How vivo’s new V50 5G phone is tailored for the Kenyan market

The vivo V50 5G smartphone has been crafted with the Kenyan consumer in mind, offering locally relevant features and flexible financing options designed to enhance affordability across income groups.

According to top officials from the company, the phone’s design was informed by direct feedback from Kenyan users—particularly around the growing demand for better camera quality and battery life. This shift in user preference aligns with Kenya’s fast-growing digital economy, which is fueling a new wave of content creation, particularly among young people.

With a powerful 50MP main camera, the V50 meets the needs of Kenya’s youthful population, who are among the world’s most active social media users. Whether creating reels, TikToks, or vlogs, users can count on studio-quality clarity for both photos and videos.

Its 6,000mAh battery is designed to keep up with Kenya’s diverse lifestyle needs—lasting a full day under heavy usage or up to three days for lighter users. This makes it especially valuable in off-grid or low-power regions, offering peace of mind in areas with unreliable electricity access.

The V50 also comes with large RAM for smooth multitasking and ample storage to support Kenya’s vibrant content creation culture—whether that’s editing on the go, managing multiple apps, or storing thousands of photos and videos.

“Kenyan consumers increasingly prioritise camera quality, battery life, durability, and elegant design—especially among digital natives and content creators. The vivo V50 answers these demands,” — James Irungu, vivo Brand Manager, Kenya.

Despite its premium features and sleek build, the vivo V50 5G remains competitively priced at under KSh 70,000, making it an attractive option for upper mid-range buyers—many of whom are upgrading to their third or fourth smartphone.

The device is now available across the country, thanks to strategic partnerships with Safaricom, Airtel, Jumia, Kilimall, Masoko, and leading local distributors.

vivo is also localising its Funtouch OS (the phone’s operating system) to better serve Kenyan users.

“We continue to optimise our Funtouch OS for local needs and are working toward deep integration with mobile money platforms like M-Pesa—enabling smoother transactions, device financing, and app purchases,”— James Irungu.

“We’re also exploring Kiswahili support in system navigation and voice assistant features to make our smartphones even more accessible.”

In terms of after-sales service, vivo has already opened a dedicated service centre in Nairobi and plans to expand its support network across other regions. These centres will provide users with genuine spare parts, faster repairs, and expert support.

When compared to other Android smartphones in the Kenyan market, the vivo V50 5G stands out for combining a sleek design, cutting-edge camera tech, and all-day battery performance—all at a price point that remains relatively affordable.

Amid ongoing economic challenges and new tax regulations affecting smartphone prices across Kenya and Africa, vivo says it is taking measures to shield consumers from price hikes.

“We’re absorbing a significant portion of currency fluctuation impacts and are working closely with suppliers and partners to keep prices stable—without compromising on value,”— James Irungu.

“To offset the recent increase in phone import duties, we’ve optimised our logistics and created regional procurement hubs, helping us cushion the effect and maintain stable pricing locally.”