Sun King, a company previously known for solar lanterns and pay-as-you-go home power solutions, has officially launched its first branded smartphone, the EZ 1, in Kenya. This move aims to target budget-conscious consumers through a pay-as-you-go (PayGo) installment plan, making smartphones more accessible and fostering local tech production. The EZ 1 is manufactured locally at Sun King’s recently opened facility in Nairobi, Kenya, which commenced operations in October 2025 and boasts an annual production capacity of up to 700,000 units.

The EZ 1 smartphone is designed for entry-level users who primarily rely on their devices for communication, digital payments, internet browsing, and daily business operations. It is not intended to compete with mid-range or high-end phones. The device features 4GB of RAM, with an additional 4GB of virtual RAM, 128GB of internal storage expandable up to 256GB, and a 6.56-inch HD+ display. For optics, it includes a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. Powering the device is a 5000mAh battery, complemented by both fingerprint and facial recognition. Sun King also bundles the phone with 1GB of data upon activation and 50MB daily for 60 days, along with a warranty. Kenyans can acquire the EZ 1 with a deposit of $23.25 (KES 2,999) followed by daily payments of $0.47 (KES 60) for 364 days, leveraging the “lipa pole pole” model successful with its solar kits.

Sun King's entry into the smartphone market extends its established PayGo model from solar products to mobile devices, addressing the high upfront costs that often exclude many Kenyans from the digital economy. This strategy mirrors M-Kopa's “lipa mdogo mdogo” financing model, which also offers smartphones with low initial deposits and daily/weekly installments. M-Kopa offers several models, with deposits ranging from $21.70 (KES 2,800) for a low-end smartphone (e.g., Mkopa S34, Mkopa M10) with a $0.48 (KES 62) daily plan for 12 months, up to $32.55 (KES 4,200) for a high-end model (e.g., Mkopa X 20) with a $0.70 (KES 90) daily plan for 12 months.

The broader African smartphone manufacturing landscape has seen mixed trends. Egypt-based Sico Technology, an early pioneer, produces phones under the ‘Nilex’ brand, averaging around $112 as of 2024. Congo-Brazzaville-based VMK returned to the market in 2024 with the Elikia Moké 2, priced at approximately $45.41 (25,000 FCFA). Nigeria-based Afrione launched its Cygnus X in late 2019, initially priced between N44,600 and N54,500, which would now equate to an average of $105.21 (N150,000) given current exchange rates.

Despite the presence of these local manufacturers, the African smartphone market remains challenging. Early players like Mara Phones, which launched in 2019 producing Mara X and Mara Z models in Rwanda, and others like Mauritius-based Mi-Fone and Ghana-based RLG Communications, have either ceased operations or become dormant. Many, including Sico Technology, VMK, and Afrione, struggle to attract users due to high production costs, intense competition from global brands (like Tecno and Infinix), and unfavorable macroeconomic conditions. New entrants such as M-Kopa and Sun King are banking on affordable pricing, PayGo strategies, and significant specifications to penetrate the market, acknowledging that competition from established players who control the African market is intense. While the PayGo model can lead to a 'poverty penalty' where the total cost exceeds an upfront cash purchase, and quality concerns for locally assembled phones may persist, these initiatives are crucial for digital inclusion and enabling many Kenyans to access essential digital services.