Samsung Galaxy Trend 3 budget Android 4.2 smartphone unveiled

Samsung has introduced a new budget dual-SIM Android smartphone, the Galaxy Trend 3. The device has been launched in China, though the company has not revealed the pricing and availability details of the device. For now, there is also no word on the roll out of the device to other markets.

The Galaxy Trend 3 follows similar design language as company's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4. However, it features more basic hardware specifications. The Android 4.2 Jelly Bean-based Galaxy Trend 3 bears a 4.3-inch TFT WVGA (480x800 pixel) display, and is powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. It comes with dimensions 129.7x66.95x9.4mm and weighs 128 grams.

Samsung's Galaxy Trend 3 features a 1800mAh battery backing the device, and as of yet, the company has not released estimated battery life figures. A dual-SIM device, the Trend 3 has support for dual standby. Connectivity options on the device include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS/AGPS, Micro-USB and 3G. The device does not come with NFC or LTE support. The Trend 3 sports a 3-megapixel rear camera with no flash.

The new budget smartphone from Samsung will be available in three colour variants - Black, Powder Pink, and White. It will also feature preloaded apps, including Samsung's App store and ChatON instant messenger.

Recently, a new mid-range smartphone, the Galaxy Trend was listed on Samsung's India online storefor Rs. 8,700. However, there were no details on the availability of the device, with the page only providing a 'Notify Me' option for consumers. So far, a Galaxy Trend 2 smartphone has not made an official appearance yet.

The Samsung Galaxy Trend comes with a 4-inch WVGA (480x800 pixel) TFT display and is powered by a 1GHz processor (unspecified chipset). It is a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) smartphone and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with TouchWiz 4.0 UI on top. Other specifications include a 3-megapixel rear camera with no flash, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of inbuilt storage, expandable storage up to 32GB via microSD card, and a 1500mAh battery.

Mobiles launched in September 2013

Samsung Galaxy Trend 3 key specifications

• 4.3-inch TFT WVGA (480x800) display
• 1.2GHz dual-core processor (unspecified chipset)
• 3-megapixel rear camera
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• 129.7x66.95x9.4mm and weighs 128 grams
• Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) with dual standby

Samsung set to launch two sub-Rs. 15,000 smartphones in September

Samsung India is set to launch two sub-Rs. 15,000 smartphones in the country this month, according to 

a company spokesperson, a move that should intensify the competition in the bustling mid-range segment of the Indian mobile market.

The Korean company, which has a 49 percent share in India's smartphone segment, will offer options in local languages to attract non-English speaking customers.

"We will be launching two new smartphones priced for the mid-segment market. Every phone from Samsung will have nine vernacular language options," Samsung Country Head (Mobile Business) Vineet Taneja told PTI, without mentioning the prices.

However, a company official said the phones may be priced in the Rs. 5,000-15,000 range. Most mobile phones sold in India are within this price range, including the Nokia Lumia 520 and Lumia 620, Blackberry Curve series, and the Micromax Canvas and Xolo smartphone series.

The Samsung phones will offer access to content and applications in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati.

"The competition now in the smart phone market is how to make the phone size small without compromising on the screen size," Taneja said.

The company is set to launch its premium high-end smartphone, the Galaxy Note 3, on Tuesday. Samsung currently offers about 17 smartphones priced between Rs. 5,000 (Samsung Star) and Rs. 39,000 (Galaxy S4).

Taneja said the company is focusing on the mid-end to high-end smart phone market and will provide dual-SIM option in all handsets.

"Going forward, you will see more and more dual-SIM phones coming up," he said.

According to telecom magazine Voice&Data, Samsung toppled Nokia from its leadership position in the financial year 2012-13 with revenue of Rs. 11,328 crore and a 31.5 percent market share. Nokia's market share stood at 27.2 percent.