Reliance Jio Mobiles: Top-Rated VoLTE Phones
HIGHLIGHTS
Reliance Jio services uses VoLTE for voice calls
Reliance Jio SIM cards are now available to everyone
We pick over 30 smartphones that support VoLTE
Ever since the official launch of Reliance Jio services, there’s been a lot of excitement around the new network. Jio launched earlier this month, with lifetime free calling, and a welcome offer giving everyone 4G unlimited data until December 31 2016.
Predictably enough, this meant that actually getting your hands on a Reliance Jio SIM is an uphill task as of now, and activation isn’t much easier.
Unlike other phone networks, Jio runs entirely on 4G, which also extends to voice calls. This means that you’ll need a 4G-capable phone that also supports VoLTE (Voice over LTE), in order to make calls. If your phone supports 4G but not VoLTE, you have to use the Jio4GVoice app (earlier known as JioJoin) in order to place calls over the network.
If you’re looking to get a new phone and wondering whether it’ll work with Reliance Jio 4G network, we’ve done the searching for you. We looked at the best smartphones with VoLTE support from among the ones that we’ve reviewed. We stuck with the phones that we have already reviewed since they’ve been put through multiple tests, including testing with VoLTE calls. We also set a cut-off date of October 2015, so that none of the phones is more than a year old. The phones are divided into price bands, but beyond that are included in no specific order. Here’s a look at the best phones you can buy if you’re switching to the Reliance Jio network.
In case you want to have a look at a bigger list of mobiles that will work on the Jio network, read our earlier piece.
Reliance Jio mobiles between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 50,000
1. iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
Apple recently slashed prices of last year’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus so now is a pretty good time to buy these handsets. In our review of the phones, we found the design to be really great with improved camera performance, and faster touch ID. If you’re interested in the Apple ecosystem, then you can’t really go wrong with one of these phones.
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
Rs. 49,999
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Fantastic performance
3D Touch enables new UI paradigms
Great camera including brilliant front flash
Good battery life
Bad
Ungainly
Touch ID is too fast!
16GB storage in base variant
Expensive
More big-screen software features would be welcome
Read detailed Apple iPhone 6s Plus review
BUY AT
Flipkart
Apple iPhone 6s Plus (Space Grey, 16GB) – OFFER
Rs. 49,999
Flipkart
Apple iPhone 6S Plus (Gold, 16GB)
Rs. 49,999
Flipkart
Apple iPhone 6S Plus (Silver, 16GB) – OFFER
Rs. 49,999
2. Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung’s flagship devices offer real competition to the iPhones, and the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are amongst the best phones you can buy. The performance and battery life of both phones also impressed us, though Samsung’s software can still be improved upon.
Samsung Galaxy S7
Rs. 42,799
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Easy to hold and handle
Unbelievable processing power
Phenomenal camera
IP68 protection
Bad
Bloated software
Hybrid SIM/microSD slot
Read detailed Samsung Galaxy S7 review
BUY AT
Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S7 (Gold Platinum, 32GB) –
Rs. 42,799
Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S7 (Silver Titanium, 32GB) –
Rs. 43,275
Flipkart
Samsung Galaxy S7 (Gold Platinum, 32GB)
Rs. 43,400
3. HTC 10
The HTC 10 flagship smartphone sports a stunning design and impresses with performance. The handset sports a vivid display and both the cameras take decent shots. The only shortcoming for this phone is its battery life.
HTC 10
Rs. 42,900
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Brilliant design
Gorgeous display
Lean software
Speedy performance
Good cameras
Very good audio
Bad
No FM radio
Battery life could be better
Some metering issues in camera app
Read detailed HTC 10 review
BUY AT
Amazon
HTC 10 (Topaz Gold, 32GB)
Rs. 42,900
Amazon
HTC 10 (Carbon Grey, 32GB)
Rs. 43,900
4. BlackBerry Priv
The BlackBerry Priv is the only phone in this entire list with a physical keyboard. For some people, that’s going to be a reason enough to pick it, along with the fantastic build quality. However, it does feel a little overpriced, and a little dated, and the front camera is a disappointment.
