Xiaomi is reportedly looking to break into the African market by September with the Xiaomi Redmi 2 and the Xiaomi Mi 4. The smartphones would be available for sale online only (flash sales are a possibility) in countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Angola, Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
According to a report on Forbes, the Apple of China has partnered with Pan African distributor, Mobile in Africa Limited to sell it’s smartphones in 50 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Xiaomi is expected to launch only two of it popular Mi Series devices – the Redmi 2 and the Mi 4 in Africa.
Mobile in Africa Limited would replicate the Chinese company’s model of selling smartphones through online channels by setting up online-stores in 14 countries in Africa. The Xiaomi Redmi 2 would sell for around $160 which is about ZAR 2000 and about N32,000 in Naira while the Xiaomi Mi 4 would go on sale for times two at around $320 which is about ZAR 4100 and N64,000 in Naira.
The company already sells its wares in China and then countries like India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and recently the company launched the Xiaomi Redmi 2 in Brazil which is also the first outside Asia. The company is expected to expand into Russia, Vietnam, Turkey and Mexico in coming months.
This could surely come sit well as good news to Africans but when the exchange rate comes into play the two offerings from Xiaomi is much more expensive than the Innjoo Fire and the just launched Google-contributed Infinix Hot 2 which both run Android Lollipop compared to Kitkat on the Redmi 2 and Mi 4.
Are you excited about Xiaomi launching in Africa? Will you dump your Tecno, Innjoo or Infinix for Xiaomi? Let us know using the comment box below.
