Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has made its Kenyan debut with the launch of its flagship models as part of the firm’s overseas expansion plan. The Guangdong-based company says it has set asidea Sh1.1 billion budget to market its high-end smartphones in Kenya this year.
Marketing Director for Kenya Wayne Zheng, said OPPO plans to spend part of this money on branding while the rest will be invested in driving sales through promotions.
“We plan to spend Sh1.1 billion for launch and marketing,” he said, adding that the global strategy for OPPO is to target the mid to high-end market segment. “We don’t do feature phones. This means that our main competitors are Apple, Samsung and LG,” he said.
The firm has unveiled three smartphones targeting the upper, middle and lower segments of the market ahead of official launch later this year.
“We have introduced into the Kenyan market three models, N3, which has a rotating camera and retailing for Sh59,990 and R5, one of the slimmest smartphones in the world, which is selling for Sh47,990. We also have the mid-end smartphone Neo 3 which will go for Sh13,990,” said Zheng.
OPPO plans to take on global tech giants Apple, Samsung and LG as it stakes its claim on the competitive Kenyan market. “Our product is designed for those who consider themselves young and trendy,” Zheng said, adding that those who are tired of the conventional designs and want something that will make them stand out.
Zheng said the R5 model is a thin design. The firm is hoping the N3 will attract high-end smartphone buyers.
The company is starting with 20 outlets in Nairobi. “We also plan to set up also our own exclusive shops and also partner with mobile operators,” he said.
OPPO was founded in 2004 as a manufacturer of MP3 players and Blu-ray video players. It began making smartphones in 2008. The handset manufacturer is following in the footsteps of key brands such as Wiko, Infinix, Obi and Xtouch that are eyeing a slice of the local market and giving dominant players such as Samsung, Sony, LG and Apple stiff competition.
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