Best Phones under 40k in Kenya.
Choosing a phone can be a daunting task. With awesome new flagships models from Apple, Huawei, One Plus, and Samsung all seeking your attention, plus dozens of high-quality options for those on a budget, choosing the right smartphone has never been more challenging. But we’re here to make it less complicated.
Our comparisons are based on factors such as budget, must have features for you, size, Display, Camera, Chipset & Ram, and Durability not in any particular order or ranking.
At a glance below are the phones in this category and the estimated prices, mostly Samsung Galaxy, Oppo, iPhone, Xiaomi Redmi and a bit of Huawei. You should note we are biased towards phones you will easily find in the market.
We have divided the phones into further price categories. Phones between 30k to 35k and phones between 36k to 40k. We have indicated current market prices. Note the prices can slightly vary depending on the deal at the time.
You can also check the best phones under 30k in kenya and best phones under 20k in kenya. If not sure what to look for, here is our detailed Ultimate Guide on Choosing and Buying the Best Phone in Kenya.
We update this review every 6 months, with every new release of latest phones which have earned a spot in the list. So far in 2021, we have a few new phones making it to the list. Most are new while some are just an upgrade or new model versions replacing the previous model series.
Phones in Kenya released so far in 2021 or late last year making it into the list of Best Phones under 40k are:
- Oppo Reno 5 8gb 128gb at Ksh.39,499 replacing Oppo Reno 4
- Galaxy A52 8gb 128gb at Ksh.38,000 in favour of Galaxy A71
- Redmi Note 10 Pro 6GB 128GB at Ksh.34,500
- Redmi Note 10 Pro Max 6GB 128GB at Ksh.39,000
- Poco X3 Pro 6GB 128GB at Ksh.37,999
With that being said, here is the full summary of best Phones in Kenya under 40k. .
Best Phones under 35K include.
Oppo A93 NEW 128GB 8GB price Ksh.30,999
Samsung A70 128GB 6GB price Ksh.32,500
Xiaomi Mi 9T 64GB 6GB price Ksh.33,499
Redmi Note 10 Pro 6GB 128GB price Ksh.34,500
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 64GB 6GB price Ksh.34,999
iPhone 7 Plus 32GB 3GB price Ksh.35.500
Best Phones under 40K include
iPhone 8 64GB 2GB price Ksh.37.500
Poco X3 Pro 6GB 128GB price Ksh.37,999
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro 128GB 6G price Ksh.37,000.
Oppo Reno 5 128GB 8GB price Ksh.37,999
Samsung Galaxy A71 128GB 8GB price Ksh.39,999
Samsung Galaxy S9 64GB 6GB price Ksh.39.999
Best Phones under 35k
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Redmi Note 10 Pro 6GB 128GB
The Redmi Note 10 Pro is gonna be in this list for sometime to come. Xiaomi Phones are setting the bar high in every category, watch out for them. The Redmi Note 10 pro was launched late in the first quarter of 2021, together with Redmi Note 10. It comes with everything premium, from the design and build to the camera.
I have to start where this phone stands out, the Camera. The Redmi Note 10 Pro comes with a whopping 108MP main camera, 8MP Ultrawide cam, a 5MP tele macro with auto focus and depth sensor. The photos from the main camera are outstanding, high up with the flagship camera i.e iPhone 12 and 12 Pro. Unless you are a professional photographer, you will say there is no difference.
Redmi Note 10 Pro is made of Gorilla glass 5 at both front and back. Even though it has a plastic frame, the phone is glossy and doesn’t look cheap. It comes with IP55 for dust and splash protection.
Coming to the front the phone display is a 6.67”, AMOLED, 1080P, with a fast 120Hz refresh rate. You will definitely like the seamlessly scrolling and interaction effect when using the phone. The display gives vivid true colors and super accurate, quite the experience for media consumption. On the side, you get a fast and accurate fingerprint reader for waking up and unlocking the phone.
As far as the platform goes, you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G (8 nm) chipset powering the 6GB/8Gb ram and 128GB storage. Performance wise this is okay for this category but not the top tier of midrange chipsets.
The device is powered by a Li-Po 5020 mAh, non-removable battery. It will hold its own and battery life is excellent considering the high refresh rate.
