5,000 Redmi sold out in 8 minutes

CHINA - Chinese phone maker Xiaomi yesterday announced it had sold out 5,000 of its Redmi phones in just eight minutes after they went on sale on its website at noon.

Its previous batches of phones for the Singapore market sold online had also sold out within minutes.

It marks the first time that Xiaomi had revealed the number of phones it sold, in response to criticism that its popularity here might be more a gimmick than real as it did not reveal previous Singapore sales numbers.

Some netizens had said that the Chinese firm might have been hyping up its sales here by releasing very small batches of phones, which then sold out quickly.

But last week, Xiaomi said on Facebook that "we have heard your feedback and will be bringing in 5,000 units (of Redmi) this time", adding that there was "more up for grabs".

Xiaomi's phones have proven to be a hit in China as they are seen to be value for money.

The $169 Redmi, for instance, has a quad-core processor and a high-definition 720p 4.7-inch screen, which is better than that of many smartphones of similar price points.

In China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the only other markets where Xiaomi's phones are officially sold for now, the company would usually indicate the number of its phones sold out.

Xiaomi, which plans to make Singapore a base for the South-east Asia market, is known for its preference for small launches.

For its initial China launch last year, it allocated for sale just 10,000 units in Hong Kong and 50,000 for the rest of China.

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