The level of competition in today’s smartphone market, especially those operating with the Android operating system, has made it easier for consumers to get great devices at even better bargains. That is why there is an increasing number of smartphones with great specs in the midrange and upper midrange classes. Should you want one of those devices that is not just a utility smartphone, here are the best android phones under 15000 Ksh in Kenya
1 Infinix Hot 5
Any list of affordable smartphones is not complete without Infinix. Featuring with a Hot 5, this 5.5 inch, HD-screen unit packs a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. On this same front is the 5MP selfie snapper which works in tandem with an 8MP sensor on the back.
Asides the camera sensor and its LED flash the back of this device is also home to a fingerprint sensor for added security.
Looking under the hood yields some more interesting features. A quad-core 1.3GHz processor might look commonplace. Pair that with 2GB of RAM and an expandable 16GB internal storage space, and you are on your way to a powerful device.
Carrying support for dual SIMs, the 3G-enabled smartphone ships with an XOS based on the Android 7 Nougat out of the box. With a 4000mAhh battery to boot, the phone will get a power user through an average day
2 Nokia 2
The Nokia brand recently got resuscitated by HMD and ever since, they have been making some great appearances in the market. The Nokia 2 introduction featured a blend of class and beauty. Looking under the 5-inch HD polarized display, one will be met with the likes of a 1GB RAM + 8GB ROM memory configuration.
The memory can be expanded, thanks to the addition of a microSD card slot. Fortunately, this sleek device still comes with dual SIM support for those who don’t like to get an extra device for that surplus SIM.
Looking at the CPU, Nokia ditches the popular MTK choice for mid-range and went with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor instead. This unit will be able to clock at 1.3GHz and carry a maximum of four cores.
The device also ships with the latest Nougat version, Android 7.1.1, so that you can enjoy the latest in terms of performance and security.
Selfie lovers will find the 5MP shooter befitting for their needs. As a plus, the 4G-enabled device can use this camera to handle video calling duties. Moving on, the Nokia 2 also provides users with an 8MP shooter (with autofocus and LED flash) on the back.
While there is no fingerprint sensor in sight, the Nokia 2 relies on the 4100mAh non-removable Li-ion battery to keep the power on
3 Fero Royale Y2
Fero Royale Y2 combines all the features you would appreciate on a big screen smartphone into one unit. It all starts with the 5.5-inch design that is backed by HD technology. The device then goes on to offer 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. When the user feels like expanding, they can do so up to 128GB, all thanks to the microSD card slot on the phone.
The camera department is one of the most interesting on this smartphone. The 13MP camera on the rear might not be mouth-watering enough, but another 13MP sensor on the front for selfie-takers and video recordings surely allows all other options out of the water.
Although the quad-core processor on this device can reach only as high as 1.25GHz, that is bettered with a 4G support on board. Shipping with the Android 7 Nougat out of the box, a 3900mAh battery will be enough for mild to heavy users.
4 Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime Plus
Samsung has a lot of devices in the mid-range market but the Galaxy Grand Prime Plus stands out for this list. The list of impressive features begins with a 5-inch QHD screen which gives way to a quad-core 1.5GB RAM CPU. It is more impressive that this CPU will clock as much as 1.4Ghz at any given time.
On top of that is the 8GB storage that can get up to 64GB, should the user want more. Android 6 Marshmallow is the operating system on board (with no promise of an update to the next dessert), but a 4G support makes everything normal again.
Both the 5MP front camera and the 8MP unit on the back will pull power from the smartphone’s 2600mAh battery, which is rather poor given Samsung’s reputation with batteries.
5 Huawei GR5
Featuring a blend of aesthetics and performance is the Huawei GR5. You would agree with us too if you knew that the 5.5-inch smartphone is equipped with 2GB of RAM on a QUALCOMM Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor.
It has an available 16GB of internal storage space that the user can choose to kick up to 128GB. Asides that, there is also a nice configuration of cameras – 5MP on the front and a stunning 13MP on the back, coming with its own dual-tone LED flash.
Although we are not so pleased with the Android 5.1 Lollipop on board, the device offers a fingerprint sensor to make up for that. We would have been shocked if all of these features did not include support for 4G networks too. In all, the midrange, with some sprinkle of high-end specs, will take its power from a 3000mAh battery.
Those are the best android phones under 15000 Ksh for those in Kenya. Let us know which one(s) you will be adding to your shopping cart
The post Best Android Phones under 15000 Ksh in Kenya appeared first on Nigeria Technology Guide.
