New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….
Original story (published on April 27, 2021) follows:
The local (read: Africa’s) smartphone market looks a lot different from the rest of the world right now. In fact, the latest stats indicate that Transsion’s Tecno has just dethroned Samsung to become the top smartphone seller in Africa.
With that, it is safe to assume that Tecno is clearly doing something right—delivering smartphones that uniquely cater to the needs of the African market in terms of features, price, and even after-sale services.
Tecno is now looking to further endear itself to the Kenyan users with the recent release of the Tecno Camon 17 series of devices. These devices will take over the mantle from the Camon 16 series that received quite the reception in the market sometime last year.
READ MORE: Tecno Camon 16s vs Camon 16 Pro vs Camon 16 Premier: How Do They Compare
For the uninitiated, Tecno’s Camon series of devices is often geared towards the camera-centric user in Tecno’s fold. It also goes to offer a pretty solid Android experience while at it.
So, what does the Camon 17 series of devices have to offer? Below is the specsheet for the Camon 17 and Camon 17 Pro.
| Specs | TECNO Camon 17 |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.5 HD - Camon 17 |
| 6.6 FHD+ - Camon 17 Pro | |
| Operating system | Android 11-based HiOS 7 |
| RAM | 6GB - Camon 17 |
| 8GB - Camon 17 Pro | |
| Internal memory | 128 GB - Camon 17 |
| 256GB - Camon 17 Pro | |
| Main cameras | 48MP triple camera setup, QVGA and 2MP bokeh camera - Camon 17P |
| 64MP quad camera setup - Camon 17 Pro | |
| Front camera | 16MP punch-hole camera -Camon 17 |
| 48MP punch-hole camera - Camon 17 Pro | |
| CPU | Helio G85 - Camon 17 |
| Helio G95 - Camon 17 Pro | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh with support for 18W fast charging |
| Fingerprint | Rear fingerprint sensor - Camon 17 |
| Sidemounted fingerprint sensor - Camon 17 Pro | |
| Price | Camon 17 at KES 22,799; Camon 17 Pro TBA |
The Camon 17 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC that is well known by the budget gamers for its performance while the Camon 17 Pro makes do with the Mediatek Helio G95, an equally capable chip. Tecno couples this with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB internal storage for the Camon 17 and the Camon 17 Pro respectively.
On the display front, the Camon 17 dons a 6.5-inch HD+ display while the Camon 17 Pro ups that to a 6.6-inch panel with the same resolution. Both displays have a 90Hz refresh rate that is becoming an industry standard.
As mentioned, the Camon series of devices are all about the cameras and the Camon 17 boasts of a 48MP Samsung-made main sensor, a QVGA GalaxyCore ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, the phone sports a 16MP Samsung S5K3P9SP04 camera. We’re still waiting for the Camon 17 Pro’s camera specs so stay tuned.
Tecno Camon 17 Price and Availability in Kenya
The Tecno Camon 17 (4GB + 128GB) is priced at KES 18,899 in Kenya while the 6GB + 128GB variant is set to go for around KES 22,799. We’re still on the lookout for more details on the Camon 17 Pro so stay tuned for more on that.
In the meantime, users who would like to grab one of these can pre-order their Camon 17 with a deposit of KES 6,900 on Masoko and will also get complementary gifts like airtime, a Tecno smartwatch and a Tecno water bottle.
What do you think about this device? We’d like to hear from you so tell us in the comments section below.
Update (May 7)
EAT 08:32 am: Last night, Tecno held the official launch event for this device into the Kenyan market and you can catch a recording of the launch event in the link below.
Also revealed in the launch event are the official prices of the Tecno Camon 17 and the Camon 17 Pro.
Tecno Camon 17 series starts at Kshs 17,500 for the 4+128GB base model while the 6GB RAM model of the Camon 17 is going for Kshs 20,000 in Kenya. The beefier Tecno Camon 17 Pro costs Kshs 22,800.
