HMD Global has been selling Nokia devices in Kenya since 2017.
The company is yet to make inroads in the local market following the popularity of other brands such Tecno and Infinix. The battle was lost back in the day when Nokia delayed jumping onto the Android platform. Nokia also didn’t see success when Microsoft acquired it to test out its mobile platform, Windows Phone. The OS has since been discontinued.
Nokia has also been making high-end devices, but it would seem that the playbook was not working for it. It did bring the Nokia 9 PureView to Kenya. No other high-end phones have since been made by the manufacturer, choosing instead to focus on low- to mid-range devices.
This time around, HMD has brought the Nokia C21 to local store shelves. The C series is a budget offering from Nokia.
Here are some of the device’s specs:
| Specs | Nokia C21 |
| Weight | 195g |
| Screen | 6.52”, 720 x 1600 pixels |
| OS | Android 11 Go Edition |
| Chip | Unisoc SC9863A (28nm) |
| Card slot | Yes |
| Memory | 2/32 GB |
| Main camera | 8 MP |
| Selfie | 5 MP |
| Fingerprint reader | Rear |
| Battery | 3000 mAh |
| Colours | Dark Blue, Warm Gray |
“The C-series is all about making smartphones accessible to everyone – we bring maximum quality to affordable price bands. So whether you’re looking for a great value daily driver, your very first smartphone, or a step up from a feature phone, the easy-to-use Nokia C21 will be the perfect partner you can trust. The new Nokia C21 gives our fans a smartphone that is safe, reliable and durable, at a great value,” Florian Seiche, CEO at HMD Global.
Nokia C21 is available now, and comes in 2/32 GB variant starting at KES 12,500.
