Almost half a year since Xiaomi launched its Mi4 flagship, the Chinese manufacturer will finally bring the high-end Android device to markets outside of China.
After Xiaomi dominated the world's biggest smartphone market in China, it was only expected that its next target is the second largest phone market - India.
According to a report by GSM Arena, the Android flagship has begun selling in India Tuesday, to the delight of Android fans who have been mesmerized by the phone's specs and super affordable price tag.
Unfotunately, the report mentioned that the Chinese brand will only make the 16GB version of the device available for purchase. In the report, the Xiaomi Mi4 16GB edition costs INR 19,999 or about $322.
For a device that boasts a 5-inch display with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, 3GB of RAM, and Snapdragon 801 chipset, that price tag is definitely a steal.
The Xiaomi Mi4 also packs a stylish design that has been compared to that of the iPhone, a 13MP primary camera and an 8MP front shooter, and options for 16GB or 64GB of internal memory.
The device arrives with Android 4.4.3 Kit Kat out of the box, though the phone may get an official update any time soon. Aside from the high-end specs, the Mi4 also comes with a hefty 3080mAh battery that would help the smartphone last a day with moderate to heavy use.
Unfortunately, for Android fans in China who may be expecting the 64GB version instead, the report mentioned that they may have to wait a little longer. In the report by GSM Arena, the Xiaomi Mi4 64GB edition will be available on February 24.
The device will also be INR 4,000 more expensive than the 16GB version. That translates to about $386, which is still a very affordable price tag for a brand new high-end Android handset that can compete with last year's flagship.
In comparison, the flagships of Samsung (Galaxy S5), HTC (One M8), LG (LG G3), and Sony (Xperia Z2, Z3) were all priced well above $600 with similar specs.
Aside from the Xiaomi Mi4, another highly awaited handset from the Chinese phone maker is the Mi Note Pro which was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. The device packs a 5.7-inch, QHD screen, 4GB of RAM, and the latest Snapdragon 810 chipset from Qualcomm. It also boasts Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, a 13MP shooter and 4MP front cam.
