Smartphones in Kenya: How to Choose Your Best Device

The evolution of the telephone is one intriguing story. It all started in the mid-19th century when Italian innovator Antonio Meucci came up with a telephone in 1849. Thereafter, other innovators improved the telephone technology until it was patented in the US by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.

Back home, we have all heard stories of the early days of red telephone booths that flooded major towns in the country in the 60s and started connecting people. However, mobile phones started trickling into the country in early 90, and this was the beginning of a new era.

Fast forward to today, Kenya is one of the countries in Africa that has embraced technology and mobile phone (smartphone) use has penetrated deeply, with almost 45% of Kenyans owning a mobile phone. These smart devices do more than communicating, especially when connected to the internet which has also penetrated numerous parts of the country.

What Motivates Kenyans to Buy Smartphones

So, what motivates people to buy a smartphone today? Well, there are numerous factors, and we will look at the common ones.

• Connectivity – The primary reason to own a phone is to stay in touch with loved ones, extended family members, friends, colleagues, peers, and even neighbors. Modern smartphones provide many ways of staying in touch such as cellular calls and texts, social media chats, video calls, and community groups among others.
• Business – Many Kenyans use smartphones to do business in many ways. Whether it is a simple call or text to customers, a detailed business emails to business partners, or processing payments, modern smartphones have been a preference in the business arena in Kenya.
• Education and information – Mobile phones are also used to access educational resources by students and anyone else looking for information. At the basic level, smartphones can access the web through Google or any other browser. Students and other learners also use mobile phones to share notes on WhatsApp and other social platforms, making phones very important to them.
• Moving with trends – Kenyans are very good at moving with trends. Many people keep upgrading to newer flagships in Kenya such as iPhone 15 and Samsung S24 series. Youths are also not left behind in this habit and many of them want to get the best first phone when joining college or university.
• Affordability – Some smartphones are affordable while offering same services as larger flagships. This is a big motivation for Kenyans, especially if a brand is reliable. For instance, Xioami, Tecno, and Infinix offers great features at lower prices, especially the camera.

While more motivations compel Kenyans to own a mobile phone, these have proven to be the strong reasons. If you are a Kenyan looking for a smartphone, whether you are upgrading, replacing, or buying your first device, there are numerous considerations to make.

How to Choose the Best Smartphone

Choosing a smartphone that balances between the features and services you want, current trends, and your budget can be an uphill task in Kenya. Furthermore, the market is flooded with a plethora of options which all seem perfect, further making the process of choosing very difficult. However, you have to choose at the end of the day. The good news is that we have a guide for you.

Your needs

Some Kenyans need a smartphone for vlogging, making Tiktok videos or just enjoying great photos and videos. Others need phones for business, while others need a phone for just communication. Your need can greatly determine the phone you will buy.

For instance, vloggers and other content creators can greatly benefit from flagships such as Huawei Pura 70, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Oppo Find X2 Pro, and Google Pixel 8a which are all available in Kenya.

Consider your budget

Kenya is a developing country and the hard economic factors affect majority of the people. Therefore, considering the budget when buying a new phone is very common. Most smartphones are budget friendly while high-end flagships can be expensive.

With as low as Ksh 20,000 you can get a low-budget smartphone with amazing features such as Samsung Galaxy AO4s, Redmi 13C, Infinix Hot 40i, Itel A70, Vivo Y03, and Tecno Spark 30 among others.

Payment options

Perhaps, you have heard of ‘’lipa mdogo mdogo’’ phones all over these days. These are phones that you can take home and pay later by just giving the seller your Mpesa (mobile money) statement, or bank statement. Both low-budget and high-budget phones have these options.

If you consider this option, ensure that you can pay the installments which are either done daily, weekly, or month depending on the agreement with the seller. Otherwise, the seller will lock the phone and you will not be able to use it.

New or used phone

Believe it or not, many sellers in Kenya stock second-hand phones from the UK and the US. However, these are mostly previous models such as Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 series.

Most of these smartphones are 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0-grade phones in mint condition. They will give you excellent service, especially if you buy from a reputable seller. However, if you are skeptical about second-hand phones, you can stick with a brand-new phone within your budget. Choose well.

Features; Processor and RAM

Today, many smartphones have almost similar general features such as access to the internet, social media browsing, selfies, and more. However, phone enthusiasts understand that one has to check features such as the processor and the RAM.

Most great phones come with Snapdragon and MediaTek Helio for smooth multitasking. You can check the functionalities of the processor of the phone that you eye to ensure that you get the best. Also, go for a phone with at least 3GB RAM to enjoy smoothness.

Camera Quality

Let’s talk about the camera quality for a moment. If you have been on social media such as Instagram and Facebook, you probably know that a good camera is important for many Kenyans.

Choose a smartphone with high resolution camera such as 50 megapixels and 1080 videos at least. Other camera features such as image stabilization and enhancement are equally important. While checking the camera, ensure that the selfie camera is equally good.

Battery Capacity

Most Kenyans have busy days looking for money and may not have time to juice their batteries until evening. Therefore, it is good to have a phone with a large battery capacity that lasts all day. Therefore, the best smartphone should have at least 4,000 mAh.

Most flagships surpass the 5,000 mAh mark which is a big plus, especially when combined with battery saver features. If you are not sure about the battery, do a quick research about the phone you intend to buy on the web or consult the seller.

Where to Buy a Phone in Kenya

Kenya has numerous smartphone dealers. You can choose to buy from physical shops located all over major cities and towns or online from various platforms. The good thing with physical platforms is that you can negotiate prices, see what you are buying, and even test.

On the other hand, major online platforms offer amazing discounts, especially in November and December. You can read all the features of the phone before buying it online.

Make your decision well before buying any smartphone in Kenya and ensure that you have a warranty that you understand. Major flagships such as iPhones and Samsungs may have an online warranty which makes things easier once you are registered.

Final Thoughts

Buying a smartphone in Kenya is a lot easier now that you have read this guide. Take your time to check the trending phones and their features before you decide on which one to take. However, all the other considerations we’ve discussed are equally important.

The good thing is that there is enough information to help you decide on the best phone to take. As we head to the month of November and December, you can get amazing Black Friday and Christmas deals from many reliable sellers. Buy now.