Xiaomi Redmi Go will be a Flipkart exclusive in India, launch set for March 19

Xiaomi is gearing to launch what could be its most affordable smartphone to date in India – the Android Go-based Redmi Go. Xiaomi will launch the Redmi Go in India on March 19, and the company is now teasing a couple of India-specific nuggets the phone will pack – in addition to the fact that the Redmi Go will be sold exclusively via Flipkart (and quite possibly also via Xiaomi’s own Mi.com/in store). 

The Redmi Go is already a go in select markets which means we already know everything about it. Xiaomi says the Redmi Go India variant will natively support 20+ regional languages and a Google Assistant that will be able to understand the Hindi language. 

As is the case with all Android Go phones, the Redmi Go will also be geared towards an audience that is looking to make a switch from a feature phone to a smartphone – without burning a hole in their pocket. The main USP of the Xiaomi Redmi Go will be Android Go software which is essentially a trimmed down version of the stock Android software you find in Google’s own Pixel phones – it is a step down from Google’s Android Go specifically designed for entry-level phones with bare-bones hardware (with less than 1GB of RAM).  

Xiaomi already has an entry-level Redmi 6A that it sells in India at a starting price of Rs 5,999 – the Redmi Go should be even more affordable. In fact, more than Xiaomi, the Redmi Go will be an opportunity for Google’s Android Go to shine (finally) - needless to say, a lot will depend on its pricing. 

Speaking of specs, the Redmi Go is an entry-level Android Go phone boasting of an all-plastic body and a conventional 5-inch 16:9 display with 720p resolution. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor clubbed with 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage which is expandable using a dedicated micro-SD card slot. The dual-SIM phone supports 4G LTE connectivity and pack a 3,000mAh battery. On the camera front, the Redmi Go comes with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. 

It is a little disappointing that the Redmi Go runs Android 8.1 Oreo Go edition out-of-the-box and not Android Pie but at least it will be a completely stock experience like the one we see in Xiaomi’s Android One-backed Mi A2. Hopefully it will be updated to Pie soon enough.  

Also Read:  This Is Xiaomi’s First Android Go Phone, The Redmi Go