India

Here’s how India is trying to be China in the smartphone game

The world’s second-largest smartphone market has more to offer

Published

March 23, 2020

Shivam Vahia

China is practically the world’s production powerhouse. And India wants to follow the same path. India’s Central government has approved three schemes to enable large scale electronics manufacturing and attract fresh investments worth almost INR 50,000 crore (US$ 6.3 billion) in the sector.

The government aims to provide companies a production-linked incentive of 4 percent to 6 percent on incremental sales for locally made goods over a period of five years. This not only includes mobile phone manufacturing but also assembly, testing, marking and packaging.

The other policy offers a 25 percent financial incentive for capital expenditure that goes towards “the manufacturing of goods that constitute the supply chain of an electronic product”. With these incentives, the government is optimistic that companies will come to India, contribute to progressing infrastructure, and make export-quality goods.

Inauguration of Samsung’s Noida Factory in India

According to their estimates, domestic value addition for mobile phones is expected to witness 35 to 40 percent jump by 2025, from the current 20-25 percent.

So far, companies have focused on assembling equipment like smartphones in India. A huge chunk of the components are still imported. These policy changes could act as a stimulant to locally source electrical components, semiconductors, as well as develop production clusters.

Bangalore and Hyderabad are infamous for their IT Tech Parks that house thousands of employees from IT service firms like TCS, Infosys, Accenture, and many more. Similarly, the government wants to create production clusters that can develop an eco-system of their own. These clusters can create a seamless supply chain when paired with proper land, air, and shipment infrastructure.

The timing of the announcement is what matters the most. China is embroiled in a trade war with the US for quite some time and we’ve seen how a giant like Huawei got caught in the cross-fire. Companies are skeptical about depending too much on China for production and sourcing. Hence, countries like Vietnam have witnessed a huge inflow of foreign investment from the likes of Nintendo, Foxconn, and even Samsung.

India is very much like Vietnam. A developing economy that’s on the look-out for foreign investment and enhances local production capabilities. This not only helps the government increase its tax revenue via taxation, but also provides employment. Considering the current Coronavirus crisis, it’s obvious that these plans may not materialize soon. But, as soon as the storm is gone, companies would want to find an alternative to China.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with Apple CEO, Time Cook

It’s reported that the alleged low-cost iPhone from Apple has been delayed due to the pandemic. Irrespective of the current health crisis, Apple has been trying to ramp up its local production in India and has done so, cautiously. India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market and every brand wants a piece of the cake. Realme and Xiaomi have been intensely fighting for supremacy, Samsung continues to lead via the offline market, and OPPO and Vivo have flooded all commercial banners with their products.

Xiaomi currently has seven plants in India, major ones being at Sri City and Sriperumbedur. It also makes its televisions in Tirupathi. Manu Kumar Jain, Vice President, Xiaomi, and Managing Director, Xiaomi India said that 95 percent of Xiaomi’s phones are made in India with 65 percent of a phone’s value being sourced locally. The government has been successful in compelling companies to make in India because it consistently kept on raising import duty on smartphones.

Samsung already has the world’s largest mobile phone factory in India that assembles top-tier variants, ready for export. We don’t know the volume it churns out right now, but their long-term investment is a precedent for other brands to take the market seriously. OnePlus has a research facility in Hyderabad where it makes software products intended for the Indian market.

Samsung’s factory in Noida, India

According to industry ICEA, the NOIDA region (a part of Delhi NCR) has close to 80 mobile manufacturing factories that provide employment to approximately 50,000 people. It’s normal today to see companies release press notes announcing new facilities across the country that’ll employ thousands of people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted the “Make in India” campaign five years ago to encourage foreign companies to invest and build in India. While its effects are debatable in a few industries, there’s no doubt that the mobile industry has picked up exponentially. State governments of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu have played a major role in establishing these clusters that symbolize progress.

Engineers are widely available in India, the country has developed multiple ports under the private-public model, and numerous airports are under construction. India is already the world’s second-largest smartphone maker, but the gap is huge. It’s about briding this. Obviously, the scale at which China produces is unmatchable. But that cannot undermine India’s efforts to be more relevant on the global stage. From a purely consumption-based economy, it’s slowly trying to turning into a production backed state.

Related Topics:Apple Foxconn Government of India Make in India Samsung Trade War US-China Trade War Vietnam Wistron Xiaomi

India

The vivo V60 is a rebadged vivo S30 for international markets

The first V-series phone with periscope telephoto lens

Published

August 12, 2025

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

vivo is just on time with its biannual refresh of the V-series.

After the V50 launched last February 2025, the Chinese company has just revealed the newest vivo V60 in India six months after.

Rebadged vivo S30

If you’ve been following vivo for quite some time, you won’t be surprised that the China-exclusive vivo S30 will be the next V-smartphone in their global roster.

For the most part, it is a rebadged vivo S30 for the international market.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Internals are identical: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 4nm 8-core SoC, Adreno 722 GPU, up to 16GB LPDDR4X memory and 512GB UFS 2.2 storage.

It may be a good or bad thing but the vivo V60 has an 8+128GB base model whereas the S30 starts with a bigger 12+256GB configuration.

Cameras are neither different: 50MP f/1.88 main, 8MP f/2.0 Ultra-Wide Angle (UWA), and 50MP f/2.2 selfie.

