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<ul><li>Smartphone makers have opted for online launch events due to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.</li><li>Apple, OnePlus and Xiaomi are among the companies that have launched their <keyword id="6354775" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smartphones">smartphones</keyword> recently.</li></ul>The nationwide coronavirus lockdown has affected several businesses and the smartphone industry is one of them. While several companies <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/xiaomi-realme-and-vivo-postpone-smartphone-launches-in-india/articleshow/74824452.cms">postponed</a> their launches due to the coronavirus pandemic, some companies opted for online-only launch events. Apple, OnePlus and Xiaomi are the companies that launched smartphones during the lockdown. Additionally, Realme and Poco are scheduled to launch their new devices soon. If you are looking to buy a smartphone in the coming days, here are some of the latest options. OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro <div type="image" title="OnePlus 8" msid="75667593" hostid="261"></div> OnePlus announced the flagship <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-8-oneplus-8-pro-india-price-availability-details/articleshow/75145715.cms">OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro</a> during an online global event on April 14 and subsequently announced the Indian pricing on April 19. If you are looking for a flagship smartphone with a near stock Android experience and premium feel, the OnePlus and OnePlus 8 Pro are good options. The OnePlus 8 series is priced starting at ₹41,999. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75447090" title="How to pre-book OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro and save ₹1,000" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Xiaomi Mi 10 <div type="image" title="Xiaomi Mi 10" msid="75667995" hostid="261"></div> The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/mi-10-is-xiaomis-first-high-end-phone-to-launch-in-india-after-2-years/articleshow/75621253.cms">Xiaomi Mi 10</a> is the latest offering from the Chinese smartphone maker in India and was launched on May 8. It competes with the new OnePlus 8 series and offers high-end features including 5G support. If you want a flagship device and are not happy with the OnePlus 8 series, the Xiaomi Mi 10 is worth considering. The Xiaomi Mi 10 is priced starting at ₹49,999 Apple iPhone SE <div type="image" title="Apple iPhone SE" msid="75668008" hostid="261"></div> Apple introduced its budget iPhone, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/the-new-apple-iphone-se-will-take-on-oneplus-and-samsung-in-india/articleshow/75176554.cms">iPhone SE</a> with its powerful Apple A13 Bionic chipset. The phone offers a small 4.7-inch display and retains the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. If you are looking for a budget iPhone, this is a good option. The Apple iPhone SE is priced starting at ₹42,500. Realme Narzo series <div type="image" title="Realme Narzo" msid="75668259" hostid="261"></div> Realme launched the Narzo 10 series on May 11, priced starting at ₹8,499. It includes the Narzo 10A and the Narzo 10, both of which are placed in the budget segment. Poco F2 Pro <div type="image" title="Poco F2 Pro" msid="75668215" hostid="261"></div> Poco launched the F2 Pro at a global launch event on May 12. The flagship device has been priced starting at €499 and is the successor of the company's affordable flagship Poco F1. The company is expected to soon launch the device in India. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Max <div type="image" title="Redmi Note 9 Pro Max" msid="75668239" hostid="261"></div> Xiaomi had launched the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max in March. However, only the Redmi Note 9 Pro has been sold so far and the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max’s first sale is scheduled for May 12. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-8-oneplus-8-pro-india-price-availability-details/articleshow/75145715.cms">OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro launched in India, prices starting at ₹41,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/difference-between-samsung-galaxy-m21-vs-xiaomi-redmi-note-9-pro-smartphone/articleshow/74708921.cms">Samsung Galaxy M21 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: Battle between Xiaomi and Samsung for the budget segment</a>

Top 6 smartphones launched in India during the coronavirus lockdown

<ul><li>Realme’s new Narzo smartphone series that was scheduled to launch on April 21 has been postponed indefinitely.</li><li>Xiaomi postponed the launch of Mi 10 that was scheduled for March 31</li><li>Vivo too postponed the launch of Vivo V19.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=coronavirus&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Follow the comprehensive coverage of the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact, and other useful resources that can help you in the fight on Business Insider India</a>.</li></ul>India is currently under an extended 19-day nationwide lockdown to control the spread of Coronavirus pandemic. The lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will end on May 3. Coronavirus adversely affected businesses in the country as only essential services are allowed to operate during the lockdown. The smartphone industry has also been affected by this as Xiaomi, Realme and Vivo decided to postpone their India launches. Smartphone launches postponed due to Coronavirus Realme Narzo 10 and Realme Narzo 10A Realme was scheduled to unveil a new series, Narzo, which was expected to take on the recently announced Poco brand. The company said that the launch of Narzo 10 and Narzo 10A has been postponed indefinitely in India. "In alignment with the recent order shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India on the prohibition of the supply of non-essential goods by e-Commerce companies, realme has decided to postpone the online sales of its smartphones and the launch of its Narzo series until further notice," the company said in a statement. Xiaomi Mi 10 The Xiaomi Mi 10 was first introduced in China on February 14 and was set to make its debut in India this month on March 31. Xiaomi India MD, Manu Kumar Jain took to <a href="https://twitter.com/manukumarjain/status/1242744844050563072">Twitter</a> to announce that the company is focusing its energy to support the nation against Coronavirus and has decided to postpone the launch of Mi 10. In his tweet, Manu Kumar Jain said, “We, at Xiaomi India, are focusing our energy to support the nation in its fight against COVID-19. After careful deliberation, we've decided to postpone the launch of Mi 10 in India, which was scheduled for 31st March 2020.” Vivo V19 Vivo was scheduled to announce its flagship smartphone, the Vivo V19 in India on March 26. It decided to postpone the launch due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The company has not revealed when it will launch the device in India. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pm-narendra-modi-24th-march-speech-highlights-and-updates/articleshow/74796963.cms/">Prime Minister Modi declares 21-day nationwide lockdown starting midnight</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/even-as-bs4-deadline-approaches-6400-crore-worth-vehicles-remain-unsold-due-to-coronavirus/articleshow/74807510.cms">₹6,400 crore worth BS4 vehicles remain unsold due to Coronavirus</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/those-who-violate-coronavirus-lockdown-could-be-jailed-for-2-years-and-fined/articleshow/74807160.cms">Those who violate Coronavirus lockdown could be jailed for 2 years and fined</a>

