Xiaomi Redmi A4 formalises 5G in budget phones, and ushers a new chip

Every quarter, smartphone shipment data is accompanied by two constants—observations that India’s purchasing power is increasing, and that mid-range or premium phones drive sales. It is easy, in that moment, to underplay any importance of a truly affordable Android phone for the (silent) masses. Little surprise that Xiaomi worked closely with Qualcomm for months, on a chip and phone combination that brought 5G at price tags below the ₹10,000. The Redmi A4, seems to be a successful result of that pursuit.