JioPhone Next: Opportunities and implications for Jio, competitors and the value chain

Reliance Jio announced its new ultra-affordable 4G smartphone, JioPhone Next, at its 44th AGM. Built-in partnership with Google, the smartphone will run on an optimized version of Android OS with some cutting-edge features specially designed for first-time smartphone users. With the JioPhone Next, Reliance Jio will primarily be targeting over 300 million feature phone users and some portion of nearly half a billion users who are yet to purchase their first phone.

The JioPhone Next will go on sale starting September 10, 2021. While the official pricing has not been revealed yet, it is expected to be available under Rs 5,000. Just like the company’s 4G-enabled smart feature phone, JioPhone; the new JioPhone Next is expected to disrupt the entry-level smartphone market.