Samsung bites into Apple in India: Galaxy Note8 sales beat iPhone 8

Samsung Galaxy Note8 that came to India last month and saw over 250,000 registrations within no time is selling like hot cakes and has left Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus behind in the race at the moment, industry sources said on Wednesday.

According to dealers, Galaxy Note8 sales are ahead when compared to iPhone8 and 8 Plus.

"For every 100 Galaxy Note8 being purchased, 60-70 iPhone8 and iPhone 8 Plus are being sold," a south Delhi-based dealer told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

According to Tarun Pathak, Associate Director, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research, the fight between Note8 and IPhone8 is finally going to be pretty close.

"We are looking at a neck-to-neck fight. What changes iPhone X will make to the scenario is yet to be seen but at the moment, Note8 is doing good in India and Apple users are waiting for iPhone X to arrive," Pathak told IANS.

Indian smartphone users have reiterated that lack of innovation, coupled with high prices of iPhone devices, stopped them from buying iPhone8 and 8Plus.

The iPhone 8 64GB costs Rs 64,000 while the 256GB variant will be available for Rs 77,000. The iPhone 8 Plus starts at Rs 73,000 for 64GB while the 256GB variant will cost Indian users Rs 86,000.

The iPhone X, which marks the 10th anniversary of the device, will be launched in India on November 3 and cost the users Rs 89,000 (64 GB model) and Rs 1.02 lakh (256 GB).

IANS found that people, who converged at several Apple reseller stores in the Delhi-NCR region after the new Apple flagships were made available in the country on September 29, were put off by "no or less innovation".

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