Feature phones have had their share of handsets market for the longest time, at least until budget smartphones started encroaching on their territories with matching prices. But that’s not to say they don’t have a place in the current world; at least Faiba has found a way to keep them a float amidst diminishing trends. The latest Faiba 4G wonder feature phone probably won’t turn heads for someone shopping for a decent smartphone with either the android or iOS goodies onboard, the handset comes with KaiOS and will mostly appeal to Fibas customer base looking for a cheap way to connect to Fibas WiFi while working at home.

So, what exactly is KaiOS? Well in layman’s language, KaiOS just like android or iOS, is a mobile operating system based on Linux, the operating system as the name suggests was developed by Kai OS Technologies Limited, a US-based company. Android and iOS have pretty much locked up a huge chunk of the smartphone operating system market leaving feature phones in the gallows of history, but KaiOS seeks to revert that with release of feature phones running on its OS.

Faiba 4G wonder phone is packed with interesting features targeting its customer base such as free Faiba to Faiba calls and even accommodates the ability to use two separate SIM cards with dual SIM capability. Of course, there isn’t a direct competitor for this new entrant as the handset is targeting a specific niche that will find solace in its unique features.

As expected, the handset packs basic tech inside with a 4GB internal storage and 512MB system RAM driven by the KaiOS. The phone should appeal to those looking for the simplest way to connect to the internet or establish a hotspot WiFi while at home and be able to make calls.

Faiba 4G Wonder feature phone specifications

upgradable:	Yes
Battery:	1400mAh
Bluetooth:	Yes
FM radio:	Yes
Memory:	4GB + 512MB
Network:	GSM/HSPA/LTE
OS:	Kaios
SIM:	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Video:	MP4
WLAN:	WiFi Hotspot

When Apple launched its version of wireless headphones, there was no doubt other OEM’s would soon follow suit; the same case happened when the iPhone manufacturer ushered in a new era of notches and now, we can barely see a new handset without a notch on its portfolio. Earbuds have slowly become a thing amongst smartphone manufacturers, most of them are moving away from wired headphones and in fact they no longer include a 3.5mm headphone jack on phones anymore.  

Earbuds come with nifty features and challenges of equal measure, unlike traditional wired headphones, earbuds or inner ear wireless headphones are very expensive in comparison and need special maintenance to use. For once, you’ll need to charge them and they’re notorious for accidentally being misplaced though some manufacturers have incorporated features to track their whereabouts in such cases.

While the challenges seem real for new consumers, there are a ton of reasons you should still consider them. The first reason is actually not optional as most manufacturers skip placing a 3.5mm headphone jack. Consumers are left with no option but to go wireless rather than carrying additional adaptors to convert the charging port into a headphone jack, which is an inconvenience when you want to charge your phone.

There are more than a dozen earbuds you could get to replace the traditional wired headphone jack here in Kenya. I acknowledge this probably isn’t everyone’s option as wireless headphones can still serve the purpose effectively. Though not conclusive, below is a list you probably should have on your shortlist for the next wireless inner ear headphone.

Wireless earbuds you can buy in Kenya for less than Ksh.30,000

• Jabra Elite Active 75T

The Jabra Elite Active 75T stands as the best ragged earbuds you can get though they’re still very elusive as just a handful retailers in Kenya have them. But for Ksh20,000, they’re our best fit for both quality and reliability. The Jabra Elite Active 75T are sweat and water proof thanks to the official IP57 rating. You also get a decent battery life of 7.5 hours outside the included charging case and an additional 22 inside.

• Huawei FreeBuds 3 Earbud

Just recently announced here in Kenya with prices ranging between Ksh18,000 to Ksh19,000, Huawei’s FreeBuds 3 seems like a reasonable choice for many Kenyan’s. Unlike the Jabra Elite active 75T, they’re available in plenty and can even be ordered from local online stores. Huawei FreeBuds 3 come with some interesting features as well including active noise cancellation features and stable Bluetooth connectivity courtesy of the BT/BLE dual-mode Bluetooth 5.1 SoC.

• Xiaomi Mi AirDots

If you’re looking for decent earbuds but are tight on a budget, then the Mi AirDots have a lot to offer, featuring true wireless Stereo for just under Ksh10,000. Posing amazing 12hours of battery life with 4hours double headphone continuous listening and 5hours single earphone continuous listening and the ultimate 12hours when used with the charging box.

• Apple Airpods Pro

For those deep in the Apple ecosystem, the Airpods Pro are the best choice to stay loyal. They do have the benefits of Apple devices with frequent firmware updates as well as stable connectivity. iPhone users also get a bonus to track their whereabouts in case they’re misplaced and offers best connectivity to iPhones. Airpods costs somewhere around Ksh25,000.

• Galaxy Buds

And finally, Samsung’s Galaxy buds. Surprisingly, the Galaxy buds offers the best combination of features and price. With just under Ksh.15,000 you get to enjoy amazing functionality such as ambience aware feature that controls how much of the surrounding noise you let in. You can easily decide to let in important noise such as street traffic, flight announcements, and hear when your kids or coworkers call out to you.

Smart bands continue to gain traction globally as more and more consumers finally start to see the importance of owning one. Whether its solely designated to receive those important notifications by just glancing at it, its convenience is just unmatched to some folks. They are more preferred to relay notifications than having to get your phone wherever it is and go through the whole tedious process of unlocking when in fact the text received or whatever triggered the tone wasn’t worth your attention.  

Unlike smartwatches, bands costs less and in some cases, you can go days without having to charge their batteries. I also like their slim portfolio in comparison, you can put on and cover with a sleeved shirt without anyone ever noticing.

There’s just a lot of great points worth noting before you dismiss the kind of value you’ll get with a decent smart band. Back in the day, these devices were used mostly to receive notifications, but they’ve tremendously advanced in technology to include fitness trackers as well as sensors to measure some of your vitals to reveal in case of an underlying condition.

But not every smartwatch that comes out is for everyone; in Kenya for instance, it’ll be a hard choice for someone who barely makes ends meet to buy a smartwatch that costs thousands of Kenyan shillings such as the Apple watch. At the same time, there are some really nice wearables that can be acquired instead, within the bands niche.

The best value for money smartwatches you can buy in Kenya

1. Mi Smart Band 4

When Xiaomi unveiled the Mi smart band 4, I was in fact one of the first people to pre-order, I believe I could have been the first person to own in Kenya as the wearable was pretty hard to get at the time. having had a first hand experience, the Mi band 4 is surely the best value your money can buy. The band comes with a 20 days battery, something you’d hardly find on the Chinese clones. Mi band 4 can display notifications, track your movements as well as exercises, and yes swimming as well. It also comes equipped with a heart rate sensor. It should cost around Ksh.3,000

• Huawei Band 4

Having been around for some time now, this smart band is still pretty nice and readily available locally for about Ksh.5,500.  It has a battery that’s touted to go for more than 6 days and comes equipped with some nifty features as well. You’ll have a heart rate sensor that’s now pretty standard but with some additions such as oxygen saturation detection, sleep tracker and of course life assistant to track your exercises.