With an aim to make a dent in the market share of Chinese brands in the Rs. 30,000- Rs. 40,000 segment, Samsung India on Wednesday launched Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) smartphone with flagship features for Rs. 32,990.

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) is company’s first smartphone to sport a dual-front camera and will be available on Amazon.in. It boasts of a large screen is supported with ergonomic curved glass on the back and front. The 6-inch Full-HD Super AMOLED Infinity Display goes beyond the bezel with an immersive 18.5:9 display ratio.

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It comes with the Always On Display, allowing users to get information at a glance without unlocking their phone. It also has virtual assistant Bixby.

The Galaxy’s A8+’s 16MP+8MP F1.9 dual-front camera setup allows consumers to take portrait shots. With the advanced Live Focus feature, one can easily adjust the bokeh effect before or after they take the picture to create high-quality images. The 16MP F1.7 rear camera snaps bright, clear pictures even in low-light conditions. The new device also allows consumers to customise their photos with fun options.

“This device will play in the 30-40k price segment allowing us to enter that market in a big way. Galaxy A8+ inherits some features from our other flagship devices Samsung S8, S8 Plus and Note 8,” Aditya Babbar, General Manager, Mobile Business, Samsung India, told IANS.

The handset is also equipped with Samsung Pay, allowing users to transact virtually anywhere they tap or swipe their card. The Galaxy A8+ comes with IP68 certification, making it water and dust resistance. It is also the first in the A series to support Samsung’s Gear VR.

Available in black and gold colours, the device sports Octa-Core Processor, Bluetooth v5.0 and 3,500 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) full specifications

• 4G VoLTE dual-SIM, Android 7.1.1 Nougat, Fingerprint sensor, Water and dust resistant body (IP68)
• 6-inch full-HD+ (1080 × 2220 pixels) Super AMOLED display
• Octa-Core Samsung Exynos 7885 14nm processor
• 4GB/ 6GB RAM , 32GB/ 64GB storage, expandable up to 256GB
• 16MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.7 aperture
• 16MP + 8MP front camera with f/1.9 aperture
• 3500mAh battery with USB Type-C adaptive fast charging

Asked about the features of the device that differentiates it from other smartphones in the segment, Babbar said Samsung was committed to meaningful innovation which can empower consumers to do more with a device.

“With Galaxy A8+, we are bringing our customers’ favourite features from our flagship smartphones, such as first dual-front camera with Live Focus. We are launching the device with metal and glass built in a segment that primarily features metal-built smartphones. Hence the big difference,” he said.

“IP68 is not available in this segment. The device will also have features like Samsung Pay. This is what the consumer was demanding and with Samsung A8+ we are giving them what they desired,” Babbar added.

“With the launch of this device, we are confident that we will consolidate our leadership further in the country,” Babbar told IANS.

Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018): Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) is priced at Rs. 32,990. It will be available exclusively from Amazon India starting from January 20.

When asked why the device is only available online, Babbar said: “We have seen consumer-exploring online as an option. The device is targeted to millennials who are more likely to buy it online. Hence the choice comes in.”

(Written with inputs from IANS)