Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 3G and 4G models
25 Nov 2014
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi yesterday launched the much-anticipated Redmi Note 3G and 4G models, at Rs8,999 and Rs9,999 respectively, The Hindu reported.
Pre-orders for the 3G Note are slated to start on 25 November at 6 pm through e-commerce retailer Flipkart while the 4G Note would be available across Airtel stores in six cities from the second half of next month.
The dual-sim smartphone is powered by an 8-core, MTK 6592 1.7 Ghz processor, 5.5'' HD IPS display, 3,100 mAh lithium-polymer battery. It also features a 13 MP primary and 5 MP front-facing camera. The 200-gram phone comes with 5 sensors – a gyroscope, a light, an accelerometer and proximity, and electronic compass - for intuitive performance.
The 4G Note features a 1.6GHz Quadcore Snapdragon processor with 2GB RAM, 8GB internal flash memory with external microSD slot supporting up to 64GB storage and 5.5-inch HD display with 13MP and 5MP cameras.
Xiaomi, which entered India in July, created a stir in the smartphone market with its low-priced but feature-rich smartphones. The company sells through Flipkart, and is estimated to have sold about half a million Redmi devices and 1.2 lakh Mi3 handsets.
Meanwhile, ET reported that Xiaomi, the world's third-largest smartphone vendor, plans to start manufacture of the devices in India and is in talks with manufacturing partners in China to extend their support to making phones here.
The four-year-old start-up, which displaced Samsung from the top slot in China, might start assembling handsets, possibly within two years in India. India is expected to emerge as its most crucial overseas market. The company had planned to acquire Nokia's now-defunct manufacturing plant near Chennai for assembly but failed to follow through because the large component ecosystem required to make smartphones in the country was not available.
According to Manu Jain, head of Xiaomi's India operations, the company had started talking to a number of potential partners to see if they could assemble the phones for Xiaomi, ET reported.
He added the company was beginning to explore, along with these partners, what were the regulatory constraints, the financials around it, how much investment was needed, and tax implications of setting up a manufacturing plant as it was far more complicated.
He added, it would be the longest lead-time activity the company would do in India.
