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<ul><li><keyword id="19896911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Jio" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Jio" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reliance Jio">Reliance Jio</keyword> has launched the <keyword id="23557661" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="JioBharat-V3" source="keywords">JioBharat V3</keyword> and V4 feature phones.</li><li>The devices have been launched at the ongoing <keyword id="22302084" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Mobile-Congress" source="keywords">Indian Mobile Congress</keyword> (IMC) 2024.</li><li>The JioBharat V3 and V4 come with an ₹123 <keyword id="23557663" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="monthly-recharge-plan" source="keywords">monthly recharge plan</keyword>.</li></ul> Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio on Tuesday launched the JioBharat V3 and V4 4G smartphones at the ongoing Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024. The devices, according to the company are aimed at 2G users looking to shift to 4G phones. The two new feature phones are the successors of the popular JioBharat V2 feature phone. In addition to offering calling services, these phones also bring <keyword id="22558342" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="JioPay" source="keywords">JioPay</keyword> integration, live TV services, and more. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114203740" title="Hyundai IPO review – Everything you need to know about India’s biggest IPO" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>JioBharat V3 and V4 price in India</h2>The JioBharat V3 and V4 are both priced at ₹1,099 in India. The phones will be available from Amazon India, JioMart and the company’s authorised offline retailers across the country. <h2>JioBharat V3 and V4 recharge plan</h2>Jio has also announced a recharge plan for the JioBharat V3 and V4 feature phones. The company has introduced an ₹123 plan that will offer unlimited calls and 14GB of data per month. <h2>JioBharat V3 and V4 features</h2>The JioBharat V3 has been launched with a style-centric approach, aimed at users primarily looking at form, while the <keyword id="23557662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="JioBharat-V4" source="keywords">JioBharat V4</keyword> focuses on features, aimed at users looking at function. The JioBharat V3 features a sleek design, keeping design in mind over functionality. The JioBharat V4 on the other hand packs features, despite featuring a minimalistic design. The JioBharat V3 and V4 are both equipped with a suite of Jio services, including JioPay which gives access to unified payments interface (UPI), JioTV, which offers access to 455 live TV channels, JioCinema and more. The two smartphones support 23 Indian languages and come with expandable storage of up to 128GB. The devices are powered by a 1,000mAh battery. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114241402" title="Global smartphone shipments record 4% growth in Q3 2024, Samsung leads the market" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The JioBharat V3 and V4 also come with JioChat support, offering unlimited messaging, voice messages, group chat and more on the platform. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/global-smartphone-shipments-record-4-growth-in-q3-2024-samsung-leads-the-market/articleshow/114241402.cms">Global smartphone shipments record 4% growth in Q3 2024, Samsung leads the market</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/hyundai-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/114235421.cms">Hyundai IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/realme-p1-speed-5g-vs-redmi-note-13-5g-which-phone-should-you-buy-under-20000/slidelist/114244322.cms">Realme P1 Speed 5G vs Redmi Note 13 5G – Which phone should you buy under ₹20,000?</a>

JioBharat V3 and V4 4G feature phones launched at ₹1,099

<ul><li>Amazon is currently offering festive discounts on smartphones as part of its yearend offers.</li><li>Smartphones such as iPhone 13, Galaxy S23 FE and more are available at discounted prices.</li><li>The etailer is also offering attractive discounts on iPhones.</li></ul>As the year 2023 comes to a close, deals are flying all across the internet. And if you are looking to buy a new smartphone, now is the right time to purchase a new smartphone. Amazon India has announced several offers and discounts on smartphones as the year comes to an end. As part of the sale, smartphones from brands like OnePlus, Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme and others are being offered at a discounted price. In this post, we look at some of the <keyword id="400134" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="best-deals" source="Orion">best deals</keyword> on smartphones on Amazon. Apple iPhone 13 <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09G99CW2N" comment="amazoncard" text="B09G99CW2N">B09G99CW2N</cmsannotation> If you are looking to get an iPhone but do not wish to splurge a lot of money, the iPhone 13 is a good option for you. While the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/iphone-15-iphone-15-plus-with-usb-type-c-port-improved-cameras-launched-starting-at-799/articleshow/103615581.cms"> iPhone 15</a> is out, the iPhone 13 is still a good device for those looking for a daily user. It offers a decent camera setup, good performance and a stable user experience. The iPhone 13 is currently available for ₹50,499, down from its original price of ₹69,900. OnePlus 11R 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0BSNQ2KXF" comment="amazoncard" text="B0BSNQ2KXF">B0BSNQ2KXF</cmsannotation> The OnePlus 11R 5G is another good option if you are in the market for a new smartphone. The OnePlus 11R 5G is a mid-range smartphone that comes with a good display, decent hardware and a smooth user experience. It is a good option for youngsters and professionals looking for a new smartphone. The device is currently available for ₹39,999, with a discount of up to ₹35,100 on exchange of older smartphones. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0CJ4S724M" comment="amazoncard" text="B0CJ4S724M">B0CJ4S724M</cmsannotation> The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, the company’s latest offering in its Galaxy S23 series is up for grabs at a discounted price. The Galaxy S23 FE is a good option for those looking for a hassle-free smartphone that runs without any issues. The device offers a good camera setup, making it a great option for those looking for a camera-centric smartphone. The Galaxy S23 FE is currently available for ₹59,999, down from its original price of ₹79,999. Motorola Razr 40 <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0C7QLL8QJ" comment="amazoncard" text="B0C7QLL8QJ">B0C7QLL8QJ</cmsannotation> If you are in the market for a foldable smartphone, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra is currently available with a huge discount. The latest flip smartphone from Motorola is a great option for those bored with traditional smartphones and looking for something unique without having to break the bank. The Motorola Razr 40 is currently available for ₹44,999, down from its original price of ₹99,999. iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B07WFPLL3C" comment="amazoncard" text="B07WFPLL3C">B07WFPLL3C</cmsannotation> The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G is another good option if you are looking for a powerful mid-range device that is good for gaming, multi-tasking and more. The device offers a decent camera setup and is a great option for youngsters looking for a daily-driver. The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G is currently available for ₹32,999, down from its original price of ₹39,999. Redmi Note 12 <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0C1GKQ79V" comment="amazoncard" text="B0C1GKQ79V">B0C1GKQ79V</cmsannotation> It’s not just premium and mid-range smartphones that are being offered at a discount as part of the sale. The Redmi Note 12 affordable smartphone is also being offered at a discounted price. The device offers good performance and a decent camera setup in the budget segment. The Redmi Note 12 is currently available at ₹11,999, down from its original price of ₹18,999. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/inox-india-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-and-gmp-value/articleshow/106109279.cms">Inox India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-and-suvs-in-india-in-2023/slidelist/106092280.cms">From WagonR to Nexon to Creta – top selling cars in India in 2023</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/motisons-jewellers-ipo-at-a-glance-price-band-to-risk-factors/slidelist/106081719.cms">Motisons Jewellers IPO at a glance – Price band to risk factors</a>

