Models display a Tecno N3 smartphone during its launch at the Panafric Hotel in Nairobi on November 29, 2012. Photo/SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
Tecno unveiled the Android-powered phone into the market in November.
Tecno N3 is sleek, elegant and retails at Sh8,000.
Chinese mobile firm Tecno has further dipped its toes in the smartphone business with the release of the N3.
Targeting the growing middle class who are after a quality at an affordable price, Tecno unveiled the Android-powered phone into the market in November.
The launch follows earlier release of T1 and T3 smartphone models. The Tecno N3 is sleek, elegant and much larger than you would expect from a smartphone of its class.
At a retail price of Sh8,000, the phone is making its mark. However, Tecno faces competition from its South Korean and Finish counterparts like Samsung, LG, Nokia and Alcatel, which is making a comeback in the market.
The new model has numerous functions like other smartphones in the market.
Running on Android v2.3.5 gingerbread, an older version of android, the N3 is still well placed to compete with Samsung Galaxy Pocket and LG L3 which run on the same system; topping the competition with a 3.5 inch display.
It also has a dual SIM support with its closest rival being Samsung’s Pocket Duos.
Tecno N3 comes pre-installed with a battery saving application and a flash player which we must say save the user quite a bit of time finding a fit for it.
Flash allows users to share files quickly across devices via Wi-Fi and to slide a picture across a screen of one phone to the next.
The Wi-Fi connectivity is strong and automatically detects any network within its vicinity.
However, even with a 3MP camera the picture quality is more on the grainy side.
The smartphone’s limited internal memory of 512mb can be increased by a 32GB MicroSD card. The company has embarked on an aggressive marketing and brand activation campaign to popularise the phone.
Tecno targets the younger tech savvy generation, hence the playful colour pallet with the interchangeable back case.
“The youth in Africa are vibrant and constantly want to stand apart with their own identities,” says vice-president Arif Chowdhury. “As a company, we understand the need to constantly engage them and Tecno as a brand is committed to connecting with the African youth’s motivation and passions.”
The company, established in July 2006 in Hong Kong, has a strong presence in several African countries.
The focus on emerging markets, especially Africa, became part of its business strategy in 2008.
