Samsung’s failure to make its presence felt in the mid-range phone segment in India enabled brands like Xiaomi and Motorola to dominate the price bracket. However, with the Galaxy On Max, it looks like Samsung is finally entering the price-to-specs battle, that has been underway for a while now.
Priced at Rs 16,990, the Samsung Galaxy On Max claims to offer the best low-light camera in the budget segment, with its Galaxy flagship-like f/1.7 aperture and 13-megapixel rear camera. But interestingly, if you go by the design and features, the Galaxy On Max is the mirror image of the Galaxy J7Max (Check it out here).
Back to Basics
For once, I am happy that Samsung is willing to get its hands dirty in the price battle. It has been a while since they displayed some aggressiveness with a product, especially when you compare it with the likes of the Galaxy J series – which offered HD 1280x720 pixels display quality for upwards of Rs 10,000.
What has worked in Samsung’s favour is its availability in the offline market, something that Xiaomi and Motorola haven’t capitalised on. But with the Galaxy On Max, Samsung is clearly going back to the basics. By offering this phone exclusively online, Samsung manages to pass on the price benefit to consumers.
Everyone Wants a Big Phone
What Samsung has also done with the Galaxy On Max is that it has made the phone bigger than the usual suspects like Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and the Moto G5 Plus.
Armed with a 5.7-inch display, Samsung is here to please buyers (by giving them everything they want at competitive prices). This is what the market has been craving for, and Samsung has finally given in.
Also, there’s no denying that while the 5.5-inch phone has become the norm, Samsung has made it even a sweeter deal by offering a 5.7-inch display with the Galaxy On Max.
Good Camera is a Must
The Galaxy On Max is being pitched as a budget camera that is capable of clicking some quality low-light pictures. The phone’s camera offers f/1.7 aperture, but that doesn’t mean the camera sensor is as good as the ones that the Galaxy S7 and S8 comes with. The price difference of over Rs 35K is proof.
It is important to note that most people have become accustomed to quality cameras on budget phones – think Redmi Note 4, Moto G5 Plus, and the likes.
Also Read: Moto G5 Plus vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: Camera Shoot Comparison
Android Updates, Please
And finally, the much-needed Android reboot. Samsung isn’t as proactive as Motorola when it comes to updating its existing devices, but they aren’t the worst either.
It’s good to see the Android 7.0 Nougat on offer with the Galaxy On Max out-of-box, but the Korean brand needs to be consistent and fast with its future update roll outs.
Is It Worth It?
It is too early to say whether the Galaxy On Max is worth buying over the Moto G5 Plus. But at Rs 16,900, with 4GB of RAM, a big size battery, and Samsung’s trusted service support, the Galaxy On Max could herald a new start for the brand, giving consumers more options to choose from.
The Quint will compare the cameras of the two phones in the next few days. Stay tuned.
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