At launch, the Redmi Note 10 Pro price in Kenya is Ksh.34,499 for the 6Gb 128GB and Ksh 37,500 for the 8Gb 128GB.
Oppo A93 128GB 8GB
Oppo A93 is replacing the Galaxy A series, so we should expect more than its predecessor, Oppo A92. At a first glance, you will notice it looks more premium than Oppo A92 despite being made of a Glass front, and plastic back. It comes in two colors Matte Black, and Metallic White. The phone is thin and slim at 7.5mm and 164grams.
The 6.43” inch screen Display is made of Super AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 800 nits (peak) with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density). Under the display is a quick fingerprint scanner for unlocking. The contract of the display is very impressive, with sharp colors and more level of details. This is fantastic for multimedia files.
At the back, we have 4 cameras. 48 MP (wide) main camera + MP(ultrawide) + 2MP(depth) + 2MP. You have got 2 selfie cameras in front. 16 MP(wide) + 2MP (Depth). The camera performs very well compared to devices in this price range.
One feature that stands out with the 48MP camera is the ability to shoot at 108MP. All you have to do is go to the pro mode in XHD settings.
The camera software has awesome features like AI Color portrait. It maintained the human object color in the photo but renders everything else black and white. It applies to both photos and videos
Oppo A93 is powered by Li-Po 4000 mAh. With a fast-charging of 18W. Not the best there is in this category. Oppo A93 has AI Night charging feature. This is to avoid damages due to excess overnight charge so It charges up to 81%, then finishes at 100% just a few moments before you wake up. This is after studying your sleep patterns. So Cool!
Oppo A93 128GB ROM 8GB RAM price in Kenya is around Ksh. 30,999.
Here is Oppo A93 video review.
Samsung Galaxy A70 128GB 6GB
In 2019 Samsung missed the midrange market to the likes of XIaomi, but not in 2020. Galaxy A70 is one of Samsung’s attempts to retain its place in the midrange smartphones.
At a Dimension of 164.3 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm 6.7” inches Display size, the Galaxy A70 is not a small phone. However it is surprisingly thin for how large it is. It is made of Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame and doest have that high end look though it has that shiny reflection in light. It is not the easiest to use one handed or when your hands are small.
As far as security goes there is a Fingerprint reader under the display and a Face unlock but not the fastest in the category.
The Biggest selling point is the Super AMOLED display, 6.7 inches,1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. This is a really good display. Detailed and accurate colors in vivid mode. In short, media consumption is really good in this device. Brightness is also good for outdoor use.
Samsung Galaxy A70 is powered by Li-Po 4500 mAh Battery. A fast charging of 25W, that’s 42% in 30min. In the endurance test it scores 104h of Battery life. This can take 1 and half a day on average use.
Under the hood is Snapdragon 675 on Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 with 6GB RAM. In day to day tasks, this phone performs well, except for heavy graphics like Gaming. Its not the best in the category.
At the back Galaxy A70 has 32MP(wide) + 8MP(ultrawide) + 5MP Depth Sensor. The selfie Camera is also 32MP(wide). Unfortunately none has Optical Image stabilisation (OIS). Use the 32MP mode via setting, by default it shoots at 12MP. The camera performs well, not what you would expect in a 32MP. In low light or at Night, the Camera isn’t that Good.
THe phone can take 4K@30fps. Videos are well detailed and have excellent contrast and Dynamic range. Colors are accurate too. It’s unfortunate there is no Electrical stabilisation.
Samsung Galaxy A70 128GB ROM 6GB RAM price in Kenya is around Ksh.32,500.
Also watch Samsung Galaxy A70 video review.
Xiaomi Mi 9T 64GB 6GB
Xiaomi Mi 9T is a feature packed mid range phone that many will be happy with. This phone has every feature in the top-notch in the category of phones under 30k.
One thing that is quickly clear is the superb physical design of this phone. It is made of Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, and aluminum frame. Also, the Motorized pop-up selfie camera is cool.
The Mi 9T has a Dimension of 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm, an AMOLED, 6.39inches 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) screen display. Content look great on this screen. It supports HDR too and color can be quite accurate. Beneath the screen is a fast fingerprint reader to enable you to unlock the phone.
