Sales of low-cost smartphones increased by 40%, push-button phones increased 10-15 times

On September 16, telecommunications networks will no longer support phones using 2G Only technology, forcing users to switch to 4G phones before that time. Currently, users are rushing to buy 4G push-button phones and cheap smartphones under 5 million VND, causing sales of this segment in retail systems to grow rapidly.

According to Mr. Tran Duc Tin, Director of Mobile Telecommunications, Mobile World Joint Stock Company, people are actively changing 2G Only phones to 4G push-button phones and low-cost smartphones, causing the sales volume of these segments at Mobile World to grow rapidly. The number of low-cost 4G smartphones sold in the past time has increased by 30% compared to previous months. In addition, sales of 4G push-button phones have also increased by 10-15 times.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Dat, CEO of Mobile World, also said that in the system, smartphone products in the segment from 2-7 million VND are the choice of the majority of users switching from 2G to 4G devices in the past time. Smartphone sales in this segment in June and July increased by about 30% compared to May.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Khue, representative of Viettel Store system, also shared that at nearly 500 Viettel Store supermarkets nationwide, the system is busy with the process of converting 2G devices to 4G for customers, even mobilizing staff from the office to support points of sale due to the sudden increase in demand. The demand for converting 2G devices to 4G since the beginning of August has increased by 30% compared to before the information about turning off 2G signal.

Meanwhile, Mr. Huy Nguyen, Communications Manager of CellphoneS system, also informed that the fact that some network operators are gradually turning off 2G waves has had a strong impact on the purchasing power of 4G phones in recent times, especially in the feature phone line. Sales of push-button phones priced under 1.5 million VND sold in the first days of August increased 4-5 times compared to the previous month. In particular, for smartphone products in the segment under 5 million, the growth rate was 30-40% compared to the same period last month.

Mr. Nguyen The Kha, Commercial Director of FPT Shop System, said that the system has prepared for the program of exchanging phones from 2G to 4G throughout the past year with the following privileges: Exchange 2G phones or old, broken phones... with a subsidy of up to 600 thousand VND so that customers can easily upgrade their phones and own a new smartphone with prices starting from only 2.49 million VND. And the program is being positively received by the store, with sales increasing 1.5 times per month.

All phones under 3 million VND in the system have sales volume accounting for 20%, of which the segment from 2-3 million VND accounts for about 10%. Users have diverse choices from brands such as Samsung, Realme, Xiaomi and especially new product groups such as Honor sold exclusively at FPT Shop.

Popular phone brands such as Masstel or Nokia have also upgraded a wide variety of models to replace each 2G product line since the beginning of 2023. Meanwhile, smartphone brands Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme or Honor are bringing many product lines down to the low segment of 2-3 million VND to encourage customers to upgrade from 2G straight to low-cost smartphones, instead of upgrading popular phones equipped with 4G.

Many programs support users to upgrade their phones to 4G

Mr. Tran Duc Tin said that to support users to easily change their phones from 2G to 4G, the system has implemented many programs such as: Customers who buy 4G push-button phones will receive a 30% discount when buying a SIM card; for low-cost smartphones, the system has a 0 VND prepayment program, users only need to take the phone home to use and pay in installments with 0% interest rate every month; in addition, the system also gives customers a free 3-month unlimited 4G data SIM card.

Meanwhile, Viettel Store also launched a program to exchange 2G devices for 4G devices, which will give you a chance to win a Honda motorbike, receive a new device subsidy of up to 1 million VND, and 6 months of free 4G data. Especially, there is a 1-for-1 warranty policy within 60 days.

At Mobile World, an additional subsidy of VND 200,000 is available for all 2G phones, including dead phones (phones that no longer work) when customers upgrade to 4G. In addition, customers will receive a free 4G SIM when purchasing a phone, a long-term warranty of up to 2 years, a battery warranty of up to 10 years, 0 VND down payment and 0% interest installment payment.

At CellphoneS, customers who buy some smartphone models from Samsung, Oppo, and Xiaomi will receive a subsidy of 100,000 - 500,000 VND.