iPhone 13 to Redmi Note 12 – Best deals on 5G smartphones

The rollout of 5G services in India is moving quickly, with companies expected to roll out nationwide services by the end of next year. Keeping this in mind, ensuring your next smartphone is 5 G-ready is important. E-commerce giant Amazon India is currently hosting a sale on <keyword id="3900349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="5g-smartphones" source="Orion">5G smartphones</keyword>, offering discounts, card offers, no-cost EMI options, and complimentary Amazon Prime membership. In this post, we look at some of India's best deals on 5G smartphones. Xiaomi 12 Pro <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09XB8WTXN" comment="amazoncard" text="B09XB8WTXN">B09XB8WTXN</cmsannotation> The Xiaomi 12 Pro is currently available for ₹52,999, down from its original price of ₹79,999. It is a feature-packed smartphone with a large 6.72-inch WQHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the 8 Gen 1 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The device features a 50MP triple camera setup at the back and a 32MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 4,600mAh battery and has 120W fast charge support that can fully charge the device in 18 minutes. OnePlus 10R 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09WRMNJ9G" comment="amazoncard" text="B09WRMNJ9G">B09WRMNJ9G</cmsannotation> The OnePlus 10R 5G is another good option if you are looking for a 5 G-ready smartphone. It is currently available for ₹34,999, down from its original price of ₹38,999. The OnePlus 10R 5G is the company’s mid-range smartphone and features a large 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Dimensity 8100 Max coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device sports a triple camera setup at the back and offers a 32MP selfie camera. The device is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery and comes with 80W fast charge support. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B08VB57558" comment="amazoncard" text="B08VB57558">B08VB57558</cmsannotation> Despite being a nearly two-year-old device, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is still a good option if you are looking for a mid-range 5G smartphone. The device is currently available for ₹28,999, down from its original price of ₹47,999. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is equipped with the Snapdragon 865 chipset. It has a triple camera setup at the back and a 32MP selfie camera. The device is powered by a 4,500mAh battery. iQOO Neo 6 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B07WHNJ4ZK" comment="amazoncard" text="B07WHNJ4ZK">B07WHNJ4ZK</cmsannotation> The iQOO Neo 6 5G is another good option if you are looking for a 5G mid-range smartphone. It is currently available for ₹28,999, down from its original price of ₹34,999. The iQOO Neo 6 5G features a 6.62-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is equipped with the powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It features a triple camera setup and comes with a 16MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 4,700mAh battery coupled with 80W fast charging. Xiaomi Mi 11X <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B085J1QWFV" comment="amazoncard" text="B085J1QWFV">B085J1QWFV</cmsannotation> The Xiaomi Mi 11x is a good option if you are looking for a 5G smartphone under ₹30,000. The device is currently available for ₹29,999, down from its original price of ₹33,999. The device features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ E4 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 870 chipset coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device features a triple camera setup at the back and a 20MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 4,520mAh battery coupled with 33W fast charging. Redmi K50i 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0B4DZ14K7" comment="amazoncard" text="B0B4DZ14K7">B0B4DZ14K7</cmsannotation> The Redmi K50i 5G is worth considering if you want an affordable 5G device. It is currently available for ₹23,999, down from its original price of ₹31,999. The Redmi K50i 5G features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is equipped with a Dimensity 8100 chipset coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device features a triple camera setup at the back and a 16MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 5,080mAh battery coupled with 67W fast charging support. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09WQYFLRX" comment="amazoncard" text="B09WQYFLRX">B09WQYFLRX</cmsannotation> The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is another option worth considering if you want an affordable 5G device that offers a smooth experience. It is currently available for ₹18,999, down from its original price of ₹19,999. The device features a 6.59-inch Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 695 chipset. The device features a triple camera setup at the back and comes with a 16MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 65W SuperVOOC charging support.

