JioPhone is now available on Amazon
Reliance's JioPhone is now officially available for interested customers on Amazon. Last week, Mobikwik became the first non-Jio platform to offer the feature phone. It was being sold on the e-commerce platform before too, but by unauthorized sellers at higher prices. The device's price of Rs. 1,500 is entirely refundable after three years, subject to terms and conditions. Find out more here.
The JioPhone comes with a 2.4-inch display, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage expandable up to 128GB, 2MP rear camera and 0.3MP front camera. The phone runs on the KAI OS and is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core SPRD 9820A/QC8905 processor and a 2000mAh removable battery.
JioPhone costs Rs. 1,500, refundable when you return it after 36-39 months; you'll lose your deposit fully/partially if you return it earlier or later. To be eligible for the refund, you've to recharge for Rs. 1,500/year for three years. It comes bundled with a Rs. 153 pack (unlimited calling/SMS, 500MB data/day for 28 days), Rs. 24 (two days) or Rs. 54 (seven days).
Till now, the JioPhone was being sold on Amazon by unauthorized sellers at higher prices. GadgetsNow found at least 12 vendors selling it, priced from Rs. 1,619 to Rs. 2,490. However, customers weren't getting bills; vendors claimed only the box is necessary to claim warranty.
Now the phone is officially available on Amazon and is eligible for Prime delivery as well as cash on delivery. Buyers will get unlimited voice and data at Rs. 49 for 28 days, says the product description. After receiving the phone, you will have to visit a Jio Store or Reliance Digital retailer with the device, its box and your Aadhaar to verify it.
One drawback of the JioPhone is its limited number of apps: it supports only those from JioStore. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC worked reasonably well. It gives a battery backup of over two days if used marginally, but charging could take more than three hours. It might not be a lucrative option for smartphone users, but feature phone owners can definitely give this a try.
