Xiaomi makes India foray with Mi 3 smartphone

Chinese handset maker Xiaomi announced its foray into the Indian market on Tuesday.

At a press conference in New Delhi, Xioami disclosed that it will launching the Mi 3 smartphone first in India. The device will be sold exclusively through online retailer Flipkart.

The Mi 3 features a five-inch full HD display along with a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB RAM and 16 GB onboard storage.

It has a 13MP camera and supports HDPA+ 3G connectivity and packs in a 3050 mAh battery. The phone will be available for purchase on Flipkart starting July 22. However, only those buyers who register for the sale on the Mi Store on Flipkart before July 21 midnight will be able to purchase the smartphone.

Xiaomi also plans to launch the Redmi 1S and Redmi Note in India. The Redmi 1S will be available for Rs 6,999 and features a 4.7-inch
HD display, 1.6GHz Qualcomm processor and 1GB of RAM.

This device will be a dual-SIM smartphone with 8GB of internal storage, 8MP camera and 2000 mAh battery. Redmi Note is a 5.5-inch phablet with 1.4GHz octa core chipset, Android 4.2 operating system and 8GB internal storage. This is priced at Rs 9,999. Xiaomi hasn't revealed the launch date of the two Redmi devices but are expected to be available in August.

"We see India as a huge opportunity for us and are excited about bringing Mi products to this market. Just like in our other markets, we will strive to provide users with incredible value and the best customer experience possible," said Bin Lin, Co-founder and President, Xiaomi.