Best deals on 5G smartphones on Amazon

The Covid-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we work, with <keyword id="20665553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="remote-work" source="keywords">remote work</keyword> quickly becoming the new normal. Employees across the globe adapted to working from home, enjoying newfound flexibility and a better <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword>. And for a long time, we all thought that this was the new world and going to the office every day would be a thing of the past. However, as pandemic restrictions eased, many companies began rolling back these remote policies, pushing employees to return to the office. Tech giant <keyword id="19904608" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Amazon" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> recently ended remote work for its employees and told them to come to office five days a week, just like how it used to be before the pandemic. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, in a blog post, said that working from offices has its benefits and therefore all employees will have to start coming to work the entire week. He added that even though they will permit work from home in case of emergencies (taking care of your sick kid, running emergency errands etc), remote work will no longer be the norm. <h2>Companies are calling employees back to offices</h2>Amazon isn’t the only company that has implemented the <keyword id="20007258" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rto" source="keywords">RTO</keyword> (<keyword id="20408795" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="return-to-office" source="keywords">return to office</keyword>) mandate. Companies like <keyword id="19945574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wipro" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Wipro" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Wipro">Wipro</keyword>, TCS, X (earlier called Twitter) and Infosys also require employees to be there in office for at least three days a week. While X boss <keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword> had once asked those seeking work from home to “get off of their moral high horse,” Infosys CEO N. R. Narayana Murthy had made headlines for saying that workers in India should work 70 hours per week. In wake of Amazon’s recent RTO mandate, many young professionals are reacting strongly on the internet. While some feel that the RTO mandate will hamper their productivity, others feel that it is simply unnecessary. And then there are also some people who think that this is a good decision. Let us take a look at how people are reacting on being called back to offices. <h2>How are people reacting?</h2>Social media sites like Reddit, X, and LinkedIn are full of reactions on the RTO mandate. Many employees feel that this will increase their cost and time spent on commute. Amazon’s recent decision to bring its employees back to offices has not sat well with many, especially those accustomed to the <keyword id="20445439" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-work-model" source="keywords">hybrid work model</keyword>. On LinkedIn, Samrat Bhardwaj, who has previously interned with Amazon India, questioned the rationale behind the shift, asking whether the company truly considered employee well-being or was more focused on its own benefits. He also voiced concerns over the increased cost in case employees think of moving closer to tech hubs. He also added that if people start living at a distance from tech parks, rent will be lower, but you'll be wasting a lot of time to and fro from the office every day. On the other hand, Erin Mantz, a former Meta and Amazon employee, pointed out the stark difference between previous work norms and the flexibility of today's workforce in a LinkedIn post. “Gen Xers, for decades, used to have to go in every day... no working from home, no midday walks or being home for the dishwasher repairman,” she said, reflecting on how work-life balance has evolved. She concluded that the shift back to in-office work might not align with modern expectations, suggesting that today’s workforce has experienced a better way of working. <h2>“Working in the parking lot isn’t a bad idea”</h2>People aren’t just concerned about the increased cost and wastage of time in commute. Some also pointed out the irony of commuting to the office only to continue working in their cars due to a lack of proper space and resources. One Reddit user said, “Genuinely had no idea how bad RTO would be until it hit. I'm as unproductive as ever and half my work is done in the parking lot at this point for these exact reasons. Going back to the office isn't the end of the world, but when there's zero space or even disability accommodation for the employees? Unacceptable, especially considering the ones who usually enforce the arrangements all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers.” Another user, Oracle-2050, quipped that working from their car was a makeshift solution, noting, "At least I can attend Teams meetings and make phone calls." The absurdity of the situation was highlighted by yet another commenter who sarcastically remarked, “Only in clown world would a worker drive to the office in order to do work in their car.” Another user pointed out that the decision-makers pushing these mandates “all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers,” leaving regular employees to struggle in far less conducive work environments. <h2>The “Fake work” problem </h2> Annie Dean, who earlier used to work as Director of Remote Work at Facebook, took a critical stance on LinkedIn, highlighting that return-to-office mandates don’t address the core problem which is “Fake work.” This term, popularised by Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, refers to tasks that feel like work but don’t actually create value for the business. Dean explained in her post that employees are drowning in endless meetings and messages, which detract from productivity. She argued that instead of mandating office attendance, companies like Amazon should focus on “pioneering new, more efficient modes of work.” This argument has resonated with many on X as well, where employees have expressed frustration over the return-to-office mandates being viewed as a quick fix. One Twitter/X user remarked that "commuting to do the same virtual meetings in person isn’t solving anything," while others echoed that the core problem lies in work structures, not location. Here are some other reactions on X: <div type="image" title="negative reactions" msid="113528739" hostid="261" sizebytes="64721"></div> <h2>A quiet layoff strategy? </h2> Yet another take on the RTO mandate comes from Jennifer DeLorenzo, a former senior recruiter at Pinterest. She suggested that the move feels like a “quiet layoff strategy.” According to her, by mandating full-time office attendance, companies may be hoping for a wave of resignations without having to deal with the negative press of formal layoffs. “This tactic allows them to reduce headcount while avoiding the negative optics of layoffs,” DeLorenzo wrote on LinkedIn, adding that it may backfire as hiring becomes challenging again when the economy shifts. Many others seemed to agree with her view. On Reddit too, there are many people talking about how companies might be carrying out soft layoffs by implementing an RTO mandate. Her comments tapped into a broader conversation on how companies may be using return-to-office mandates to indirectly reduce their workforce. Other social media users pointed out similar trends across industries, where companies tighten office attendance policies to nudge employees toward leaving voluntarily. <h2>Some mixed reactions too </h2> While the return-to-office mandates are frustrating for many, not all reactions are negative. Some employees, particularly newer hires, see value in the traditional office setting. Bhardwaj, for example, also noted that going to the office is beneficial for freshers who want to learn. “I do believe that going to the office makes you learn a lot as freshers,” he wrote in his post, suggesting that for those early in their careers, the in-person experience might be crucial for growth and networking. Some users on X too seemed to be in support of this mandate. Here’s a look: <div type="image" title="mixed-reactions" msid="113528718" hostid="261" sizebytes="77770"></div> This duality reflects the ongoing debate around the future of work. On one hand, companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta are focusing on building stronger in-office teams, believing that physical presence fosters better collaboration, innovation, and mentoring. On the other hand, employees, especially those who experienced the benefits of remote work during the pandemic, are pushing back against these mandates, valuing the flexibility and improved work-life balance that working from home provides. As companies continue to adjust their RTO policies, the tension between employee expectations and corporate strategies is likely to persist. However, one thing is clear — the future of work is still being negotiated, and both sides are making their voices heard across the internet.

'I'm unproductive, this is not the real solution': Internet reacts as Amazon, Wipro and others call employees back to office

