Samsung’s first Tizen smartphone, the Indian-market Z1, has received a “frosty” welcome, according to Reuters, with its features and app catalogue coming under fire.

Among the features criticised were the 3.1MP main and VGA front cameras, which Reuters said a shopper had described as “like a phone from 2010”. And the lack of apps for the platform is also an issue, despite Samsung offering to pay 100 per cent of revenue from sales and in-app purchases to developers – for a device that has no users.

Reuters also noted that India already has an active domestic device maker base, many of which offer higher-spec, lower-cost Android devices. India has been a target market for Google’s Android One programme – Karbonn’s Sparkle V, with 5MP main and 2MP front cameras, and Android app and content support, costs INR5,400 ($88), compared with INR5,700 for the Tizen device.

The launch of Tizen has already been much-delayed, in small part due to the vendor’s efforts to build a compelling apps and content ecosystem. Samsung trumpeted “localised entertainment apps” as part of its proposition for the Indian market.