Micromax rumored to launch 4G VoLTE feature phone priced under Rs 2,500

The company is also rumored to launch an affordable smartphone priced under Rs 3,300.

Statistics indicate that following the launch of Reliance Jio services, the demand for 4G VoLTE enabled smartphones in India has grown almost two-fold. While it is known that the penetration of 4G services has witnessed an uptick with the commercial roll out of Reliance Jio services, there still lies a gap between smartphone and feature phone users, and despite smartphones becoming more affordable, feature phones account for 55 percent of all mobile phones. Now, manufacturers are aiming to bridge that gap while riding on the demand generated for affordable 4G VoLTE compatible devices.


While Lava has already launched a 4G feature phone, Micromax is reportedly planning to introduce an entry-level 4G VoLTE enabled feature phone to compete in the mobile markets where Chinese players have taken precedence. It may be recalled that Reliance Jio was also rumored to launch a 4G feature phone and even a leaked image of the device went viral on the social media. According to reports, Jio’s 4G VoLTE-enabled feature phone could cost between Rs 999 and Rs 1,500.

If the latest reports are to be believed, Micromax’s feature phone will essentially sit between the purported Jio 4G feature phone and the Lava 4G Connect M1 with a price tag under Rs 2,500. In addition to the speculated feature phone, Micromax is also aiming to launch a 4G VoLTE enabled smartphone that could be priced under Rs 3,300 and come bundled with digital payments feature.

Micromax, once India’s second-largest handset company, lost its market share owing to strong competition from Chinese players such as Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo. These manufacturers have gained a strong foothold in the Indian smartphone market with their affordable, stylish, and feature-rich mobile devices, leaving the native manufacturers out of the league.


According to a recent Counterpoint Research report, almost seven out of every 10 smartphones shipped were LTE capable, while eight out of every 10 LTE capable smartphones were VoLTE ready. Interestingly, the November research also found that the Indian mobile phone industry witnessed an uptick in feature phone shipments which still drives a sizeable population which is yet to ride the ‘smart’ phone bandwagon. Feature phone shipments grew two percent year-on-year and 23 percent quarter-on- quarter as feature phone to smartphone transition slowed down in recent quarters.
For the longest time, 4G VoLTE support had been limited to premium smartphones, but that has changed owing to the introduction of Jio services. As manufacturers increasingly look at offering more affordable options while also bridging the smartphone and feature phone gap, companies like Micromax could attempt to regain their market share by working towards building products which offer the latest technologies without compromising on the price.