<ul><li>The <keyword id="23635775" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Snapdragon-8-Elite" source="keywords">Snapdragon 8 Elite</keyword> Mobile Platform has been announced at the <keyword id="23643588" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Snapdragon-Tech-Summit" source="keywords">Snapdragon Tech Summit</keyword>.</li><li>The flagship chipset will power the next-gen flagship smartphones.</li><li>Here’s everything you need to know about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform.</li></ul> <keyword id="19944986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Qualcomm" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Qualcomm" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Qualcomm">Qualcomm</keyword> today announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, the company’s latest flagship mobile chipset at the Snapdragon Tech Summit 2024. The Snapdragon 8 Elite will power the next-gen flagship Android smartphones. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is the successor of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and comes with a new moniker. In addition to announcing the chipset, the American chip giant also revealed some of the devices that will be launched with the new chipset in the coming weeks. <h2>Snapdragon 8 Elite features and specifications</h2>The Snapdragon 8 Elite uses the company’s second-gen Oryon CPU with a custom eight-core structure. It offers two prime cores clocked at 4.32 GHz and six performance cores clocked at 3.53 GHz. It offers support for 5,300MHz LPDDR5X RAM. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114275922" title="Samsung Galaxy Ring is now available in India at ₹38,999" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The new chipset is built on TSMC’s 3nm process and is claimed to offer a 45% boost in CPU performance and a 44% improvement in power efficiency. Coming to the graphics, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is equipped with a revamped Adreno GPU which is claimed to offer 40% improved performance and power efficiency. For gamers, it is claimed to offer 35% improved ray tracing performance. This will also be the first chipset to offer support for Unreal Engine 5.3. "We are so excited to bring the power of Qualcomm Oryon to our Snapdragon mobile platforms for the first time. It's a major leap forward and we expect consumers to be thrilled with the new experiences enabled by our CPU technology,” said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies. The chipset is equipped with the new Hexagon NPU that will enable 45% boost in performance and power efficiency. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114210864" title="Pixel 9 Pro to go on sale in India from October 17 – price, specs and everything you need to know" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Qualcomm has also announced a new AI engine with Multimodal Gen AI support, which is aimed at improving interactions, understanding voice, text, images and even see content through your camera. The Snapdragon 8 Elite packs a triple ISP (Image Signal Processor), enabling cameras to capture 8K HDR video or shoot photos at over 200 MP resolution. Qualcomm’s new Spectra ISP ensures superior low-light performance, faster autofocus, and enhanced image processing. The Snapdragon 8 Elite comes with the Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF System along with the Qualcomm 5G AI Suite Gen 3. It offers download speeds of up to 10 Gbps and Wi-Fi 7 support via FastConnect 7900. <h2><keyword id="21843015" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iQOO-13" source="keywords">iQOO 13</keyword></h2>iQOO has confirmed that the iQOO 13, its flagship smartphone with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset will launch at an event in China on October 30. The company has also teased the India launch of the device and has said that the device will be available through Amazon India. <div type="image" title="iQOO 13" msid="114464075" hostid="261" sizebytes="31674" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;iQOO 13 teaser&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> It will feature a large 6,150mAh battery and offer 120W fast charging support. This will be a huge increase from the 5,000mAh battery offered with the<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/iqoo-12-review-flagship-performance-and-cameras-at-an-affordable-price/articleshow/105937154.cms"> iQOO 12</a>. The iQOO 13 will be available in four colour options – Black Racetrack, Gray, Isle of Man and White Legendary Edition. Vivo has also revealed that its upcoming X200 Ultra will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. <h2><keyword id="23451323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xiaomi-15" source="keywords">Xiaomi 15</keyword> series</h2>Xiaomi has confirmed that the upcoming Xiaomi 15 series will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, going on even claim that its devices will be the first to be launched with the new chipset. The company has said that it has revamped HyperCore and this will offer a 3-degree Celsius decline in temperatures while gaming and reduce the power consumption by up to 29.7%. <h2><keyword id="20850131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="OnePlus-13" source="keywords">OnePlus 13</keyword></h2>The OnePlus 13 is among the most awaited smartphones in the affordable flagship segment and is set to be launched in China on October 31. While the Indian launch is still a while away, we will get to know everything about the device later this month. The company has already confirmed that the device will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. “Over the years, OPPO and Qualcomm Technologies have maintained a close collaboration to bring users numerous innovative experiences, including when it comes to on-device generative AI. We are looking forward to the launch of our flagship masterpiece, the OnePlus 13, which will adopt the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform as OnePlus ushers in the new decade,” said Henry Duan, Senior Vice President, OPPO. <h2>Samsung</h2>Samsung has also said that its upcoming flagship devices will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. While the company has not said which devices will use the chipset, it will likely include devices from its Galaxy S25 series and the new Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip smartphones. <h2><keyword id="23642262" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Realme-GT-7-Pro" source="keywords">Realme GT 7 Pro</keyword></h2>Realme has claimed that its flagship smartphone, the Realme GT 7 Pro, which is scheduled to launch in November will be the first device to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. “At Realme, we’re committed to being the first to push boundaries and cutting-edge technology to our customers. We couldn’t be prouder to be the first brand in India to launch a smartphone featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Chipset,” a Realme spokesperson said. <h2><keyword id="23643587" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ROG-Phone-9" source="keywords">ROG Phone 9</keyword></h2>One of the phones that gamers look out for every year is the ROG Phone as it features powerful hardware and this year’s ROG Phone 9 will be no different. Asus has confirmed that the ROG Phone 9 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and will be announced on November 19. The company is expected to pair the chipset with up to 24GB RAM and 1TB internal storage. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/upi-refund-scam-to-digital-arrest-scam-here-are-most-common-online-scams-in-india/articleshow/114428011.cms">UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/best-credit-cards-for-online-shopping-in-india/articleshow/114354358.cms">Best credit cards for online shopping this festive season</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/best-smartphones-under-25000-in-india-in-october-2024/slidelist/114339207.cms">Best smartphones under ₹25,000 in India in October 2024</a>

Snapdragon 8 Elite announced, to power iQOO 13, OnePlus 13, Xiaomi 15 series and more

