Bolt has limited their business activity in Tanzania to just working with corporate clients after Tanzania implemented strict land laws that have abruptly halted many companies’ operations in the country including Uber.
Earlier this year, Tanzania’s Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) mandated ride-hailing operators to collect a maximum of 15 per cent which the companies say is not sustainable for their operations.
The same month the mandate was made, Uber exited the market stating that the regulations are unfavourable and it would only return if the regulatory issues were sorted. Uber was charging its drivers a 25 per cent commission while Bolt a 20 per cent commission. Bolt adjusted its commission but restructered to offer to coperate clients only.
Tanzania is not only the country that imposed regulations to the ride-hailing industry, In July, Kenya also impossed a law where drivers were required to pay a maximum of 18 per cent commision. A move the state says will protect drivers from exorbitant charges. Drivers had previosly held several strikes and boycotts in protest of the high fees that the campanies never put into consideration.
Another revelation into the Tanzania exit could not be LATRA’s complex rules be the country’s week currency that makes it difficult for them to operate on the set terms which could also result in revenue decrease if they adopt it.
Techcabal says, These business decisions by the two major ride hailing companies illustrate the long-standing narrative that regulations in Africa challenge technology businesses and innovative startups on the continent
ArabyAds, an Egyptian ad-tech company that empowers ecommerce marketing has raised US$30 Million in a Pre-Series B funding round.
The funding was led by AfricInvest, a leading pan-African investment platform managing multiple alternative asset classes including private equity, venture capital, and private credit.
Mahmoud Fathy, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of ArabyAds said, “We are delighted to welcome AfricInvest as one of our long-term investors and thank them for placing their trust in our vision to build value for all stakeholders in the ecosystem.ArabyAds is committed to transforming the digital advertising landscape with innovation and has been leading the way to deliver performance advertising with its platform offerings. Our fundamentals are strong, and as one of the fastest and profitably-growing companies in the MENA region.”‘
ArabyAds is now looking to expand its presence in newer markets where it can leverage its scalable, secure, and end-to-end platforms to help e-commerce businesses scale effortlessly across the globe. The new funding will help to expand its footprint and further invest it to accelerate its technological advancement and talent acquisition .
The investment is the eighth investment for AfricInvest’s Maghreb Private Equity Fund IV, which provides growth capital to small and mid-cap companies to expand regionally and across the African continent, spurring productivity growth and sustainable job creation.
Founded in 2013 in Egypt, with headquarters in the UAE and tech hubs across Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan, ArabyAds helps advertisers in customer acquisition, retention, and monetization by leveraging its technology platforms for influencer marketing (iConnect), Coupon based advertising (Boostiny), retail media (Ritelo), live commerce (Dmenta), and on-device contextual advertising (Deviceboost).
“We welcome AfricInvest to the ArabyAds family and thank them for trusting our capabilities. We have identified new business opportunities and markets that will help us drive the growth momentum in the AdTech space, and the funding will allow us to accelerate our plans. Our single focus is to create unmatched value for all our stakeholders and revolutionize e-commerce businesses through our transformative technology platforms,” said Mohammad Khartabil, Chief Business Development Officer and Co-Founder of ArabyAds.
Skander Oueslati, Chief Investment Officer at AfricInvest said, “We are pleased to partner with ArabyAds at a time when the technology company is looking to further disrupt the AdTech industry through its transformative technology platforms. ArabyAds has established a strong brand and excellent reputation in the MENA region and is widely recognized for its reliability and expertise in digital marketing and advertising.”
Toyota Kenya has acquired a 35 per cent stake in solar installation company OFGEN for an undisclosed amount .
The deal follows an approval by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) on Tuesday even as Toyota seeks to diversify its earnings further.
“The Competition Authority of Kenya has approved the acquisition of a 35 percent equity stake in OFGEN Limited by CFAO Kenya Limited unconditionally, thereby enhancing investments in renewable energy in the country,” said CAK.
Toyota acquired OFGEN after it hired the company three years ago to installed a 490- panel roof-top solar plant at its headquarters on Mombasa Road in Nairobi with a power capacity of 180kW and an annual energy production of 230,000 kWh.
Currently ,OFGEN has installed over 30 power plants for firms like Serena Hotels, Strathmore University and BAT in the companies’ efforts with a bid to reduce reliance on electricity from Kenya Power.
