by Bedah Mengo
NAIROBI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese phone manufacturers are competing to introduce new phones in Kenya, leaving East African nation's residents spoilt for choice.
Several Chinese manufacturers have in the last few months unveiled trendy gadgets in Kenya as they battle to take-over the market.
Some of the Chinese phone-makers operating in Kenya are OPPO, Tecno, Huawei, Wiko and Infinix, with the companies unveiling both high end and low-end phones.
The Chinese brands are firmly popular in Kenya and across East Africa for both among low and high-income earners, edging out other brands.
The result is that Kenyans have now a wider choice when it comes to buying the Chinese phones which have dominated the market.
The latest Chinese manufacturer to unveil its phone in Kenya is Huawei, which on Friday launched its Huawei P10 as it continued to push for a bigger market share in the smartphone market. The phone is the successor of the P9 which was launched in 2016 and goes for over 600 U.S. dollars.
OPPO Electronics, on the other hand introduced OPPO F3 last week going for over 300 dollars, as it also officially introduced itself to Kenyans.
Few months earlier, Tecno has launched the Camon series, which like OPPO showcases what they can do when it comes to selfie photos.
Wiko, Lenovo, Gionee and Infinix have equally launched new gadgets in the Kenyan market stepping up competition among the Chinese manufacturers.
"I was planning to buy a phone to replace what I currently have but right now I am at crossroads because I don't know which one to choose. I was to go for a mid-priced OPPO phone but I have checked Huawei and Tecno and I am completely dazzled," said Stephen Mundia, a banker in Nairobi.
His love for the phones is because of their stylishness, use of 4G network, quality cameras and good battery life.
Phone dealer Gilbert Wandera, who operates from the Nairobi central business district, said Chinese phones are fast-selling brands for both middle-end and low-end phones.
"One of the things that makes the Chinese phones a darling of consumers are their many features and the good price. They are popular among low and high income users. As they go for 100 dollars, one gets a very good phone that has a radio, a selfie camera, a torch, wide screen and 4G network, among other features," he said.
A recent survey by online market firm Jumia showed more than half of Kenyans (65 percent) buy smartphones that cost 200 dollars and below, where the Chinese phones lie.
The survey noted that Chinese brands were fast-rising in terms of popularity of smartphones sold in Kenya, due to their inexpensive nature.
Three things have made the Chinese phone makers popular, according to analysts. First is innovation, second affordability, and lastly, readily available customer service in Nairobi.
"Kenya's burgeoning demand for smartphones has lured the phone markers into the county and as incomes rise, so is the appetite among consumers. Expect more Chinese phone manufacturers to enter the market as Kenyans shower them with love," said Bernard Mwaso, a consultant with Edell IT Solutions in Nairobi.