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="19897536" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="netflix" source="keywords">Netflix</keyword>'s stock recently hit an all-time high, but can the growth keep going?</li><li>The US and Canada drive 70% of Netflix's revenue growth and are crucial for its future ad expansion.</li></ul>By now, it's become a common refrain in Hollywood: Netflix has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-earnings-winning-streaming-wars-not-even-close-2024-1">won the streaming wars</a>. It has a giant subscriber base and a towering lead over its rivals (most of which are still struggling to figure out a profitable streaming model), and its stock price recently hit an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-stock-historic-high-chart-streaming-2024-9">all-time high</a>. Still, that gargantuan comeback — it hit $725 a share earlier this month after falling below $180 in summer 2022 following a rare subscriber loss — has some investors asking if the company is worth its high price tag. After all, Netflix still <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-not-netflix-is-big-threat-to-hollywood-analysis-2024-2">trails YouTube in terms of TV watch time</a>, and its share of the total TV viewing, per Nielsen, hasn't materially changed over the past year. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-beating-netflix-upfront-battle-for-tv-sports-dollars-2024-7">Amazon threw a wrench into Netflix's advertising ambitions</a> by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-video-preview-shake-up-tv-ad-marketplace-2024-1">steamrolling into the market</a> earlier this year. Netflix has already made clear to investors that weaker subscriber growth may be ahead as its password-sharing crackdown benefits taper off, writing in its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://s22.q4cdn.com/959853165/files/doc_financials/2024/q2/FINAL-Q2-24-Shareholder-Letter.pdf">Q2 shareholder letter</a>: "We expect paid net additions to be lower than Q3'23, which had the first full quarter impact from paid sharing." While some analysts think Netflix could grow revenue by as much as 15% in 2025, others are more tepid. Barclays even gave the stock a rare downgrade on October 7, writing that it would be harder for Netflix to grow revenue over time and that every growth lever comes with trade-offs. Ahead of Netflix's Q3 earnings report on October 17, here are the top questions on Wall Street's mind about how Netflix can keep its growth going and live up to its sky-high valuation. <h2>Where will future revenue come from?</h2>For all of Netflix's expansion overseas, the US and Canada remain by far its biggest growth engine, accounting for 70% of revenue growth from 2019 to 2023, Barclays analysts wrote this month. How much growth is left? The benefits of Netflix's password-sharing crackdown will fade over time, which could weigh down subscriber growth. Netflix is also counting on the US and Canada to drive advertising growth, but Barclays argued that this could come with trade-offs in either lower revenue (if more people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ads-are-coming-to-netflix-heres-everything-you-need-to-know">choose its ad tier</a>) or lower subscriber growth (if Netflix raises prices to compensate for that). <h2>How is advertising going?</h2>With subscriber growth potential limited in the US because Netflix is already quite saturated in the market, Netflix needs to ramp up ad revenue. This is a point that analysts have been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-earnings-preview-questions-streaming-wars-enter-new-phase-2024-1">making for a while</a>, and Netflix has made progress, announcing a 150% increase in ad commitments at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/star-of-this-years-tv-upfronts-retailers-2024-4">this year's TV upfronts</a> (off a small base). It's also opening up advertising sales through tech partnerships, and deals to broadcast live events like the Tyson-Paul fight, two NFL Christmas Day games, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-netflix-pro-wrestling-wwe-deal-makes-sense-2024-1">WWE fights</a> — all things that are catnip to advertisers. Netflix execs have said that they expect advertising to eventually account for at least <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-could-add-free-streaming-service-fast-build-ads-business-2023-1">10% of the company's revenue</a>. But the ad tier base is still relatively small (15 million in the US and Canada, LightShed Partners estimated). It needs a lot more to become a meaningful contributor to revenue, though how much is unclear. While Netflix's ad tier growth is steadily adding inventory, those tech deals will take a couple of years to ramp up. The <keyword id="19899797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wwe" source="keywords">WWE</keyword> partnership won't start until 2025. And as part of its effort to attract advertisers, Netflix is spending to acquire more ad-friendly content like live sports (as well as to build a video gaming library), which could increase its content costs and cut into its margins. Meanwhile, <keyword id="19904608" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon" source="keywords">Amazon</keyword> came on strong when it rolled out ads by default across Prime Video this year, putting downward pressure on Netflix's and other streamers' ad rates. Barclays wrote that forcing people to watch more ads could also have a downside for Netflix: "It's tough to see how this doesn't come with its own engagement trade-offs." <h2>Are price increases coming?</h2>One way Netflix can keep growing revenue if subscriber and advertiser growth are limited is to raise prices for consumers. There's broad consensus among Wall Street analysts that Netflix has room to do so, given its relative value in the market and price increases by its peers. <keyword id="19941660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="citibank" source="keywords">Citibank</keyword> analysts think Netflix could raise US prices by 12%. But a US price increase would only do so much for Netflix, given its ability to raise prices overseas is limited, Citibank wrote. Netflix last raised prices in October 2023, on its premium and basic tiers, but not its ad-supported or standard plans. Netflix has the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-wins-streaming-wars-this-chart-shows-why-2024-1">lowest cancellation rate</a>, per research from the data firm Antenna, and the lowest-priced ad tier of the streamers, so it has a lot of credit with subscribers on this front. So, the question is more when prices will go up — not if. Or, as <keyword id="23618376" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="newstreet" source="keywords">NewStreet</keyword> analysts wrote, is it possible Netflix could go in the opposite direction, at least in some markets? The streamer could decrease prices in small markets to build penetration or launch a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-could-add-free-streaming-service-fast-build-ads-business-2023-1">free, fully ad-supported tier</a> in select markets. <h2>What's happening with games?</h2>Netflix has been building out a video game library since 2021 but has shared little data on its progress. Meanwhile, questions persist inside and outside the company about what the strategy around games is and if they're <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-games-mike-verdu-leaving-strategy-2024-6">worth the investment</a>. The company recently installed a new gaming leader from Epic Games, who has already <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-shakes-up-gaming-division-new-epic-hire-layoffs-2024-10">begun shaking things up</a>. With doubts about where Netflix's next growth act could come from, don't be surprised if questions grow louder about the games business, such as how efforts to promote games on the home screen have paid off and how Netflix might be looking to monetize them. <h2>What's next?</h2>For all the talk of Netflix's dominance, the overarching question looming for the company is how it moves from what's long been a single business model — selling subscriptions — to multiple business lines. Beyond advertising and games, the company also has been putting on events and selling merch tied to its popular shows like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bridgerton-merch-brand-collaborations-netflix-marketing-regency-trends-2024-6">"Bridgerton"</a> — areas that they say are about building fandom and retaining subscribers. "But those are business lines at <keyword id="19899232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="disney" source="keywords">Disney</keyword>," <keyword id="23618375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dan-salmon" source="keywords">Dan Salmon</keyword> of NewStreet said in an interview. "If you think about the next five, 10 years, that's the question: Do they build all the ancillary businesses like Disney has to leverage their IP?" It's worth noting that Netflix recently hired Lowell Singer, a longtime investor relations exec from none other than Disney. There's also an inconvenient truth looming for Netflix. Despite Netflix ticking up in Piper Sandler's latest teen survey, kids spend more time <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-kid-problem-cable-tv-decline-disney-channel-watching-youtube-2024-7">watching short video clips</a> on mobile screens versus TV shows and movies that are Netflix's bread and butter. Netflix will have to evolve to meet that generation as they grow into adulthood and when — or if — they become subscribers on their own. But those are questions that won't be solved in the next quarter. October 18, 2024 — This story was updated to clarify when Netflix most recently raised prices. It was October 2023, not October 2024.

Netflix has won the streaming wars but Wall Street still has big questions about its future