The purchase opens a new revenue source for the company targeting the country’s estimated solar potential of approximately 15,000 megawatts (MW).
At the moment, the installed capacity is over 100MW led by the rural electrification programme’s off-grid power stations, Malindi Solar Group and Garissa Solar.
The deal will offer Toyota a chance to cash in on the millions of solar kits being mounted on the roofs of homes and business premises around the country.
Households and heavy-consuming industrialists in Kenya are increasingly adopting to solar energy, seeking reliable and cheaper supply alternatives to Kenya Power, which has also expressed interest in venturing into solar installation.
The plant could save Toyota nearly Sh17 million in electricity bills over a period of 20 years and reduce their carbon footprint by 45 metric tonnes per year.
Founded in 2014, OFGEN has built and financed over 30 on-grid and off-grid solar plants across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan markets.
Besides Toyota, some of OFGEN clients include Williamson Tea, Fairmont Hotels, Grain Bulk, Kenya Airways, Serena, Strathmore, Kenya Ports Authority, Glaxosmithkline and BAT.
The company said, some of its industrial customers who account for more than half of its sales revenues are gradually shifting to own-generated solar power, dealing a further blow to its already dwindling finances.
Toyota is increasingly investing in green energy, including solar power projects, with a bid to earn carbon credits. The Japanese multinational will use the credits to cut its carbon production from ventures like car manufacturing and boost the firm’s environment-friendly credentials.
Even though Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular messaging apps globally, Meta has consistently declined to provide a version that is entirely compatible with Apple’s latest MacBook or iMac models.
Rosetta, the emulation layer built into macOS, had to be used as a consequence, which caused the program to launch slowly and perform far worse than what the M1 and M2 CPUs are capable of. The insult has been removed thanks to Meta’s recent delivery of version 158.0 to the Mac App Store, which now supports Apple Silicon chips.
It was important to know this since the publisher’s release notes, which have been sufficient for many months to suggest the existence of a new design and new features, make no mention of it.
The version of Facebook Messenger available for download has version 155.0, and the website has not been updated; go find out why. Therefore, if you haven’t installed the program on your Mac or want to update it, we urge you to do so via the Mac App Store.
TikTok is testing a new “nearby” feature on the feed that will display local content to users. The feed is currently being tested with select users in Southeast Asia.
Users in the region will see the new feed displayed alongside the “Following and “For You” feeds on the app’s homepage.
Nearby feed will be paired with TikTok’s recommendation algorithm to offer a similar experience to that of Snapchat’s Snap maps and Instagram’s Searchabeable map that making it easier for the users to locate local content from nearby places.
Nearby feed if made available globally would open up much more new possibilities for users on the app and even impact other external apps that depend on location like Google and TripAdvisor, local advertisers and even marketers who are looking to connect to local users.
We don’t know yet when TikTok plans to launch the app. Any outcome is possible with test features to either be implemented or even be scrapped altogether
In an interview, a TikTok spokesperson told Techcrunch ” We are always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich TikTok’s experience”.
TikTok is also testing a feature that gives creators the ability to add location tags to their videos as it cuts into its search product and the TikTok “Shop feed” that lets users browse and purchase products from a number of different categories.
The shop tab will serve as a hub for TikTok merchants and creators to showcase and sell products directly on TikTok.
The Reno 8 series was first introduced by OPPO in May 2022 in China. Later, the company unveiled the OPPO Reno 8 and the OPPO Reno 8 Pro for India last month. The same Smartphones have now been launched in Europe, and it’s only here in Africa that we are still lagging. As far as the event is concerned, it could be making its way here in our Locally since the previous generations have been well received.
Much about the Oppo Reno 8 Pro, Oppo Reno 8, and Oppo Reno 8 Lite is already Known. To start with, the Reno 8 Pro sports a renowned MariSilicon X . This is the case with Reno 8 range as well. The Reno 8 and 8 Pro put a lot of emphasis on the photograph. For its part, the Reno 8 Lite makes an effort to distinguish itself by adding extra features like retro notification LEDs.
Oppo Reno 8 Pro
As mentioned before, the main centre of attraction of these smartphones is the photographic aspect. The pro model is outfitted with the MariSilicon X processor that helps the phone perform admirably in the video, especially now that the 4K Ultra Night video mode has been added.
Diving into the Camera Aspects, we have a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. The selfie sensor features 32 megapixels on the front and optical stabilization.