Realme Narzo smartphone launch postponed indefinitely in India

<ul><li><keyword id="1623392" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smartphone-sales-in-India">Smartphone sales in India</keyword> are expected to decline by more than 20% due to COVID-19, according to a new survey.</li><li>The survey states that total <keyword id="554032" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smartphone-sales">smartphone sales</keyword> in India in 2020 will be nearly 127 million, as opposed to the 162 million projected earlier.</li><li>Over 90% of these smartphones are expected to be in the ₹5,001–₹25,000 price segment.</li></ul>Owing to the Covid-19 lockdowns impacting both supply and demand, India will sell nearly 127 million smartphones this year against the earlier projection of 162 million units which is a 21.6% decrease from sale forecast at the beginning of the year, a new report said on Tuesday. In terms of actual decrease compared to 2019, it will be 12.5% down from 2020 sales of 145 million smartphones, according to market research firm techARC. "The worst period for the smartphone industry in India seems to be over as both the production and sale fulfilment has started. Smartphone brands will endeavour to stay on track, which means there will be less focus on experiments and more on relevancy for the consumers," said Faisal Kawoosa, Founder &amp; Chief Analyst, techARC. The basic and mid-price segments (₹5,001–₹25,000) will make over 92% of the total sales. The entry-level segment (upto ₹5,000) will continue to witness decline while the premium segment (₹50,000 and above) will be least impacted as the propensity to spend will still remain high in that segment, the report said. "Every user would aim to save as much as possible owing to uncertainties around. There will be some shift of demand from upper price segments to lower ones due to this," said Kawoosa. Since the emergence of Covid-19 situation, main original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have quickly responded to the changing market dynamics. The agility in brands is becoming their strength and shall play a vital role in their business continuity going forward, the report mentioned. techARC expects mild impact on the market shares of top five smartphone brands. "Smaller brands will bear the brunt the most. The niche players would also be impacted although mildly," said Kawoosa. For the brands, the only strategy to sustain revenues is to diversify into other categories like "essential electronics", "pandemic electronics" and "safety electronics", among others. Brands have recently introduced hyper-local O2O (online to offline) medium where demand is aggregated online and fulfilled through offline retail network in the catchment area of a potential customer. "This could pick up well and contribute 5-7% of the total sales in coming months as the sales can be fulfilled in less than a day," the report said.

