Saudi Arabia is witnessing an overwhelming demand for value smartphones, bolstered by growing device availability at lower price points, according to insights from GCC-born mobile maker, Four. Saudi Arabia accounts for one-fifth of smartphones shipments in the Middle East, standing as the largest market for smartphones in the region, International Data Corporation (IDC) figures showed. Yet the Kingdom's mobile savvy population is increasingly looking for a bigger bang for their buck when making a purchase, marked by a growing thirst for competitively priced, spec-packed smartphones, said Faisal Al Bannai, ‘Four' Founder and CEO. "Saudi shoppers are incredibly price-conscious, and they recognize that today they can get a device with the same functionality as a branded product, but at a fraction of the cost," Al Bannai said. "And with advances in technology, the difference in quality is almost negligible. When comparing their options, Saudis are asking, ‘Why should I pay three times the price if both phones have the same capability?' And this is precisely what is driving interest in value products." Consumer preferences in Saudi mirror those in the region. According to figures from IDC, smartphones priced under $200 (SR750) accounted for 20% of smartphone shipments in the Middle East in Q4 of 2014, up from just 5% the previous year. Last year, IDC's Mobile Phone Tracker showed that smartphones comprise 75% of the phones shipped in the GCC, with buyers increasingly migrating to 4G handsets as the market matures. This trend has been fueled by falling prices and rising competition among manufacturers, both global and regional, to serve this rapidly growing market segment. Among them is ‘Four', a GCC-based mobile maker that made waves when it entered the market for value phones last year. Set to be a game changer in the regional market for affordable handsets, Four recently launched its S500 – the lowest priced 4G LTE smartphone in the Kingdom. The device is priced at just SR299, significantly undercutting others in the same product category. Featuring a slick 5-inch touchscreen display, the S500 comes pre-loaded with Android 5.1, and a powerful Mediatek Quad Core processor to allow for a smooth user experience. It also features a sharp 5MP primary camera, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of ROM. Four's latest release is part of its ongoing endeavor to make the smartphone experience more accessible, offering value without compromising on quality. "Saudi Arabia is progressing rapidly in its telecommunications infrastructure, and we believe that everyone, regardless of income level and financial capacity, should be able to experience the promise of mobile connectivity," Al Bannai said. "By offering a powerful smartphone that delivers on performance but is economical in price, we can enable more people to enjoy the smartphone experience, allowing them to effortlessly connect with their friends and loved ones." The Four S500 is available nationwide at all axiom stores, axiom's partner retailers, and its distribution network. — SG