We also have an FHD+ Oled panel at the front, which spans a large diagonal of 6.7 inches and is updated at 120 Hz. Under the so-called supersonic screen, which is quicker than usual, the screen conceals a fingerprint sensor. The phone’s IP54 certification is the one little sacrifice in terms of design.
Under the hood, we have a MediaTek Dimensity 8100-max processor, created in partnership with Oppo engineers and found for the first time in a smartphone in the Oppo Reno 8 Pro. We expect to see ColorOS 12.1 on this particular phone and fast charging experience at 80 W.
Oppo Reno 8 Lite
The Oppo Reno 8 Lite has a 6.43-inch Oled display but lacks HDR 10+ and only refreshes at 90 Hz. With a Dimensity 1300 chip, it should also be less powerful, making it perfect for the mid-range top. Even if the MariSillicon X is absent from the game, the score in the image should still be stunning.
The Oppo Reno 8 Lite is equipped with a Snapdragon 695 5G, a much more modest chip and passes on a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The picture portion uses two extremely auxiliary 2-megapixel sensors in addition to a less talented 64-megapixel main camera, and a 16-megapixel selfie camera is used. Also, remember that the Reno 8 Lite requires a 33W charge.
The official pricing and date of reveal for the Reno 8 Pro, Reno 8, and Reno 8 Lite in Kenya will happen sometime later in September
In many ways, Android users do not have the same rights as iOS users if, in 2022, Apple Music for iOS integrates all the anticipated capabilities into an audio streaming application.
Apple prioritizes its platforms, and it never appears eager to imitate the innovations that have arrived on the iPhone and iPad to appease its subscribers who have access to rival handsets. However, the code of the most recent beta of Apple Music for Android suggests that things could get better, at least in the coming weeks.
The first innovation is the ability to tag your favourite musicians, who will be put on a special list so you can discover them more quickly. Thus, customers may get notifications from Apple Music when one of their favourite bands or singers launches a new album.
The streaming service would also utilize this list to enhance its recommendation system. Additionally, Apple Classical could come to Android. This service would be a development of the Primephonic platform, which Apple purchased in 2021 and is devoted to transmitting classical music as its name implies.
The company plans to give out a specialized iOS app to its members. It is unknown whether it will prefer this same technique on Android or just add this vintage repertoire to the original application.
Everyone is now obliged to reread their manual after Apple’s statement that it would be switching to Silicon processors. Not everyone who has hurried to a Mac with one of these CPUs has been entitled to all their preferred applications immediately.
On every Mac, Boot Camp is a built-in feature, enabling the installation of a Windows partition on an Apple machine. As a result, the user can start the computer with either macOS or Microsoft’s OS.
The benefit of this functionality is the ability to run PC-only software, such as games or certain business apps. Additionally, running your system under a different OS enables you to use the complete computer resource, unlike virtualization.
The function was discontinued once the M1 Macs were introduced, however. Windows Insider Preview users—a kind of open beta—are the only ones with access to the version of Windows for ARM CPUs.
With the inclusion of drivers for the Display Studio, Boot Camp has continued to evolve, and a new version was just made available. The innovations focused mostly on connectivity: WPA3 addition for Wi-Fi and improved Bluetooth reliability. A minor drawback is that these upgrades are only available for Intel Macs, and there is still no sign of Boot Camp for Apple Silicon chips.
Virtualization is one of the options. Using this technique, you may install a different operating system on your primary PC. From your Mac, you may run a virtual Windows as an application. Due largely to its most recent version, which enables you to install Windows 11 instantly, Parallels Desktop is still the market leader in this regard.
iProcure, a Kenyan B2B agritech that connects agricultural manufacturers and distributors to local retailers has secured$10.2 million in series B funding.
The latest round includes $1.2 million debt, and was led by Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), the funding brings the total funding raised by iProcure to $17.2 million. Novastar Ventures, Ceniarth and British International Investment (BII), which recently took part in Apollo Agriculture’s $40 million Series B fundraising, also participated in the round..
According to the company, the funding will be utilised to grow its presence in Kenya and Uganda, which are its current markets, and to expand into Tanzania.
“We have built out a Pan-African distribution infrastructure, and we are using these funds to scale our operations in our two markets and to enter Tanzania. We’re also going to be allocating some of the resources toward introducing higher-quality cheaper products that we are sourcing from international players,” said iProcure co-founder and chief data and growth officer, Stefano Carcoforo.
