Cheap smartphones new rage

Budget and entry-level smartphones are seeing high demand from Thai users wanting to upgrade their phones to smart devices that support the Pao Tang mobile app to receive financial assistance from the government, according to mobile vendors.

Ravi Kunwar, general manager for Pan-Asia of HMD Global, a Finnish manufacturer of Nokia phones, said the company rolled out smartphones costing less than 3,000 baht last year and found buyers liked the product’s quality and software.

Last month the brand launched Nokia 1.4 — which can support the Pao Tang app — for 2,690 baht. The smartphone is designed to tap into the family market so that each member can use it to have virtual meetings and study remotely.

One advantage of the device is the…