Smartphone sales in India to fall by over 20% in 2020 due to COVID-19

<ul><li>Staying fit during the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> lockdown is essential both for your mental as well as physical well-being.</li><li>Regular exercise also increases your immunity, which is important if you want to keep Covid-19 at bay.</li><li>The Coronavirus lockdown around the world has led to people switching to apps designed for exercising at home, leading to record growth in downloads and revenue.</li><li>We have curated a list of the best apps to help you <keyword id="3394097" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="exercise-at-home">exercise at home</keyword>, and the best thing is, you don’t need any equipment for most of these exercises.</li></ul>The Coronavirus lockdown has put everyone’s schedules and routines out of order. This can be especially annoying for those who like to exercise outdoors regularly. If you think you are losing control of your fitness, you can get back in shape at home <keyword id="1614096" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fitness-Apps">fitness apps</keyword>. In fact, health and fitness apps for helping you exercise at home have seen a massive surge in downloads and revenue during the Coronavirus lockdown, according to an App Annie <a href="https://www.appannie.com/en/insights/market-data/at-home-fitness-apps-in-demand-coronavirus/">report</a>. The downloads of fitness apps went up 45% globally, between March 22 and 28, and the money spent on these apps by consumers rose 10%, compared to the weekly average in January and February. Interestingly, in India, the amount of consumer spend on fitness apps jumped 60%, the most anywhere in the world. According to the report, at-home fitness apps have seen a 40% and 10% increase in weekly downloads and revenue during March, 2020, when compared to January and February. Whether you want to start a new workout regimen or continue your existing one, these are some of the most popular fitness apps, according to App Annie: Home Workout – No Equipment <div type="image" title="Home Workout – No Equipment" msid="75116084" hostid="261"></div> Home Workout – No Equipment is a very popular fitness app that provides daily workout routines for the main muscle groups. The main highlight of the app is that no equipment or coach is required to perform the exercises. All you need is your body weight. To help users who are stuck at home, all premium workouts in the app are available for free to all users till July 1, 2020. Download Home Workout – No Equipment for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=homeworkout.homeworkouts.noequipment&amp;hl=en_IN">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/home-workout-no-equipments/id1313192037">iOS</a>. Nike Training Club <div type="image" title="Nike Training Club" msid="75116089" hostid="261"></div> The Nike Training Club provides over 185 free workouts across various categories such as strength and endurance, mobility and yoga. It features ‘Nike Master Trainers’ who offer you advice and help you in focusing on your routines. Download Nike Training Club for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nike.ntc&amp;hl=en_IN">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nike-training-club/id301521403">iOS</a>. 30 Day Fitness <div type="image" title="30 Day Fitness" msid="75116092" hostid="261"></div> The 30 Day Fitness app gives new workouts, fitness plans and exercises plans with video tutorials. The developer claims that if users invest a few minutes everyday for 30 days, they will see a noticeable change in their shape. It provides users with warm-ups followed by exercises like planks, squats and more. Download 30 Day Fitness for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bendingspoons.thirtydayfitness&amp;hl=en">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/30-day-fitness/id1099771240">iOS</a>. Six Pack Abs in 30 Days <div type="image" title="Six Pack Abs in 30 Days" msid="75116108" hostid="261"></div> The Six Pack Abs in 30 Days app is aimed at helping users reduce belly fat and get six pack abs. It has three levels – Lose Belly, Rock Hard Abs and Six Pack Abs that help users lose belly fat and build abdominal muscles. Download Six Pack Abs in 30 Days for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sixpack.sixpackabs.absworkout&amp;hl=en_IN">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/six-pack-in-30-days-6-pack/id1338655056">iOS</a>. Lose Weight in 30 Days <div type="image" title="Lose Weight in 30 Days" msid="75116120" hostid="261"></div> Featuring a range of workout options and diet plans, this app provides video guidance, so you do your exercise right. You can also synchronize your fitness activity with Google Fit, making it easy to track your activities and calories burned. Download Lose Weight in 30 Days for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=loseweight.weightloss.workout.fitness&amp;hl=en_IN">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lose-weight-in-30-days/id1266612768">iOS</a>. Asana Rebel <div type="image" title="Asana Rebel" msid="75116135" hostid="261"></div> Asana Rebel allows you to include variety in your workout regimen. It has high intensity exercises to yoga and meditation, so there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking to stay fit mentally as well as physically, this app is worth considering. Download Asana Rebel for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.asanayoga.asanarebel&amp;hl=en_IN">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/asana-rebel-get-in-shape/id1067860796">iOS</a>. Meditopia <div type="image" title="Meditopia" msid="75116145" hostid="261"></div> Meditopia is a noteworthy app if you want to get started with meditation. It also has different modes that are tailored for different situations, so whether you’re relaxing or walking or even working, there’s a session for it. It has over 250 meditation sessions in English and Spanish, and you can download these sessions to listen to them offline. Download Meditopia for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.meditasyon&amp;hl=en_IN">Android</a> and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/meditopia-meditation-sleep/id1190294015">iOS</a>. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/list-of-the-best-mobile-games-to-play-with-friends-during-coronavirus-lockdown/articleshow/75044837.cms">Best mobile games to play with friends during the Coronavirus lockdown – PUBG Mobile, Asphalt 9: Legends, Ludo King and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/how-to-choose-a-diet-and-weight-loss-app-thats-right-for-you-according-to-a-nutritionist/slidelist/74934679.cms">How to choose a diet and weight loss app that's right for you, according to a nutritionist</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/the-who-is-recommending-video-games-as-an-effective-way-to-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19-one-year-after-adding-gaming-disorder-to-its-list-of-addictive-behaviors/articleshow/74940202.cms">The WHO is recommending video games as an effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19, one year after adding 'gaming disorder' to its list of addictive behaviours</a>

Top fitness apps for the smartphone to keep exercising during lockdown

New Delhi, Apr 28 () POCO, which was spun off from Xioami as a separate entity, is focussing on strengthening various parts of its business, including R&amp;D and testing, as it gears up to tap into the "pent-up demand" for smartphones after the lockdown ends. POCO, which had launched 'X2' in February, captured a spot among the top five brands in the Rs 15,000-20,000 price segment during January-March quarter. "We are happy with the progress we have made in a short span of time. The initial numbers are strong. We had to halt sales because of the lockdown, we will abide by the laws, and once the lockdown ends, we will be back in full force," POCO India General Manager C Manmohan said. He added that the company is focussed on preparing its team and strengthening operations, including areas like research and development (R&amp;D) and testing. "We anticipate a pent up demand after the lockdown ends. After grocery, smartphones are an important item that people require, whether it is for work, study or entertainment," he said adding that the supply is expected to also ramp up in phases after lockdown gets lifted across various parts of the country. According to Counterpoint Research, demand is expected to shift to the second part of the year and people may hold-off purchasing until the festive season. Smartphone shipment in India is expected to decline by 10 per cent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, even though the January-March quarter had seen shipment growing at modest 4 per cent with over 31 million units. The government has imposed a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives globally. The lockdown, which is slated to be lifted on May 3, has led to factories and retail stores remaining closed, thus hitting smartphone sales. With only essential items like grocery and health and pharmaceutical products being allowed to be sold online, phone companies are staring at multi-billion dollar hit which will increase if the lockdown period is extended. India is the world's second largest smartphone market after China. The home ministry had allowed operation of IT hardware, manufacturing and other industrial establishments with access control in special economic zones and export-oriented units in industrial estates and townships from April 20 with certain restrictions. However, manufacturing units in several states remain shut as state governments have not eased the lockdown. SR HRS

