8 Android smartphone models to challenge Redmi Note in Indonesia

Popular Chinese gadget manufacturer Xiaomi will arrive officially in Indonesia this week. The Xiaomi Indonesia website has teased fans about what sort of smartphone they can get with only IDR 2 million (US$171). The price indicates that the Redmi Note could be the first phone launched in Indonesia, since the Note has a similar price range at US$162 in China.

If that’s really the case, then will Redmi Note be the best Android smartphone in Indonesia in its price range? Tech in Asia has compiled the smartphone models that could challenge Redmi Note’s arrival in the country.

Redmi Note itself is a 5.5-inch smartphone, with 1280×720 HD IPS display. It comes with octa-core 1.7GHz MediaTek processors, 2GB RAM, 3,100 mAh battery, dual-SIM support, 13MP back camera, and an 8MP front camera. So the challengers must at least have comparable specifications with similar pricing. Here are eight of them:

1. Evercoss Elevate Y2

Evercoss is one of the top local smartphone brands coming out of Indonesia. The company launched Elevate Y2 A80A earlier this month, and the phone is one to look out for as it is packed with powerful specifications. The 5-inch phone has a 1280×720 HD IPS display and dual-SIM support.

Other specifications from Elevate Y2 include 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek processors, 1GB RAM, 2,000 mAh battery, MALI-400MP GPU, 13MP back camera, and 5MP front camera. It is available for IDR 2.3 million (US$196).

2. Bolt IVO V5

Launched just last Thursday, this is the newest smartphone in this list. IVO V5 itself is a fairly new brand in the eyes of Indonesian customers. The phone has 5-inch screen, with 960×540 qHD display and dual-SIM support. Its biggest strength lies in its tie-up to the only 4G mobile internet provider in the country, Bolt. This means that in terms of internet speed, IVO V5 may be the fastest one you can get in Indonesia at the moment.

When it comes to phone specifications however, the phone is below par compared to Redmi Note. IVO V5 uses 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processors, 1GB RAM, 2,300 mAh battery, Adreno 305 GPU, 8MP back camera, and 2MP front camera. You can buy it for IDR 2.1 million (US$179).

3. Himax Polymer

Himax is one of the new local smartphone brands to watch in 2014. The company’s Himax Pure 3 looks great as it is equipped with octa-core processors and is still priced at IDR 2.4 million (US$205) mark. However, the one phone that looks very exciting is the upcoming Polymer, to be launched later this week as well. This phone may well be the closest to toppling Redmi Note.

The Himax Polymer is a 5-inch phone with 1280×720 HD IPS display as well as dual-SIM support. It comes with 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek processors, 2GB RAM, 2,500mAh battery, MALI-450MP4 GPU, 13MP back camera, and 5MP front camera. The phone will be launched on 29 August, with the selling price of IDR 2 million (US$171).

4. Moto G

5. Smartfren Andromax V2

6. Mito Fantasy A95

7. Treq Q1

8. IMO Raptor