Best Phones Under 25k October – November 2017

From now on the under 20k list will be under 25k. So the devices on this list range from Ksh. 16,000 to Ksh. 25,000. These are the very best smartphones you can get at this range. I try to make sure any new lists I make include new smartphones recently announced. The only exception is really well spec’d phones that run new software.

As you’ll notice all phones here (except two) have either 3GB or 4GB RAM. There’s even one with 6GB RAM! Fingerprints are now common and must-haves. Most run Android 7 Nougat, with some on their way to Android 8 Oreo. A few, upgradable though, run Android 6 Marshmallow. And you’ll also see most have 32GB storage. This list continues to prove the statement “affordable devices are getting better each day”, and that’s something to celebrate.

In the comment section below, feel free to add a device that’s missing on the list so that people can check it out. Remember this list takes days to prepare, so kindly share post to help me reach more people.

So let’s go! (Imagine me speaking as first as possible hehehe)

Xiaomi Mi A1 

The Android One program is not dead like we thought. This phone costs 25k and is in line to get Android 8 Oreo as soon as possible. You get a 5.5 inch full HD screen, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and a 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 625 processor. The front camera is 5MP and the back camera is 12MP. You can get the device from Avechi.com (I hope Avechi can reply to my emails).

Nokia 6

You all know Nokia is back. Okay so this is a device I had previously not included in this list. Thought it was over 25k, but you can get it below that from Safaricom shops. You get a 5.5 inch Full HD display, 4GB RAM; 64GB internal storage, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 processor, 16MP back camera; 8MP front camera, and a 3000mAh battery.

Infinix Note 4 Pro

The major issue with this (for me) is the X-pen. But it is a really good device. You get a 5.7 Full HD 2.5D curved display by Sharp, 13MP Back camera; 8MP front camera, 3GB RAM; 32GB storage, and a huge 4500mAh battery. It runs Android 7 Nougat powered by a 1.3GHz MT6753 Octa-Core Processor. You can get it for 19k. Buy it from Kilimall: https://goo.gl/NbCTve. Or get it from Jumia: https://goo.gl/erxhYK

Samsung J5 Pro

This is one device I would love to check out. Hey Samsung! You get a 5.2 HD display, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 13MP rear camera, 13MP front camera and a 3000mAh battery. It runs Android 7 Nougat and is powered by a 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 processor. It is 23k on Jumia: https://goo.gl/8pYsPb

Huawei GR5 (2017)

This is a really good device. The only problem I have with this device is that it runs Android Marshmallow (should be upgradable). You get a 5.5 inch full HD display, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage powered by a Kirin 655 Octa-Core processor. It has dual back cameras: one 12MP and the other 2MP. The front camera is 8MP. The battery is 3340mAh. You can get it at 25k on Jumia: https://goo.gl/KkQ27S

Infinix Zero 4 Plus

This still stays on my list. My full review review is where you should start if you want to get it. The fact that the 20.7MP camera has Optical Image Stabilisation, and Laser Autofocus is quite telling. The 5.98 inch full HD display is really good, and you get 4GB RAM and 32GB storage. And there’s a massive 4000mAh battery. Powering the device is a HelioX20 decacore processor on Android 7 Nougat. You can get it for about 22k. Buy from Jumia: https://goo.gl/BwTdgt. Buy from Kilimall: https://goo.gl/wfhV2L

Motorola Moto E4 Plus

The right name should be Lenovo Moto E4 Plus since Lenovo owns the company. You can get this from Safaricom shops for about 24k. I remember writing a post asking Safaricom to avail the devices, and the next day there was news the phones were already on sale in Safaricom shops. You get a 5.5 inch HD Gorilla Glass 3 display, 13MP back camera, 5MP front camera, Mediatek MT6737 Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53, 3GB RAM; 16GB internal storage, and a massive 5000mAh battery. It should be in line to receive Android 8 Oreo too.

Nokia 5

This phone and the Camon CX are the only ones on this list with 2GB RAM. You should be able to get this phone from a Safaricom shop for about 20k. Android 8 Oreo is also coming very soon to this smartphone. So that’s a plus. You get a 5.2″ HD polarised display with 2.5D curved corning Gorilla Glass Protection, 13MP back camera; 8MP front camera, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430, 2GB RAM; 16GB internal storage, and a 3000mAh battery. You can also get it from Jumia at 18k: https://goo.gl/3VknQQ 

DooGee Mix

Once again from Avechi, we can get really good devices. This phone is 25k and with that you get this nice design, a 5.5 inch HD AMOLED display, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, dual 16MP+8MP back cameras, a 5MP front camera, with a 3380mAh battery. It runs Android 7 Nougat powered by a 2.5Ghz Helio P25 octa-core processor. However reviews online seem to hate on the back cameras calling the dual system a bluff.

Infinix Zero 4

Still on this list. And like its ‘bigger brother’, it is quite a stunning device. It has a 16MP back camera with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and Laser Auto-focus. It has 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. It has a 5.5 inch Full HD screen, full metallic finish and a 3200mAh battery. It runs Android 7 Nougat with a MediaTek 1.3GHz Octa Core Processor. Read my full review. It costs 18k. Buy from Jumia: https://goo.gl/BwTdgt. Buy from Kilimall: https://goo.gl/wfhV2L

Remember this list takes days to prepare, so kindly share post to help me reach more people.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

When I asked on my page on Facebook.com/techishkenya, some people felt like this is the very best on this list. My major issue is that it runs Android Marshmallow. It costs 19k on Avechi. You get a 5.5 inch full HD display, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 13MP back camera, 5MP front camera and a large 4100mAh battery. Powering it is a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 625 2GHz Octa-core processor.

Huawei Y7 Prime

I have just reviewed this a few days ago. Read my full review. It costs about 22k. A good device, certainly. You get a 5.5 inch 720p HD Display, 12MP Back camera, 8MP front camera, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage, and a large 4000mAh battery. It runs Android 7 Nougat powered a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 435. You can get it from Huawei shops, Safaricom shops, or from Jumia: https://goo.gl/Snze8w

TECNO Phantom 6

You should check out my full review of this one too. It costs 21k and you get a 5.5 inch Full HD display with Gorilla Glass Protection, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, dual 13MP+5MP back cameras, 8MP front camera, and a 2770mAh battery. It sadly runs Android Marshmallow and is the only device on this list without a fingerprint scanner. Get it from Jumia: https://goo.gl/HCmDWE.

Infinix S2 Pro

The major weakness of this phone is that it is too fragile. You have to handle it with care. It has 2 front cameras: One 8MP and the other 13MP for normal and wide angle selfies. The back camera is 13MP. It has a 5.2 inch 2.5D curved HD display, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage and a 3000mAh battery. It runs Android 7 Nougat. I loved its cameras. Read my full review. It costs Ksh. 16k. Buy it from Jumia.

Huawei P9 Lite

This one costs about 22k. And for that you get a 5.2 inch full HD display, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, 13MP back camera, 8MP front camera, powered by an octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 650 processor on Android Marshmallow (upgradable to Android 7 Nougat). The battery is 3000mAh. You can get it from Jumia: https://goo.gl/ZLAFzW

TECNO Camon CX

This and the Nokia 5 are the only devices on this list with 2GB RAM. But you should read my full review. I love the design, the build quality and the really good cameras. Both back and front are 16MP with dual LED flash for the front camera and quad LED flash for the back camera. It has a 5.5 inch Full HD screen, 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. It runs Android 7 Nougat. It costs 17k. Buy it from Jumia.

Which one do you like most? Which one are you buying? Which one do you have? or What are your thoughts on the list? Some recent device you feel I have left out?

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