Jio silently launches hotspot device JioFi2 with OLED display
17 Sep 2016
Reliance has silently launched a new hotspot device, succeeding the current JioFi model, with a larger battery and a notable redesign. The JioFi 2 is available in Reliance Digital, Xpress and Xpress Mini stores in select cities across India, and retails at the same price as the original JioFi at Rs1,999.
Reliance JioFi 2 isn't listed on the company's official website like its predecessor, but surfaced online after a Twitter user shared photos of the new device. By the looks of it, everything from the packaging to the way it looks is largely changed in the JioFi 2. It comes in a cylindrical packing as compared to the square box of the original JioFi.
The new JioFi 2 is bigger and sports a square shape with a matte finish, while the JioFi had a tiny oval shaped glossy shell. But the biggest change, as we can see it, is the OLED display embedded within the JioFi 2 to show notifications such as power status, battery life and Wi-Fi signal strength. The increase in size is due to the larger battery packed inside the JioFi 2, which measures 2,600mAh as compared to JioFi's 2,300mAh unit.
According to its maker, the new JioFi 2 battery is said to last 5 hours, which is less than the 6 hours on the original JioFi. Also, the number of devices it can connect simultaneously has been reduced to ten, whereas the original JioFi could support up to 31 but recommended only ten for optimum user experience.
Reliance JioFi lets you connect not just 4G devices, but also 3G phones via its hotspot network, which gives users the luxury to enjoy Jio services without upgrading the current smartphone. Users can download JioJoin app to make HD calls for free and everything users with Jio SIM cards get.
At Rs1,999, the upgraded JioFi 2 is certainly a steal. The hotspot gear comes with Jio's Welcome Offer, giving unlimited data, calls and SMS to users until 31 December. Reliance Jio hasn't clarified this, but the same plans are expected to be applied for JioFi devices starting 1 January 2017.
