Screw the Moto G: Xiaomi takes its budget smartphone to Taiwan

Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi is preparing to launch its budget smartphone in Taiwan. Xiaomi is now issuing reservation numbers for the quad-core Hongmi phone ahead of starting sales in Taiwan on December 9. The Hongmi was unveiled for mainland China buyers in July this year.

The Xiaomi Hongmi will cost just NT$3,999 in Taiwan, which is the same low $135 price that it costs in mainland China. It’s therefore cheaper than Motorola’s new Moto G – which costs $179 in the US – for similar specs. But the Hongmi has a larger screen than the Moto G (5-inch versus 4.5-inch), as well as a better camera (8MP vs 5MP). The only downside to the Hongmi might be its Mediatek quad-core chip, in contrast to the Moto G’s Snapdragon 400 processor.

As we noted in our review of the Xiaomi Hongmi, it’s a cheap, large smartphone that doesn’t feel too compromised by a few cheaper components here and there, such as a lack of back-lights in the three Android hardware buttons.

Xiaomi is using Facebook to drum up enthusiasm for the Hongmi launch. Only 10,000 early-bird reservation numbers are available for Taiwanese people to grab the Hongmi immediately upon its launch. We’ve contacted Xiaomi HQ in Beijing for further details such as Taiwan telco partnerships and we’ll update when we hear back.

(Editing by Paul Bischoff)