Founded in 2012 by Stefano Carcoforo and Nicole Galletta, the platform aims to facilitate and encourage local procurement, in Kenya, by providing a secure and functional platform where businesses and Institutional buyers can connect to and source goods and services from a base of reliable pre-screened vendors.
The agtech provides the agro-dealers with an end-to-end enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that operates from mobile devices, helping them manage their sourcing and distribution.
This technology has introduced new efficiencies that control the penetration of substandard supplies as retailers are able to source directly from certified manufacturers and distributors. By helping manage stock-outs, the agtech ultimately helps stabilize product prices for the benefit of both the sellers and end users.
The platform currently connects 5,000 agro-dealers to different manufacturers but this number is set to grow as it onboards more partners and retailers across the three markets and as it doubles its distribution hubs to 20, boosting its last-mile delivery.
Agro-dealers are the focal point for suppliers hoping to introduce new products into Kenya’s input markets, as they are trusted by millions of farmers to be sources of sound agricultural advice. They are also well spread across the country, giving them a broad coverage of farmer communities. Through agro-dealers, iProcure targets to double the reach of farmers to 2 million in the next one year.
“The agro-dealers use our technology to keep track of their sales, process sales, to manage inventory, to place orders and build CRMs that can help deploy loyalty programs to the farmers. It does everything they need. We provide a completely transparent system from the factory all the way down to the point when the farmer purchases the product,” said Carcoforo.
For added reach, iProcure plans to extend zero-interest credit to agro-dealers, increasing their ability to purchase the hardware required to use its ERP system. By plugging in more retailers to its system, iProcure will additionally get access to data required to inform its growth strategy, including a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service currently in the pipeline.
“Work capital is an issue facing these retailers, and we’ve demonstrated that if we provide supplies on a BNPL model, retailers buy 30% more. This shows that retailers themselves are cash constrained and can’t buy all the inventory they can sell; meaning that farmers aren’t able to access all the inputs they need. The BNPL service we are introducing will sort this problem,” said Varia.
According to Varia, iProcure has grown 16x over the last four years, doubling its revenue every year, except for 2020 due to COVID. In the short term, he expects further expansion through the onboarding of more retailers and the introduction of the BNPL offering
Not to be confused with the Galaxy A23, Samsung will renew this Particular model and bring the Galaxy A23 4G to us. The Korean company has officially launched the Galaxy A23 5G in Taiwan. The selling point of this new phone is in its name: entry-level, maybe costing as little as 250 euros at launch and equipped with a 5G processor.
The phone will be sold in Taiwan on September 16 of the following year. A month later, a Galaxy A13 5G will be released in its place. The model will bring a 6.6-inch FHD+ screen with 120 Hz (LCD, sadly) or optical stabilization on the 50-megapixel primary sensor.
Under the Hood, we will have a 5000 mAh that can keep you going worry-free for a day and a half. The load is improved, and the power output rises to 25W.For the remainder of the technical sheet, two variants of the Snapdragon 695, which is a relatively low-power processor for video games but should serve its purpose for everyday usage,
As for the storage component, there will be 4 GB of RAM + 64 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM + 128 GB of ROM. The extreme wide-angle camera has 5 megapixels, while the selfie camera has 8 megapixels. A 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor are attached to it.
Soon, all WhatsApp users will be able to benefit from a new function that lets them retrieve deleted messages. But now, it’s not entirely apparent what these restoration methods will be.
You may remove messages from chats using the WhatsApp instant messaging software. It does not allow for the restoration of any of them that could have been unintentionally (or willfully) erased, and she didn’t permit it, at least. There is a restore option in the most recent WhatsApp beta for iOS and Android (22.18.0.70).
Just for texts marked “removed for me,” The message may be shown thanks to an “Undo” button, as shown in the screenshot. Note that only “deleted for me” messages currently have access to this option. Those who have been “removed for all” are unaffected.
The longevity of this feature is yet unknown. Reminder: You may only delete a message sent in a private or group discussion within an hour of sending it. Some beta testers presently have access to this message restoration capability. Within a few weeks, it will undoubtedly be prevalent.
In less than 60 days, the 14th Generation of the iPhones will be out to replace the current models released in 2021. In this article, we provide you with the latest information concerning this set of anticipated devices come the 2nd week of September.