BlackBerry Priv
Rs. 39,990
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Physical keyboard
Vast Android app ecosystem
Fantastic materials and construction
Good screen
Bad
Extremely expensive
Weak front camera
Slightly unwieldy
Lacks many current-day features
Read detailed BlackBerry Priv review
BUY AT
Amazon
BlackBerry Priv (Black, 32GB) –
Rs. 39,990
Flipkart
BlackBerry Priv (Black, 32GB)
Rs. 39,990
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Launched in September last year, Samsung’s last Note-series phablet is available at a price as low as Rs. 39,900. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 offers solid performance and good battery life however the S Pen mechanism is prone to damage.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Rs. 39,999
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Pleasing aesthetics
Solid performance
Good battery life
Bad
No expandable storage
No IR blaster
S Pen mechanism prone to damage
Read detailed Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review
BUY AT
Flipkart
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (Silver Titanium, 32GB)
Rs. 39,999
Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (Gold, 32GB)
Rs. 40,899
If budget is not a limit, then you can also consider the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 – we haven’t included it in our list since we haven’t had the chance to carry out a full review yet, but all in all, there’s a lot to like about the phone. The phone is not officially available yet due to its exploding battery issue, though when it does become available the problem should be fixed.
You could also consider the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which should go on sale in India soon. Those phones will start Rs. 60,000 and Rs. 70,000 respectively, but they’re what you want if you’re looking for the latest and greatest in phones.
Reliance Jio mobiles between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 35,000
1. OnePlus 3
The OnePlus 3 is an absolute powerhouse and during our review, it broke several records when it comes to benchmark scores. The handset scores heavily in terms of build, camera, and battery life. The massive 6GB of RAM is the biggest highlight of the handset.
OnePlus 3
Rs. 27,999
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Great design and build
Record-breaking performance
Decent battery life
Superb software
Fast and accurate fingerprint sensor
Bad
Sub-par low-light photography
No expandable storage
Read detailed OnePlus 3 review
BUY AT
Amazon
OnePlus 3 (Graphite, 64GB) –
Rs. 27,999
Amazon
OnePlus 3 (Soft Gold, 64GB) –
Rs. 27,999
2. Asus ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL)
The ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) offers a fair amount of power under the hood with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. The handset delivers decent battery life, a good camera, and solid build. The price is a little high for what you’re getting, but overall, it’s a good pick.
Asus ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL)
Rs. 27,367
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Great design and build quality
Good screen
4K video recording support
Fast fingerprint scanner
Bad
Slightly overpriced for the overall package
Read detailed Asus ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) review
BUY AT
Amazon
Asus ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) (Black, 64GB) –
Rs. 27,367
Flipkart
Asus ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) (Black, 64GB) – OFFER
Rs. 27,999
3. LG Google Nexus 5X
Google’s 2015 Nexus 5X is now available for Rs. 25,990. It sports a quick fingerprint sensor and takes some really nice photos. The overall performance of the smartphone is above satisfactory, but the limited storage can be a problem.
LG Google Nexus 5X
Rs. 15,990
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Pure Android 6.0
Fingerprint sensor
Good camera
Good overall performance
Bad
Limited storage
Expensive
USB Type-C adapters required
Ditches wireless charging
Read detailed LG Google Nexus 5X review
BUY AT
Amazon
LG Google Nexus 5X (Ice Blue, 16GB)
Rs. 15,990
Amazon
LG Google Nexus 5X (Ice Blue, 16GB)
Rs. 15,990
Amazon
LG Google Nexus 5X (Ice Blue, 32GB)
Rs. 27,999
4. iPhone SE
Apple’s iPhone SE shows that good things do come in small packages, and it’s a very good all-round pick that offers a fair bit of muscle too. The front camera is a little disappointing, but if you’re looking at a cheaper option to get into the iOS ecosystem, or if you just really like the 4-inch form factor, it’s your pick.
Apple iPhone SE
Rs. 32,230
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Great performance
Good rear camera
Bad
Underwhelming selfie camera
Starts at 16GB storage
Read detailed Apple iPhone SE review
BUY AT
Amazon
Apple iPhone SE (Gold, 16GB) –
Rs. 32,230
Amazon
Apple iPhone SE (Space Grey, 16GB) –
Rs. 32,290
Amazon
Apple iPhone SE (Silver, 16GB) –
Rs. 32,319
5. Oppo F1 Plus
The Oppo F1 Plus has a vibrant display with good sunlight legibility. The phone takes its design cues from the iPhone range and looks premium. The battery life and camera performance of this phone are pretty good too.
