Ringing Bells launched one of the cheapest smartphones in India, Freedom 251, from Rs. 251($4) and Namotel launched ‘Acche Din’ for Rs. 99($1.5) this year and these launches did not go down well with the public, as they were termed scams. However, it did not deter ChampOne from launching a super-cheap smartphone in India.
The first installment from the Jodhpur-based company, ChampOne, is called ChampOne C1 and will be priced at Rs. 501. The mission of the company remains the same as that of Ringing Bells, to provide affordable technology to every Indian.
Well thankfully, like Ringing Bells and Namotel, and sadly, the smartphone will be available for Rs. 501 for a very short period of time. This is a promotional price of the phone and only the phone sold in the flash sale will be available at this low price point. For the flash sale, you will have to register on the website, and only cash on delivery will be accepted as the mode of payment.
After the flash sale, the company is expected to increase the price of the smartphone to around Rs. 8,000, so even though we can’t call it a scam right now, we cannot be sure if the specifications will live up to the expectations from an entry-level smartphone.
Specifications of ChampOne C1
- 5.0″ 720p HD IPS display
- Android 5.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box, dual SIM capability
- 1.3GHz MT6735 Quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage
- 8MP primary camera and a 5MP front facing camera
- 2,500mAh Lithium-polymer battery
- 5V/2A Quick Charge
- 4G LTE ready
The smartphone will come in three colours – White, Silver and Gold. The box contents will also have earphones, charger and a data cable. For Rs. 501 the smartphone seems to have good features, a great processor and 4G connectivity which is very important in the present.
How to register for the phone?
If you want to get your hands on the phone in the promotional period, you need to register on the company’s website. Be double sure of registering for the smartphone because this could be another scam as we have not heard about the company before.
- Click on ‘Register Now’ on the website’s homepage
- Fill in your details and purchase the Champ1 Clean Master Android app from Google Play Store
- You will receive a product key which will double up as the registration key for the flash sale
Some customers have reported that the company has deducted Rs. 50 from their account for purchasing the app, and as of this moment, the company has stopped taking registrations owing to technical difficulties, and will resume operations in the next 24 hours.
The registrations will be accepted till 1st September and the first flash sale will be held on 2nd September. ChampOne will also be launching a tablet and a smartwatch soon, which we expect to be priced competitively.
After e-commerce flash sales, this ‘low-cost smartphone’ gimmick seems to be picking up pace and not only does it catch one’s eye, it also makes headlines in an economy like our’s. Let us see if this is just a marketing stunt and a scam, or does the company live up to the expectations of phone enthusiasts.
Register on ChampOne’s website here: ChampOne