Mi 9T is powered by one of the most powerful chipsets in a midrange, Snapdragon 730 on Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 along with 6GB of RAM. In performance benchmark, Xiaomi Mi 9T is off the charts in this price range.
On the back there is a triplet camera. A 48MP (wide) , 8MP(telephoto) and 13MP(ultrawide).
Motorized pop-up 20MP selfie camera. The cameras have excellent quality, great details, good contrast and a wide Dynamic range. It can capture videos upto 4k@30fps and they have Electronic stabilisation. The video from the main camera is sharp and detailed, with nice color renditions.
The Battery at Li-Po 4000 life is good, with a Fast charging 18W, it takes 30min to be at 45%
Xiaomi Mi 9T 64GB ROM 6GB RAM price in kenya is around Ksh. 33,499. The only drawback is it lacks an SD card slot, hence the storage might be a challenge to some.
Watch Xiaomi Mi 9T video review.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 64GB 6GB
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 64GB 6GB
Yes! Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is here in 2020!. This flagship phone, launched in 2017 September, is among the best you can get at this price range. Most will be refurbished, previously used but taken back to the factory and made new. The only complaint we have encountered so far the battery issues after like 1 year.
In its time, the Galaxy Note 8 was and still is an impressive flagship phone in this category. Watch the full review here. Galaxy Note 8 Review in 2020
In 2020, Galaxy Note 8 64GB ROM 6GB RAM is around Ksh.34,999
iPhone 7 Plus 32GB 3GB
As you have realized, this section contains Flagship phones that are 2 to 3 years old. In 2020 fortunately their prices have fallen with time as new models are released. In this price range, we have the iPhone 7 Plus. In its time, it was the best phone in the market. In this price range, it’s definitely still a contender. Here is the iPhone 7 Plus complete review in 2020.
iPhone 7 Plus 32GB 3GB price in Kenya 2020 is around Ksh.35,500
Samsung Galaxy
iPhone 7 Plus marks the end of top phones between 30K and 35k. The next list is for Top phones between 35k and 40k.
Best Phones under 40k
iPhone 8 64GB 3GB
In this price range, we have the iPhone 8 64G ROM 3GB RAM. In its time, it was the best phone in the market. In this price range, it’s definitely still a contender. Here is the iPhone 8 complete review in 2020.
iPhone 8 64GBGB 3GB price in Kenya 2020 is around Ksh.37,999
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro / Redmi K20 Pro 128Gb 6GB.
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro / Redmi K20 Pro 128Gb 6GB.
Launched in 2019, september. Redmi K20 Pro, also known as Mi 9T Pro is not in its league. At the time of its release the phone was known as the Flagship killer, for under 40k, you will think twice before going for a phone under 50k in Kenya.
Redmi K20 Pro Price in Kenya is about Ksh. 36,499 for 6GB Ram 128GB of storage. The 6GB Ram 64GB storage goes for Ksh.32,000.
Design And Build
Redmi K20 Pro has a premium glossy look, it is made of Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and front. A feature that is instantly noticeable is the motorised camera that lights up when it pops up and the curved edges of the phone. It is good to note that this phone is heavy, slippery and back not stable when on a surface, but having a phone case/cover will help.
Display
The Redmi K20 Pro/ Mi 9T Pro display is a 6.39” Super AMOLED, 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution with a Gorilla glass 5 protection. It also supports HDR content. The K20 Pro display colors are accurate, crisp and clear for media consumption. With 448 ppi nits the phone is bright enough for outdoor display.
Platform / Processor chipset
Under the hood, Redmi K20 Pro / Mi 9T Pro comes with Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm). This is one of the best Flagship grade processor chipset on a phone under 40k not only in Kenya but across the market. Be sure of Flagship speed. On top of this it comes with 6GB Ram and 128GB of storage.
on store and state, New or Refurbished.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro 6GB 128GB
Note: Availability of Poco X3 and X3 Pro is not reliable.
Poco X3 Pro is a sequel to the popular Poco NFC and Poco F1. The Poco sequel is better known as Value for your money, the only challenge is their availability. Most buyers end up importing them. Poco X3 Pro was released late 2021 and was an instant hit.
