JioPhone Next on sale in India, buyers must first register: here are the details

The JioPhone Next has gone on sale in India. Developed in partnership with Google, the smartphone is available to purchase across retail stores in India, but Reliance has asked potential buyers to first register their interest before heading out to a store. Reports say that while the JioPhone Next is in stock at Reliance Digital Stores in the country, the device cannot be bought without prior registration via WhatsApp or the company's website.

How to register for JioPhone Next

Buyers interested in purchasing the JioPhone Next can register on the official Jio website, or by sending 'Hi' on WhatsApp to 7018270182. The customer will then be required to share their location, and after that they will be informed that they can go ahead and purchase the JioPhone Next at a store nearest to them. Reports say users will be intimated within 1-2 days of registering their interest in the JioPhone Next. Reliance says it has partnered with more 30,000 retail outlets across India to ensure easy access to the JioPhone Next. However, there is currently no option to buy the JioPhone Next from the online Jio store yet.

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JioPhone Next price, EMI options

The JioPhone Next price in India is ₹6,499 up front, but buyers can also opt for Easy EMI options that start at just ₹1,999 (plus ₹501 processing fees). There are four EMI plans available, and they come with the following bundled benefits:

Always-on plan - ₹300/month for 24 months or ₹350/month for 18 months - 5GB data, 100 minutes of calling per month

Large plan - ₹450/month for 24 months or ₹500 for 18 months - 1.5GB/day data, unlimited voice calling

XL plan - ₹500/month for 24 months or ₹550/month for 18 months - 2GB/day data, unlimited voice calling

XXL plan - ₹550/month for 24 months or ₹600/month for 18 months - 2.5GB/day data, unlimited voice calling

JioPhone Next specifications, features

JioPhone Next is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 SoC, and runs on Pragati OS, an Android-based operating system tailor-made for Indian users, in partnership with Google.

It features a 5.45-inch HD+ display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and gets 2GB RAM with 32GB internal storage, which is expandable up to 512GB. On the back, it gets a 13MP single sensor camera, while on the front there's an 8MP sensor for selfies. It gets a 3,500mAh battery, micro-USB port, 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth v4.1, Wi-Fi and dual-SIM slots for Nano SIM Cards.

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JioPhone Next comes with a wide array of features, including Google Assistant support, which will allow users to give commands such as "open app" and "manage settings". Users can also use the 'Read Aloud' feature that has on-screen content read out to them. There's a 'Translate' function as well, that lets the user translate any text into a language of their choice.