Safaricom, the leading telco in Kenya, has for the past couple of years been putting in place immense efforts toward ensuring that more affordable mobile gadgets reach Kenyan consumers. The Neon Ultra is among the flagship smartphones assembled within the country by the company, which blends affordability and performance quite well. This review will feature the Neon Ultra's feature set, performance, and general user experience, among other critical aspects that buyers in Kenya may be interested in.

1. Overview of Safaricom Neon Ultra

Basically, the Safaricom Neon Ultra is an entry-level device, targeting the growing demand for affordable smartphones. It doesn't compromise on any key device features in order to realize this objective. Being locally assembled in Kenya, this device targets those users who have a dire need for reliable means to access communication, internet services, and basic applications. It is such local assembling that has contributed to keeping costs low, hence attracting low-income earners, students, and first-time smartphone users.

Key Features:

  • Display: 6.0" inches, giant views for video watching, browsing, and social media.
  • Operating System: Android 9 Pie (Go Edition); lighter and optimized for entry-level smartphones.
  • Camera: The rear camera is 5MP, and the front camera is 2MP. Can take basic snaps.
  • Battery: 3000 mAh battery, long-lasting usage.
  • Storage: 16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD card up to 64GB.
  • RAM: 1GB, enough to multitask lightly and run basic apps.
  • 4G Connectivity: 4G LTE for faster internet browsing and downloads.

The Neon Ultra is assembled with the budget-conscious user in mind, especially those who want to experience basic smartphone capabilities on a shoestring budget. In this case, it is a dead ringer for the average Kenyan consumer in pursuit of value for money.

2. Performance Review

i. Display and Design

The Neon Ultra has a quite impressive 6-inch screen display for its class. The display is clear enough to watch videos, browse, and use social media. The resolution may not be as high as high-end smartphones, but it works reasonably well in very bright environments.

The design is simple but quite functional with a plastic body carrying a solid build exuding durability in hand. While it may not feel as premium as most high-end phones, at this price, it's durable and strong in its construction.

ii. Camera Quality

It packs a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. While the cameras aren't that advanced, they get the job done for basic photography and video calls. The rear camera is good enough for everyday shots under adequate lighting, though the low-light performance will be limited. The front camera works fine for selfies, even though the picture quality isn't as sharp compared to more high-end devices.

iii. Battery Life

The Neon Ultra does pretty well with its 3000mAh battery. The light to moderate use will easily last a full day, and this includes web browsing, social media, and the occasional streaming. The Go Edition of Android ensures that this phone's battery life is well optimized, as that version of Android is put in place for entry-level smartphones and is therefore consuming less power.

iv. Software Experience

This phone runs rather smoothly on Android 9 Pie-Go Edition. Android Go is a watered-down version of Android set up especially for those smartphones that sport very low RAM and also low processing power. It comes pre-installed with Go versions of Google apps such as YouTube Go, Google Maps Go, and Gmail Go, smaller in size and optimized for better performance.

This makes the Neon Ultra ideal for users who need a basic, quick, and efficient phone for everyday needs like calling, texting, and using social media. It may not be as good with very demanding applications and heavy multitasking because it has lesser RAM.

v. Connectivity

The Neon Ultra is also designed with 4G LTE connectivity to provide users with faster internet browsing and file downloading. This will make it more suitable for those who use their smartphones for video streaming, browsing, and social interaction. Safaricom boasts an extensive 4G network coverage in Kenya, hence the users will have a good speed in most regions.

3. Neon Ultra Advantages

i. Affordable

Probably the key selling point of the Neon Ultra is how cheap it is, considering how the price lies at about KES 5,000 to 6,000, hence making this one of the cheapest 4G smartphones in the Kenyan market. For that price, buyers will get themselves basic smartphone features, a great value for the entry-level user.

ii. Locally Assembled

Being assembled in Kenya, the Neon Ultra supports the local industry and provides job opportunities. Safaricom's push to have these devices assembled locally has also helped reduce import costs, which translates into a lower price for the consumer.

iii. Optimized for Kenyan Market

The Neon Ultra is targeted at the Kenyan market, meaning it is tuned into Safaricom services such as M-Pesa and internet bundles. It features several Safaricom in-house apps pre-installed that allow you access to, among others, the MySafaricom App for ease of management of your data, airtime, and M-Pesa services.

4. Cons of Neon Ultra

While the Neon Ultra delivers in many areas, there are several compromises that come along with its low price:

i. Low Processing Power

The phone, with only 1GB of RAM, struggles in heavy multitasking and running resource-intensive apps. This means users will use it only with light applications or risk slowing or crashing the phone.

ii. Basic Camera

The 5MP main camera is good enough for casual snapshots, though it is out of class compared with mid-range and high-end devices. To users who value photography highly, Neon Ultra is not very well up to the expectation.

iii. Limited Internal Storage

The device is capable of 16GB of internal storage, which may get full quickly in case one installs several applications, saves photos, or downloads videos. However, this problem can be mitigated somehow by expanding the storage with a microSD card.

5. Target Audience

The Neon Ultra is primarily aimed at:

  • First-time smartphone users: Those moving from feature phones to smartphones will find the Neon Ultra perfect due to reasons of simplicity and affordability.
  • Students: Its affordable price makes it an excellent option for campus students who only require the gadget for basic communication and surfing the internet.
  • Budget-conscious consumers: Those who would like to enjoy the functions that a smartphone avails without breaking the bank will have the Neon Ultra as an excellent choice.

6. Other Safaricom Neon Series Devices

The Neon Ultra is part of the series of Neon smartphones assembled by Safaricom. Other phones that make up the series include:

  • Neon Kicka: Smaller and more affordable for the entry-level user.
  • Neon Ray: Slightly upgraded with more storage and higher camera capabilities.

With assembling done here in Kenya, it is therefore a factor that supports the local economy, hence availing quite a number of options to Kenyans depending on their requirements and budgets.

Conclusion

The Safaricom Neon Ultra is an impressive budget smartphone. It suits entry-level users in Kenya. It also comes at a budget price with 4G connectivity and a long-lasting battery, making it perfect for those who want basic smartphone capabilities without breaking much sweat over it. Of course, the performance and camera quality may not be the best; yet, on the whole, the Neon Ultra gives one pretty good value for money, and it's a smart option for students, new users, or anyone on a shoestring budget.

The Neon Ultra leads the way in Safaricom's continued drive toward locally assembled devices. This is a step into both the Kenyan market and the local economy, providing the masses with reasonably priced, reliable smartphones.