JioPhone Next price revealed by Reliance; leaked retail packaging confirms key specifications

Earlier this year (2021), Indian telecom provider Reliance Jio announced that it would be launching the ultra-affordable JioPhone's successor. Dubbed as the JioPhone Next, it was slated to be the world's most affordable Android smartphone. We can expect to see the device in action soon at its tentative November 5 launch, which also happens to coincide with the Indian festival of Diwali. A new leak tells us pretty much everything we know about the JioPhone Next.

Twitter user Bhupendra Choudhary managed to get his hands on the JioPhone Next, complete with its retail packaging, which conveniently has all of the phone's specifications listed on it. For starters, the JioPhone Next will pack a 5.4-inch HD+ panel and a 3,500mAh battery. A Qualcomm 215 (QM215) chipset will power the smartphone, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The latter is expandable up to 512GB via a micro SD card.

Other JioPhone Next specs include a 13MP sensor at the back, an 8MP front-facing camera and a 3.5mm audio jack. Dual-SIM functionality is also supported, although it isn't clear if both slots will be 4G LTE capable. Given the limited amount of system resources, the JioPhone Next will run Android Go; a stripped-down version of the operating system. It will be customised with PragatiOS (Hindi for progress) and will include the entire suite of Jio apps such as Jio Cinema, Jio Music, Jio Games, and more

Bhupendra adds that the JioPhone Next will cost Rs 1,999 (US$27) upfront and that the remaining amount can be paid over a span of 18 or 24 months. Alternatively, one can also purchase the smartphone with a one-time payment of Rs 6,499 (US$86). Refer to the attached image for the list of JioPhone Next plans.

The low upfront cost of the JioPhone Next makes it an attractive buy for people on a tight budget. While it pretty much restricts your ability to switch providers for up to two years, it is easier for many low-income users to pay Rs 300 (US$4) per month rather than Rs 6,499 at one time. Besides, the JioPhone Next is somewhat overpriced at that amount, compared to similarly-priced offerings such as the Redmi 9A and Realme C11.

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