Looking to fill a market gap and boost accessibility for budget users, Qualcomm and Xiaomi are teaming up to launch India’s first 5G smartphone at under Rs 10,000.
Qualcomm has collaborated with Xiaomi to introduce 5G smartphones priced under Rs 10,000 in India, as confirmed by company representatives.
During the India Mobile Congress 2024, Savi Soin, Qualcomm India’s Senior Vice President and President, mentioned that the partnership would initially concentrate on Xiaomi’s Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, with plans to include other brands.
He explained that they collaborated with Xiaomi to address a gap in the Indian smartphone market, where it was difficult to find a 5G device priced under Rs 10,000, and noted that Qualcomm aims to provide premium experiences even in budget devices.
Soin emphasised Qualcomm’s openness to various partnerships while noting that the primary focus would be ensuring Xiaomi’s success. He highlighted that India represents the largest market and opportunity due to its increasing 5G penetration, stating that their goal is to make this partnership successful in India, potentially leading to global device launches.
While some older Qualcomm-equipped smartphones are available under Rs 10,000 due to price reductions, Soin highlighted that this will be the first 5G smartphone launching at this price point.
Xiaomi India’s President, Muralikrishnan B, announced plans to launch the “made in India” Redmi A4 5G smartphone by the end of this year, featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 Mobile Platform.
He noted that this would be the first smartphone under Rs 10,000 powered by a Qualcomm chipset, as the contribution of 5G devices in the Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 segment has surged from 5% at the beginning of 2023 to over 70% now.
He expressed hope that they could replicate this success in the sub-Rs 10,000 market with the Redmi A4 5G.
The aim is to attract users looking to upgrade from feature phones to 5G smartphones without compromising on experience. Muralikrishnan stated that initially, the Redmi A4 5G will be launched in India as a made-in-India device.
