Xiaomi’s current flagship, the Mi 4, will become available for R3,799 online on 27 November 2015. Due to limited initial quantities, Mi 4 will be sold via a ‘flash sale’.
“We want to make sure that dedicated Mi Fans have the first opportunity to buy the limited quantity of Mi 4 smartphones that will be arriving in the country next week”, said RJ van Spaandonk, President of MIA. “Although a novelty for South Africa, we know that Mi Fans are familiar with the concept ”.
‘Flash sales’ are a way for online retailers to match large demand with limited supply when new products are launched. First popularised in East Asia, consumers essentially participate in an online auction where goods are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“This is the fairest way to allocate the limited amount of stock on day one, and assures that those most eager to get a Mi 4 quickly, can get one with a bit of online effort”, said Kerry Taoushiani, the Group’s Marketing Executive.
Registration for the flash sale starts on Friday 20 November 2015 at 09:00 via mia.africa.com/za, and runs until 23:59 on Thursday 26 November 2015. The actual flash sale will take place on Friday 27 November 2015 from 12:00, for as long as stocks last. All registrants, however, are advised to log into their accounts from 10:00 that same day in anticipation of the flash sale going live. “It is important not to wait until noon, since in other countries the phones were sold out literally in seconds”, according to Ms. Taoushiani.
Lauded for its gorgeous design, Mi 4 is a flagship device featuring a precisely engineered stainless steel frame. It features a 5” IPS Full HD display that is incredibly sharp, and runs on the Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 801 2.5GHz processor. With a 13MP ƒ/1.8 rear camera and a front-facing 8MP camera, Mi 4 takes beautiful pictures and is great for selfies. “It is arguably the best flagship device R3,799 can buy in South Africa at this stage”, according to RJ van Spaandonk.