Smartphones with a display size of 5-inch and a price tag of US$300-400 have become mainstream models of the entry-level smartphone segment, attracting not only China-based handset suppliers but also international brands including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sony Mobile Communications and HTC to launch new 5-inch models for the market, according to industry sources.

　　To counter competition from China-based players, Sony Mobile launched its first entry-level 5-inch model, the Xperia C, in China and other markets starting late June 2013, indicated the sources, adding that Sony Mobile shipped nearly one million units of the Xperia C in three months after the launch.

　　HTC enhanced its offerings of 5-inch models by launching three additional models, the Desire 709d, Desire 7060 and Desire 7088, recently in China. The devices were launched in cooperation with China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom, respectively.

　　The three models, available for around US$350 unlocked, all come with a 5-inch screen with a qHD resolution and a Qualcomm 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 CPU and an 8-megapixel camera at the back, while supporting dual-SIM functionality.

　　Also targeting the large-size smartphone segment, LG's 5.5-inch model, the LG G pro Lite, is set to be available in November. Having hardware specifications comparable to its latest flagship model the G2, a 16GB version of the G pro Lite is likely to be available for US$350, the sources estimated.

　　LG's planned launch of the Nexus 5 in cooperation with Google will also serve as an important hardware indicator for other brands to follow, commented the sources.