According to findings by Techarc, 61 per cent of surveyed users in the under Rs 30,000 price segment upgrade their smartphone every year or earlier to seek better performance, while about 33 per cent of such users change their smartphones once every six months. The findings observed that the price-to-performance ratio of smartphones is declining, even as users want better-performing devices at an affordable price.

Meanwhile, the study further witnessed 86 per cent of the surveyed respondents agreeing that best performance smartphones should be affordable, in contrast, 84 per cent stated that smartphones with good performance comes at a premium price. A majority of respondents (60 per cent) further noted that there is no disruptive smartphone like OnePlus One, Poco F1, Redmi K20, and K20 Pro priced below Rs 30,000.

Commenting on the study, Faisal Kawoosa, founder and chief analyst, Techarc, said, “One of the key triggers for users foraying in under Rs 30,000 segment is owning smartphones which offer great performance coupled with speeds aligning with fast lifestyle.  Over the past few years, the segment has peaked in terms of innovation, and we can see most of the launches reaching a saturation level resulting in increasing disappointment upon usage. Earlier the segment had shown some industry disruptions like Redmi K20 among others.  These smartphones offered a very high price-performance ratio. The present user considers performance among top influencing factors during the purchase, however, it’s the second biggest challenge in terms of issues they face with the current devices users are owing within this segment.”

Key inferences from the study include:

  • Performance criteria of users – 144 Hz refresh rate, followed by flagship processor and fast charging tops the users’ wish-list for evaluating the performance of the device. The list is also indicative of what performance means for smartphone users in the category and need for a processor to support the experience they are seeking. Other
  • Best-in-class performance has to be affordable – The smartphone market is fragmented with users wanting more from their preferred brands.  86 per cent of respondents agree that best-in-class performance has to be affordable. Legacy brands such as OnePlus One, Redmi K20, K20 pro, and POCO F1 with disruptive innovation should cater to this segment.
  • Key attributes considered before making a purchase – Camera quality, operating system, technical superiority, video quality, and value for money are the top most important attributes they consider before they decide to buy a smartphone.
  • Technical superiority draws special attention among users – Processor and speed of user experience are a function of technical superiority which ranked highest among users. However, it is rated high on dissatisfaction as well. Consumers have settled for what they are getting within the price range, they want more from their devices.
  • Users are changing their devices every year in the segment – 61 per cent of the users change their device in a year or less, while one-third of the users change their device once in 6 months. While the need for staying updated becomes a major driver, other factors are predominantly performance-driven.
  • Need for a high-performance device is a major missing in the segment – Speed of the device is one of the major challenges users are facing followed by battery backup and technical glitches. The processor does not support the specs of the device, causing a subpar user experience overall. 87 per cent of users are willing to pay a premium for a better processor for a good performance and experience with the device.