Acer re-enters India's smartphone market through licensing deal with Bengaluru-based Indkal

Acer old-gen phones

Taiwanese tech giant Acer Incorporated is making a comeback into the Indian smartphone market through a brand licensing deal with Bengaluru-based Indkal Technologies, which will design, manufacture, and distribute Acer-branded phones in the country.

Indkal Technologies will launch a wide range of smartphone models under the Acer brand in mid-2024, expecting to build strong momentum and a significant market share quickly.

“Since its establishment in 1987, the Acer brand mission has always been to break barriers between people and technology. We are excited that Indkal Technologies will further this mission in India by providing a wide range of smartphones under the Acer brand that expands end-user choices and enrich their experience in the Indian market," Jade Zhou, VP of Global Strategic Alliances at Acer Incorporated, said.

Both the companies will focus on smartphones priced between Rs 15,000 and Rs 50,000, this market will now see strong competition.

“Acer smartphones are something we have been working on for a couple of years and we are ecstatic to finally announce the foray. With Acer smartphones, we are certain that Indian consumers are in for a treat," Anand Dubey, CEO of Indkal Technologies, said in a joint statement.

Acer-branded smartphones will be available for purchase through both e-commerce platforms and offline retail stores across the country, ensuring widespread accessibility for consumers.

Acer will be competing with the likes of Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme, Vivo and Transsion Group-backed Tecno, Infinix and Itel smartphone makers that have a strong presence in sub-Rs 20,000 price category.

Chinese brands Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and others have captured 75 percent of the Indian market share by volume.

Notably, Acer has identified India as the base for its maiden subsidiary, Acerpure, which the company floated in 2020 for its appliances business.

Acer has plans to manufacture and export appliances such as water and air purifiers, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners from India.

Noida-based Dixon is making Acer-branded consumer durable products, having also signed a manufacturing deal for laptops and tablets in the country.