Smartphone maker vivo has opened pre-orders for its Y500 model with a World Cup-inspired promotion, according to Gadgets Africa. The company is also teasing what it describes as a smarter privacy experience for the device. The announcement highlights consumer demand for longer-lasting batteries and improved screens, though full specifications and pricing details were not included in the report.

Sun King, a company known primarily for its solar energy products, is expanding its business in Kenya by entering the smartphone market more aggressively with the launch of a new device line called the EZ 3 series. According to CIO Africa, the company is betting that affordable smartphones will help it grow beyond its core solar offerings. The move signals a diversification strategy targeting price-sensitive consumers in the Kenyan market, where demand for low-cost smartphones remains strong.

Sun King has launched the EZ 1, its first-ever smartphone branded under the Sun King name, aimed at providing Kenyans with access to a smooth and reliable mobile device. This announcement marks a significant step for the company in expanding its product offerings in the Kenyan market.

Safaricom's smartphone factory in Kenya assembled approximately 700,000 devices in its first year of operation, contributing to increased access to technology in the region. The factory also created around 300 jobs, highlighting the impact of local manufacturing on employment. This development is part of a broader narrative focusing on connectivity rather than just device specifications, according to Vodacom Group's FY2026 integrated report.

Kenyan billionaire Joshua Chepkwony's company, EADAK Limited, has successfully assembled 700,000 smartphones in its first year of operations. This achievement was made possible through a partnership with Safaricom.

Nigeria is planning to manufacture smartphones domestically rather than relying solely on imports, as discussed in a recent episode of Techpoint Digest. The episode also covers a new court ruling in Kenya that complicates layoffs, a ruling against a website blocking law, and a legal examination of WhatsApp delivery receipts in Kenya.