The Poco X3 is identical to the Poco X3 NFC, from the design to the large POCO logo engraved on the back. The front and back are made of plastic, but with a smooth touch. The square circle camera module always stands out. Though plastic, the phone comes with IP53 for dust and splash protection.
Poco X3 pro biggest stand out is the Flagship grade processor chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm). Of all the best phones under 40k in kenya, this is definitely out of its class. This is for sure the most powerful phone you will find in the best phones under 40k price range. This is definitely a recommendation for Gamers, thanks to its efficient cooling system you can play games without overheating and throttling. This chipset powers the 8GB ram and 128GB/256GB storage. In Kenya, you will mostly find the 128GB version.
Besides the flagship chipset, everything is almost as is expected within this price range. The phones Display is a 6.67 ISP LCD 1080 x 2400 pixels HDR10 Display, with a 120Hz refresh rate,, and brightness of upto 450 nits. The screen protection is gorilla glass 6. The 120Hz adds extra smoothness when swiping and scrolling.
When it comes to the camera, the Poco’s X3 48MP camera is a downgrade compared to last year’s sequel, Poco’s X3 NFC 64MP camera. The Quadcamera consists of a 48MP main camera + 8MP Ultrawide + 2MP Depth and sensor camera.
Note, even though there is a drop in the camera resolution, it is difficult to realise the difference in quality.
The Poco X3 Pro comes with a battery capacity of Li-Po 5160 mAh, non-removable. This is not bad but not the best in this category. With a Fast charging 33W, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min, the phone will last you a while.
Poco X3 Pro price in Kenya is Ksh. 38,000 for 6GB ram, 128GB storage price. Due to availability challenges, importing is an option.
Oppo Reno 5 128GB 8GB
Replacing Oppo Reno 4 on the list, we have Oppo Reno 5 as the new best in this price range from Oppo. Despite coming close to a flagship design and look, Oppo Reno 5 is built with Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back. The hands feel good, lightweight and have a good grip in the arm. The phone looks and feels premium by all standards.
There is a lot of improvement in Oppo Reno 5. The back plastic has a matte finish The display in Reno 5 is a bit different from Reno 4. Oppo Reno 5 6.47” AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) Display with a 90Hz refresh rate,
For Media consumption it gives punchier colors and great contrast. Refresh rate is kept at 60Hz, despite more mid range phones in its caliber having 90Hz. Oppo also maintained the AI Gestures to the Reno 5 so you can scroll through your content and pick up calls without even touching your device.
Under the hood, Oppo maintained its Snapdragon 720G, same as Oppo Reno 4 which is paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. You can expand the storage with an SD card upto 256GB. The performance is excellent for day to day tasks and it holds up in heavy graphic tasks.
At the back you have 4 cameras, 64MP(wide) Main + 8MP (ultra wide) + 2MP(depth) + 2(Macro). For a selfie camera you have 44MP, IMX 586 sensor. The shots from the main camera have a good amount of details and fare color accuracy. The selfies are also impressive.
The AI Color Portrait camera feature lets you shoot photos and videos while it maintains color for the human object against a vivid black-and-white backdrop. The cameras can shoot videos 4K@30fps and support Electrical stabilisation. You can also shoot slow motion movies upto 920fps at 720p.
The Battery is Li-Po 4310 mAh, this will last you 12h 30min in benchmark test. On average use it should last you during the day. With a Fast charging of 50W VOOC 4.0, You get 100% charge in 48 min.
Oppo Reno 5 128GB ROM 8GB RAM price in Kenya is around Ksh.39,999 and Oppo Reno 4 128GB ROM 8GB RAM price reduced to between Ksh.37,000 – 38,000.
Check out Oppo Reno 5 Video Review Video Review
Samsung Galaxy A71 128GB 8GB
The ultimate Samsung A series midrange. The phone is made of Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame. The material looks like glass though and dazzles when it catches light. Despite being plastic the build doesn’t feel cheap.
THe phone is big in size but its profile is very slim and comfy in the hands. The Dimension is 163.6 x 76 x 7.7 mm, 6.7 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) display screen with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 as the protection.
The Content looks great, sharp and detailed. Colors are accurate too in Vivid mode as you would expect from an AMOLED display. THe screen is bright and good outdoors.
