My experience with RJio 4G and Flame handset

I was very eager to try my hands on 4G network from months now. Rjio had been postponing the release since what felt like ages. So on 18th of this month I finally got the device from my local Reliance xpress. Not to forget the ‘jugaad’ for the invite I had to arrange from a guy who has a friend in Rjio… Here’s my unbiased review cum experience with the handset and the Rjio service.

The handset is mandatory for using Rjio 4G as of now. I auditioned a few handsets available from Rjio named Flame,Wind,Water1, Water2 etc. under the brand name of Lyf. Even though Water1 sells for Rs.14000 approx it felt like very cheap like a plastic Chinese toy. The Wind is just a inch bigger than Flame with the same configuration AFAIK. So I simply picked the lowest model ‘Flame’ which retails for Rs.5500 approx. The bill produced was suspicious. I was billed Rs.5231 for the handset and Rs.107 for headset and Rs.161 for the charger. I demanded that I want to be billed only for the headset and they can keep the headset and the charger but they denied. The phone came with a plastic back cover though for free.Ok. Now the built part of the handset…. I wasn’t very happy with cheap plastic finish. I opened the back cover and it indeed smelled like a Chinese plastic toy. It has dual sim and a sd card slot. The 2000 mAh battery needs to be pulled out for inserting the sims or the sd card. I am skipping the configuration as it’s readily available elsewhere. I didn’t even open the earphone buds and charger packet as they looked really flimsy and didn’t bother with them. I put the phone on charge with my LG fast charger I hope that it boost the charging time but the charging time is really slow. Anyway, just after 2 days my number was activated and my 4G service was u and running. I downloaded speedtest app and ran a test. Speedtest show d/l speed around 46 Mbps. WOW. Upload was somewhere near 8 Mbps.

picture upload

This was past midnight.

I don’t have huge download requirements but my data counter in the phone reads 37GB! Maybe because I have not put a password on my hotspot and let my neighbours leech on my data just to give them a taste of Rjio 4G. The network has been up 99% of the time. The average d/l speed in daytime hovers around 8-10 Mbps.

Whatever has been the problems are only related with the handset. Rjio forced a couple of updates on my handset. There’s no option to choose when you want the update. It downloads the update automatically and applies it without confirmation. The device will reboot and ofcourse for the time being you won’t be able to use your phone(about 10 mins). It would have been very convenient if RJio had a delay option to apply the update as per owner’s wish. Suppose the battery is depleted and Rjio forces an update, chances are your phone’s software will corrupt and will not boot again. I have felt that the updates have made the phone a little sluggish. Second major problem is heat. Rjio doesn’t have 2G or 3G licence has of now. In future, they have plans to borrow the networks from RCom. So as of now I have to remain on 4G network 24/7 even when I don’t need Hi-speed data. The LTE network drinks battery like a camel. After some 5 days of usage I am facing a major problem due to this. When I am using the data on the phone with hotspot ON, the drain is so fast that even while the charger plugged-in the battery is draining slowly instead charging up! So even if I start with 100% battery and with charged plugged-in the battery will die after a few hours. The only solution looks like buying another battery but surprise— Rjio isn’t providing any accessory for the phones as of yet. Not even a screenguard. Last night I switched off my phone to charge it 100% or it won’t be possible.

The phone comes with 1 year warranty but if you download Lyf care app and upload your bill details you get 1 year additional warranty. Talking about apps. Rjio has launched several apps to be used exclusively on RJio phones like MyJio app, it;s just like any other network’s app where you can see and manage your plans and find hotspot locations etc. Interestingly, the app shows that the complementary free service with comes with the phone is up till 18th Nov 2016. Does that mean Rjio is postponing the official release even further? The Jio chat app takes over all the functions of calling and messaging and also has inbuilt messaging just like watsapp. JioJoin another chat app reminiscent of Hike messenger. The most interesting apps are Jio Play and Jio Beats app which is a audio streaming app free for Rjio users. I have a full paid subscription of Hungama app and Rjio beats the Hungama app hands down(pun intended). Not only all the latest music is available for download but they have channels for genres and at 320 kbps. you can download the songs for offline listening and can store it wherever you want. Suck it Hungama. Did I mention all for FREE? Jio Play app again it one fantabulous app. Why? Because I can watch any TV channel live on Jio play. Yes, you heard me right. It has paid channels too not just FTA channels. But many channels are absent as of now. On Jio On Demand app you can watch movies for free. Jio Mag app has the latest subscription for all the popular magazines for free. Jio Newsxpress app delivers the latest news. Jionet app finds the free Rjio hotspots for you. Jio switch app makes switching phones easier even between an Apple phone and an android. Jio security is an anti-virus cum anti-theft app. Jio drive app is an alternative to Google drive with free online storage for Jio users which automatically backs up your data/pics/music/videos/contacts etc on Jio drive. So much free and latest content just for Jio users.

Final conclusion: When you buy a Rjio phone you not only get a phone but a plethora of services for free. In the end, I feel like I got a real bargain and a real good service from Rjio for what I paid. Even if you go for a higher handset model the ROI is better than what you will find from other service providers. Though Rjio shouldn’t tie these services to Lyf phones in future as people(including me) have already bought a premium 4G handset according to our choices. Signing off!

*But will keep updating the post as the need arises.

Edit1: I forgot to mention the heat. The phone get so hot that it becomes impossible to make a call. Especially when data is on.
Edit2: For clearing any doubt. Rjio works ONLY on Lyf handsets as of now.
Edit3: All the calls and sms is also free of cost until Rjio is officially launched.
Edit4: Procedure for getting the invite: you need to get in contact with a Rjio employee to get the invite. He knows the procedure. You will need to give him your Name,email ID,location and a working phone number. You will receive the invite as an email. Needless to say don’t fake any of it or they will block your service.