India, China in battle for Kenya’s smartphone market

Kenya’s bubbling smartphone market is set to be stirred following the entry of Global technology giant Vivo, the fifth-largest smartphone maker in the world and the second in Asia. The Indian firm plans to launch a regional office in Nairobi.

Vivo will enter Kenya’s crowded smartphone market made of Techno brand, Samsung, Infinix, Huawei, Apple and Oppo.

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Figures from the International Data Corporation (IDA) indicate that the worldwide mobile phone market will reach a total of 1,775.5 million unit shipments in 2019, down 5.9% from the 1,887.7 million units shipped in 2018.

From there, total mobile phone shipments will dip to 1,720.1 million units worldwide by 2023.

“The continuing trend of elongated refresh cycles continues to put a damper on the overall smartphone market,” said Anthony Scarsella, research manager with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

“The second half of the year will be a fierce one at the high end as most of the big players will push their latest flagship devices for the holiday shopping rush. The question remains whether consumers will opt for low-cost options as a short-term replacement solution or wait for a full-force 5G device that won’t break the bank like many of the early devices that recently hit the market.”

Vivo Kenya General Manager, Arthur Xian said they chose Kenya as an entry point into the population rich region because of the country’s high ranking in technology uptake.

He also said the firm has mid-level phones which are suitable for the continent’s growing middle class.

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Vivo Brand will be launched alongside its flagship mid-range Smartphone which possesses the world’s first 32MP Dual Pop-Up elevating front cameras.