You will agree with me that a Smart thermostat is the way to go in 2018 if you want to save on energy costs. However, shopping for the best devices remains a problem as this is a pretty new technology so not everyone knows what to look for when shopping. To help you get value for your money, here are 5 tips that will help you big time when considering investing in a Smart Thermostat.
1. Consider your HVAC System
The first thing I normally advise homeowners is to check the compatibility of the preferred thermostat with their HVAC system. I know several guys who ended up with incompatible thermostats; they had to dispose them at throwaway prices.
Different homes and regions have varying HVAC systems. For example, the 1st Generation Nest Learning is said to be compatible with 75% of American homes while the 2nd and 3rd Generation is compatible with 95%. Maybe your home is the 25% or the 5%.
In addition to this, we have gas, oil, solar, electric baseboards, dual fuel, and millivolt HVAC systems. It is imperative to note that not all Smart thermostats are compatible with these systems. Even though most of them are compatible with gas, oil, electric and solar systems, there are strict limits on millivolt and electric baseboard HVACs. For example, while Ecobee is not compatible with millivolt systems, Honeywell Lyric T5 can work with it.
Another important consideration here would be installation. For HVAC techies, this is quite easy but for amateurs, installing a Smart thermostat may be quite tricky because of C wires. If you are totally green, I would recommend you go for a thermostat that has a Power Extender Kit. With such a thermostat, you can work around it without necessarily needing the C wire. If this sounds like rocket science, you can still seek the services of a technician.
2. Go for the Highest Energy Savings
Even though they offer convenience, Smart thermostats are primarily geared towards energy savings. They intelligently adjust the heating and cooling system to match the set temperature. This saves a lot of energy that would have otherwise gone into waste. One important thing to note here is that accuracy really varies from one thermostat to the other.
Consequently, the amount of energy saved will be different as it is entirely dependent on accurate temperature readings for accurate adjustments. From a Nest Labs white paper, Nest thermostats saved 10% – 12% on heating and 15% on cooling. However, on forums, an average of 20% is reported. On the other hand, Ecobee saves around 23%, a figure that has been backed up by online reviews. If you are a real energy saving aficionado, you know very well that Ecobee is the best in terms of savings compared to Nest. Here is a great comparison review and infographic which help you see more details.
3. Think about Smart Integration
Smart thermostats, just like many other Smart appliances can be integrated with voice control, home automation systems and other devices. Not all thermostats are compatible with all assistants and integration platforms. In this regard, make sure that your preferred thermostat is compatible with what you have. Even though most Smart thermostats are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Skybell HD, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, Wink, it is very important to confirm compatibility before buying any thermostat. For example, if you are an Apple user, the Nest won’t be a great purchase because it is not compatible with HomeKit or Siri. This is an area where Ecobee beats Nest as the former is compatible with Alexa, Assistant, HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, IFTT, Wink, and many other integration platforms.
Regarding Smart integration, I will always go for Ecobee4 for one reason; this is a thermostat with built-in Alexa. Literally, it does everything Alexa does; talk of killing two birds with one stone.
4. Focus on Long-Term Value as Opposed to Short-Term
From a narrow perspective, a Smart thermostat is not a real nag considering it’s quite expensive and the regular thermostats just work fine. However, from a bigger picture, Smart thermostats make a huge difference in your monthly budget. In as much as it is an expensive investment from a short-term perspective, its value is felt later on. I have used the Ecobee3 the longest, from September 2015.
From my calculations, I had already recovered the initial $200+. From January 2018 onwards, I’ll be saving $8 – $12, hopefully, if it doesn’t malfunction along the way. Looking short-term, investing $250 in just new technology doesn’t seem to be a ripe idea. But two years down the line, you will see the value. So, if you have not made up your mind on whether this is a worthy investment or not, my example says it all. Nest and Ecobee are the biggest names in the industry; here is a head to head review their top products – Ecobee3 and Nest, their top products.
4. Set Your Budget and Do Some Window Shopping
One thing many people fail to do is set up a budget. In the market, you may find some thermostats with some irresistible fancy features that you may end up buying thus straining your budget. Even though there are a lot of cheap Smart thermostats, I recommend that you set a budget of $150 – $250.
Once you have a budget, do some window shopping, make a shortlist of the features you envy. Not all will come with the features you want. It will be a matter of compromising A for B. Sample as many thermostats within your budget and settle on what makes you feel contented both in terms of price and features.
Wrap Up
A Smart thermostat is quite expensive when you look at it in regards to the initial cost. However, from a long-term perspective, it is such a clever choice. If this sounds like a great idea, set your budget and head out to the market but always, remember these 5 tips.
The post Tips for Choosing the Best Smart Thermostats appeared first on Nigeria Technology Guide.
