Samsung has still not revealed if its recently launched Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 (in China) from newly floated C-series will be released in India and other markets, but it appears imminent going by the hints surrounding it. At least the device with model number SM-C5000, believed to be the Galaxy C5, has been spotted on Zauba, a website that tracks imports and exports in India, which can be taken as a hint of a release plan.
There were reports doing the rounds that the Samsung Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 are meant for Chinese market only but that may not be the case. The devices have reportedly received the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) certification, which means it is likely to come to the United States.
Samsung fans in India will be eager to see the new handsets from the C family, but it appears like its business will be determined by its price. The Galaxy C5 is priced at 2199 Yuan (around $335/Rs. 22,500) for the 32GB variant, and the 64GB model comes with a price tag of 2399 Yuan (around $365/Rs. 24,500). The Galaxy C7 is priced at 2599 Yuan (around $396/Rs. 26,600) for the 32GB model, and 2799 Yuan (around $427/Rs. 28,600) for the 64GB.
The South Korean electronics giant is yet to reveal Indian pricing of the devices, however, it appears like they will be priced between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 30,000 in all probability. Interestingly, RTN website has claimed in a report citing distributor sources that the Galaxy C5 will be priced at around Rs. 26,000, and the Galaxy C7 at Rs. 30,000.
The price of the Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 mentioned in the reports are not confirmed yet, but if it falls between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 30,000 as speculated, they will face a stiff competition from several devices, especially the Xiaomi Mi 5 and just released OnePlus 3.
The Xiaomi Mi 5 is priced at Rs 24,999 (1999 Yuan/around $300) for the 32GB version in India. The 64GB internal memory and 3GB RAM model comes with a price tag of 2,299 Yuan (around $351), and the 128GB storage and 4GB RAM variant is priced at 2,699 Yuan (around $413), but they are yet to hit the stores. On the other hand, the OnePlus 3 is priced at Rs. 27,999 in the Indian market.
However, the Samsung Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 don't stand a chance against the likes of the Xiaomi Mi 5 and the OnePlus 3 as far specifications are concerned. So, it appears like releasing the devices with price on par with the flagships from other companies will be a risky move. It won't come as a surprise if Samsung sells its handsets from C-series in India with a "lower than expected price."
