Jio Phone in 2026: 10 Reasons It Was a Hit, Plans and What to Buy Now
The original Jio Phone changed India’s mobile market when Reliance Jio launched it in 2017: a 4G keypad phone with WhatsApp, YouTube and free voice calls for a refundable Rs 1,500 deposit. Feature phone sales grew for the first time in years, a market once ruled by Nokia feature phones. Here is what the Jio Phone did well, what has changed since, and which Jio phone to buy in 2026.
Quick answer: The original Jio Phone (2017) was a KaiOS 4G feature phone with a 2.4-inch screen, Wi-Fi hotspot, WhatsApp and YouTube. It has been replaced by the JioBharat 4G phones (from about Rs 799) and the JioPhone Prima 2 (about Rs 2,799), which use Jio’s 4G keypad-phone plans starting at Rs 123 for 28 days. Buy a JioBharat for calls and UPI, the Prima 2 for WhatsApp and YouTube, or a cheap Android phone for full apps.
Table of Contents
What was the Jio Phone?
Jio announced the Jio Phone at the Reliance AGM in July 2017 and shipped it from August 2017. It looked like an ordinary keypad phone, but it ran 4G VoLTE and KaiOS, so it could do things feature phones never did. The key specs:
- Display: 2.4-inch QVGA TFT (320 x 240)
- Chip and memory: 1 GHz dual-core, 512 MB RAM, 4 GB storage, microSD up to 128 GB
- Cameras: 2 MP rear, 0.3 MP front
- Battery: 2,000 mAh, removable
- Connectivity: 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio, 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Software: KaiOS with WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and Jio apps, many Indian languages and a voice assistant
10 reasons the Jio Phone was worth buying
- Smart features on a keypad phone: Wi-Fi, 4G VoLTE, WhatsApp and Facebook on a phone that cost less than most basic handsets.
- Cheap plans: recharges started at Rs 49 and later Rs 75 a month, and annual bundles included the phone itself. It was even cheaper than the YPhone toy phone.
- HD voice calls: VoLTE gave clear calls with few drops.
- Wi-Fi hotspot: share data with a laptop in an emergency from Settings > Network & Connectivity > Hotspot.
- Compact design: a small alphanumeric keypad that seniors and children could learn easily.
- Software updates over the air: WhatsApp and YouTube arrived later through OTA updates.
- Free voice calls: unlimited calls to all networks on every plan.
- Entertainment: FM radio (even without headphones), JioSaavn music, JioTV and JioCinema.
- Camera: basic photos for WhatsApp status or a quick picture of class notes.
- Extras: a torch, 4-way navigation key, regional languages, and the JioMediaCable to watch on a TV.
What has changed since 2017
The Jio Phone was followed by the QWERTY Jio Phone 2 in 2018 and the Android-based Jio Phone Next in 2021. The original model is no longer in Jio’s current phone line-up, and the old Rs 49 and Rs 75 plans are gone. If you still use one, it works on Jio’s 4G keypad-phone plans, but apps on KaiOS get few updates now.
Jio Phone recharge plans in 2026
Jio’s current plans for 4G keypad phones (JioBharat and JioPhone) all include unlimited calls, 0.5 GB data a day and JioSaavn and JioTV:
| Price | Validity | Data |
| Rs 123 | 28 days | 0.5 GB/day |
| Rs 234 | 56 days | 0.5 GB/day |
| Rs 369 | 84 days | 0.5 GB/day |
| Rs 1,234 | 336 days | 0.5 GB/day |
Prices can change by circle, so confirm in the Jio website or MyJio app before you recharge.
Which Jio phone to buy in 2026
- JioBharat V3 / V4 (about Rs 799-899): the cheapest Jio 4G keypad phones, with calls, JioPay UPI, JioTV and JioSaavn. Good for a parent or a backup phone.
- JioBharat B2 / J1 (about Rs 1,399-1,799): bigger screens and batteries in the same family.
- JioPhone Prima 2 (about Rs 2,799): the closest successor to the Jio Phone, with KaiOS, WhatsApp, YouTube and Facebook.
- A budget Android phone: if you need full apps, banking and video calls, see our list of Flipkart mobile phones under 10000.
Prices are approximate offer prices from Jio’s online store in mid-2026 and change often. Check them on Jio’s website or at Reliance Digital.
FAQ
Is the Jio Phone still available?
The original 2017 Jio Phone is no longer part of Jio’s current line-up. The JioBharat series and JioPhone Prima 2 have replaced it.
Does WhatsApp work on the Jio Phone?
Yes, WhatsApp came to the Jio Phone through a KaiOS update in 2018. The JioPhone Prima 2 also supports it; on JioBharat models, check the model’s app list before you buy.
What is the cheapest Jio Phone recharge?
In 2026 the cheapest 4G keypad-phone plan is Rs 123 for 28 days with unlimited calls and 0.5 GB a day.
Was the Jio Phone free?
Effectively, yes. Buyers paid a Rs 1,500 security deposit that Jio promised to refund on returning the phone after three years.
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