Redmi GM says 5G phones will be available for under $300 next year

Xiaomi and its Redmi sub-brand are well known for delivering well-priced phones that are packed with features. We’ve even seen this value for money approach with the Mi Mix 3 5G. This handset, Xiaomi’s first 5G smartphone, retails for 599 euros (~$681), making it hundreds of euros cheaper than 5G phones from the likes of Samsung and Huawei. But a Xiaomi executive has hinted its 5G phones are going to be even better value in 2020.

Redmi general manager Lu Weibing noted on Weibo (h/t: GSMArena) that 5G phones will be available for 2,000 yuan (~$291) in the second half of 2020. In other words, you can potentially buy two of these 5G phones for the price of one Mi Mix 3 5G. Better yet, you could buy four of these 5G devices for the price of a Galaxy S10 5G.

Lu stopped short of saying the Xiaomi sub-brand will be the one to offer a sub-$300 5G smartphone. But 5G roll-outs are expected to ramp up in 2020, so it’s expected that many more brands (including Redmi) will offer cheaper 5G phones.

Redmi wouldn’t be the only Xiaomi brand to offer a 5G phone though, as Black Shark CEO Peter Wu also noted on Weibo that a Black Shark 5G model is in the works. The latest model retails for 549 euros (~$624), so we’d expect a similar price leap as the 499 euro (~$567) Mi Mix 3 and its 5G variant.

What will it take for you to switch from a 4G to 5G phone? Let us know in the comments!

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