Reliance Jio’s first touchscreen offering – JioPhone Next – is one of the most affordable smartphones in the country.
The JioPhone Next gets none of these advantages and it further gets hobbled by the global semiconductor shortage which has not only delayed its launch but probably has made it more expensive than either Jio or Google had envisioned it as chips for cheap phones are now hard to get which makes them pricier than their usual cost.
There are a few reasons to be excited about the JioPhone Next. One of which is Reliance’s partnership with Google for a custom PragatiOS based on Android 11 Go. This is clearly a phone for those still using a feature phone and seeking a big screen experience. But, should entry-level customers also consider the JioPhone Next?
Design & performance
If you are coming from a basic 2G feature phone to a smartphone, the JioPhone Next feels like a big change. Jio has clearly taken some design cues from entry-level Nokia-branded smartphones available on the market. In keeping it simple and straightforward, the design language impresses, with a removable hard plastic back cover and rock-solid build quality. It’s a delight to hold, it looks great and one-handed operation is a breeze. In fact, it’s actually small enough to slip into your pocket or bag.
Display and Camera
Reliance JioPhone Next comes equipped with a 5.45 inches IPS LCD having a resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels besides an impressive aspect ratio of 18:9 and pixel density of 295ppi. The smartphone also gets a bezel-less display including a Multi-Touch feature and Gorilla Glass v3 protection.
On the rear side of the smartphone, Reliance has placed a 13MP Primary Camera that includes LED Flash and Digital Zoom. The back camera captures images having 4128 x 3096 pixels resolution. Whereas, an 8MP Primary Camera is present on the front side equipped with Screen Flash.
Battery
The JioPhone Next comes with a 3,500 mAh battery that can be charged using a micro USB cable. When compared to its Chinese competitors, Xiaomi’s Redmi 9a and Realme C11 2021, the JioPhone Next has a smaller battery, but the good news is that you can remove and replace the battery yourself if needed, which isn’t something you see on many smartphones these days. On a light spec smartphone, a 3,500 mAh battery should suffice; we didn’t find the phone to be low on juice.
The JioPhone Next has a standard charging input of 5V and 1.5A, which equates to 7.5 Watts of charging power. Charging the device with this charger would take you around 2 hours.
Storage and Connectivity
The internal storage of Reliance JioPhone Next is 32GB which can be extended up to 512GB. The smartphone allows users to make voice and video calls with great clarity through 4G VoLTE networks. Other connectivity options loaded within are Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n, Mobile Hotspot, micro USB 2.0 and GPS. The device does not support a USB Type-C port.
Inside the Box
Reliance has kept things pretty simple here. You get the JioPhone Next, a 5W charging adapter and a microUSB charging cable inside the box, along with the warranty card and user guide. There is no protective case or pair of earphones inside the box. Yes, the battery also comes separately and has to be fitted manually.