Popular Chinese gadget manufacturer Xiaomi will arrive officially in Indonesia this week. The Xiaomi Indonesia website has teased fans about what sort of smartphone they can get with only IDR 2 million (US$171). The price indicates that the Redmi Note could be the first phone launched in Indonesia, since the Note has a similar price range at US$162 in China.
If that’s really the case, then will Redmi Note be the best Android smartphone in Indonesia in its price range? Tech in Asia has compiled the smartphone models that could challenge Redmi Note’s arrival in the country.
Redmi Note itself is a 5.5-inch smartphone, with 1280×720 HD IPS display. It comes with octa-core 1.7GHz MediaTek processors, 2GB RAM, 3,100 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, 13MP back camera, and an 8MP front camera. So the challengers must at least have comparable specifications with similar pricing. Here are eight of them:
1. Evercoss Elevate Y2
Evercoss is one of the top local smartphone brands coming out of Indonesia. The company launched Elevate Y2 A80A earlier this month, and the phone is one to look out for as it is packed with powerful specifications. The 5-inch phone has a 1280×720 HD IPS display and dual-SIM support.
Other specifications from Elevate Y2 include 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek processors, 1GB RAM, 2,000 mAh battery, MALI-400MP GPU, 13MP back camera, and 5MP front camera. It is available for IDR 2.3 million (US$196).
2. Bolt IVO V5
Launched just last Thursday, this is the newest smartphone in this list. IVO V5 itself is a fairly new brand in the eyes of Indonesian customers. The phone has 5-inch screen, with 960×540 qHD display and dual-SIM support. Its biggest strength lies in its tie-up to the only 4G mobile internet provider in the country, Bolt. This means that in terms of internet speed, IVO V5 may be the fastest one you can get in Indonesia at the moment.
When it comes to phone specifications however, the phone is below par compared to Redmi Note. IVO V5 uses 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processors, 1GB RAM, 2,300 mAh battery, Adreno 305 GPU, 8MP back camera, and 2MP front camera. You can buy it for IDR 2.1 million (US$179).
3. Himax Polymer
Himax is one of the new local smartphone brands to watch in 2014. The company’s Himax Pure 3 looks great as it is equipped with octa-core processors and is still priced at IDR 2.4 million (US$205) mark. However, the one phone that looks very exciting is the upcoming Polymer, to be launched later this week as well. This phone may well be the closest to toppling Redmi Note.
The Himax Polymer is a 5-inch phone with 1280×720 HD IPS display as well as dual-SIM support. It comes with 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek processors, 2GB RAM, 2,500mAh battery, MALI-450MP4 GPU, 13MP back camera, and 5MP front camera. The phone will be launched on 29 August, with the selling price of IDR 2 million (US$171).
4. Moto G
Our own Soham Adwani comments that Moto G is “definitely a strong entry for Motorola to get a foothold in the Indonesia market.” It is a 4.5-inch phone with 1280×720 HD LCD display and dual-SIM support. Its other specifications aren’t as strong as the Redmi Note.
Moto G has 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processors, 1GB RAM, 2,070 mAh battery, Adreno 305 GPU, 5MP back camera, and 1.3MP front camera. The phone is priced at IDR 2,250,000 (US$192).
5. Smartfren Andromax V2
Smartfren Andromax is one of the most popular Android smartphone brands in Indonesia. Its Andromax V2 brand is a 5-inch screen phone with 1280×720 HD IPS display and dual-SIM support. Its other specifications aren’t as good as the Redmi Note though.
Andromax V2 is equipped with 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek processors, 1GB RAM, 2,300mAh battery, PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU, 8MP back camera, and 2MP front camera. Andromax V2 is sold at IDR 2.3 million (US$188).
6. Mito Fantasy A95
Mito is one of the biggest local smartphone brands in Indonesia too. The company doesn’t sell any smartphones beyond the IDR 2 million (US$171) mark. Its priciest phone is Mito Fantasy A95, a 5-inch screen phone with 1280×720 HD IPS display. And yes, it supports dual-SIM.
Mito Fantasy A95’s other specifications include 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek processors, 1GB RAM, 2,100 mAh, PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU, 8MP back camera, and 1.3MP front camera. It is sold at IDR 1.8 million (US$154).
7. Treq Q1
Treq is one of the least popular brands in this list, but the phones still pack quite a punch. Treq Q1 is a 4.7-inch phone with 1280×720 HD IPS display. And yes, you guessed it, it supports dual-SIM.
Treq Q1 is equipped with 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processors, 1GB RAM, 2,000mAh battery, MALI-400MP2 GPU, 8MP back camera, and 2MP front camera. It is the cheapest phone in the bunch with a IDR 1,650,000 (US$141) price tag.
8. IMO Raptor
IMO is also one of the least known brands in the list. But the manufacturer sells phones with various specifications which include those with octa-core processors. But the one that we feature today is the IMO Raptor, a phone with 5-inch screen 1280×720 HD IPS display and dual-SIM support.
IMO Raptor has 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processors, 1GB RAM, 2,100 mAh battery, MALI-400MP2 GPU, 13MP back camera, and 2MP front camera. IMO Raptor is sold at IDR 2 million (US$171).
So do you think the eight smartphone models above are enough to challenge the Redmi Note should it be priced at IDR 2 million (US$171)? One thing that would be tough if you want to get your hands on the Redmi Note is its scarcity though, as it will be sold via online flash sales, just like in other countries. So if you missed out on the Redmi Note, these other phones could make decent alternatives.
The post 8 Android smartphone models to challenge Redmi Note in Indonesia appeared first on Tech in Asia.