POCO readies operations to meet 'pent-up demand' after lockdown

<ul><li>In our latest interview series, we talk to brands to understand how they are coping with the new normal and their strategies towards navigating these difficult times.</li><li>Siddhant Narayan, Head of Marketing - India, OnePlus tells us all that went into making sure that the launch was a success and how the experience taught them to think innovatively in an attempt to stay connected with its user base even during the <keyword id="91743" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lockdown">lockdown</keyword>. </li></ul> Before the Coronavirus-induced lockdown hit the world, India had been one of the fastest growing smartphone markets in India. However, owing to supply chain disruption, the industry grew by 4% between January and March this year, according to CMR’s India mobile handset market review report for Q1 2020. With India in its fourth phase of lockdown, things are slowly inching towards normalcy. With a few cities opening up, retailers are opening up shops. E-commerce players are also slowly restocking on products and starting to deliver, giving hope to smartphone players of things getting back on track soon. However one brand that pulled off a rare feat was OnePlus when it launched its latest <keyword id="8178911" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="oneplus-8">OnePlus 8</keyword> series of smartphones right in the middle of the lockdown. Everyone associated with the brand knows the fanfare involved with every launch. However, how were things different this time? We tried to find out from Siddhant Narayan, Head of Marketing - India, OnePlus who also told us how the current situation gave the brand an opportunity to think out of the box and further enhance its consumer engagement through owned channels and social media. Excerpts: Q) While the entire country is under lockdown, OnePlus has carried out something amazing, you have launched a phone. What were the challenges of putting everything together amidst a lockdown? For the first-time ever, we launched our latest series through a global digital-only launch event. It brought together community members from across the world to witness the unveiling of the OnePlus 8 series and was a truly wholesome moment for us as a brand. It involved working very closely with over 2,000 people spread across time-zones and ensuring we remained connected and in-sync with all the developments so we could work towards ensuring a seamless event. Moreover, it was crucial to be flexible and adapt to changing scenarios while striving for the best outcome. As <keyword id="2422604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pete-Lau">Pete Lau</keyword> had mentioned earlier, our launch date was pushed back three times out of concern for the current situation until we decided it was time to move forward with the hope for a better future. Q) Phone launches usually happen with a lot of fanfare, especially for OnePlus that is so connected with its community. How was the launch of OnePlus 8 different? How did you create the hype around the launch? Community engagement through offline activities and events has been central to our engagement efforts. However, given the current scenario, we were presented with an interesting opportunity to think differently and further enhance our engagement with users using owned channels like the OnePlus Forums and <keyword id="8484347" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="red-cable-club">Red Cable Club</keyword> as well as social media in order to create meaningful user experiences. In the lead-up to the launch, we unveiled our Hypertaskers campaign to celebrate our community, a generation that seamlessly switches between a diverse range of roles, while attuned to performing tasks at incredible speed enabled by the cutting-edge technology on the OnePlus 8 Series. Once the launch happened, our community was yearning to get a hands-on experience of these flagship series. But due to the current circumstances, that would have not been possible. Therefore we created a digital initiative wherein our community received first-hand opportunity to unbox the phones virtually using the Instagram’s customized AR filters. This led to a highly positive brand engagement with our community and consumers at large, across India. We achieved nearly 98 million impressions online. We ran an online contest for the most creative AR unboxing ideas and received over 1000 entries within 2 weeks. Q) Since you could not hold an event, did all your marketing monies go to Digital, not just for the launch but also in general? OnePlus has predominantly been a digital-first brand and that has served as an advantage as we evolved through the years. The new norms have definitely led to a spike in content consumption online so there has been a natural lean towards digital platforms with more people spending their time on the web and on social media. However, we’re taking the time to understand and analyze the patterns in consumption and identify relevant channels such as search, social media, or email, in order to effectively communicate with our target audience. Q) Apart from the launch, what are the things you have been communicating with your consumers about? As a marketer, what has your priority been in the past 1.5 months? It has been our main priority to remain closely connected with our community during this time. We are constantly exploring different ways to curate meaningful content and experiences that our users will connect with as we all navigate this new normal. For example, we recently launched OnePlus Domin8, a unique PUBG MOBILE tournament for our community that will also allow them to virtually interact with pro gamers and Indian cricketers and compete in a one-of-a-kind exhibition match series. For our Red Cable Club (RCC) members, we have introduced ‘Summer of OnePlus’ which allows them access to special activities and first-hand access to sales announcements, exclusive updates, contests and much more. Through the above-mentioned initiatives and even our seemingly simple campaigns like #IndoorsShotonOnePlus, we hope to reassure our users and let them know that we’re all in this together. Q) The retail sector might still take a long time to see a lot of footfalls post-Covid. I know you have been pushing your offline presence but will the current situation now make you pause on your offline expansion and bring the focus back on your online presence? For OnePlus, the focus has always been to craft world-class user experiences- be it through the online retail space or through offline store presence. This continues to hold paramount importance for us even in the current situation. Also, being a digital-first brand since inception, there has never really been a question of shifting between online or offline platforms. The intensification in the brand’s offline strategy is only to complement the existing online business model. We have expanded our retail footprint in order to create more offline touchpoints for users to physically engage with the brand and better understand the product. Our experience stores have not just morphed into a community hub but also a strong network where customers can share their positive experiences to assist prospective buyers. This has greatly enabled us to gain more visibility and trust among offline audiences. Q) Due to the lockdown, will there be a limited number of phones available for the Indian market? While there was an initial slowdown in smartphone manufacturing, we are expecting an uptick in momentum given the recent government directives hinting at relaxation for the manufacturing sector. With commercial functions regaining pace, we are hopeful of things getting back to normal in due course of time. Also in the new norm, smartphones have reinstated their importance as the focal point driving our virtually driven lives. So customer demand for smartphones might be delayed, but they will never be completely halted. OnePlus users can look forward to accessing the latest OnePlus 8 Series from the end of this month onwards. The latest flagship will be available across channels. Q) Why did you not consider launching the phone once the lockdown was lifted? Community is at the core of everything OnePlus does. We are constantly listening to our user and fan base to innovate, engage and create meaningful experiences for them. We were cognizant of the growing anticipation around the OnePlus 8 Series. Keeping in mind this sentiment as well as the overall expectations from the brand, we went ahead with a global, online launch of the OnePlus 8 Series. This event was also a manifestation of our efforts to adapt to the new norm and stay relevant to the times, undeterred by current circumstances. Q) What have your key learnings from this entire experience been? Has it helped make you more agile as a brand? The current circumstances have only reinforced our focus on the community. It is their feedback and expectations which hold the most value for us as a global technology company. The new norm that we all are living by at present is heavily reliant on online services. People are invariably spending more time with their gadgets- be it their smartphones or smart TVs. The ways in which people connect, consume, create, and compute have undergone considerable changes. Therefore staying connected with consumers has never been more important than now. OnePlus has used this time to strengthen its ties with the community and curate experiences aligned to their expectations. It has helped us stay attuned to their needs and continue with our pursuit of achieving excellence in technology. Q) Will we be seeing any high decibel campaign around the new launch? How are you going to market it? Our OnePlus 8 series received an immensely positive response globally including the US, Europe and China markets. In India, the initial assessment of the OnePlus 8 series is very positive, and we are expecting it to transition into robust sales in the coming months. Irrespective of the format or channel, word-of-mouth continues to remain the crux of our overall marketing strategy. Over the years, we have earned the faith and trust of 5 million community members in India. The OnePlus community has always been actively promoting our flagship products by constantly sharing their positive experiences as well as feedback and on how our products have meaningfully changed their lives.

