The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Actor Song Joong-ki still hungry for new movie roles

  • 3

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 5

    Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data

  • 7

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 9

    All BTS members renew contract with BigHit

  • 11

    K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action

  • 13

    Deoksu Palace's reconstructed Dondeokjeon hall to open to public

  • 15

    Hyundai Steel decides to form steel pipe unit

  • 17

    LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system

  • 19

    SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea

  • 2

    K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran

  • 4

    S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul

  • 6

    Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z

  • 8

    Harvest season arrives

  • 10

    Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo eliminated in 2nd round at Hangzhou Asiad

  • 12

    Serial killer transferred to detention center in Seoul equipped with execution chamber

  • 14

    Over half of Koreans want continuous strengthening of alliance with US: poll

  • 16

    Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts

  • 18

    EXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees

  • 20

    S. Korea-US alliance will end NK regime in event of nuclear weapons use, Yoon says

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
Wed, September 27, 2023 | 15:19
Tech
LG takes on Xiaomi, Huawei with new cheap phones
Posted : 2016-01-11 17:03
Updated : 2016-01-11 19:08
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Electronics, Korea's No. 2 smartphone producer, plans to take on two leading Chinese producers - Xiaomi and Huawei - in a pre-emptive measure to offset the effects of "China attacks" on the local mobile industry.

On Monday, LG said it will begin selling its latest cheaper smartphone dubbed as "K10" starting January 14 with the country's three mobile carriers from SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus.

The suggested retail price for the LG mobile will be around 200,000 won per unit without subsidy from the domestic telecoms. A consumer who signs up with one of the carriers for a monthly pricing plan may get the LG phone for less than 60,000 won, according to LG officials.

"The reason why LG is strengthening its budget mobile lineup is because of growing influence of cheap Chinese devices to local consumers. If LG fails to get support from domestic consumers, then it will make things much more complicated in other markets," said an executive at one of LG's technology affiliates by telephone.

Such growing concerns are because of the explosive growth of Chinese phones such as Xiaomi and Huawei because the Chinese manufacturers have burned LG and even the global leader Samsung Electronics in the Chinese market.

Samsung was far and away the top selling phone in China until early 2014. It has since that time plunged to No. 5. LG's position in China, the world's single biggest mobile market, was pushed back out of the "top 5" list.

"Competition will be getting much fiercer. LG sees solid demand for premium mobile phones; however, we have to admit that more consumers prefer to purchase less expensive phones with better pricing and competitive features," said another LG official.

Such a trend is also pushing local carriers to promote affordable phones.

SK Telecom will start receiving orders of its "Idol 3" smartphone manufactured by Alcatel One Touch sometime this week. Suggested retail price for the Idol 3 will be around 300,000 won per unit without a subsidy plan.

The smallest local carrier LG Uplus said the Huawei Y6 model has so far sold over 10,000 units a month since its launch.

While experts say the growing popularity of "made-in China" phones will have limited impact on Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer is also planning to release its new budget models in Korea to prevent market share decline, according to Samsung officials.

Samsung's new "Galaxy A" model will be available this week through the three local carriers.

With an appealing design, the A model will support the Samsung Pay mobile payment system and be featured with an advanced camera.

The A series will be available with three variants ― 5.5-inch, 5.2-inch and 4.7-inch screens, according to sources.

The suggested retail prices for the devices will be between 300,000 won and 500,000. Samsung decided to ride on budget phones after it released "Galaxy J7" last November.

Consumers waiting for new budget models will experience advanced hardware features, meaning that the cheap prices don't mean lesser quality.

The Idol 3 is equipped with a 5.5-inch full high-definition screen with the device embedding an octa-core application processor and 13-megapixels.

The LG's K10 will support a 5-megapixel front camera and a 13-megapixel rear camera in a 5.3-inch high-definition screen.

"It remains to be seen whether the growing preference for budget mobile phones in Korea may bring real change, so long as premium phones continue to sell well. Samsung and LG can't afford to sell their top phones any cheaper than they are selling them now," said one official.

On a related note, the No. 2 mobile carrier KT recently suspended selling the Xiaomi brand smartphones only two days after it started selling them at its online shopping site Interpark in what officials say revolves around legal issues.


Emailyckim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul
2Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data
3Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students
4Seoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemic Seoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemic
5[INTERVIEW] Wellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration INTERVIEWWellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration
6For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam
7BOK warns of worsening household debt situation BOK warns of worsening household debt situation
8Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture
9Over 100 money changers face suspensions, fines, criminal charges Over 100 money changers face suspensions, fines, criminal charges
10POSCO International to enter US grain market POSCO International to enter US grain market
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
2Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love
3Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
4[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
5K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group