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$130 unsubsidized for a phone with quad-core, 4.7" 720p (312ppi), 8MP camera, 1GB RAM

E

EbookReader

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 3, 2012
1,190
1
specs:

quad-core MediaTek CPU
4.7 inch 720p screen (312ppi) with Gorrilla Glass 2
1GB RAM
4GB Storage with microSD slot expansion to 32GB
8 megapixel rear camera

Price: $130 USD no contract


http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/31/xiaomi-unveils-the-red-rice-smartphone/

The company just announced the Red Rice smartphone, a pretty decently spec'd model priced at a mere 799 yuan ($130). For that pittance, Chinese buyers will get quite a bit: a quad-core MediaTek CPU, 4.7-inch 720p screen (312 ppi) with Gorilla Glass 2, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, China Mobile's TD-SCDMA 3G, dual-sim / dual standby capability, an 8-megapixel rear camera and Xiaomi's MIUI-flavored Android.
Click to expand...


Xiaomi increases its forecast from 15 million smartphones sold in 2013 to 20 millions. It is now valued at $10 billion USD. More than Levono.

Is this something that will be common in the future? Great specs at under $200, unsubsidized?

Xiaomi-Red-Rice-new-phone-02.jpeg
 
Last edited:
RightMACatU

RightMACatU

macrumors 65816
Jul 12, 2012
1,423
1,132
192.168.1.1
Looks like a perfect phone for the "I don't want to be caught too long with the same phone because of my shady business" crowd :D

Seriously 4GB!? It's like selling a Porsche with 14" wheels.
 
slu

slu

macrumors 68000
Sep 15, 2004
1,636
107
Buffalo
MacRumorUser said:
In emerging markets, yes. In the west, likely no.
Click to expand...

Why? Does the west not like things that are lower priced? Is there any examples of something like this in other markets? I know cars can vary, but that is not good comparison. Much more complex.
 
MRU

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
slu said:
Why? Does the west not like things that are lower priced? Is there any examples of something like this in other markets? I know cars can vary, but that is not good comparison. Much more complex.
Click to expand...

Simple example is to look at Huawei's phones that are released in the west and compare them price wise to their asian counterpart. We currently pay a lot more - for less phone and I guess it's because they know they can charge us that.

In the west we are mostly purchasing handsets on contracts - subsidised. Very few people on contracts are buying their phones unsubsidized, so we have a culture of folks paying either £100-200 for a subsudized powerful handset or even free phones for last year models on contract.
 
B

blitzer09x87

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2013
408
0
not likely, look at the bad sides of the phone and now think will samsung, htc, apple will ever experiment with this type of phone, never! though you should expect the mobile prices to rise(because the US, UK, europe's) economies are sinking.
 
N

narutoninjakid

macrumors 6502
Dec 6, 2012
302
0
New Jersey
hmmmmmm!

I never trust phones like these after my bad experiences with huwaei. I just believe they are cheap for a reason as we can see from some of the specifications. These phones cant be made with good quality parts to sell for these prices in my opinion.
 
spinedoc77

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Kind of makes you realize how western consumers are kind of dumb (myself included) in always wanting to buy a phone with more and more specs, when those specs are really not needed. Maybe for playing games I suppose, but what else do you really such inflated specs on phones today that cost so much.
 
Jessica Lares

Jessica Lares

macrumors G3
Oct 31, 2009
9,612
1,057
Near Dallas, Texas, USA
Sounds nice. My phone has 512MB of RAM and doesn't lag. :rolleyes:

I can run the new Drastic emulator on my Huawei too. True story.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 works fine too. Sucks on a screen that small (3.5"), but it plays.

Of course that's after rooting and flashing it, but come on, it makes the small investment more worthwhile and I'm doing everything you guys do on your $300-600 Androids. :cool:
 
spinedoc77

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Jessica Lares said:
Sounds nice. My phone has 512MB of RAM and doesn't lag. :rolleyes:

I can run the new Drastic emulator on my Huawei too. True story.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 works fine too. Sucks on a screen that small (3.5"), but it plays.

