Hey there! Welcome to the second edition of The DOWNLOAD: Extended. Feel free to share this newsletter with whomever you believe will love this type of approach with tech news. If you have ideas on how to better present this, feel free to share them in the comments section.
It’s been a particularly eventful week. We are yet to hit the required cycle with these releases, but slowly we’ll get there. Remember, The Download runs as short videos on Monday and Friday. You can subscribe on Youtube, TikTok, Instagram or here on LinkedIn.
Let’s dive into what caught my attention in the past week.
Kenya’s Smartphone Shuffle: When Local Assembly Meets Market Reality
Kenya’s smartphone market is telling a fascinating story about local manufacturing versus market dynamics. Neon phones, once the poster child for local assembly pride, have seen their market share collapse from 2.09% to just 0.68% in June 2025. Meanwhile, Samsung is absolutely dominating with over 30% market share, and Xiaomi is quietly making a comeback. The harsh truth? Local assembly alone doesn’t guarantee success when brands like Infinix, iTel, and Redmi are delivering better specs at similar price points. It’s a reminder that in tech, execution is important, specs are important. Also, where is the cheapest phone in Africa that Kenya’s President Ruto promised?
TECNO with a Tri-Fold!
TECNO just revealed something genuinely impressive: the world’s thinnest trifold phone. Still a concept though! The PHANTOM Ultimate G Fold folds into three parts, opens to a massive 9.94-inch screen, and measures just 11.49mm when folded. What makes it special is the “G-style” inward folding design that actually protects the screen – unlike other trifolds that leave displays exposed. If TECNO can deliver on this concept, it could reshape how we think about foldable devices in Africa and beyond.
VAR Finally Arrives in Kenya:
Football fans, this is happening. Kenya is finally getting VAR and goal-line technology at Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums ahead of CHAN 2025. This isn’t just about the tournament – with AFCON 2027 also coming to Kenya, there’s real hope this tech will stick around for local matches. The equipment is being imported and installed as we speak, marking the first time Kenya will use such advanced officiating technology. Whether it survives post-tournament politics remains to be seen, but today feels like progress.
Your Safaricom Bonga Points Are Safe (Again):
The High Court has once again blocked Safaricom from letting your Bonga Points expire. This latest ruling refuses to pause the earlier decision that declared point expiry unconstitutional. The court’s message is clear: once you’ve earned those points, they’re yours – not Safaricom’s to take back. It’s a significant win for consumer rights and sets an important precedent for how digital rewards should be treated across Kenya’s fintech landscape.
HELB featuring NTSA & KRA: A hit & run!
HELB is getting serious about loan recovery, seeking access to KRA and NTSA databases to track down defaulters who own cars but haven’t repaid student loans. With over 163,000 students missing out on funding this year and a KSh 36.1 billion funding gap, the desperation is real. The plan is controversial – especially the privacy implications. It’s a complex issue that highlights the broader challenges in Kenya’s education financing system.
The future of AI is here: An Agent for your tasks!
The AI world just got more interesting with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Agent, which can now browse the web, complete forms, and even make bookings for you. It’s like having a digital assistant that actually gets things done.
Also in AI:
The UK is investing £1 billion to boost its AI infrastructure twentyfold by 2030, and quantum computing just achieved a major breakthrough with successful “magic state distillation” on logical qubits. These aren’t just tech curiosities – they’re building blocks for the next generation of computing that could transform everything from drug discovery to climate modeling.
That’s it for this week’s Download.
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Until next time!
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