Planning to book Reliance JioPhone? If you are going for an entry-level 4G smartphone, Indian telecom operators Airtel, Vodafone and BSNL too have come up with their cheap smartphones. Reliance Jio launched JioPhone as part of company’s efforts to encourage 2G subscribers to jump onto the 4G bandwagon. Reliance is said to be shipping more than six million Jio Phone handsets starting for zero rupees. Targetting JioPhone, Airtel unveiled three new smartphones that come with similar cost-effective offers.
Airtel’s Intex Aqua Lions N1
In an effort to counter JioPhone, Bharti Airtel announced a partnership with home-based Intex to offer a low-cost 4G smartphone at an "effective price" of Rs 1,649. Airtel also launched two other smartphones - Aqua A4 and Aqua S3 - that come at effective prices of Rs 1,999 and Rs 4,379, respectively.
The Aqua Lions N1 starts at Rs 3,149 which comes down to a price of Rs 1,649 if you recharge from Airtel number. After making a down payment of Rs 3,149, you’ll have to do 36 monthly renewals of Rs 169 per month recharge plan. Airtel gives you the flexibility of taking any recharge options but Rs 3000 worth transactions must be done within first 18 months to claim a refund of Rs 500. Another Rs 3000 recharges over the next 18 months will give you a second allowance of Rs 1000.
Intex Aqua Lions N1 Specs: An MTK chipset coupled with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage powers the Aqua Lions N1. On the front is a 4-inch full touch WVGA display. As for optics, the Lions N1 features 2MP rear sensor and VGA camera for selfies. The device comes with dual SIM as well microSD slot for storage expansion up to 128GB.
Vodafone’s Bharat 2 Ultra
Vodafone India, tied up with Indian phone maker Micromax to launch a 4G smartphone at an 'effective price' of Rs 999. Bharat-2 Ultra starts for Rs 2,899. Vodafone, however, is offering cashback to consumers who stick around for over three years.
The buyer has to make recharges worth at least Rs. 150 per month for 36 months to avail the offer. After in first 18 months, consumers will get Rs. 900 in their Vodafone M-Pesa wallet. And another Rs. 1,000 after the completion of the next 18 months. The price of the handset comes down to Rs. 999 following the cashback. This scheme works similar to the Airtel's Mera Pehla Smartphone scheme.
Bharat 2 Ultra Specs: Micromax's Bharat 2 Ultra runs a 1.3GHz quad-core Spreadtrum SC9832 processor with 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage under the hood. Other specs include WVGA display and 1300-mAh battery. As for cameras, there is 2MP rear sensor and VGA camera up front and features modes such as scene, frame, and burst. The device runs Android Marshmallow operating system.
BSNL’s Micromax Bharat-1
BSNL too partnered with Micromax launch Bharat-1, a 4G feature phone. Starting for Rs 2,200, the Bharat-1 offers “unlimited” voice calling and “unlimited” high-speed data at Rs. 97 recharge plan. BSNL is offering unlimited local/STD plus roaming along with 5GB high-speed data and 84kbps speed post FUP speed.
Micromax Bharat-1 Specs: Micromax Bharat-1 packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, 4GB internal storage, and microSD support. A 2000mAh battery gives juice to the phone, and it comes with a 2MP camera and a VGA shooter in front. Micromax said the dual-SIM handset supports 22 local languages and provides buyers access to 100 live TV channels.