How OnePlus pulled off the global launch of the OnePlus 8 series in the midst of a lockdown

New Delhi, Mar 25 () Smartphone maker Vivo India on Wednesday donated over one lakh masks to healthcare workers in Maharashtra.Maharashtra reported five new coronavirus cases since Tuesday evening, taking the number of cases in the state to 112, the highest in the country so far."In response to the current COVID-19 outbreak, vivo, the global smartphone brand today donated one lakh medical masks to Government of Maharashtra. The company also donated 5,000 N-95 masks that are designed to filter airborne particles," Vivo said in a statement.The country has been facing shortage of N-95 and other masks required for healthcare workers to prevent them from getting infected with deadly coronavirus."I thank vivo for contributing to this humanitarian cause and all other corporates should also follow suit," said Rajesh Tope, Minister for Public Health and Family Welfare, Maharashtra.The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 562, while the death toll due to COVID-19 in the country is revised down to nine, according to Health Ministry data."In these crucial times, it is vital that we all stand united and contribute towards containing this global health pandemic. We have planned to suspend all our new product launches during this period. We also acknowledge the role caregivers play in these crucial times and wish to support the government to ensure their safety," Vivo India, Director Brand Strategy Nipun Marya said.The government has announced 21 day lockdown in the country to curb spread of coronavirus. During the lockdown, people will get access to essential items like grocery, fruits and vegetables, milk, medicines, telecom services etc, while non-essential services will remain shut. PRSBAL

Vivo India donates over one lakh masks to healthcare workers in Maharashtra

<ul><li><keyword id="10591" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Samsung">Samsung</keyword> closely followed Xiaomi which logged 29 per cent market share to remain at the top in Q2.</li><li>Samsung also has a diversified supply chain compared to its competitors, which helped it to maintain a steady flow of components. It was the first brand to reach almost full manufacturing capacity by the end of June, the report mentioned. </li><li>It was compounded by stringent actions taken by the government to ban 59 apps of Chinese origin and delay the import of goods from China amid extra scrutiny. </li></ul> South Korean major Samsung became the second largest smartphone brand with 26 per cent market share in India in the second quarter (April-June period) which is its highest share in the past two years, a new report said on Friday. Amid stuttering supply for some <keyword id="9636204" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="major-chinese-brands">major Chinese brands</keyword> and the anti-China sentiment, Samsung gained big as pent-up smartphone demand after lockdown pushed the June volumes and the company was ready with full manufacturing capacity to meet the demand. Samsung closely followed Xiaomi which logged 29 per cent market share to remain at the top in Q2. Revamping the M-series and launching it in offline channels together with new schemes like Samsung Care+ helped the brand to further restore its position in the <keyword id="47445" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword>, according to Counterpoint Research's 'Market Monitor Service'. Samsung also has a diversified supply chain compared to its competitors, which helped it to maintain a steady flow of components. It was the first brand to reach almost full manufacturing capacity by the end of June, the report mentioned. "The contribution of Chinese brands fell to 72 per cent from 81 per cent in Q2 2020. This was mainly due to the mixture of stuttering supply for some major Chinese brands such as OPPO, Vivo and realme, and growing anti-China sentiment," said Shilpi Jain, Research Analyst at Counterpoint. It was compounded by stringent actions taken by the government to ban 59 apps of Chinese origin and delay the import of goods from China amid extra scrutiny. Overall, the smartphone market declined a massive 51 per cent (year-on-year) to just over 18 million in Q2 as April was a washout. The nationwide lockdown resulted in zero shipments during April. "The pandemic wiped out almost 40 days of production as well as the sales of smartphones due to the nation-wide lockdown. The quarter was marred by both demand and supply constraints which led OEMs to rethink their go-to-market strategies," said Prachir Singh, <keyword id="191938" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="senior-research-analyst">Senior Research Analyst</keyword> at Counterpoint. In June, the smartphone shipments registered a mild decline of 0.3 per cent (YoY) thanks to the pent-up demand as well as a push from brands. Vivo with 17 per cent share at third spot was able to manage post lockdown demand well as it exited the quarter with 60 per cent pre-Covid levels. The launch of flagship V19 and adding more smartphones like Y50, Y30 to its Y-series portfolio helped the brand to recover fast in June. "Local manufacturing, R&amp;D operations, attractive value-for-money offerings and strong channel entrenchment by Chinese brands leaves very few options for consumers to choose from. Additionally, in the era of globalization, it is difficult to label a product based on country of origin as components are being sourced from many different countries," said Jain. Realme maintained the fourth spot though its share declined to 11 per cent as it faced manufacturing constraints due to the shutdown of the factory for almost all of May. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/after-google-pwc-india-declares-a-company-wide-holiday-for-its-employees-this-friday-offers-time-off-for-a-well-deserved-break/articleshow/77125627.cms">After Google, PwC India declares a company-wide holiday for its employees this Friday – offers time off for a 'well-deserved' break</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/mukesh-ambani-is-now-the-fifth-richest-person-in-the-world-according-to-forbes/articleshow/77105843.cms">Mukesh Ambani is now the fifth richest person in the world, according to Forbes</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-infosys-hcl-tech-dont-want-h1b-ban-but-are-pocketing-savings-while-it-lasts/articleshow/77120776.cms">The H1-B visa ban is not what Indian IT firms want⁠— but they are pocketing some savings while it lasts</a>

