Jio and Qualcomm set to launch entry-level 5G budget smartphone under Rs. 8,000; check details

World’s leading chipset manufacturer- Qualcomm, in collaboration with India’s telecom giant Jio, is set to disrupt the smartphone market by introducing an entry-level 5G-enabled smartphone tailored for the masses. This strategic partnership aims to bring a sub-10K 5G smartphone, equipped with a Qualcomm chip, ensuring a seamless user experience on a budget.

Chris Patrick, Qualcomm’s senior vice president and general manager of handsets, unveiled the plans at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, mentioning that the smartphone is anticipated to hit the market by the end of the current calendar year.

The highlight of this collaboration is a low-cost customized chipset designed for gigabit 5G speeds in smartphones, leveraging standalone architecture. Qualcomm asserts that these speeds will be up to five times higher than 4G within this smartphone price category, emphasizing its commitment to making 5G technology more affordable.

By the end of 2023, Qualcomm aims to bring down the price of entry-level 5G phones below Rs 10,000, creating a potential surge in demand. With a focus on tapping into the vast market of 250-300 million 2G feature phone users in India, Jio and Qualcomm envision a budget 5G phone primarily locked to the Jio network.

This collaboration signifies Jio’s continued efforts to revolutionize the mobile technology market. The budget 5G phone, expected to launch alongside affordable 5G plans for data and voice services, holds the potential to spark the most significant 5G revolution in India.

While key specifications for the smartphone are not fully disclosed, expectations include a powerful configuration suitable for daily tasks like calling, WhatsApp, video playback, and web browsing. Envisaged features encompass a sizable display, dual-rear camera setup, a 5/8MP selfie camera, up to 6GB RAM, and 128GB storage with microSD card support. Additionally, users can anticipate a 3.5mm audio jack, a decently sized battery, and a single speaker setup.

As for the software, Jio will most likely introduce the handset with a ‘Lite’ version of Android or a near-stock UI to ensure ease-of-use and smooth user-experience for first-time smartphone buyers. It won’t be surprising to see some India-centric apps and features in the upcoming Jio 5G phone.

The smartphone will likely carry the “Jio 5G Phone” moniker and is expected to run on Android 14 out-of-the-box. Positioned as a potential competitor to sub-10K phones from brands like Redmi, Tecno, Motorola, and HMD, the Jio Phone 5G could introduce a new era of affordability and accessibility to 5G technology in India.