Xiaomi may launch affordable 4G smartphone on April 8

Xiaomi is tipped to be launching a new ultra-affordable smartphone on April 8. There were rumours earlier that the company was working on such a device since November, 2014. The handset was recently spotted in leaked images.

According to reports the device which has not been named yet will be priced at CNY 499 (approximately Rs 5,000) instead of the previously rumoured CNY 399 (approximately Rs 4,000).

The specifications of the smartphone as rumoured are a 4.7-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) display, a quad-core 1.6GHz Leadcore LC 1860 CPU, Mali T628 GPU, 1GB of RAM. The phone is expected to have 13-megapixel and 2-megapixel cameras with 8GB of inbuilt storage. The rumours suggests that the phone will have Android 4.4.4 KiKat with latest MIUI 6 skin on top.

However, there has been no official information from Xiaomi about any such device but the company last week hinted in a related way saying company is turning five in April and to mark the occasion there will be an event on March 31.

Xiaomi on its MIUI forum also confirmed that CEO Lei Jun will launch a new device (or devices) at the event. The company has not revealed what would be launched; maybe it will be the unnamed ultra-affordable smartphone along with the Mi Band successor smartwatch, as well as the recently leaked mid-range 'Ferrari' smartphone.