However, the vivo V60 now sports an additional 50MP f/2.65 periscope telephoto lens that its predecessor lacks. It’s also the same shooter found on the flagship-grade vivo X200.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

This newly-added camera is based on Sony’s widely-used IMX882 sensor and supports OIS (Optical Image Stabilization).

It can take 3x optically zoomed photos, and clear 10x shots through Stage Portrait Mode.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

50x zoomed shots is also possible via vivo’s all-new AI Hyper Zoom.

vivo’s signature ring flash dubbed “Aura Light Portrait 2.0” is here to stay.

A 6500mAh Si/C BlueVolt battery is also here alongside vivo’s speedy 90W FlashCharge standard.

Wireless charging is still absent but reversed wired charging is present for those who need it.

Dual IP68+IP69 water and dust resistance ratings also remain.

Not a total clone

The vivo V60 is not a total clone of the S30 as there are some differences that may or may not matter to most of you.

The vivo V60 has a slightly bigger 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED display but only with a Full HD+ resolution and pixel density of 388ppi.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The Chinese vivo S30 has a smaller 6.67-inch screen of the same tech, but with more resolution at 1.2K and tighter 460ppi.

As expected, the Chinese model runs OriginOS 5 while the latter still runs Funtouch OS 15 that are both based on Android 15 — shutting the rumor that vivo Global will adopt their Chinese OS in the new V-phone.

That also means vivo’s already rich AI prowess are ever-present with improvements in AI Erase and Image Expander as well as highlighting newly-added AI capabilities such as AI Magic Move, AI Photography Suite, and even AI Four-Season Portrait.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

As expected, the vivo V60 still rocks the ZEISS Camera System that its Chinese counterparts never had since the S18 Pro (Chinese version of the V30 Pro).

Indian vivo V60s are also expected to have an exclusive Wedding vLog and Portrait Studio presets.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Lastly, the vivo V60 has executed premium finishes and colorways: Auspicious Gold, Moonlit Blue, and Mist Gray.

That’s in contrast to S30’s pastel slash two-tone options derived from the S30 Pro mini (or X200 FE).

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Although the gold and blue options have glass backs, the gray one is made from plastic.

That also makes up for its varying thickness: 7.53mm (gray), 7.65mm (gold), 7.75mm (blue).

All in all, the vivo V60 is slightly thicker over the S30 (7.49mm).

Pricing and Availability

Although there’s no “V60 Pro mini” (nor a V60 Pro), the X200 FE already exists as the global version of China’s vivo S30 Pro mini.

And unlike the vivo X200 FE where it was launched first in Malaysia and Taiwan, the vivo V60 headlines the global launch in India.

Here are India’s specific pricing per configuration:

8+128GB = INR 36,999
8+256GB = INR 38,999
12+256GB = INR 40,999
12+512GB = INR 45,999

It will just be a matter of time which markets the vivo V60 will come right after India.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

It’s good to note though that vivo Malaysia already teases the V60 up on their website with two different colorways opposed to the Indian options: Berry Purple and Summer Blue.

India

Marshall Minor IV earbuds price, availability in India

Small in size, big on Marshall signature sound

Published

June 14, 2024

GadgetMatch

Marshall has unveiled the Minor IV True Wireless earbuds. This entry-level audio wearable sets new standards with Marshall signature sound, supreme comfort, and exceptional battery life. It will retail for INR 11,999 locally. Elsewhere, the product will be available from June 15 on Marshall.com.

Created for music lovers, the Minor IV features a 12mm dynamic driver that delivers expertly balanced sound. Design wise, it stands out with Marshall’s classic look, coming in a black-colored leather-like material. The brand logo is situated in front of the charging case. The water-resistant earbuds themselves feature a reangled design so it can fit better inside the ear canal.

The Minor IV earbuds can play music and other content for up to seven hours on their own. And with a charging case, the total playtime extends to more than 30 hours. When drained of power, the Minor IV will take just about over an hour to recharge. The case, meanwhile, will replenish back to full in two hours using USB-C charging.

Users will find it easy to navigate and manage calls with Marshall’s dedicated app. They may also connect multiple devices simultaneously with Bluetooth multipoint connectivity.

Along with the Major V, the new earbuds will support Bluetooth LE Audio soon. This technology allows the device to deliver higher audio quality, while also increasing the streaming range and improving audio sync.

India

India imposes a ban on imported laptops, tablets, and PCs

Personal orders are still allowed

Published

August 4, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

There’s no doubt that India is a major market for technology. While the country has its own brand preferences outside of the world’s usual, everyone still wants to get a piece of the market. To the dismay of global companies, the country is realizing the potential of its own market. Effective immediately, India has started restricting imports for new laptops, tablets, and PCs.

Recently, India made some headlines in the smartphone industry. A few companies, including Apple, have poured funds into building factories in India. Locally produced devices will allow these companies to attract the Indian market better. With the new regulations out today, it looks like these brands are going to enjoy a head start over others who aren’t in the country yet.

The Indian government introduced a new restriction (via Reuters) against the importation of “laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, and ultra-small form factor computers and servers” made from other countries. Customers, however, will get an exemption. Airline passengers can still bring in these devices in their luggage. Additionally, a single imported device is allowable when bought through e-commerce platforms. Companies can import their products only by applying for a special license.

In a nutshell, bulk orders without a license are out. The government is instead encouraging users to buy locally produced products as part of its “Make in India” program. At the very least, it’s not a total ban on foreign brands. For example, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are exempt from the regulations since they already have production facilities built in the country.