Samsung becomes second largest brand in India after Xiaomi - as Chinese smartphones' market share falls in June quarter

<keyword id="874458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xiaomi">Xiaomi</keyword>'s smartphone and smart TV sub-brand Mi India on Monday launched '<keyword id="9974403" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="mi-store-on-wheels">Mi Store on Wheels</keyword>' to take the retail experience to small cities and towns across the country. The initiative has been introduced first in Chhattisgarh, covering places from Basna to Sankara and Bhawarpur to Pithora. The 'Mi Store on Wheels' will be present at popular weekly haats and markets along the way. "Following all the necessary hygiene and safety practices, while regulating crowds and maintaining social distance, 'Mi Store on Wheels' outlets will be fully safe for consumers to visit," said Muralikrishnan B, COO, Mi India. During the lockdown, Mi India launched its first omni-channel solution called Mi Commerce. The 'Mi Store on Wheels' will showcase newly-launched 9 series models from Redmi. Other than smartphones, the moving store will also include products such as 32-inch and 43-inch Mi Smart TV, Mi Box 4K, Mi TV Stick, Mi CCTV Cameras, Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, Redmi Earbuds S, Mi Sunglasses, Mi Powerbanks and chargers. The moving store will also gather feedback from the customers, said the company. Mi India currently has more than 75 Mi Homes, over 45 <keyword id="7565364" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="mi-studios">Mi Studios</keyword>, over 8,000 <keyword id="4899824" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mi-Preferred-Partners">Mi Preferred Partners</keyword> and more than 4,000 Large format Retail partners, along with 3,000 Mi Stores in the country.

Xiaomi's Mi Store on Wheels takes the retail experience to small cities and towns

<ul><li>Xiaomi is all set to launch the RedmiBook and Mi laptops in India.</li><li>The Coronavirus lockdown has resulted in an increase in people working from home.</li><li>The company has informed its retailers that the laptops will be launched soon.</li></ul>After becoming one of the most popular smartphone brands in the country, Xiaomi is all set to bring its laptops in India. The company has already entered the television and home appliances segment. As per a <a href="https://twitter.com/ishanagarwal24/status/1254747243271172108">tweet</a> by tipster Ishan Agarwal, <keyword id="2210169" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xiaomi-India">Xiaomi India</keyword> MD Manu Kumar Jain during an online meeting with the company’s retailers informed them that the company will soon introduce Mi laptops and RedmiBook in India. While Jain did not mention when the laptops will be launched, the company is expected to announce them soon after the lockdown is lifted. Xiaomi may time its laptop launch with the increased work from home culture The nationwide Coronavirus lockdown has resulted in several companies asking their employees to work from home. This has also resulted in an increased demand for personal computers. While there have been rumors about Xiaomi launching its laptops in the country for over a year now, the company probably wants to cash in on the work from home culture by launching affordable laptops. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="74931234" title="GST effect – Xiaomi, Samsung, Apple hike phone prices in India" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Xiaomi may enter the Indian market with the RedmiBook 14 As per an earlier <a href="https://www.gizbot.com/laptop/news/redmibook-14-bags-bis-certification-india-launch-likely-066259.html">report</a>, the RedmiBook 14 has reportedly received BIS certification, paving the way for its launch in India. Xiaomi had also <a href="https://gadgets.ndtv.com/laptops/news/xiaomi-redmibook-brand-trademark-spotted-hinting-india-launch-laptop-range-2159586">trademarked</a> the RedmiBook brand in India earlier this year. The RedmiBook 14 is available in India starting at CNY 2,999 which is around ₹32,100 in India. Xiaomi may launch the laptop at a more aggressive price in India to take on the existing laptop companies like Dell and HP. The base model comes with an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. The company may also launch the high-end variant of the RedmiBook 14 that is powered with up to 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/microsoft-will-reportedly-reveal-a-long-overdue-new-version-of-its-popular-surface-book-laptop-in-the-spring/articleshow/74141165.cms">Microsoft will reportedly reveal a long-overdue new version of its popular Surface Book laptop in the spring</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/honor-to-strengthen-india-product-portfolio-this-year-with-laptops-smart-tvs/articleshow/73251353.cms">Honor to strengthen India product portfolio this year with laptops, smart TVs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/intel-just-revealed-a-foldable-laptop-concept-that-features-a-massive-17-inch-oled-display-inside/articleshow/73143998.cms">Intel just revealed a foldable laptop concept that features a massive, 17-inch OLED display inside</a>