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Apple is facing an antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice.</li><li>The lawsuit argues that Apple's tactics have limited the success of other smartphone companies.</li></ul>The US Department of Justice is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-lawsuit-explained-60-seconds-2024-3#:~:text=The%20US%20DOJ%2C%20with%2016,will%20%22vigorously%22%20defend%20itself.">blaming Apple</a> for Amazon and Microsoft's phone failures.On Thursday, Apple was hit with a brutal <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-antitrust-lawsuit-justice-department-2024-3">antitrust</a> lawsuit that accused the Big Tech company of engaging in illegal anticompetitive behaviors in the smartphone market to achieve the <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-rules-gen-z-nearly-90-percent-have-iphone-survey-2023-10">iPhone's dominance</a>.The DOJ and attorneys general from 16 states say their focus on the iPhone relates to the ways Apple limits the functionality of other products and services to iPhone users.Prosecutors said in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1344546/dl?inline">the suit</a>: "Many prominent, well-financed companies have tried and failed to enter the relevant markets because of these entry barriers successfully."The DOJ cited past smartphone failures, including Amazon's 2014 Fire mobile phone, HTC, LG, and Microsoft's mobile business.The Fire phone famously flamed out in just over a year, forcing the company to take a $170 million write-down charge on costs and leaving Amazon with $83 million worth of unsold Fire Phones still in its inventory, <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://time.com/3536969/amazon-fire-phone-bust/">Time reported</a> in 2014.In the suit, the DOJ says Samsung and Google remain the only "meaningful competitors in the US performance smartphone market.""Barriers are so high that Google is a distant third to Apple and Samsung despite the fact that Google controls development of the Android operating system," the suit read.The DOJ likened the legal action to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-microsoft-antitrust-case-history-outcome-2020-7">antitrust lawsuit filed against Microsoft in 1998</a>.The department accused Apple of engaging "in many of the same tactics that Microsoft used," including "higher prices, fewer new products, and a worse user experience."In a statement shared with Business Insider, a representative for Apple said that if the suit were successful, "it would hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple — where hardware, software, and services intersect."The company also said the suit's success "would set a dangerous precedent, empowering the government to take a heavy hand in designing people's technology. We believe this lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law, and we will vigorously defend against it."

Apple is to blame for Microsoft and Amazon's phone failures, DOJ says

<ul><li>Amazon’s Great Indian Festival Sale 2022 is live now, and it ends on 23 October.</li><li>The sale offers instant discounts for purchases via select bank cards.</li><li>Below, check out Prime deals on smartphones.</li></ul>Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2022 has been offering the best deals on products ranging from electronics to home and kitchen appliances and everything in between. Now the grand sale is ending, and if you have missed the deals on smartphones in the previous weeks, this is the last chance to make a move. The e-commerce giant is offering an instant discount of 10% on selected bank cards. With that being said, here are the <keyword id="5025075" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="best-deals-on-smartphones" source="Orion">best deals on smartphones</keyword> you can grab during the last days of Amazon Great Indian Festival Finale Days. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Apple iPhone 13" comment="subhead" text="Apple iPhone 13">Apple iPhone 13</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09G9D8KRQ" comment="amazoncard" text="B09G9D8KRQ">B09G9D8KRQ</cmsannotation> During the Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2022, Apple's iPhone 13 - 128GB has a starting price of ₹66,990, originally priced at ₹79,900. Also, buyers can swap an old iPhone model to get an additional discount. The device is powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip and features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with Ceramic Shield protection and a 12MP dual camera setup at the back. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Apple iPhone 12" comment="subhead" text="Apple iPhone 12">Apple iPhone 12</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0932MD32V" comment="amazoncard" text="B0932MD32V">B0932MD32V</cmsannotation> If you are an Apple fan looking to purchase an iPhone, the iPhone 12 is currently available at a discounted price. The iPhone 12 features a large 6.1-inch Super Retina display and is powered by the company’s A14 Bionic chipset. The device features a 12MP dual camera setup at the back and comes with a 12MP selfie camera. It is available in five colours, allowing you to choose your favourite colour. During the last days of the sale, you can buy it for just ₹51,990, down from its original price of ₹70,900. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G" comment="subhead" text="Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G">Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09XBBTH9S" comment="amazoncard" text="B09XBBTH9S">B09XBBTH9S</cmsannotation> The next phone on our list is a flagship smartphone from Xiaomi. It is selling for ₹54,999 with bank discounts, down from the usual selling for ₹79,999, with an additional ₹10,000 off on exchange. The device features a 6.73-inch WQHD+ display and has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz with AdaptiveSync Pro technology for excellent visuals. It runs on the flagship SoC Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. The handset packs a 4600mAh battery, which juices up at 120W speed with the included HyperCharger in the box. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="OnePlus 10R 5G" comment="subhead" text="OnePlus 10R 5G">OnePlus 10R 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09WRMNJ9G" comment="amazoncard" text="B09WRMNJ9G">B09WRMNJ9G</cmsannotation> The popular OnePlus 10R 5G is available for just ₹32,999 with bank discounts, down from the usual selling price of ₹38,999. The device sports a 6.7-inch 120Hz IRIS Display with a Full HD resolution for crisp and clear visuals. The device comes with enhanced features such as Reading Mode, Hyper Touch Mode, Night Mode, and Eye Comfort Mode. Under the hood, the device packs MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset for powerful and seamless performance. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Redmi K50i 5G" comment="subhead" text="Redmi K50i 5G">Redmi K50i 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0B4DWTKFC" comment="amazoncard" text="B0B4DWTKFC">B0B4DWTKFC</cmsannotation> The Redmi K50i 5G is yet another mid-range device that offers performance without compromise. It is currently selling for ₹24,999 with bank discounts, down from the usual selling price of ₹31,999. Besides this, you can get an additional ₹4,000 off on exchange. The device features a 6.6-inch 144Hz Liquid FFS (FHD+) display and sports Dolby Vision certification. Further, it packs dual speakers 6GB RAM and a 64MP main triple camera for photography. The Redmi K50i 5G gets a 5,000mAh battery with 67W Turbo Charge. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G" comment="subhead" text="Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G">Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B08VB2MRF8" comment="amazoncard" text="B08VB2MRF8">B08VB2MRF8</cmsannotation> If you are looking for a flagship device under ₹30,000 then you can’t miss this deal. Currently, Galaxy S20 FE 5G is listed for just ₹29,990, down from its original price of ₹74,990. It runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Octa-Core chipset which is coupled with 8GB RAM, and 128GB internal memory which is expandable up to 1TB. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="iQOO Z6 Pro 5G" comment="subhead" text="iQOO Z6 Pro 5G">iQOO Z6 Pro 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B07WFPMGQQ" comment="amazoncard" text="B07WFPMGQQ">B07WFPMGQQ</cmsannotation> Priced at ₹21,999, iQOO Z6 Pro 5G is a decent pick if you are looking for a device with a flagship processor. Also, you can exchange your old device and save up to ₹12,200 on this deal. Other than this, by using selected bank cards, you can buy it at no-cost EMI. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G" comment="subhead" text="Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G">Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09G3BDQ9X" comment="amazoncard" text="B09G3BDQ9X">B09G3BDQ9X</cmsannotation> If you are looking for a smartphone with flagship specifications then your search should end here. Currently, Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G is available for ₹25,999, originally priced for ₹33,999. It is available at No-cost EMI and you can grab an extra 5% discount by using an Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Samsung Galaxy M53 5G" comment="subhead" text="Samsung Galaxy M53 5G">Samsung Galaxy M53 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09XJ5LD6L" comment="amazoncard" text="B09XJ5LD6L">B09XJ5LD6L</cmsannotation> The Samsung Galaxy M53 5G is available for ₹21,999 during the last days of the sale, originally priced at ₹32,999. This is one of the best deals you can grab right now. The device features, a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, runs on MTK D900 Octa Core chipset and has a massive 5000mAh battery. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Samsung Galaxy S22 5G" comment="subhead" text="Samsung Galaxy S22 5G">Samsung Galaxy S22 5G</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09SH8QD3G" comment="amazoncard" text="B09SH8QD3G">B09SH8QD3G</cmsannotation> If you are in the market for a reliable Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is a good option. The device features a 6.1-inch Full HD AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is a great option for professionals. The device runs on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It features a triple camera setup at the back and comes with a 10MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 3,700mAh battery and comes with 25W charge support. The Galaxy S22 is currently available for ₹52,999, down from its original price of ₹85,999. Disclaimer - When you purchase through links on Business Insider India, we may earn affiliate commission.

