Sub-Rs 10,000 category 5G phones set to ring loud and clear in New Year
5G phones, triggered by the likely availability of more aggressively priced devices in the sub-₹10,000 range. Top handset brands seeking to clear this year's inventory of base 5G devices at discounts exceeding a sixth of the sticker prices should push volumes further, handset industry trackers said.
Market researcher Counterpoint Research estimates pan-India penetration of base 5G smartphones will jump to 43% by end-2025 from an estimated 3% in year 2024, amid falling device prices, rising adoption of the next-gen wireless broadband service and a likely pick-up in upgrades to 5G devices at the entry-level.
«The recent launch of sub-₹10,000 5G phones by the likes of Poco (C75) and Xiaomi (A4 5G) is set to intensify competition and potentially drive rival handset brands to also cut pricing of base 5G smartphone models down to similar levels. This is expected to sharply increase the pan-India penetration of entry-level 5G phones in 2025,» Counterpoint's research director Tarun Pathak told ET.
He added that 2025 is also likely to see top handset makers going for high-volume clearance of this year's 5G devices inventory at sizeable discounts in the 16-17% range. This, typically, could result in unsold 5G smartphones, currently priced at ₹10,000-₹12,000 being sold at sub-₹10,000 levels, and in turn, boosting market penetration.
Handset sector trackers also expect a pick-up in 5G device upgrades at the entry-level, amid rising adoption of the next-gen wireless broadband service in 2025, especially with Reliance Jio and
