The market for foldable smartphones has been gradually heating up for the past two years as phone manufacturers release new products.

This has seen an increasing number of players tap into this segment.

Tecno’s sub-brand Phantom was the latest to launch a new foldable phone the Phantom V-Fold that will be unveiled in Kenya later this month, bringing the most affordable foldable device in the market.

The company's first foldable smartphone, the Phantom V Fold, has changed the company's reputation as a manufacturer of handsets aimed at the lower end of the market.

“We are so excited to bring such innovation to Kenya as TECNO, and we can’t wait for the reviews and what our customers will experience with our Phantom V-Fold. This is a debut for us,” said Tecno country manager Ray Fang.

The entry of the foldable device in the market comes at a time that Kenyans are increasingly embracing premium phones according to a report by market intelligence firm International Data Corporation (IDC).

In its Q4 report of 2022 the company says smartphones in the premium price band of around $450 (Sh60,000) saw its share of shipments grow year on year, spurred by new model launches and increased marketing investment in this segment.

Last month TECNO was among thousands of brands that graced a four-day event bringing together the latest innovations in its field.

Fang added that the device will be available for pre-order between 3rd April – 17th April 2023 where   Customers will get to pay an upfront fee of Sh5,000 and pay the balance as they collect the device

An increasing change in taste by customers in the country has shifted the trends in technology uptake in the country as they embrace more work related uses by handsets.