According to data gathered by market research firm Atlas Research & Consulting, the dual-screen smartphone didn’t even crack the top 10 in domestic smartphone sales from October 8 to October 14, the V10’s first week of availability in South Korea. More specifically, the V10 landed in the number 15 spot, with the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 topping the list. In general, Samsung dominated the top 10 list, with the Galaxy S6, Galaxy Grand Max, Galaxy Sense, and the Galaxy A5 also making it to the list.
Interestingly, pricing could be playing a factor in the V10’s lack of sales. LG already lowered the price of the handset to 700,000 won, or $615, but it was seen more as a catch-up move than proactive thinking. Both Apple and Samsung lowered the price of the 16GB iPhone 6S and the Galaxy S6, respectively, to the same price, with mobile carriers further reducing the prices of these handsets.
In short, by reducing the prices of their handsets, Apple and Samsung created a tough environment for the V10 even before it launched, and with the Galaxy Note 5 topping sales in South Korea since initial availability in the region in August, things look somewhat grim for the V10.
Unfortunately, LG has already been down this road with the G4, which also saw lackluster sales in LG’s home country during a three-month span. U.S. availability of the G4 didn’t prevent analysts from losing some faith in LG’s mobile division, and even though the data only accounts for a week’s worth of sales, it’s to be seen whether the V10’s upcoming availability in the U.S. and China can bolster sales.
