Google and Reliance Jio have co-developed an affordable smartphone, the JioPhone Next, which runs on the indigenously built Pragati OS based on Android Go Operating System. At its core is the Snapdragon QM215 chipset, designed for Android Go (a less resource intensive version of Android) along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The JioPhone Next is certainly a big deal for millions of Indian users who still use basic feature phones. This is a made in India and made for India SmartPhone with the hope of ushering in millions of more Indians into the smartphone universe. This budget smartphone was launched in India on 4 November 2021.
JioPhone Next Black colour variant | Image credit: Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.
JioPhone Next specifications
The JioPhone Next was announced by Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and MD of Reliance Industries, at the company’s 44th AGM on 24th June 2021 and is made in partnership with Google. The JioPhone Next comes after the success of the JioPhone which itself is a blockbuster that has sold more than 110 million units. This feature-rich device has connected millions of Indians to the internet for the first time. The JioPhone Next arrives as a third phone from Jio, as the company had earlier introduced the JioPhone(2017) and the JioPhone 2(2018). Jio is marketing the newly introduced JioPhone Next as the most affordable 4G handset in India. This smartphone was launched in India on 4 November 2021. DMI Finance has tied up with Reliance Retail to offer EMI on JioPhone Next. Overall, JioPhone Next aims to add a new user base to the smartphone market. There are still over 200 million feature phone users in the country who would like to be a part of this. Although JioPhone Next is primarily targeted at rural customers, it seems that the smartphone is luring customers from other segments too. Till writing of this blog, the JioPhone Next received an extremely positive response from retailers and customers not only from rural areas, but from urban areas as well. This has been revealed by Reliance Retail, which is handling overall sales of the device. "The market response for the Pragati OS, especially its voice, camera and language features, has been very positive," Reliance Retail told the Economic Times. Complete specifications of the JioPhone Next are mentioned below.
Display:
jiophone-next-blue-colour-variantjiophone-next-blue-colour-variantjiophone-next-blue-colour-variantJioPhone Next Blue colour variant | Image credit: Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.
The front of the JioPhone Next has a larger 5.45 inches HD+ Screen with Multitouch support and has resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. The display has a refresh rate of 60 Hz. A large screen opens a new way to experience the digital world, something people will find very difficult to experience on a tiny screen of a feature phone. To protect the display it comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with anti-fingerprint coating.
Processor:
The JioPhone Next is powered by a Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon QM215 with CPU Speed Up to 1.3GHz. On the graphics front it has Adreno 308 GPU @ 465 Mhz. This processor is given with the intention of offering an uninterrupted and faster performance while accessing multiple apps simultaneously or browsing the web.
Ram and Storage:
The phone packs LPDDR3 2GB RAM and has 32 GB In-built storage. It also supports up to 512 GB Expandable Storage(Dedicated MicroSD card slot) for your extra storage needs.
Camera:
Image credit: Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.
The JioPhone offers a 13MP rear camera with Rear Autofocus f-⅓” and an 8MP front camera with Front Auto focus f-¼”. On the back is a Rear LED flashlight and for good selfies there is a Display flash. Cameras support different scene modes and other settings like HDR Mode, Night Mode, Portrait Mode, Photo, Video, Translate, Timer settings. For Video Recording, the JioPhone Next has support for 1080p @30fps for both front & rear camera.
Operating system and Battery:
The JioPhone Next is running PragatiOS, which is basically Android 11 (Go Edition) designed specifically for this device. The JioPhone Next has certain Google features that are included at the OS level. Jio describes PragatiOS as an “operating system that has been built specifically for India and is at the heart of the JioPhone Next.” With just a tap of a button on the screen, the “Read Aloud'' feature lets Google Assistant read aloud an article to users in their own local language. Meanwhile, a Translate feature allows you to quickly translate the current page into any language of your choosing. Although Jio has kept Android virtually stock, PragatiOS brings the best of the Jio apps and Google apps on a phone. This phone packs a 3500 mAh Removable Li – Polymer Battery with 5V/1.5A Charging.
Network and connectivity:
The JioPhone Next is a 4G enabled smartphone(4G SIM1 + 2G + 4G on SIM2) and has Dual SIM-Nano. One SIM is PLMN Locked to Jio and Mobile data connectivity is available only on the Jio SIM.
Let me explain this better: So, this smartphone has dual SIM support, which means that you can use it with SIM cards from other telecom operators too. However, there is more to it. The smartphone will show an error if both your SIM cards are from non-Jio operators. So, you will have to use at least one SIM card from Jio all the time. Even if you use one SIM from Jio and one from a non-Jio operator, the smartphone will run mobile data only through the Jio SIM. The second SIM can only be used to make or receive calls.
Other connectivity features include WiFi, Bluetooth – Bluetooth v4.1, Micro USB and Audio Jack – 3.5mm.
Sensors:
Sensors on the phone include accelerometer(G sensor), ambient light sensor, and proximity sensor.
Price and EMI of the JioPhone Next
The Reliance JioPhone Next India price is set at Rs 6,499. However, customers can get the budget 4G smartphone in India by paying an upfront cost of Rs 1,999. The remaining amount can be paid within 18-24 months in EMIs. Jio has announced four different JioPhone Next EMI plans for its customers. They are mentioned below.
Always-on plan: Under the Always-on Plan, which has a duration of 18 months and 24 months, customers will have to pay only Rs 350 or Rs 300, depending on the choice of tenure. Users will also get 5GB of data + 100/min of talktime per month.
Large plan: Under this plan, customers can pay Rs 500 for 18 months or Rs 450 for 24 months. Users will get 1.5GB of 4G data per day and unlimited voice calls.
XL plan: Here Customers can choose to pay Rs 550 for 18 months or Rs 500 for 24 months. Under this plan, users get 2GB of high-speed 4G data daily and unlimited voice calls.
XXL plan: Lastly, the XXL plan. Reliance JioPhone Next buyers can pay Rs 600 per month for 18 months or Rs 550 for 24 months and get 2.5GB of 4G data per day along with unlimited voice calls.