Xiaomi Mi 4 launched in India for Rs 19,999, but here’s why it could disappoint

To say the Xiaomi Mi 4 was one of the most anticipated smartphones in India since its unveiling last year would be an understatement. After what seems like a long wait for many — especially after the Mi 3 was discontinued — Xiaomi today finally launched the Mi 4 in India. The smartphone is priced at a tempting Rs 19,999, but unlike Xiaomi’s other smartphones, here’s why it disappoints.

Let’s start with the specifications of the Mi 4. It features a 5-inch full HD display, 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 16GB internal storage. Also included is a 13-megapixel rear camera, 8-megapixel camera on the front, 3,080mAh battery, 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and on the software front it runs on Android 4.4.3 KitKat wrapped under Xiaomi’s MIUI 6.0.

If you look carefully there are two things that stand out — only 16GB internal storage with no option for expansion and no 4G LTE connectivity either. With Indian cities steadily getting access to 4G connectivity companies are launching affordable LTE-capable smartphones, including Xiaomi with its Redmi Note 4G. Thus the company’s decision to launch the 3G variant of the Mi 4 in India is baffling. Reports out of the launch event in Delhi claim that the reason for not bringing LTE version to India is an issue with the design. According to the company, the Mi 4 is too small to fit the antenna of Indian 4G spectrum.

The choice of 16GB internal storage too makes little or no sense at all. The OnePlus One, which is the closest competitor to the Mi 4, too comes without a microSD card slot, but at least it offers 64GB storage. For some reason Xiaomi chose not to bring the 64GB variant on sale in other markets to India. The company is reportedly planning on bringing the 64GB variant to India later this year, but it will no doubt be more expensive thus taking the edge off its aggressive pricing.

Before being discontinued, the Mi 3 was hugely popular among Indian buyers due to its aggressive pricing and the specifications it offered. It sold like hot cakes and much of the same was expected of its successor as well. But an absence of crucial features is highly disappointing.

Also consider the fact that it will be difficult to get one’s hands on the device due to the flash sale model, and buyers could flock to other more easily gettable smartphones like the Huawei Honor 6 and the Lenovo Vibe X2. Both the smartphones have a good set of specifications, including more storage and 4G connectivity, and are priced in the sub-Rs 20,000 region as well.

IMPORT:-BGRindia