Sun King cuts smartphone entry price to Sh55 with EZ 3 launch

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Sun King has expanded its smartphone business in Kenya with the launch of its EZ 3 series, lowering the cost of entry for consumers to as little as Sh55 a day and a deposit of Sh2,299.

The launch marks an expansion of the company’s “lipa pole pole” financing model, which has traditionally been associated with its solar products, into smartphone ownership as the firm targets consumers who may struggle to pay the full cost of a modern handset upfront.

The EZ 3 series comprises the EZ 3 and EZ 3 Pro, with the company positioning the devices as affordable tools for communication, entertainment and small-business activities.

The standard EZ 3 comes with a 6.75-inch HD+ 120Hz display, 4GB RAM with an additional 4GB virtual RAM, 64GB storage expandable to 1TB, a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5,000mAh battery.

The EZ 3 Pro targets customers seeking higher specifications, with 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 50-megapixel main camera and a 6,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging. It is available from Sh65 a day with a Sh3,099 deposit.

Sun King said the financing model is intended to make smartphone ownership more accessible to first-time buyers and budget-conscious consumers while allowing existing users to upgrade.

The company is also targeting small businesses, with the phones designed to support activities such as advertising products online, communicating with customers, mobile-money transactions and creating social-media content.

For carpenter Joseph Oketch Owino, 26, the smartphone is being used as a business tool, particularly to take photographs for advertising his services.

Water vendor Mercy Kisoi, 38, said the payment plan was more affordable compared with her previous phone, while dairy farmer Hellen Mugo, 54, said the device had enabled her to communicate with her children through WhatsApp and video calls.

“The EZ 3 reflects everything we’ve learned serving Kenyan customers,” said Catherine Mudachi, VP Marketing at Sun King. “People want a phone that works, payments they can manage and a company they can trust.”

The EZ 3 comes with a 12-month warranty, charging cable, adapter, screen protector, phone case and earphones.

Sun King said the phones are available nationwide through its agent network, with customers also able to access demonstrations and purchase the devices through local Sun King agents.

The company says one in five Kenyans currently has access to its solar products, and the smartphone expansion represents a move to combine its pay-as-you-go model with connectivity as more consumers rely on digital services for business, communication and access to information.