Oppo F1 Plus
Rs. 24,900
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Very good build quality
Vibrant display with good sunlight legibility
Good battery life
Cameras fare well in daylight
Fast charging
Bad
No Wi-Fi ac or NFC
Weak low-light camera performance
Hybrid SIM slot
Read detailed Oppo F1 Plus review
BUY AT
Amazon
Oppo F1 Plus (Gold, 64GB)
Rs. 24,900
Flipkart
Oppo F1 Plus (Gold, 64GB)
Rs. 24,990
Amazon
Oppo F1 Plus (Gold, 64GB)
Rs. 24,990
Reliance Jio mobiles between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000
1. Xiaomi Mi 5
Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 5 impressed us with its fast performance and great battery life. The handset was one of our picks for top value for money devices. It lacks expandable storage, which could be a problem for some users, but otherwise, it’s a good pick.
Xiaomi Mi 5
Rs. 22,490
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Good design
Decent camera quality
Blazing fast performance
Great battery life
Good fingerprint sensor
Excellent value-for-money
Bad
No expandable storage
Higher storage variants not available at launch
Some unusual UI customisations
Flash sale model makes it hard to buy
Read detailed Xiaomi Mi 5 review
BUY AT
Amazon
Xiaomi Mi 5 (Gold, 32GB)
Rs. 22,490
Flipkart
Xiaomi Mi 5 (White, 32GB) – OFFER
Rs. 22,999
Flipkart
Xiaomi Mi 5 (Black, 32GB) – OFFER
Rs. 22,999
2. Oppo F1 and Oppo F1s
Oppo F1’s metal chassis looks and feels incredibly premium. The handset’s general performance is very good and both the front and rear cameras deliver good quality in most lighting conditions. On the other hand, the display of the handset is bit of let-down. The Oppo F1s has a great front camera that is capable of taking pretty detailed selfies in varied conditions.
Oppo F1
Rs. 15,850
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Sleek design and sturdy build
Good front and rear cameras
Solid battery life
Good all-round performance
Bad
No NFC or Wi-Fi ac
Weak sunlight legibility
Read detailed Oppo F1 review
BUY AT
Amazon
Oppo F1 (Gold, 16GB)
Rs. 15,850
Flipkart
Oppo F1 (Gold, 16GB)
Rs. 16,000
Amazon
Oppo F1 (Rose Gold)
Rs. 21,780
3. Gionee S6 and Gionee S6s
The Gionee S6 has a nice design and the biggest highlight is its battery life. Its camera takes good shots during daylight but no fingerprint sensor at this price is unfortunate. The Gionee S6s, on the other hand, is targeted at young buyers who are obsessed with selfies. Unfortunately, the shots taken with front camera in low-light were below average. It’s still a good overall pick, and the phone also has decent battery life.
Gionee S6s
Rs. 16,550
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Good build quality
Decent battery life
Good overall performance
Bad
No way to delete preinstalled apps
Front camera low-light performance could be better
Minor performance issues
BUY AT
Amazon
Gionee S6s (Latte Gold, 32GB) –
Rs. 16,550
Amazon
Gionee S6s (Mocha Gold, 32GB)
Rs. 16,759
5. Gionee Marathon M5 Plus
If you’re looking for excellent battery life in a smartphone, you can easily go for the Gionee Marathon M5 Plus. This phone received a perfect battery score in our review.
Gionee Marathon M5 Plus
Rs. 19,650
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Impressive battery life
Decent build quality
Good display
Bad
Camera performance is below par
Software needs improvement
Large and heavy
Read detailed Gionee Marathon M5 Plus review
BUY AT
Amazon
Gionee Marathon M5 Plus (Champagne Gold)
Rs. 19,650
Amazon
Gionee Marathon M5 Plus (Polar Gold, 64GB) –
Rs. 19,799
Flipkart
Gionee Marathon M5 Plus (Champagne Gold, 64GB) – OFFER
Rs. 26,999
Reliance Jio mobiles between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 15,000
1. LeEco Le 2
The LeEco Le 2 delivers good performance and battery life. The handset comes with free a Le Ecosystem subscription for a year, which is a nice value add-on. The biggest concern we have is the lack of a 3.5-mm adaptor for audio.
LeEco Le 2
Rs. 11,999
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Great performance
Looks good
Free Le Ecosystem subscription for a year
Good battery life
Bad
No 3.5mm audio connector
Storage not exapandable
Average camera performance
Read detailed LeEco Le 2 review
BUY AT
Flipkart
LeEco Le 2 (Grey, 32GB) – OFFER
Rs. 11,999
Amazon
LeEco Le 2 (Rose Gold, 64GB)
Rs. 14,490
2. Moto G4 and G4 Plus
The Moto G4 is one of the popular smartphones in its category and decent battery life. The performance is above par and it also offers near-stock Android experience. Lenovo’s Moto G4 Plus is one of our picks for the best phones under Rs. 15,000 in September. The good battery life and near-stock version of Android makes the overall package value for money.
