On Friday we ran our tech gifts for girls under KES 5,000. This is the men’s version, and it was built the same way.
We read guides from different countries and they agree more than you’d expect. A power bank and a pair of earbuds, and a fast charger showed up in multiple markets. Item trackers dominate American lists, smart bands appear in most markets, and Chinese buyers push shavers, USB-C hubs and game controllers.
1. A 20,000mAh power bank
If you only buy one thing, buy this. The Oraimo PowerNova Q21 holds 20,000mAh and costs KES 2,499. It charges at up to 22.5W, which is fast, but only with phones that support that speed. Others charge at standard speed.
On a tighter budget, the Oraimo Traveler 12 Byte has the same 20,000mAh for KES 1,659. The catch is that its three ports share 12W in total, so it’s slow. The Anker 325 PowerCore 20K is KES 4,999.
2. Noise-cancelling earbuds
Active noise cancelling (ANC) uses microphones to pick up outside sound and cancel it, so a matatu engine or an open-plan office fades into the background. The Oraimo SpaceBuds N bring it for KES 1,800. Oraimo claims up to 35dB of noise reduction and 8.5 hours per charge with ANC on.
The step up is the Soundcore R50i NC at KES 3,499. Check the name on the box, because there’s also a plain R50i, without noise cancelling, for KES 2,499.
3. A fast charger that can run a laptop
A GaN charger uses gallium nitride instead of silicon, which lets a small plug push a lot of power. The Oraimo HyperGaN 701 costs KES 2,700 and has two USB-C ports and one USB-A. One USB-C port alone gives up to 70W, enough for most laptops that charge over USB-C. Plug in two devices and it splits to 45W and 15W. A 100W USB-C cable is in the box.
The UGREEN Nexode S 65W is the alternative at between KES 3,500 to KES 3,800.
4. A fitness band
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active costs KES 3,999. It has a 1.47-inch screen, lasts up to 18 days on a charge in typical use and is water resistant to 5ATM, so swimming is fine. It has no GPS, so runs are tracked through his phone. The cheaper option is the Oraimo Watch 6N at about KES 1,600 to KES 1,800.
5. An item tracker
A tracker is a small Bluetooth tag for keys, a bag or a wallet. It has no GPS. Instead, any nearby phone on the same network picks up its signal and reports where it is, so he can find a lost bag on a map. That’s why the tracker has to match his phone.
For a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Galaxy SmartTag2 costs KES 3,199. It’s IP67, lasts up to 500 days on a coin cell he can replace, and only works with Galaxy phones. For an iPhone, the Apple AirTag is KES 5,299, just over the budget.
For any other phone, look at UGREEN’s FineTrack range. On AliExpress, UGREEN’s official store sells the FineTrack Slim Duo for KES 3,031 plus KES 281 shipping, and the box carries both the “Works with Apple Find My” and “Works with Android Find Hub” badges. UGREEN doesn’t list a water rating for it.
6. A pocket speaker
The Soundcore Select 4 Go costs KES 3,499. It’s 5W, IP67 and lasts up to 20 hours at 40% volume. It’s mono and has no microphone for calls, but two can pair for stereo. Oraimo’s SpaceBox 8W is cheaper at KES 2,500. Tribit’s compact speakers also fit the budget, like the StormBox Micro 2 we showed on Instagram.
7. A car kit
The Anker 323 car charger costs KES 2,100 and gives up to 30W from its USB-C port and 22.5W from its USB-A. Add the Oraimo Hydra 8 magnetic vent mount for KES 800 and the kit comes to KES 2,900. The mount comes with one metal ring to stick on a phone or case without built-in magnets.
AliExpress is cheaper. Baseus’s store there sells a 30W car charger for KES 720 and a dashboard mount for KES 936, both with free shipping to Kenya, so about KES 1,650 for the pair.
8. A dash cam
For the man who drives a lot, the Oraimo VisionRide Lite costs KES 4,500. It records in 2K across a 130-degree view, connects to his phone over Wi-Fi to play back footage, and ships with a 32GB microSD card and a car charger. It was sold out when we checked, so set a restock reminder; third-party sellers on Jumia ask double.
9. A streaming stick
A streaming stick plugs into a TV’s HDMI port and turns it into a smart TV with Netflix, YouTube and other apps. The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is KES 4,999. Amazon’s own specs show it’s Full HD, not 4K, and its remote has no TV power or volume buttons.
If the budget can stretch, the Fire TV Stick HD costs KES 5,499 and adds those TV buttons. The Fire TV Stick 4K is KES 5,999, and the 4K Max KES 8,499.
10. A trimmer
The Oraimo SmartTrimmer Home costs KES 1,495. It runs for 90 minutes on a charge and comes with four guide combs from 1mm to 7mm. Oraimo doesn’t claim it’s waterproof, so it’s a brush clean, not a rinse. For haircuts, the Oraimo SmartClipper 2C costs about KES 2,500 to KES 2,800 and runs for 150 minutes.
11. A laptop desk upgrade
Thin laptops are short on ports. The UGREEN CM512 7-in-1 USB-C hub costs KES 3,500. It adds HDMI, two USB-A ports, Ethernet and SD and microSD card slots, and passes up to 100W of charging through to the laptop. It only runs a 4K screen at 60Hz on laptops that support DisplayPort 1.4; others get 4K at 30Hz.
The Logitech M240 mouse is a cheaper desk gift at KES 2,799. It has silent clicks, connects over Bluetooth with no dongle and lasts up to 18 months on one AA battery.
12. A game controller
The GameSir Nova 2 Lite costs KES 4,070. It connects by Bluetooth, an included USB dongle or a cable, and its manual lists PC, Steam, Android and Nintendo Switch. Its sticks use Hall effect sensors, which read position with magnets, so they’re less prone to drift as they wear. It’s last on this list for two reasons: only third-party sellers stock it, and it has no clip for holding a phone.
Buying from AliExpress
AliExpress takes M-Pesa at checkout. You pick M-Pesa, enter your number and approve the payment on your phone, and the total shows in shillings. The checkout price may not be the final cost, though. Kenyan customs duty and VAT can be charged when the parcel clears, and you pay them when you collect it, usually at a Posta office.
Plan for time too. AliExpress says some items reach Kenya in as little as 10 days, but two to six weeks is common.
What to buy
- If you can buy only one thing, make it the Oraimo PowerNova Q21 at KES 2,499.
- For the commuter, the Oraimo SpaceBuds N at KES 1,800.
- For the driver, the Anker charger and Oraimo mount at KES 2,900, or the dash cam at KES 4,500.
- For the man who works on a laptop, the HyperGaN 701 at KES 2,700 or the UGREEN hub at KES 3,500.
Join the discussion