Xiaomi RedmiBook, Mi laptops expected to launch soon in India

<ul><li>India is a critical market for <keyword id="215177" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vivo">Vivo</keyword> which plans to open around 600 stores in the next one year.</li><li>It is also soon coming up with a design center in the country which will also design <keyword id="6354775" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smartphones">smartphones</keyword> in the country.</li><li><keyword id="6574292" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nipun-Marya">Nipun Marya</keyword>, Director Brand strategy, vivo India tells us about how the brand is expanding its presence in India and making sure it gives its consumers the best experience.</li></ul>2020 has been a year when technology played a huge role in our lives. It helped us keep ourselves sane while living under a lockdown. It therefore became a year when smartphone almost became a lifeline for many of us. From consuming to creating content on our phones to even children attending virtual classes, our smartphones became a way of keeping us connected with the world. It is therefore not surprising when surveys told us that the smartphone market in India bounced back after the slump during the lockdown period. Data from Canalys showed that smartphone shipments in India recovered in Q3 2020, with a growth of 8% to 50 million units. The report revealed this was an all-time record for smartphone shipments in a single quarter in India. This year, after the worsening of relations between India and China, vivo pulled out of the Indian Premier League 2020 title sponsorship. However, this minor blip did not really lead to a decrease in the brand’s popularity. Nipun Marya, Director Brand strategy, vivo India tells us that the brand has seen a good bounce-back and has seen an increase of 25% during the festive season this year. The Canalys report also revealed that Vivo stood third in terms of smartphone shipments in India, growing 19% to ship 8.8 million smartphones. We spoke to Marya about the year gone by and brand’s growth strategy for the coming year. The impact of 2020 Despite it being a difficult year, the smartphone maker saw a good resurgence in demand in the unlock phase. The fact that smartphones became such an intrinsic parts of our life has helped the segment bounce back. Speaking about how the year has been so far, Marya said, “While we’re still not completely out of the pandemic situation, there’s encouraging news coming in of the vaccine and things have slowly started looking brighter. The good thing about the smartphone industry is that it has helped a lot of people, whether it was for entertainment or being connected with our friends and family, or working and in some cases, even education. Smartphones have really come to everyone’s rescue and helped us maintain our sanity during thes tough times. We are seeing that the industry has seen a reasonably good recovery when it comes to sales. And we are seeing good growth, about 25% over last year during the festive season.” However, considering the first few months were a complete lockdown, the brand has had to recalibrate its sales target this year. Speaking about how the industry has been performing, he said, “Overall at an industry level for the calendar year, I think there’ll be single digit de-growth this year. I don't think we’ll be able to match the 2019 levels, forget about growing. Accordingly, we’ve also readjusted our targets. So let’s see how November and December fair, because post December, we will get a clearer picture.” Vivo’s India story Vivo had entered India's smartphone market in 2012 with the launch the Vivo X1. Since then, Vivo has seen good growth in the country. It currently has a manufacturing facility in Greater Noida which employs around 10,000 people and has the capacity to produce over 3 crore smartphones annually. Marya also shared that whatever the brand is currently selling in India is made in India. “As far as smartphones are concerned, whatever we’re selling in India is being manufactured here. There’s nothing that we’re importing as finished good and selling in the market, he shared. On whether the brand has plans of further expanding its manufacturing capability in the country, Marya said, “Right now, our manufacturing unit is sufficient but going ahead, if more expansion is needed, we’ll certainly invest and expand more. We are very clear that we will continue to expand our mass manufacturing footprint here but we also don't want to be in a situation where we have excess capacity lying unutilized,” he added. Expanding offline presence At the start of the year, before the pandemic hit the market, the brand had plans of aggressively expanding its offline presence in India. However, despite the lockdown impacting some of its plans, the brand is still serious about setting up shop. For Vivo, offline is a very important channel, a bulk of our sales come from offline. We are also very clear that when it comes to offline, there is both quantity and quality of experience which consumers look forward to. Exclusive and experience stores really provide a differentiated brand experience. We are still very much looking forward to opening up more exclusive stores in the coming few months.” On how many stores they plan to open up in the next few months, Marya shared, “Currently we have around 450 stores. We are planning to open up more than hundred exclusive stores within the next 1 year.” Vivo’s marketing and its next phase of growth Vivo came out with its Diwali campaign recently which was all about spreading the message of joy and hope. The brand also launched a new product and promoted it aggressively. It also bought ad spots during the IPL. On whether its increased its spends this year, Marya said, “I won’t be able to comment whether we’ve increased or decreased our spends. But, like last year, this year too we have been aggressive in terms of marketing. We've done our spots in IPL which is a fairly expensive property. Therefore, whatever is required, as far as the business is concerned, we’ve gone full hog and supported the business and the brand.” Marya is also confident that like most other sectors, the next wave of growth for the brand will come from smaller cities. “Whatever sector you talk about, non-metros are leading growth and that's also true in the case of Vivo. Metros still remain in absolute terms the largest market, but in terms of growth percentage, it is certainly coming from non metros and that remains true for us,” he said. So will the brand look at expanding its offline presence in smaller towns? “Where we will open our next stores will depend on the business and market requirement. Till date, the 450 stores we’ve opened have been in both metros and non-metros,” he shared. For Vivo, in the global scheme of things, India continues to be a critical market and Marya shares that the brand will continue investing in the country to make sure it gives its consumers the best experience. In fact, it plans to set-up an <keyword id="230531" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Industrial-Design-Centre">industrial design centre</keyword> in India to not only develop devices locally but also design the phones in the country. “We are manufacturing all our phones here but after the centre comes up, we will also design the phones in India. Its an extremely important market for the brand and how importantly we take the market can very well be seen from the kind of investments we have done here so far,” said Marya.

