It was only like yesterday that 5G was first demo (we got a glimpse of the technology in 2015) and yet, just a few years after its launch and the first handsets went on sale, the first 5G smartphone under £ 100 (around $ 137, AU $ 186) hit the market.
The the device was available directly in the Vodafone online store at the time of writing in three different colors with next day delivery.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G is not a new device, but the fact that Vodafone, one of the largest network operators in the world, is ready to push it well into budget territory despite its mid-range credentials is a A clear sign that times are changing for the better, at least for the end user.
Game change or one-time discount?
We reviewed the Redmi Note 10 5G just a few months ago, and gave it a solid 3.5 stars (out of five) to its original suggested retail price, which is more than double what Vodafone sells it for now.
It goes without saying that Vodafone’s major discount turned a solid, but uninspiring device into an entry-level / budget champ. At this price, who needs 4G smartphones (see our file on the rise of the smartphone to $ 100)?
Against UK rivals O2 and EE, Vodafone appears to be resorting to some pretty extreme selling strategies in order to capture more 5G market share. So although the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5G is heavily discounted, you still have to purchase a £ 10 PAYG plan (note the device is unlocked).
Obviously, the same goes for Xiaomi, which had to agree to such a significant price drop. The company quickly replaced Huawei as Samsung’s main competitor in the Android space and is engaged in a formidable battle for the biggest prize of all: the title of world’s largest smartphone supplier in terms of units shipped.
Qualcomm’s big rival Mediatek is on Xiaomi’s mantle. The Taiwanese semiconductor maker has adopted an aggressive launch strategy with a clear goal. To be the market share leader, even if that means competing only in the market for low-end / mid-range 5G ready chipsets.
What happens next?
Expect 4G smartphones to be phased out of the market quickly as 5G coverage improves globally. Besides Mediatek and Qualcomm, another large Chinese supplier, UNISOC is likely to introduce a number of affordable 5G chipset solutions that will add more competition from 2022.
Two other peripheral implications of this 5G attack will be (a) a significant drop in the price of 5G mobile access points which could accelerate the demise of landlines and (b) Microsoft and Google could finally be convinced to allow their respective ARM-based ecosystems (Windows on ARM and Chrome OS) to run on much cheaper system-on-chip solutions.
What about the Redmi Note 10 5G itself?
As for the phone itself, its functionality wouldn’t be out of place on a 2018 flagship device.
Along with its 5G credentials (and the ability to run two 5G SIMs on standby), it has 4GB of RAM, 128GB of on-board storage (using faster UFS technology), a 2400 display x 1080 with a 90Hz refresh rate, a whopping 5,000mAh battery, a 48-megapixel main camera (plus two side sensors), NFC, and a Type-C connector plus Android 11.
All in all, it’s anything but your usual, cheap entry-level smartphone.
