Planning to grab the Redmi A4 5G in its first sale on November 27? You might want to think twice. While the phone packs solid features at a price below ₹10,000, there’s a big catch—it doesn’t support Airtel’s 5G network.
Only Works with Jio 5G
Xiaomi has confirmed that the Redmi A4 5G only supports Jio’s standalone (SA) 5G network. Airtel’s non-standalone (NSA) 5G network? Not compatible. For Airtel users, this could be a deal-breaker.
Why Doesn’t It Support Airtel?
India uses two types of 5G networks: SA and NSA. Jio’s SA network is standalone and more advanced, while Airtel’s NSA piggybacks on 4G infrastructure. While both can hit speeds of up to 1Gbps, the Redmi A4 5G is built to work exclusively with SA, leaving Airtel users in the lurch.
Price and Availability
The Redmi A4 5G starts at ₹8,499 for 4GB/64GB and ₹9,499 for 4GB/128GB. It’ll be available on Amazon, Mi.com, and in stores from November 27. If you’re an Airtel user, it’s worth waiting for a phone that supports NSA 5G. Otherwise, Jio users can go ahead and enjoy the device without worries!
