By Bizna Brand Analyst
It’s safe to say that a smartphone is now a basic need. You can’t survive without one unless you are a rare breed. But what are the most popular smartphone brands in Kenya? The top five are undisputed and here they are.
1. Infinix
There’s no doubt that Infinix is the most popular smartphone brand in the country. 3 out of every five young Kenyans have an Infinix phone. The brand has slowly but surely been making a name for itself thanks to some solid product releases. If you cannot afford a cooler phone but still want all the cool features, an Infinix smartphone is always a good buy. The main selling point of this phone is its affordability.
2. Tecno.
I don’t know how Tecno turned things around to become such a leading brand. A few years ago, Tecno phones were emblematic of all the bad characteristics of Chinese phones. Some couldn’t even successfully connect to the internet. But when the Smartphone wave started sweeping Africa, Tecno morphed from the annoying kid to the coolest kid in class. Tecno’s top-end device at the moment is the Phantom 6 Plus, launched in 2016, which features a front-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 21MP/13MP camera combination, 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.  Other notable Tecno phones include the Camon C9 and the C9 plus.
3. Samsung.
Sales of Samsung smartphones may be dwindling in other countries due to 2016’s exploding battery saga, but that news probably does not make any difference to Kenyan customers. The purchase of Samsung phones still remains steady, suffering only a minor drop with the quick rise of Tecno and Infinix brands and growth of other brands running on Android platforms. The fact that so many Kenyans still own Samsung smartphones is proof enough of the phone’s popularity. The variety of Samsung phones and its perception as a status symbol contributes to the sales. Also, thanks to its variety and high end prices, the phone is seen as non-Chinese, which helps to drive sales upward.
4. LG
This one is no stranger to the mobile world, as some its devices previously held records for coolest and thinnest designs. But the company isn’t just a purveyor of super-svelte smartphones. The company prides itself on innovative high-end devices. LG is also one of the first manufacturers to popularize fast-charging technology, giving the firm another feather in its cap. other things that are immediately striking about LG phones are the the sheer size of their screen displays and quality of resolution that are unequaled by any other phones on this list. Aside from this, LG phones are basically no-frills smartphones without the gizmos sported by rivals. Now wonder most Kenyans are fond of them.
5. I-phone.
Apple iPhone’s relatively low ranking is related to the fact that the device is expensive in Kenya. Nevertheless, Apple continues to maintain their position as the top producer of premium quality, high-tech smartphones, and their iPhone 7 is just the latest in a long succession of cutting edge smartphones. The iPhone is mostly attractive to its users because of its elitist appeal. What makes the I-phone great is that it carries a whole raft of classy features that include fingerprint security, a barometer, and a built-in gyroscope that assists with taking photographs whilst on the move. Not to mention the extremely excessive storage space.
