How Kenyan Sun King’s EZ 1 compares to other made-in-Africa phones

Sun King has launched its first branded smartphone, the EZ 1, in Kenya, to target budget-conscious consumers on a pay-as-you-go (PayGo) instalment plan. The phone is manufactured locally at Sun King’s recently opened facility in Kenya.

The device targets entry-level and budget-conscious users who mostly rely on smartphones for communication, digital payment, internet browsing, and daily business operations. The smartphone was not designed to compete with mid-range or high-end phones, but suit the needs of everyday users. 

Sun King’s EZ 1 is built with 4GB of RAM and an additional 4GB of virtual RAM. It has 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 256GB. The device features a 6.56-inch HD+ display, a 13MP rear camera, and an 8MP front camera for selfies and video calls.

Sun King’s EZ 1

In addition, it comes with a 5000mAh battery and has both fingerprint and facial recognition. Sun King also bundles the phone with 1GB of data on activation, 50MB daily for 60 days, and a warranty (period not stated).

Sun King noted that Kenyans can get EZ 1 on an instalment plan of a $23.25 (KES 2,999) deposit, followed by $0.47 (KES 60) daily payments for 364 days. 

Sun King’s KZ 1: How it compares with others

Sun King’s emergence into African smartphone manufacturers is powered by its newly established manufacturing facility in Nairobi, its first large-scale production site on the continent.

According to Sun King, the plant, which opened in October 2025, has the capacity to produce up to 700,000 units annually, positioning it as a scalable production hub. The EZ 1 launch marks the extension of its pay-as-you-go solar products to entry-level smartphones.

M-Kopa, through its “lipa mdogo mdogo” (pay-small-small) financing model, also offers a low initial deposit with daily/weekly instalments.

M-Kopa’s four models range from a low-end smartphone that comes with a deposit of $21.70 (KES 2800) and a $0.48 (KES 62) daily plan for 12 months to a high-end smartphone purchase plan of $32.55 (KES 4,200) deposit with a $0.70 (KES 90) daily plan for 12 months. 

M-Kopa Phones Pricelist
Phone Model	Deposit ($)	Daily ($)
Mkopa X 20 (256GB/6GB)	32.55	0.7
Mkopa X2 (128GB/4GB)	25.58	0.56
Mkopa M10 (64GB/4GB)	21.70	0.48
Mkopa S34 (64GB/4GB)	21.7	0.48

Egypt-based Sico Technology is one of Africa’s pioneers in smartphone manufacturing. Under the brand name of ‘Nilex’, its 4G smart phone’s price range generally averages at $112 (as of 2024).

Also Read: An expected smartphone price hike will slow down 5G adoption in Nigeria.

Another is Congo-Brazzaville-based VMK, a smartphone manufacturer also focused on producing affordable devices. The company made a return in 2024 with Elikia Moké 2, following a 10-year break from the market. As of December 2024, the basic phone is priced at $45.41 (25,000 FCFA).

Nilex-Cygnus X-Elika Moke 2

Nigeria-based Afrione launched its Cygnus X into the Nigerian market for other affordable and cutting-edge devices. 

With the official launch in late 2019, Cygnus X was priced at approximately N44,600 to N54,500, when the dollar to naira traded between N380 and N394/$1. With trading value now averaged at N1,425/$1, the phone will be priced at an average of $105.21 (N150,000). 

State of smartphone production in Africa

Africa’s smartphone manufacturing market has witnessed mixed trends in recent years. While SICO, headquartered in Cairo, was founded in 2003, Mara Phones, launched by the Mara Group in 2019, is recognised as the first company to manufacture smartphones in Africa, producing the Mara X and Mara Z models in Rwanda. 

However, these manufacturers have faced consumer preference in sticking with big players like Tecno, Infinix and other long-existing brands. Brands such as Mara Phones, Mauritius-based Mi-Fone, and Ghana-based RLG Communications have either ceased operation or become dormant.

Also, the likes of Sico Technology, VMK and Afrione are struggling to attract users. Their existence is being threatened by high production costs, intense competition, and unfavourable macroeconomic conditions

Workers at a production unit at Mara Phones manufacturing plant in Kigali special economic zone on Oct. 7 2019. (James Tasamba)

New players such as M-Kopa and Sun King now bank on affordable pricing, a pay-as-you-go strategy and significant specifications to penetrate the smartphone market. However, they are not without market competition from big players who are already in control of the African market. 

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