HTC ChaCha has been retailing in Kenya for quite some time now since it was officially launched, the phone currently costs Kshs.33,499 at Safaricom shops and comes bundled with free 500MB data from the service provider. It features a rear and ergonomic design coupled by an amazing QWERTY keypad to stay afloat despite stiff competition from rivals. The phone’s battery doesn’t disappoint and a dedicated facebook button comes in handy, especially for those who hold social networking via facebook dear. Despite all the fuzz on design, HTC ChaCha rates miserably on hardware against other mid-range favorites such as Galaxy Ace plus S7500and Samsung I9070 Galaxy S Advance; instead of the now standard 1GHz processor, there’s an 800MHz processor underneath, which limits the phone’s capabilities such as lack of Adobe Flash Lite support. The landscape screen also demands time to get used to; however, this shouldn’t be an issue for those who are able to adjust and ready to live with it.

HTC ChaCha is among the few facebook focused devices featuring a dedicated facebook key; phone makers are quickly realizing how social networking is vital to both individuals and business. Having a facebook logo on its casing could likely trigger good tidings for the phone maker and several manufacturers are expected to follow suite. There’s an unexpected bend in the middle of the phone which improves our grip and at the same time feel ergonomic. HTC ChaCha’s QWERTY keypad clearly benefits from the bend; it feels right to type using two thumbs considering the phone’s width.  Buttons on the QWERTY keypad are large, well spaced and easy to find even if you have chubby fingers, the click sound emanating from them is also satisfactory. The screen size on this device is a disappointment, its limited to 2.6inches giving room for a spacious QWERTY keypad. The landscape screen may cause occasional headaches, so be prepared.

480×320 pixel resolution is standard for a mid-range device such as HTC ChaCha and as a result of a small screen size, images and text look sharp and crisp compared to larger screens such as Galaxy Ace S5830’s at the same resolution. The facebook button which is located just below the keyboard causes unnecessary fuzz especially for newbie’s’ and don’t expect it to be any different or add value to standard Android operating system operation. HTC ChaCha runs on Android v2.3 Gingerbread OS and features HTC Sense 2.1 UI. A 5.0Megapixel camera sits around the phone’s back coupled by Led flash and auto-focus functionality, so you can take stunning images even in darker places.

HTC ChaCha Features/Specifications;

• Operating System: Android v2.3 Gingerbread
• Processor: 800MHz, GPS
• Display : 2.6inch (480x320p) (222ppi) TFT, Capacitive, 256k colors
• Camera: Pri: 5.0Megapixel (2592x1944p), Sec: VGA, Auto-focus/LED Flash
• Storage: Up to 32GB MicroSD (2GB included), 512MB ROM, 512MB RAM
• Connectivity: MicroUSB v2.0, Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP
• Internet: 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 384Kbps HSUPA, 802.11b/g/nWiFi/hotspot
• Other ft: FM with RDS, Sensors: Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass
• Battery: Standard Lithium ion 1250mAh

HTC ChaCha Price in Kenya: Kshs.33,499 plus 500MB data (at Safaricom shops)

Nokia Asha 201 is best described as the ‘king of ordinary’, though staunch smart phone geeks out there will find this phrase insulting, especially on a symbian based device. The phone is fairly cheap; however, painful compromises such as lack of 3G, no touch-screen and a low megapixel camera were enforced to achieve the same. The entire device is far from crap as serious specs such as a QWERTY keypad and a larger 1430mAh battery sits underneath. Nokia Asha 201 completes the Asha line-up from the Finnish phone maker though its siblings houses additional functionality such as Dual SIM and 3G capability but fails miserably on pricing. Asha 300 and Asha 303 falls under the lower mid-range category while Asha 200 and Asha 201 features in low-range portfolio. There’s a good reason for price difference despite falling under Asha genre, the first two, Asha 300 and Asha 303 comes with superior hardware such as 1GHz processor and 3G connectivity while Asha 201 and Asha 200 runs short of the same specs.

The low price tag placed on Nokia Asha 201 tested our patience and we had to forgive a lot while scrutinizing it under our microscope. There are significant similarities between Asha 201 and its sibling Asha 200, ranging from design to a QWERTY keypad with only Dual SIM capability drawing a line in between them. The phone looks cheap but a QWERTY keypad and colorful design adds that professional feel, you’d be forgiven for mistaking Nokia Asha 201 for a BlackBerry, and not from the Finnish company, as it looks just like one of RIM’s business-minded gadgets. Its build quality feels sturdy enough, so those minor accidents won’t be a big issue and the glossy translucent plastic on the back is rather neat, the phone comes in various color choices too, ranging from navy blue, orange, black, white, pink, blue, lime green and light pink hues. At 14mm thick, Nokia Asha 201 is not the slimmest phone we’ve seen, but its light (105g to be precise) and will fit in the smallest pockets.

It runs on Nokia’s Symbian 40 OS, so you can download java games and apps that suite your style. Around the back, there’s a 2-megapixel camera without Led flash, so don’t expect to snap brilliant photos and video especially in dark places. There’s an FM radio inside and you’ll be amazed by the FM recorder feature that lets you record tracks from your radio to your phone. On top of 10MB internal storage, you can expand using an external MicroSD card up to 32GB. Battery life for Nokia Asha 201 is fairly good as there’s not much onboard that could drain power reserves that quickly. There’s no 3G or WiFi onboard, however, EDGE and GPRS will do just fine for your browsing needs.

Nokia Asha 201 Features/Specifications;

• Operating System: Symbian 40 software
• Display : 2.4inch (240x320p) (167ppi), TFT, 256k colors
• Primary Camera: 2.0 Megapixel (1600x1200p)
• Storage: Up to 32GB MicroSD, 10MB storage, 32MB RAM, 64MB ROM
• Connectivity: MicroUSB v2.0, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, EDR
• Internet: GPRS, EDGE, Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite
• Other features: FM Radio with RDS, FM recording
• Battery: Standard Lithium ion 1430mAh

Nokia Asha 201Price in Kenya: Kshs.6500.

If there’s one segment that Nokia has excelled in, that would be the entry-level genre. The Finish phone maker clearly understood the needs of budget strained folks out there who would appreciate low cost feature handsets such as Nokia C2-01. The phone has been around for quite some time now and I got the pleasure of exploring its goodies. Introduced as a successor to its C1-01 sibling, this phone packs some serious smart phone luxuries such as 3G connectivity while maintaining a low price tag. Since then, Nokia has not rested, resulting in various feature phones such as Asha 200, 300, and 303 packing several flourished features. Nokia C2-01 doesn’t have the best display panels we’ve seen, though at 2.0inches (240x320p), it performs its duties accordingly. Considering the low price tag, we’ll forgive a lot on this device while unearth unreasonable compromises imposed at the expense of pricing.