With Assembly Factory in place courtesy of Safaricom and Jamii Telecom, it is time to take a closer look at one of the phone which is being assembled there. Remember, for Safaricom their goal is to get as many people as possible to have affordable smartphones. One of their main objective is to scale smartphones penetration to over 20 million customers by the end of Financial Year 2025. Here is what Safaricom CEO Mr. Peter Ndegwa said during the launch of the Factory:
“The launch of EADAK reaffirms our belief in the power of connectivity to transform lives and drive economic progress. This partnership underscores our relentless pursuit to expand 4G access and empower Kenyans through affordable, high-quality smartphones, create employment opportunities and grow our economy,”
I have used Safaricom Neon Ultra device for over two weeks and I can confidently say that they did a great job for a phone that can be described as below the entry level. It retails at Ksh.7,499 and in my personal definition the entry level smartphones are priced at between Ksh.10k to 20k .
Start with this might look like a small point but the fact that it is 4G enabled is a big plus, meaning when comes to internet access there is no different between the users of Neon Utra and the users of Apple or Samsung flagship phones.
The Neon Ultra has a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The phone also has a dual rear camera setup with a 5MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies, there is an 8MP front-facing camera.
The Neon Ultra runs on Android 13 (Go Edition) and has a 3,750mAh battery. It supports 4G LTE connectivity and Bluetooth 4.2. The phone also has a fingerprint sensor on the back for security.
Here are some of the key specifications of the Safaricom Neon Ultra:
- Android 11 (Go Edition)
- 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels
- MediaTek Helio G25 chipset
- 2GB of RAM
- 32GB of internal storage
- 5MP + 2MP rear camera
- 8MP front-facing camera
- 3750mAh battery
- Fingerprint sensor
Overall, the Safaricom Neon Ultra is a decent entry-level smartphone that is well-priced for its features. It is a good option for users who are looking for a basic smartphone for everyday use. In summary:
- Affordable price
- Large display
- Dual rear camera setup
- Android 13
- Fingerprint sensor
