Xiaomi might not be the most popular smartphone vendor in Kenya, but the company’s products and their pricing are certainly fit for the Kenyan market. I always look for quality on the cheap and this is what you get with Xiaomi phones, including the upcoming Xiaomi Redmi 6A.
Launched in China back in June, the Redmi 6A is the first smartphone to ship with MediaTek’s latest Helio A22 chipset and while we know little about how good this processor is in the real world, the fact that Xiaomi always delivers in terms of raw power gives us hope.
Redmi 6A specs
- 5.45 18:9 HD+ LCD display
- MediaTek Helio A22 processor
- 2GB/16GB or 2GB/32GB memory options
- 13MP main camera
- 5MP front camera
- 3000mAh battery
- Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI 9
- Extras: MicroUSB, Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5mm audio jack, AI Face Unlock, 4G LTE, etc.
For the unaware, the Redmi 6A is coming to take the place of the Redmi 5A, which currently retails at under Sh 10,000. Looking at the specs sheet, the only significant differences between the two are the design and processor, where the Redmi 6A has a modern look compared to the Redmi 5A and its huge bezels. Most of the other stuff has been retained from the Redmi 5A, including cameras, battery capacity, memory options, and so on, but you are also getting Face Unlock to cover for the missing fingerprint scanner.
We don’t know the price of the Redmi 6A in Kenya, but in China, the phone retails at CNY 599, which is just under Sh 9,000. Still, we don’t expect the same pricing when the phone arrives on Jumia Kenya, but at least we do have an idea of what to expect.
Xiaomi Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE
As you wait for the arrival of the Redmi 6A, Avechi Kenya has already started selling the flagship Xiaomi Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE alongside the recently launched Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite. Note that unlike Jumia that houses the official Xiaomi online shop in Kenya, buying from Avechi Kenya has one major downside – you’ll likely get a device that was meant to be sold in China and hence lacks the necessary band 20 to support 4G LTE connectivity on Safaricom and the likes. Still, you should be able to get 3G connectivity, which some people still prefer to the faster, “data-guzzling” 4G LTE.
| Category | Xiaomi Mi 8 | Xiaomi Mi 8 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm | 147.3 x 73.1 x 7.5 mm |
| Display | 6.21-inch 18.7:9 FHD+ (1080x2248) Super AMOLED display | 5.88-inch 18.7:9 FHD+ (1080x2244) Super AMOLED display |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB or 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB or 256GB, non-expandable | 64GB or 128GB, non-expandable |
| Camera | Main: Dual 12MP + 12MP, 4-axis OIS, dual-pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom Front: 20MP | Main: Dual 12MP + 5MP, dual-pixel PDAF Front: 20MP |
| Battery | 3400mAh, non-removable | 3120mAh, non-removable |
| Software | Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI 9 | Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI 9 |
| Extras | Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C, Quick Charge 4.0+, dual 4G LTE, Rear-mounted scanner, Infrared Face ID, etc. | Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C, Quick Charge 3.0, dual 4G LTE, Rear-mounted scanner, Facial recognition, etc. |
The Mi 8 is the successor to the Mi 8 that was also sold on the same platform. As usual, you get top-notch hardware specs and features at a decent price tag of just Sh 50,000. Given that you are getting the same hardware that powers the likes of Samsung Galaxy S9 at almost half the price, there shouldn’t be much to vent about. Still, if you feel this is too much for you, the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE offers great value at just Sh 34,000.
These two are yet to see an official launch outside China, meaning the models you are getting on Avechi Kenya don’t include support for band 20. At the moment, we still don’t know if Xiaomi Kenya will bring these two to its online shop on Jumia Kenya, but it’s possible one of them will be available soon. If you can wait, we’d recommend doing so, but if you can deal with 3G speeds on a high-end device, follow the links below.
Buy Xiaomi Mi 8 on Avechi || Buy Xiaomi Mi 8 SE on Avechi
Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite
At launch, Xiaomi mentioned that at least 40 countries will get the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite, but Kenya wasn’t listed anywhere. While we are still adamant that the two devices will see an official debut in Kenya in the near future, you can grab either phone via the same platform – Avechi Kenya – right now.
In Europe, the Mi A2 has a steeper price tag than its Lite counterpart, however, Avechi Kenya has other ideas. Where the former can be had for Sh 25,000, the latter can be yours for just under Sh 28,000. Yes, the Mi A2 Lite is costlier than the more powerful Mi A2 for the base models. So far, only the base models of the duo are available on the retailer, but more variants should arrive later.
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