At the heart of Samsung Galaxy A71 there is Snapdragon 730 chipset, on Android 10, One UI 2.5. The interface is easy to use and intuitive. With an 8GB RAM, the performance is above the midrange benchmarks.
Galaxy A71 has 64MP(wide) Main camera + 12MP (ultrawide) + 5MP(macro) + Depth sensor. In natural light , the shots are very good. There is low noise, vivid colors and good details. It could be better in fine details but not bad for a mid ranger. The Selfie camera at 32MP is very impressive. Night mode is availed for low light or Night shots. The camera can record 4K@30fps, though stabilization is only available at 1080p videos.
The device is powered by Li-Ion 4500 mAh. It score 104h is a property battery life test. That is a day and half on average use. With a Fast charging of 25W, it can reach 51% in 30min of charging.
Checkout this video review for more. Samsung Galalxy A71 review
Samsung Galaxy A71 128GB ROM 8GB RAM price in Kenya is Ksh. 39,999
Samsung Galaxy A71 128GB ROM 6GB RAM price in Kenya is Ksh. 38,000
Samsung Galaxy S9 64GB 6GB
Just as its predecessor, Samsung Galaxy s9 maintains one of the most successful and impressive designs. The phone feels better in the hands due to its smooth aluminum and glass curves. The phone by today’s standard is still feature packed even for most mid range phones in this price category.
The Galaxy S9 is glass sandwiched. Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame. The glass protection is thicker than Galaxy S8, it will survive most falls but is prone to micro scratches. Thanks to the IP68 dust/water resistance the phone can survive up to 1.5m of water for 30 mins. At this price range this is just one of the reasons Galaxy S9 plus is worth having.
Samsung Galaxy S9 has the best resolutions and pixel density for its size, at 5.8 inches Super AMOLED HDR10, 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~529 ppi density). The color rendering is fantastic. The media consumption is way better than 2020 mid range phones.
The phones performance is among the best in this price category. Thanks to its Snapdragon 845, it was running on Android 8.0 (Oreo), but now upgraded to Android 10. Playing Games is an awesome experience, You can even open 30 apps at once.
The Li-Ion 3000 mAh powering Galaxy S9 doest measure well to current standards, even 2020 mid range phones are doing better. The fast charging at 15W is not the fastest in the category. Only 37% in 30min of charge.
It has a single camera at the back, 12MP (wide) main. I have to admit, in camera specs, Galaxy S9 is outdone by the latest midrange in this category. Though the shots are good thanks to its superior camera software.
Within this price range, we can only get 64GB of storage, thanks to the expandable storage capability. You can expand storage with an SD card.
Samsung Galaxy S9 64GB ROM 4GB RAM best price in Kenya is Ksh.39,999 on Discount.
Also checkout Samsung Galaxy S9 video review
Our Review of the best phone in Kenya is based on factors such as budget, must-have features for you, size, Display, Camera, Chipset & Ram, and Durability not in any particular importance or order.
So Here is our Take!
Best Phone Overall
Poco X3 Pro.
This verdict was not difficult to reach. Poco X3 Pro is the best overall in this list of best phones under 40k. This phone is better in performance, battery and camera. This is closely followed by Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro.
Best camera Phone:
Redmi Note 10 Pro.
When it comes to the Camera, Redmi note 10 pro wins, don’t be fooled by the 108MP, on benchmark Poco X3 Pro comes close to it despite having 48MP. though this is Pcoc X3 Pro. It is surprising that Oppo Reno 5 comes 4th after Mi 9T Pro, though we have to acknowledge the awesome features its camera poses.
Best Phone in Performance.
Poco X3 Pro.
Again, here it is easy to see which best phones under 40k in kenya take the lead. Poco x3 pro it is, this is followed by Mi 9T Pro. Thanks to Its flagship grade superior processor chipset, cooling system and battery endurance.
Best Budget Phone
The contestants here are Poco X3 Pro and Redmi Note 10 pro. Depending on the price you’re gonna buy the Redmi Note 10 pro. If you get note 10 pro below 34k it will be better. Anything above 36k, Poco X3 Pro is definitely the winner here.
Best Value for Money
ndable storage, and longer battery life.