Chennai: Chinese telecom firm Huawei, in its bid to compete in the ultra-premium segment, breached the $1,000 price ceiling in India with the launch of a four-camera 4G smartphone. The segment is currently dominated by Samsung and iPhone maker Apple.

The company is the first Chinese player to launch a premium device with such a price tag in India and second only to Apple in the nation.

Huawei India Consumer Business Group, country manager (Huawei Brand), Tornado Pan, said the smartphone, P30 Pro, is priced at Rs 71,990 ($1,038) because of high-end technology used in the device, which is certified by international body The World At Night (TWAN).

“India is a strategic market for us and we are committed to bringing in new products to the Indian market,” Pan said.

Pan said Huawei is looking at expanding its product portfolio in the market and will look at launching laptops, internet of thing (IoT) devices, wearables and others products available globally.

He said Huawei is encouraging its global suppliers to invest in India in order to build a mobile phone components ecosystem, as the company is aiming to locally manufacture 90 per cent of its phones by the end of this year.

The company also unveiled two models of P30 Lite which will be available in India for Rs 19,990 ($228) and Rs 22,990 ($331). Huawei P30 Pro will start selling on Amazon from 15 April for Amazon Prime members and from 16 April for regular customers and from 19 April, it will be available on Croma retail stores.

Pan did not share exact date for sale of P30 Lite but said it would be available in Croma retail stores from early next month.