Xiaomi Redmi 2 Debuts In Brazil, Marks First Foray Outside Asia For Chinese Mobile Manufacturer

Xiaomi smartphones are stepping out of Asia and into South America. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer announced Tuesday the launch of its Redmi 2 in Brazil, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It’s a first for Xiaomi, which previously only sold its smartphones in Asian markets, such as the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Singapore and China. The Brazilian version of the Redmi 2 will retail for 499 Brazilian reals ($160) starting July 7. But to get to that price and avoid high import duties placed on technology, Xiaomi will use Foxconn Brazil factories to manufacturer the device in-country, according to Re/Code.

It’s a similar tactic that Apple used to keep the prices down for its iPhone 4 in Brazil by manufacturing it domestically, according to Apple Insider. And it’s a move that other electronic manufacturers -- such as Sony with its PlayStation 4 -- are taking to make their products more affordable in Brazil, according to IGN Brazil.

The Redmi 2 is already available in Xiaomi’s other markets and comes packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 64-bit processor, 4G dual SIM support, 4.7-inch HD display, 8MP camera and 2200 mAh Sony battery.

Though Xiaomi doesn’t sell its smartphones in the U.S., it recently began offering other products to the market, including battery packs, headphones and fitness bands. The lack of smartphones in its U.S. product offerings isn’t expected to change in the short term, as Xiaomi has few patents to protect itself from lawsuits stemming from competing mobile companies in the U.S.