Published 11:58 IST, January 25th 2019
This is Xiaomi’s first Android Go phone, the Redmi Go
Xiaomi is indeed working on an entry-level Android Go smartphone and it is most likely going to be called the Redmi Go
Xiaomi is indeed working on an entry-level Android Go smartphone and it is most likely going to be called the Redmi Go. Being an Android Go phone means three things. The Redmi Go will come with bare-bones hardware and it will be largely focused towards emerging markets like India. Not to mention, the Redmi Go will be dirt cheap. Xiaomi, or more precisely its new sub-brand Redmi, is looking to kickstart things with Philippines but it won’t be long before the Redmi Go arrives in other markets.
Xiaomi’s Philippines wing has started teasing the Redmi Go hinting at an imminent launch. Moreover, Xiaomi’s official partner in Philippines, aka Lazada, has already listed the Redmi Go leaving nothing to the imagination with regards to design and specs. Only its price and availability have been kept under the wraps for now, but things might change soon enough on this front as well.
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 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor clubbed with 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage which will be expandable by up to 128GB via a micro-SD card slot. The dual-SIM phone will support 4G LTE connectivity and pack a 3,000mAh battery.
On the camera front, the Redmi Go will come with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera.
It is a little disappointing that the Redmi Go will run Android 8.1 Oreo Go edition and not Android Pie out-of-the-box but at least it will be a completely stock experience like the one we see in Xiaomi’s Android One-backed Mi A2. Being an Android Go phone will also mean that the Redmi Go will most likely be updated faster than Xiaomi phones with MIUI software.
Xiaomi already has a capable entry-level Redmi 6A with a modern design and better hardware which sells at a starting price of Rs 5,999. Going by Xiaomi’s track record, the Redmi Go should arrive with a price tag of under Rs 5,000 which will make it a viable alternative for plethora of feature phone users looking to make the switch to an actual smartphone.
Updated 12:06 IST, January 25th 2019