Yolo Smart Phone at Safaricom has Intel Inside

Intel is not a common brand when it comes to mobile devices let alone in Africa but their latest relentless efforts to venture into this lucrative segment has finally taken toll here in Kenya. The two brands have teamed up to release what’s been quoted as ‘the first smart phone for Africa with Intel Inside®’ and of course it’s no longer rumors as the Yolo smart phone is already retailing at Safaricom shops for  a measly Khs.10,999 ($126). I wouldn’t put much emphasis on why the ‘Yolo’ name but at least we’re familiar with Intel’s weird naming norm, take for example, remember the ‘xolo x900’ – an Intel atom based android phone that was bound for India sometimes back in 2012, the news doesn’t come as a surprise either, Intel made it clear during CES that service providers like Safaricom would be unveiling devices with its chipset underneath starting 2013.

Beyond Intel’s chipset, it’s interesting to note that Yolo runs on Android Ice Cream operating system, it’s not the latest release version from Google but just having Android installed is a definite go zone for android lovers. Like any android device out there, expect to get all functionalities that come with the system such as a Wi-Fi hotspot capability on this phone – it’s a feature you’ll have to wait for now if your device has windows installed.  Something you’d expect on smart phones targeting the developing world is a brief sheet of specs, there’s no reason to expect competition in the top tier segment of cell phone market – on devices such as the Galaxy S3 or iPhone 5, Yolo is obviously not a match in performance but it has a price tag you’ll love to consider.

Yolo has a 3.5 inch screen, it’s not the best size I’d prefer but considering the price tag- few rivals come close. Underneath is an Atom Z2420 processor which’s said to hit speeds of up to 1.2GHz, capable of encoding and decoding 1080p video and can support HSPA+ data speeds. It’s the kind of specs you’d expect on mid-range phones a few years back but I must say it’s a pretty compelling package. Yolo’s 4GB internal storage is good enough for a couple of apps and mp4 files but you’re at liberty to complement with a MicroSD card of up to 32GB.  On the back cover is a 5.0MP camera that’s expected to capture pretty amazing images in good lighting but due to lack of a flash, don’t expect to get vivid images in darker places as pricier counterparts with a flash. There some goodies included in the sales package from Safaricom – you’ll get a free one year subscription to Mcafee and free 500MB data.

Yolo Smart Phone Features/Specifications;

• Operating System: Android v4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Processor: 1.2GHz Intel Atom, GPU: 400MHz, Chipset: Intel
• Display: 3.5inch (480x320px) HVGA (165ppi) TFT, Capacitive Screen
• Camera: Primary: 5.0MP (2592X1944p)
• Storage: Up to 32GB MicroSD card , 4GB Internal storage, 512GB RAM
• Data: 21Mbps HSPA+
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1, 2.0 MicroUSB, WiFi, Hotspot
• Sensors: GPS with A-GPS, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass
• Battery: 1500mAh Li-Ion Battery
• Other ft: Touch-focus, Panorama mode, Stereo FM

Yolo Smart PhonePrice in Kenya: Kshs.10999