Why India Is Stuck With the K20 Pro

In our most recently article, we discussed the idea that with the recent launch of the MI9T, the world was bound to see a Pocophone F2. After diving deeper into this topic, we made a few discoveries that while supporting our previous theory, bring unfortunate news for those living in India.

As it turns out, the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro feature the B1, B3, B5, B39, B40, and B41 LTE bands. Much to our surprise, as Kimovil shows, these bands are not only perfect for the Chinese market, but also ideal for Indian LTE reception as well.

All of the Chines Bands work perfectly in India

This is not unusual for Redmi devices, as most of their smartphone entries feature bands that are a perfect match to both the Indian and Chinese devices. On the flip side, most of Xiaomi’s mainline phones receive designated Chinese and global versions instead. This is a special case however, as the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro are one of the first Redmi devices that have taken this long to reach India - adding more mystery to our Pocophone F2 theory.

Come to think of however, it was within the Pocophone brand itself that we found the answer. Back in 2018 when the Pocophone first launched, Xiaomi tackled the device specifically to the Indian market, a region where Xiaomi, despite having a presence, never found much flagship success in. In this sense, Xiaomi’s Pocophone brand settled itself as the company’s way of bringing the Xiaomi name to new markets outside of China, and since Xiaomi now is considered the second largest smartphone seller in India, Pocophone’s mission may be done.

Furthermore, it is important to understand that the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro are one of the first Redmi phones that can truly be considered “flagship killers”. This is an important detail as for devices to be sold cheaply in India, they must be produced locally. This may not have been a big issue when Redmi devices were so cheap, but now that the Redmi K20 And K20 Pro require an extra level of craft, issues with Xiaomi’s tooling and supply chain may explain its delay in the Indian market.

Redmi’s Indian productions are very small and limited in comparison to China’s

As if that wasn’t enough, China often serves as the ground base for testing Xiaomi and Redmi devices, ensuring that stability can be achieved prior to reaching other markets. With the K20 and K20 Pro, many Youtubers and journalists have voiced their opinions about the hardware capability coupled with software that is not yet truly optimal.

Thus, with all this information in mind, we believe it makes the most sense that the Pocophone F2 will be targeted to breach another market, and that for Xiaomi’s Indian fanbase, they will receive the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro as soon as manufacturing costs have been lowered and the software is truly finalised.

What are your thoughts on India receiving the K20 And K20 Pro? Let us know down below!

How the Redmi Mi9T is proof that a Pocophone F2 Is Coming

In 2018, Xiaomi brought to the public the Pocophone F1, proving to the world that a solid spec-sheet, durable design and outstanding cameras are not entirely reserved for the flagship space. With the Pocophone F1 being as successful as it was however, many have started to wonder when they can expect a successor to Xiaomi’s flagship killer - and after recent release of the Mi9T, we may finally have the answer.

Is the brand that was made for India not coming back to India?

            For those who are unaware, earlier this month Redmi - Xiaomi’s sub-brand - released the China exclusive Redmi K20 Pro, the company’s first device powered by the all new Snapdragon 855 processor, alongside the Redmi K20, a less powerful yet still capable device powered by the Snapdragon 730 chip. Coming in at an attractively low price of $370 for the Pro variant, many Xiaomi fans outside of China started to wonder just when the device would make a global appearance. This all changed last week, when Redmi finally unveiled that it would be bringing the device to other markets in the form of the Redmi MI9T - this however, came with one caveat: the lack of a pro version.

            Without a Snapdragon 855 offering, many have started to wonder Redmi’s role in foreign markets, and it is here that the potential for a Pocophone successor shines through. According to the Economic Times of India, Xiaomi created Redmi with as a “budget” sub-brand, furthermore, on an interview posted to Chinese blogging site Weibo, Xiaomi’s Lei stated that “While the Redmi brand focused on value-for-money budget smartphones, the Mi brand is focused on high-end devices. Also, the Redmi devices are primarily sold through e-commerce platforms while Mi devices are not e-commerce focused”.

            Following Lei’s statement, it becomes easier to understand why the west will not be seeing a K20 Pro variant. By releasing a Snapdragon 855 powered device that calls itself a “flagship killer”, the company would potentially put at jeopardy Xiaomi’s high-end focus, not only confusing consumers, but potentially harming the appeal of devices such as the Xiaomi Mi 9 in foreign markets.

            This isn’t the first time that such a tactic has been introduced by Chinese companies when entering the foreign market. Huawei, which owns the Honor sub-brand, ensures that Honor sells less complete packages in comparison to the Mate and P series phones, thus positioning Honor as the budget division of Huawei’s flagship lineup. A similar tactic can be seen with Oppo, owner of both One Plus and the Real Me sub-brands. In their case, One Plus has recently taken a flagship stand with the likes of the One Plus 7 Pro, while the Real Me phones stay at the sub $300 price point, smoothly leaving Oppo’s main brand in a stable mid-range position. By following a similar strategy, Xiaomi can ensure that consumers of all products can assimilate to their brands, while also creating a cohesive ecosystem for consumers to follow.

Is One Plus Xiaomi’s biggest competitor?

            Ultimately, it is important to understand that while the Pocophone is considered a separate sub-brand, it is still - unlike Redmi - advertised as a Xiaomi designed and produced device, meaning that a Pocophone F1 successor, most likely also featuring the Snapdragon 855 found in the K20 Pro, would not only prevent customer confusion, but also successfully ensure that Xiaomi’s vision for the Redmi and Mi brands’ distinctive roles in the market could be fully realised.