Amazon Great Indian Festival Finale Days - Best smartphones deals and offers

Amazon Great Indian Festival sale: Best deals on mobile phones and tablets

There are a lot of ways you might characterize <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-feature-waits-on-hold-customer-service-2024-2">customer-service calls</a>: frustrating, time-consuming, annoying. Increasingly, people are using a new word to describe these interactions: fancy. In a world where navigating even the tiniest blip can turn into a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-contact-facebook-problems-with-account-other-issues">consumer nightmare</a>, the ability to speak with a real, live human being has become special.I probably do not have to tell you how difficult, if not impossible, it is to get in touch with a customer-service representative nowadays. Companies have downsized and phased out call centers in an effort to cut costs, causing wait times to balloon. Business phone numbers are buried deep on their websites, meant to be accessed by only the most determined consumers. Once customers do get on the line, they're confronted with an army of robots designed to keep them from speaking with someone. In some cases, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/23571375/no-call-center-phone-number-frontier-facebook">it is truly impossible to speak with an actual person</a>. Corporations are pushing consumers toward chatbots and emails and FAQs and some good old figure-it-out-on-your-own nudges, all in the name of efficiency and, ultimately, profits. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-pharmacy-use-ai-customer-service-call-centers-tilak-mandadi-2024-6">Companies are now claiming</a> that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-take-anger-out-customer-complaints-call-centers-softbank-japan-2024-5">AI will fix this</a>, which, I don't think we should hold our collective breath.In the midst of all this, the phone call has become a status symbol of sorts. You want to speak to a representative? That's a privilege, not a right.Companies have made it so difficult to talk to a person that customers — especially younger people — have started to internalize the idea of a phone call as a premium product. Gen Zers don't like to talk on the phone, except when it makes them feel exclusive and important. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/operations-blog/why-your-kids-arent-calling-you-but-they-are-calling-their-bank">McKinsey recently found</a> that when Gen Zers were engaging with premium brands or services — say, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-express-platinum-card-gold-gen-z-millennial-rewards-2024-6">a fancy American Express card</a> — they were actually more likely to make a call than millennials and as likely to call as boomers. They see the ability to call as a concierge-like service that helps them skip to the front of the line and offload the labor of whatever they're trying to accomplish onto someone else. "The verbatims we heard were things like, 'Well, if I'm paying $500 for a premium card from Barclays or Amex or whatnot, then part of the service for me is phone,'" said Eric Buesing, a partner at McKinsey who advises clients in banking and financial services. "This is a generation that's always grown up with digital and not the transition to digital, and therefore the phone is not more of a legacy, it's more of an assistant, somebody that will just do it for me."Gen Zers aren't wrong in their assessment that the phone is a perk. It's a fact of life across the consumer economy.If you've ever experienced a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-delays-cancellations-passenger-airlines-air-travel-rights-refunds-fees-2024-8">flying snafu</a> while traveling with people who have various airline statuses, you may have noticed some of your fellow travelers had a much easier time getting their flight rerouted or their baggage found. That's not an accident: Airlines used to have separate phone numbers for elites — and in some cases, they still do — but now, even if high-status passengers don't know the magic number, they get sorted into better and faster phone service anyway."The top tiers of elite status do give you access to special phone numbers," said Clint Henderson, a managing editor at The Points Guy, a travel blog and website. "They also know your phone number when you're calling, so they'll route you to a quicker queue."Henderson lamented that this passenger caste system isn't as good as it used to be — for the winners, obviously. In the past, you got really specialized call desks and agents who could go extraordinarily above and beyond if you were lucky (and spent enough). Now, he said, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/air-travel-airline-customer-service-airports-delayed-canceled-flights-terrible-2023-2">airline cost-cutting</a> has even come for elite travelers. Still, they're getting a much better deal on the phone than everyone else."It used to be really, really good," Henderson said. "And now it's just really nice to have, especially when there's a meltdown or something, because you're going to get priority for callbacks and for rebooking."It's not just airlines — plenty of companies are great at finding all kinds of ways to sort customers into priority levels, including when it comes to the phone. Verizon, for example, charges a $10 "agent assistance fee" when you pay your bill by calling its customer-service line. AT&amp;T and T-Mobile charge to pay via human, too. The only way to get live phone support 24/7 from Yahoo is by paying. (I am not entirely sure how many people need to call Yahoo these days, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/yahoo/comments/uncvy3/customer_service_is_a_paid_subscription/">per Reddit</a>, this is an issue people have encountered.) Best Buy's 24/7 phone tech support is available as part of a package that costs $180 annually — something it took me a lengthy back-and-forth with a chat assistant to figure out. (Best Buy points out that package has other features and that there are plenty of free ways to connect with its agents.) AppleCare+ gets you priority phone access. Fidelity has various tiers of advisory services. You may be able to get someone on the phone at a lower tier, depending what you need, but to get phone access to a dedicated team of advisors, you have to invest $50,000. Consumers are frustrated that access to a human is on the decline — that extreme corporate frugality has rendered hearing a voice on the other end of the line a novelty. Simultaneously, those with premium status have come to, probably fairly, believe that spending so much money entitles them to a level of direct access that's become scarce."It becomes really easy for companies to start positioning the access to phone service as a premium," said Michelle Kinch, an assistant professor of business administration at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. "It's more expensive, and so therefore you've got to have the revenue associated with that to make it a profitable part of the business."It just kind of boils down to that cost-benefit. If I, as a company, can calculate what my customer profitability is, then I can determine where I could deploy those more expensive resources, particularly if I'm going to engender higher levels of loyalty from the customer as a result. It becomes a perk."Kinch's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/19-089_41436e5b-f067-4040-9281-5069a1474b3d.pdf">research</a> on the impact of increasingly sterile customer service on the consumer psyche has found that lacking human contact can make an already anxiety-inducing situation worse. When people are on edge — which they often are when they're trying to reach a representative — they crave human contact. Just the reassurance that they could talk to someone if they wanted makes them feel better. She's recently been working on a small-scale study on AI in customer service and has observed that people interacting with virtual agents reported feeling more anxious immediately after those interactions than those who dealt with people. Anecdotally, it tracks — plenty of people have had the experience of, say, confirming a credit-card charge with a bot and then wondering if that confirmation stuck. And in a high-anxiety situation, like dealing with a travel cancellation or making a financial transaction, people just really want the option to talk to someone if they need to."We have that old adage that misery loves company for a reason," Kinch said.She recently experienced a pay-to-phone conundrum with a prominent research platform. She switched jobs and got locked out of her old email, and the only way for her to call customer service about the problem was to pay for a subscription. Even the person on the phone couldn't solve her issue, but she had to keep paying to subscribe because the only way to close her account was over the phone, too.There aren't many obvious solutions here. Buesing, from McKinsey, said call volumes were going up at many organizations, meaning the need for human contact isn't going away. He's talking to his clients about introducing premium chatbots to solve customers' problems. That could perhaps be nice for people who access them, though given the state of the chatbot, which is mediocre at best, it's hard to imagine exactly how a chatbot could achieve premium status.Companies could, of course, invest more in call centers and hire people to talk to customers, but that would require them to do something they would very much like to avoid: spend money.Part of the reason the phone feels fancy is that it is fancy, or at least a relief. Sometimes you want to explain your issue to someone (without yelling or being mean, eh) and get it figured out and taken care of. The phone may have become a status symbol, but it shouldn't be.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/emily-stewart">Emily Stewart</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

