery on the device, along with a 5.7 inch FHD display. The device also has a 5MP front camera and 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded to 128GB. The Galaxy A8 also supports 4G connectivity. It will also be available on both retail and online outlets.
Further, Samsung is bundling a double-data offer for Airtel customers on this phone. This means if you’re using Airtel 4G, you get double the data that you’re paying for. While the 4G offer will be available for three months, if you’re a 3G customer, you get double data for six months.
While the pricing of the Samsung Galaxy A8 may be questioned by some, the device does seem quite premium, with its metal build. At 151 grams, the phone is also a little heavy, which when combined with the large size, makes it difficult to hold. The Exynos 5 though, is the same processor that powered the Samsung Galaxy S5, which means that you can at least hope for decent performance from this smartphone.
The Galaxy A8 should be an important smartphone for Samsung, considering that the company has taken a hit to its global sales recently. According to reports, the sales figures for the Samsung Galaxy S6 have taken a hit thanks to strong sale of Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices. In fact, reports have said that Samsung may be looking the cut the cost of the Galaxy S6 in order to drive sales as well. While such a move would make sense, the S6, which is already available at around Rs. 38,000 online may end up cannibalizing the Galaxy A8.
That said, you could reasonably expect the prices for the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy S6 to drop soon, so we would suggest waiting a while before you rush to a store to buy any of these devices.