India is a critical market for Vivo and we’ll open over 100 more exclusive stores within the next one year: Nipun Marya, Vivo India

New Delhi, <keyword id="3185988" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="itel">itel</keyword> is all set to strengthen its <keyword id="28168" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smartphone">smartphone</keyword> portfolio with another new and powerful offering. As per sources, the company might launch the <keyword id="47469" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="premium">premium</keyword> looking smartphone with HD+ display on February 1 via an exclusive association with <keyword id="18635" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>. As per the render images, itel's new addition in the A-series portfolio will be equipped with a bigger display and dual security. The phone will come with a 5.5-inch bigger screen with a curved display, dual security and 2GB RAM + 32 GB ROM-making it a complete offering for its customers. Going with itel's strategy, the product will be priced aggressively and expected to be priced in the sub ₹6,000 segment wherein itel has already established itself as a strong brand. With the <keyword id="10666096" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="recent-launch">recent launch</keyword> of its latest flagship, itel Vision1 PRO, itel is trying to become one of the most preferred brands in Rs 7,000 segment by offering premium features and price, which is one of the best in the segment. itel has always surprised us with trendy technology at an affordable price point, that has always fulfilled the digital and entertainment needs of tier 3 and the below markets in this new normal. As per the recent counterpoint research report for Q4 2020, itel has strengthened its position in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities, and rural <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> with its vision 1 launch from their flagship Vision series. The series offers next-gen smartphones with innovative offerings at an affordable price point. In the India handset market share, itel's share has grown from 6 per cent to 9 per cent in CY 2020, and has established its position amongst the top 5 players in the Indian overall handset industry as per Counterpoint Report, Q4, 2020. We must stay tuned to the launch for complete details and see what itel brings to the table for its customers. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/hindustan-unilever-third-quarter-profit-revenue-and-share-price/articleshow/80480554.cms?upcache=2">A timely deal with GSK closed during the lockdown has helped Unilever three quarters in a row in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/a-playbook-for-budget-2021-to-boost-electronics-manufacturing-in-india/articleshow/80476759.cms">A playbook for Budget 2021 to boost electronics manufacturing in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/bytedance-lays-off-employees-in-india-months-after-tiktok-ban-in-the-country/articleshow/80476721.cms">ByteDance lays off employees in India, months after TikTok’s ban in the country</a>

Itel to launch smartphone with bigger display and dual security for ₹6000 on February 1

Here’s how the government's new lockdown rules will affect your day if you live in a city

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Online channels are likely to account for a highest-ever 45 per cent share of smartphone sales in 2020 owing to the Covid-19 situation as people would prefer to buy devices online to maintain social distancing, a new report has said. Among the online channels, Flipkart is likely to hold top position while Amazon will grow the fastest. "Xiaomi is likely to lead the online brand rankings while Realme will be the fastest-growing brand in the online space in 2020," according to the latest report from Counterpoint Research. In Q1 2020, Flipkart led the overall online market with a 50 per cent share but its shipments declined 7 per cent (YoY). However, Amazon grew in Q1 2020 with a 3 per cent (YoY) growth. "The Covid-19 crisis had little impact in the March-ending quarter. However, during the lockdown, the market has come to an almost complete standstill, massively impacting all aspects of the smartphone market including both online and offline channels," said Prachir Singh, Senior Research Analyst. While all sales volume is set to decline, sales through online channels will only decline by 5 per cent while sales through offline channels are expected to decline by 19 per cent. "This means the share of sales through online channels will reach around 45 per cent of total volume this year," Singh informed. In Q1 2020, Xiaomi remained the market leader in online channels with 48 per cent share, followed by Realme with 18 per cent share. Realme regained its top position on Flipkart. Among the top 10 online brands, Realme grew the fastest compared to the previous quarter. However, the brand is also expanding in offline channels. It registered 269 per cent (YoY) growth in the offline channel shipments, said the report. "Online channels remained strong during Q1 2020 due to multiple sales promotions on both Flipkart and Amazon. In terms of the price band, more than 60 per cent of the smartphone shipments on Flipkart were below Rs 10,000 while 80 per cent of the smartphones sold on Amazon were above Rs 10,000," informed Shilpi Jain, Research Analyst. Smartphone brands are hurriedly evolving their business models and updating channel strategies to cope with the new reality. "We have already seen multiple brands adopting an online to offline (O2O) model and hyperlocal delivery to help their offline channel partners," said Singh. Xiaomi has launched Mi Commerce, Vivo has launched Vivo Smart Retail (VSR) and Samsung has partnered with payments startup Benow to help its offline retailers. --IANS na/

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