The other side of Rs 999 Jio Bharat phone: All that it lacks

The problem? Reliance Jio has stated that a Jio SIM card is the sole way to utilise the new Jio Bharat phone. This indicates that using a SIM card from another carrier, such as Airtel or Vodafone Idea, will not allow the phone to function.

The 250 million Indians who are still "trapped in the 2G era" will be able to break free and embrace the online world thanks to the Rs 999 Jio Bharat Phone, according to Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio. The phone has 4G capabilities, access to now-standard services like call and HD recordings, access to OTT platforms, and UPI payment support (nicely complimented by Jio's new Rs 123 and Rs 1,234 data plans).

It is believed that Jio Bharat V1 4G would have an appealing small form and amazing features. It is suitable for watching movies, viewing photographs, and using the internet because it has a 2.4-inch TFT display with a screen resolution of 240 × 320 pixels and a pixel density of 167ppi.

Solo Black and Ash Blue versions of the Jio Bharat V1 4G are expected to be available in the market. The device is expected to have a robust body that can resist splashes of water and dirt.

Jio Bharat V1 4G uses the most recent KAI OS release. It has a 2-megapixel back camera setup and a 0.3-megapixel front camera setup, both of which are capable of producing sharp pictures and movies.

A 3500 mAh Li-Polymer battery that is expected to power the Jio Bharat V1 4G is said to last all day and let you accomplish more. It is anticipated to include 512GB of flash memory and 4GB of RAM. The storage space can be increased to 128GB.

A reasonably priced device with great durability, quick internet access, and clever features is the Jio Bharat V1 4G.

The problem? Reliance Jio has stated that a Jio SIM card is the sole way to utilise the new Jio Bharat phone. This indicates that using a SIM card from another carrier, such as Airtel or Vodafone Idea, will not allow the phone to function.

Is that the only catch? Well the answer is no, other than its Low-megapixel lens, only the Jio App Store is supported on the phone. Based on information available, the OS developed by Jio only supports Apps developed by them, now it depends on an individual think this of it as a con because it limits the users to Jio app store restricting their access to Google Play store or Apple store on the other hand it could even be seen as a pro as it might open up the Indian market to platforms other than Android and even Apple. Since Apple caters to a completely different section of the market the question that arises here is whether or not Jio will be able to compete against or take over Android. At the same, whether people will develop Apps specific to Jio’s OS may be a limiting factor. Since only the Jio App Store is supported on the phone Whatsapp is not supported.

This is not the first time Jio has come out with a reasonably priced device, compared to the Jio phone launched earlier, Jio Bharat Phone comes with a smaller-sized screen, lower battery capacity at 100 mAH compared to the previous model's 2000 mAH. Due to outsourcing one model to a different company, consistency and quality assurance may be compromised, which could harm the experience. It also comes with a less capable 0.3MP camera.

Convincing people, particularly those in rural regions, to switch immediately to smartphones is a major hurdle. Their resistance is influenced by elements like the learning curve, overall ownership costs, and repair costs. The launch of Rs 999 Jio Bharat phone has attracted interest and spurred debates among professionals in the field. According to experts, there has always been a need to move feature phone users online, but due to escalating prices and component costs, the market has struggled to offer smartphones that are both affordable and of excellent quality. It will be interesting to see whether Jio's action could hasten the switch from 2G to 4G.