Jio Android smartphone price in India could be cheaper than you think

"It's worked with assemblers on prototypes for at least two years in secret and can bring a phone rapidly to market, though it's likely to miss the November Diwali shopping season," sources told Bloomberg. The ambitious smartphone from Jio that seeks to revolutionise the smartphone industry in the country and make India a "2G-mukt Bharat" (free of 2G) may run a new and optimised Android OS from Google. The latter invested Rs 33,737 crores for a 7.1 percent stakes in Jio platforms back in July, which is under regulatory review for now, because of which Jio is currently proceeding alone with the mobile phone.

Reliance Jio will be taking on Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Realme, and OPPO, which currently dominate the budget smartphone segment in India with their low-cost Android smartphones. "If Reliance succeeds in popularizing the new gadget, it could lift the prospects for Jio Platforms, accelerating Ambani's efforts to build an empire spanning e-commerce, social media, and games," added Bloomberg report.

Separately, Jio is hoping to enter India's 5G market in early 2021. The company, as stated above, also have plans to launch a cheap, entry-level 5G smartphone that would cost a fraction of the 'current cost of 5G phones.'