The Xiaomi brand has been making inroads in the local market over the last couple of years. Over the past year, the brand has released several devices back-to-back in the Kenyan market. Among these have been several smartphones that were strategically made available as the brand prepared for the then imminent launch of 5G network services in the country.
5G has since been officially launched in the country. Safaricom’s commercial 5G launch was just the other day. And while we still have a long way to go before we see 5G smartphones everywhere we turn, if you are in the market for a 5G smartphone right now, these are the devices from Xiaomi (including its Redmi sub-brand) that you should be looking at:
1. Xiaomi 12 Pro
The Xiaomi 12 series comprises Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones for the year (2022) and the Xiaomi 12 Pro is the hero of that lineup. Basically, the king of Xiaomi’s candy bar form factor – you know that Xiaomi is into foldable as well, don’t you?
The Xiaomi 12 Pro has been on sale in Kenya for a whopping Kshs 105,000 since March and is the most expensive 5G smartphone you can buy from Xiaomi. For those with a taste for premium things with a premium price tag, this is the device to look at.
Current market price, per Xiaomi’s official Kenyan distributor: Kshs 105,000
2. Xiaomi 12
Like its sibling the Xiaomi 12 Pro, the Xiaomi 12 has been available in the local market for nearly three quarters of the year now.
Even though it plays second fiddle to the 12 Pro as far as features go, it matches it with its storage size (256GB) and available memory (12GB) making it ideal for anyone looking for a 5G smartphone that packs almost the best that Xiaomi has to offer but without going into the six figures. It cost Kshs 85,000 at launch.
Current market price, per Xiaomi’s official Kenyan distributor: Kshs 89,600
3. Xiaomi 11T Pro
If none of the Xiaomi 12 series duo highlighted above meet your pocket where it is, a member of yesteryear’s flagship series, the Xiaomi 11T Pro, maybe the one.
At a price tag of about Kshs 65,000, when you can find it, it should offer some of the best value for money in the market. And, you get the added advantage of future-proofing with its 5G capabilities.
Current market price, per Xiaomi’s official Kenyan distributor: Kshs 65,000
4. Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G
Xiaomi’s Redmi sub-brand is associated with quality but on a budget. Quality without breaking the bank. Nowhere is this very visible than on the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G. It keeps the trend of the Xiaomi smartphones on this list of being about Kshs 20,000 cheaper than the one directly above it with a price tag of about Kshs 46,000 when it launched back in March. That is not exactly budget territory but it should satisfy those looking for a capable 5G upper mid-ranger.
Current market price, per Xiaomi’s official Kenyan distributor: Kshs 49,900
5. Redmi Note 10 5G
At a price tag of anywhere between Kshs 25,000 and just under Kshs 30,000 (depending on if you are getting the 4 or 6GB RAM option), the Redmi Note 10 5G is the most affordable 5G smartphone from Xiaomi or a Xiaomi-affiliated brand thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset.
Current market price, per Xiaomi’s official Kenyan distributor: Kshs 26,200 (4GB RAM) and Kshs 28,700 (6GB RAM)
