Cheap 4G Enabled Smartphones in Kenya

First of all if you just bought a 4G enabled phone, you need to visit a Safaricom shop and get a new SIM card. Your old SIM won’t support 4G. I don’t know about Airtel. But when they roll out 4G, they’ll probably require the same of you. Or have they already?

Another thing is: you’ll need to be in an area which has 4G networks coverage. Currently exclusive to some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa.

Anyway, 4G (LTE or LTE advanced) is the in thing currently. Most people already want a 4G enabled phone, yet very few are in 4G areas. Here’s a list I’ve compiled of affordable phones supporting 4G:

• Samsung Galaxy J1 – Not more than Ksh. 12,000

This, if I’m right, is the cheapest phone in the market to support 4G. First time Samsung is top in terms of affordability on any of my lists. I have a quick review of the phone here you can read and decide.

• InnJoo Fire Pro – Not more than Ksh. 12,000

This is one phone I frequently forget to mention. It is on my list of best between 10 and 15K. This 5 inch phone supports 4G and runs on Android Lollipop on a 1.3GHz Quad core  Processor. Has 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage. Back camera is 8MP and can shoot 1080p videos. You can buy it directly from jumia here.

• Huawei Ascend Y550 – Not more Ksh. 16,000

This hasn’t been hyped up yet as much as I would have expected. Only saw it mentioned on Moses’ site. Haven’t seen it on the Safaricom Website or on Jumia Kenya. But I think it is available in Phone shops. If you have more information on it, tell me.

• Huawei Ascend G615 – About Ksh. 17,000

Another not well talked of phone. Found it on priceinkenya.com. I want to know anyone who’s used the above Huawei phones. Where did you find them? How good are they? Please.

• Lumia 625, 635, 640, 640XL – Between Ksh. 15,000 and Ksh. 25,000

These all support 4G networks, I hope. They each have different prices but within the ‘affordable’ price range of less than Ksh. 25,000. I hope all will get Windows 10. Won’t all anyway? Read each reviews of the above here.

• Xperia M2 Dual – Ksh. 19,500

Sony don’t really advertise their stuff in Kenya. Or do they? Maybe I don’t watch their ads. I don’t know. I had heard of the M2. From Facebook Pages. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. Battery is 2300mAh. Any thoughts? Runs Android Jelly Bean.

• HTC Desire 616 – About Ksh. 23,000

This is a 5 inch phone with 1GB RAM, 4GB internal and a 1.4GHz Octa Core Processor. Battery is 2000mAh. The back camera is 8MP while the front one is 2MP. Sounds overpriced to me so I hope I’ve got the pricing wrong. Anyway.

• Wiko Ridge 4G – About Ksh. 25,000

I am not so sure if this is already available in Kenya. 13MP back camera, 5MP front camera. 2400mAh battery. 5 inches screen display. There’s 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. There’s a larger version of the same that costs about 27,000.

• Samsung Galaxy S3, S3 Neo – About Ksh. 25,000

It is about time. The S3 has been here for quite some time and currently some dealers have it for between Ksh. 23,000 and Ksh. 25,000. Note that only certain models support 4G.

• Galaxy S4 Mini – Ksh. 25,000

Some deals even have the actual S4 at less than Ksh. 25,000. I don’t trust them yet. The S4 Mini is going for about Ksh. 24500 in some stores. Make sure the model you get supports 4G. And most that do so might require new ROMs.

If there’s a device you know that supports 4G and I haven’t included it here please let me know. Make sure it costs less than Ksh. 25,000. If there’s one that is on this list and I have made a mistake by including it, let me know.

Tecno is prepping to launch a 4G phone soon. Maybe its next flagship. But with 8MP camera from the leaks, it doesn’t seem a flagship. Let’s see how this goes. It might be part of this list from the look of things.

Infinix failed to launch a 4G model of the Infinix Zero 2 in Kenya as had been expected. Haven’t had a hands-on with the Zero 2 as promised earlier. But if I get a review unit, expect a full review up soon.