The hot new status symbol: phone calls

<ul><li><keyword id="18635" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="amazon" source="Orion">Amazon</keyword> is currently hosting the Fab Phones Fest Sale on its platform.</li><li>The sale offers discounts across various products and will continue until February 14.</li><li>Here are some of the best deals on smartphones under ₹30,000 on Amazon.</li></ul>E-commerce giant Amazon is hosting its Fab Phones Fest, offering discounts across a wide range of products, including smartphones. The sale is currently live and will go on till February 14. As part of the sale, Amazon has partnered with Federal Bank and State Bank of India to offer an instant 10% discount up to ₹1,000 on purchases, on top of the existing discounts. The ongoing sale is worth exploring if you have been looking for a mid-range smartphone for yourself or your loved ones. This post looks at some of the <keyword id="3216852" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="best-smartphone-deals" source="Orion">best smartphone deals</keyword> under ₹30,000. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Best deals on smartphones under ₹30,000" comment="subhead" text="Best deals on smartphones under ₹30,000">Best deals on smartphones under ₹30,000</cmsannotation> Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B08VB57558" comment="amazoncard" text="B08VB57558">B08VB57558</cmsannotation> The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, despite being a nearly two-year-old device, is still a good option if you are looking for a mid-range smartphone. The device is currently available for ₹29,999, down from its original price of ₹47,999. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is equipped with the Snapdragon 865 chipset. It has a triple camera setup at the back and a 32MP selfie camera. The device is powered by a 4,500mAh battery. iQOO Neo 6 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B07WHNJ4ZK" comment="amazoncard" text="B07WHNJ4ZK">B07WHNJ4ZK</cmsannotation> The iQOO Neo 6 5G is a good option if you are looking for a powerful mid-range smartphone. The device is currently available for ₹29,999, down from its original price of ₹34,999. The iQOO Neo 6 5G features a 6.62-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is equipped with the powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It features a triple camera setup and comes with a 16MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 4,700mAh battery coupled with 80W fast charging. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09WQYFLRX" comment="amazoncard" text="B09WQYFLRX">B09WQYFLRX</cmsannotation> The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is worth considering if you are looking for a mid-range device that offers a smooth experience. It is currently available for ₹18,999, down from its original price of ₹19,999. The device features a 6.59-inch Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 695 chipset. The device features a triple camera setup at the back and comes with a 16MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 65W SuperVOOC charging support. Redmi K50i 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0B4DZ14K7" comment="amazoncard" text="B0B4DZ14K7">B0B4DZ14K7</cmsannotation> The Redmi K50i 5G is worth considering if you are looking for a powerful device. It is currently available for ₹23,999, down from its original price of ₹31,999. The Redmi K50i 5G features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is equipped with a Dimensity 8100 chipset coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device features a triple camera setup at the back and comes with a 16MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 5,080mAh battery coupled with 67W fast charging support. Samsung Galaxy M33 <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B0B14MR9L1" comment="amazoncard" text="B0B14MR9L1">B0B14MR9L1</cmsannotation> The Samsung Galaxy M33 is another good mid-range smartphone discounted as part of the Fab Phones Fest Sale. It is currently available for ₹15,999, down from its original price of ₹24,999. The device features a 6.6-inch Full HD+ LCD and is powered by the Exynos 1280 chipset coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It features a quad camera setup at the back and an 8MP selfie camera. A large 6,000mAh battery with 25W charging support powers it. Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="B09G38DT4B" comment="amazoncard" text="B09G38DT4B">B09G38DT4B</cmsannotation> The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G is a good option if you are looking for a powerful device under ₹30,000. The device is currently available for ₹26,999, down from its original price of ₹31,999. The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G features a 6.55-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 778G chipset coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device features a triple camera setup at the back and comes with a 20MP selfie camera. It is powered by a 4,250mAh battery coupled with 33W fast charging. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/twitter-blue-launched-in-india-pricing-what-it-offers-and-should-you-subscribe/articleshow/97756303.cms">Twitter Blue launched in India – pricing, what it offers, and should you subscribe?</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/swiggy-cracks-down-on-password-sharing-allows-users-to-use-same-account-on-only-two-devices/articleshow/97548345.cms">Swiggy cracks down on password sharing, allows users to use same account on only two devices</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-s23-s23-plus-and-s23-ultra-price-availability-india/articleshow/97544314.cms">Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra priced starting at ₹74,999 in India</a>

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