Of course that's after rooting and flashing it, but come on, it makes the small investment more worthwhile and I'm doing everything you guys do on your $300-600 Androids. :cool:
Click to expand...

:confused:
 
A

appleisking

macrumors 6502a
May 24, 2013
658
3,022
sumsingwong said:
Android + 1GB RAM = lag
No 4G?
4GB storage and not expandible? Disaster.
Click to expand...

it's 130 bucks. Root it, flash a stock android ROM, and it'll do everything your 600 dollar gs4 or HTC One can do with prob. less lag :p I know this is obv not for everyone, but for someone really budget conscious who wants to feel like he's a part of the modern world, it's a great deal.

----------
Jessica Lares said:
I'm just saying that having just 1GB of RAM does not equal lag. :rolleyes:

I manage with 2GB of internal space.
Click to expand...

Yup every user is different. We're spending way too much on smartphones anyway (2k every 2 years on contract). I seriously don't get why manufacturers price a phone at over 500 bucks. Surely they can profit nicely at lower prices? Like the GS4 at 600 bucks? Really you'd think with all that plastic they could make it lower?
 
spinedoc77

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Jessica Lares said:
I'm just saying that having just 1GB of RAM does not equal lag. :rolleyes:

I manage with 2GB of internal space.
Click to expand...

Ahh, yeah that's kind of the point I was making. 1gb of RAM is actually pretty nice, it's amazing how much of a slave to specs we are, specs that in most cases we don't even need.
 
Dontazemebro

Dontazemebro

macrumors 68020
Jul 23, 2010
2,173
0
I dunno, somewhere in West Texas
spinedoc77 said:
Ahh, yeah that's kind of the point I was making. 1gb of RAM is actually pretty nice, it's amazing how much of a slave to specs we are, specs that in most cases we don't even need.
Click to expand...

I would also say that we (as in the western world) like to buy according to specs so we can somewhat future proof our investment. It gives us that bubbly feeling inside knowing that we should be good for the next few years.
 
sumsingwong

sumsingwong

macrumors 6502a
Dec 15, 2012
771
368
adder7712 said:
The first Nexus 7 has 1GB of RAM, doesn't lag due to stellar optimisation from ASUS/Google.

My Galaxy S III has *only* 1GB of RAM and it doesn't lag also.
Click to expand...

Sure, my N7 hardly lagged when switching home screens but playing games, surfing the internet, anything done within an app causes lag. My S4 and N10 lag as well. Android lags but I've learned to accept it.
 
kdarling

kdarling

macrumors P6
Jun 9, 2007
17,373
5,925
First university coding class = 47 years ago
EbookReader said:
Is this something that will be common in the future? Great specs at under $200, unsubsidized?
Click to expand...

If we go by the history of other devices, yep.

Remember the first microwave ovens? VCRs? Hard drives? DVD players? Camcorders? All started at over $1,000. Now look at what they can be gotten for.

Everything gets cheaper over time. Heck, Nokia manufactures a regular phone that sells for $20, and they still make almost 30% on each one!

What's happened in China is that there are now all-in-one chips available, from companies like MediaTek and Spreadtrum, that make it possible for almost any mom-and-pop factory to make and sell an Android based smartphone with roughly iPhone 3GS specs for as low as $50. Millions of people need nothing more.

And the cost keeps dropping. Last year we didn't see 4"+ screens until we got into the $200 range. Now here's one for $130. Amazing.

Think of what they can build for higher prices. This is why Apple wants to jump in quick with the 5C.
 
E

EbookReader

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 3, 2012
1,190
1
cleanup said:
They're just trying to unload stock though. It's not like they introduced the Nexus 4 at $199.
Click to expand...

True. True.

But if Xiaomi can do this, so can Amazon.

Sell the hardware at breakeven. Make profits from digital services like music, movies, apps, ebook etc...

$199 at break-even price would result in a pretty decent phone with decent specs.
 
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