Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom operator has announced that it’s JioPhone Next is not going to launch today, September 10 and will instead launch close to Diwali (November 4)
This announcement came via the telco’s presser yesterday night, a surprising bit of news since today is an auspicious day, with India celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi all across the country today. Jio’s press release states that the smartphone is now in advanced trials and will roll out prior to Diwali.
When Will the JioPhone Next Launch?
This delay in the announcement for both the price and delivery of the device seems to be due to the global semiconductor shortage, since Jio added that, “this additional time will also help mitigate the current industry-wide, global semiconductor shortages.”
The announcement mentions that “The device and the operating system will offer premium capabilities that have until now been associated with more powerful smartphones, such as voice-first features that enable people to consume content and navigate the phone in their own language, deliver a great camera experience, and get the latest Android feature and security updates.”
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This device will likely appeal to users who are currently using old 2G feature phones since they can now move to smartphones without paying a lot of extra money. Leaks have suggested that the device will retail for Rs 3,499 or $50.
Why is This Delay Taking Place?
The presser also adds that limited users are testing this new phone and its release will take place by Diwali. This comes at a time when the global semiconductor issue is at its peak.
For those unaware, this is an issue that has affected industries such as consoles, automobiles and smartphones and will likely play a part in future delays for smartphones.
Previous leaks have hinted that the JioPhone Next will run Android 11 Go Edition and make use of a rather decent 5.5-inch display. The same leak adds that the device will likely make use of a Qualcomm QM215 SoC with either 2 or 3GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB of storage. There will also likely be a 2,500 mAh battery and dual-SIM support for the new handset.
This comes after a report released hinted that the JioPhone next will be available in Basic and Advanced variants, which will cost Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000 respectively, which translates to USD 68 and USD 96, respectively.
The report also says that Jio is assuring Rs 2,500 crore credit support for four different Non-Banking Financial companies or NBFCs.