Motorola Moto G4 Plus
Rs. 13,499
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Sleek design and good build
Vivid display
Strong battery life
Near-stock version of Android
Improved camera app
Bad
No NFC
Low-light camera performance is average
Read detailed Motorola Moto G4 Plus review
BUY AT
Amazon
Motorola Moto G4 Plus (White, 16GB) –
Rs. 13,499
Amazon
Motorola Moto G4 Plus (Black, 16GB) –
Rs. 13,499
Amazon
Motorola Moto G4 Plus (Black, 32GB) –
Rs. 14,999
3. Xiaomi Mi Max
Xiaomi’s Mi Max has a lot going for it. The handset is the best media consumption device available in the market, with an enormous battery. On the other hand, it’s nearly the size of a tablet.
Xiaomi Mi Max
Rs. 14,999
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Pleasing aesthetics and build quality
Vivid display
Good performance
Strong battery life
4K video support
Bad
Unwieldy
Low-light camera quality is average
Hybrid SIM slot
Read detailed Xiaomi Mi Max review
BUY AT
Flipkart
Xiaomi Mi Max (Gold, 32GB)
Rs. 14,999
Amazon
Xiaomi Mi Max (Gold, 32GB) –
Rs. 14,999
Amazon
Xiaomi Mi Max (Silver, 32GB) –
Rs. 14,999
Reliance Jio mobiles under Rs. 10,000
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 3 was one of our top picks for the sub-Rs. 10,000 smartphone currently available in the Indian market. The great build quality, battery life, impressive display, and solid performance makes the entire package value for money.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
Rs. 9,499
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Great looks and build quality
Vivid display
Strong CPU performance
Very good battery life
Offers good value
Bad
Expandable storage limited to 32GB
Camera could have been better
Read detailed Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 review
BUY AT
Amazon
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Dark Grey, 16GB) –
Rs. 9,499
Amazon
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Gold, 16GB) –
Rs. 9,999
Flipkart
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Silver, 16GB) – OFFER
Rs. 9,999
2. Xiaomi Redmi 3S Prime
The Xiaomi Redmi 3S Prime’s biggest advantage is its size that makes it easy to use with just one hand. The battery backup is solid, as is the performance. It’s a value for money devices at this price.
Xiaomi Redmi 3S Prime
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Good design
Easy to operate with one hand
Impressive battery life
Quick fingerprint recognition
Bad
Hybrid SIM slot
Gets a bit warm with camera use
Read detailed Xiaomi Redmi 3S Prime review
Also See
Flipkart
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Gold, 16GB) – OFFER
Rs. 9,999
Flipkart
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Gold, 32GB)
Rs. 11,999
Amazon
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Dark Grey, 16GB) –
Rs. 9,499
3. InFocus M680
The InFocus M680 smartphone certainly feels solid, thanks to its metallic touches, and features a crisp display. The phone is snappy and responsive though battery life is average. It also gets a bit warm with use.
InFocus M680
Rs. 10999
REVIEWS
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery life
Camera
Value for money
Good
Looks great
Good display
Good camera
Useful apps and UI tweaks
Bad
Average battery life
Gets a bit warm with use
Hybrid SIM/SD slot
Read detailed InFocus M680 review
These are our top picks of phones at various price points that will work with the Reliance Jio network, but if you’re not keen on these phones, there were a few other entry-level phones we reviewed that you can consider. They didn’t fare as well as the phones in the list though, and involve a bit of compromise. Nonetheless, you could also check out the InFocus M370, since it’s one of the few sub-Rs. 5,000 devices with VoLTE. The LG K7 LTE is another option but it’s a bit too expensive for what’s being offered.
The Panasonic Eluga Arc is another good option, if a fingerprint sensor and design are important to you. Finally, there’s the Coolpad Mega 2.5D which suffers on the battery and camera fronts, and so didn’t make the list, but is otherwise not a bad option.
These are all the picks we had – if we’ve missed a good phone with VoLTE support that you are using on the Reliance Jio network, please let us and the other users know via the comments.
Tags: Reliance Jio, Reliance, Mobiles, Jio, VoLTE, VoLTE Smartphones
[“Source-Gadgets”]
