The Xiaomi Redmi Go could be Xiaomi’s first Android Go smartphone

If I wanted to describe Xiaomi with one word, it would be “affordable.” Xiaomi devices, even the higher end ones, are known for being more on the “cheap” side without compromising the overall experience—just look at examples such as the POCO F1 and the Redmi Note 7. But Xiaomi has several affordable devices, with some cheaper or better than others. What Xiaomi has not launched, however, is an Android Go phone. This is set to change now apparently.

Thanks to renown technology leaker Ishan Agarwal on Twitter, images of the Xiaomi Redmi Go have now surfaced online, showcasing what could be Xiaomi’s first Android Go-based smartphone as well as its specifications. As expected, it’s not something that will blow you off your seat: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 is powering everything under the hood, coupled with a measly 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage. It’s not great, but it’s as good as it gets for a low-end Android phone.

Here's your first look at the Xiaomi Redmi Go, the upcoming Android Go Smartphone. Click on the images below to see full resolution renders and full specs of the upcoming smartphone, launching soon in India! (First spotted by https://t.co/Jha1L96xJX ).#RedmiGO#Redmi#Xiaomi pic.twitter.com/nf6LX4yAOP

— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) January 24, 2019

The Xiaomi Redmi Go.

As for the software, it’s running Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition) out of the box, but an update to Android Pie is, while possible, highly unlikely, especially for such a low-end phone. Judging by the press renders, however, it doesn’t look like it’s running MIUI, and it doesn’t look to be stock Android like their Android One phones either. We could be seeing a lighter shade of MIUI, stock Android with small customizations, or an entirely new skin made exclusively for Android Go phones.

Pricing information has not leaked yet, and it’s hard to predict given that this is the first time Xiaomi is gracing the Android Go market. Knowing their past pricing philosophy, though, it is expected to retail under Rs. 5000 ($70) and as low as Rs. 3000 ($45). If true, it would effectively be Xiaomi’s cheapest device to date. What do you think about the Redmi Go? Let us know in the comments.