Take Note: All information presented in this article is based on rumors and may be subject to change at any time. We thus advise that you keep checking with us for new information before the official unveiling
Let us get started
iPhone 14 Design
Unsurprisingly, there will be no vast differences between the expected iPhone series and the iPhone 13 series. The screen should be surrounded by the flat margins introduced by the latter, taking up almost the entire front face. The infamous top-center notch, which initially debuted on the iPhone X in 2017, will be replaced by two perforations: a circular and an elliptical one, so we should be able to readily tell the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max from their predecessors.
The displays of the iPhone 14 and 14 Max are likely slightly more prominent than those of the 13 and 13 Max, even though this will almost certainly be hard to see with the naked eye. The diagonal of the iPhone 14 would rise to 6.12 inches owing in part to a minor border surrounding the screen, and the Max models’ size would increase to 6.69 inches. On the other hand, every model will contain ProMotion technology, which enables the iPhone to change the screen’s refresh rate based on usage.
To scroll over a web page, for instance, you may touch the screen to increase the frame rate from 10 frames per second while reading it to 120 frames per second to save battery life. Currently, only the Pro variants of the iPhone 13 may use this technology, which the iPad Pro introduced.
iPhone 14’s dimensions
The iPhone 13 already signaled a turning point in Apple’s relentless pursuit of the ever-better. While the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro’s thickness had decreased to 7.4 mm from 8.3 and 8.1 for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro’s thickness had increased to 7.65 mm. It may not seem like much, but it is what gave the iPhone 13 its true battery life. It is anticipated that the iPhone 14 will achieve a thickness of 7.85 mm. It seems that Apple wants to maintain this turnaround.
iPhone 14’s optical units
The protrusions on the rear of iPhones that house the lenses, the flash, and one of the microphones, would also be affected by a weight gain with the iPhone 14 series. This means that if we go by what some leaks suggest, there would be an increase in overall thickness for the camera level from 11.25 mm for the iPhone 13 Pro to 12.02 mm for the iPhone 14 Pro. The size of the picture block as a whole would also increase, going from 35.01 mm × 36.24 mm to 36.73 mm x 38.21 mm.
iPhone 14 variants
The iPhone 14 catalog should include four variants, much like the iPhone 13, but with different sizes in more ways than one. There won’t likely be an iPhone 14 small since the iPhone 12 mini, and 13 mini seem not to have been particularly well received. Thus it should consist of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
New Features on iPhone 14s
One sure step that the iPhone 14s is better features than its prior siblings. One thing that stands out now is that there will be better image qualities thanks to the increased optical unit’s size that enables the iPhone to have a bigger sensor and let in a little bit more light, thus better pictures.
iPhone 14 Series Cost
Let us start with what we have first, and the iPhone 13 small is now the “cheapest” model of the iPhone 13. It is also likely that we won’t get an iPhone 14 mini. The new range will start with the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14 wouldn’t employ the most recent A16 processor, instead sticking with the A15, which the iPhone 14 might start at 979 euros. The new iPhone 14 Max with a bigger screen might cost at least 100 euros more than the iPhone 14, or 1079 euros. The starting price for the iPhone 14 Pro would be 1249 euros. This would make the price of the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s “basic” variant 1349 euros.
Cellulant Zambia has signed a partnership agreement with leading fashion retailer LC Waikiki, which will enable customers to make payments from all LC Waikiki stores across Zambia through the Tingg digital payment platform.
As the ways consumers can pay for goods continue to evolve, LC Waikiki customers will now be able to make payments seamlessly via mobile money in all their branches in Zambia. This partnership reflects the growing synergies between retailers and payment solution providers across Africa, in serving a growing consumer base that is now preferring digital payment methods. Although there was a growing acceptance of digital payment methods before COVID-19, the pandemic served to accelerate this adoption.
Millions of people on the African continent have adopted digital payment platforms largely owing to COVID-19. The requirement for contactless methods of making transactions transformed what was previously a nice-to-have into a necessity. For instance, the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System reported that in Q1 2021, electronic payments increased by 88% year over year in Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy. The total amount of payments was $155 billion USD. Mobile payments increased by 189% while POS collections increased by 48%, showing that consumers are increasingly adopting digital channels for transactions.
“As a result of the government’s efforts to eliminate cash handling by promoting contactless payments as a safer and more effective option post-COVID-19, we are seeing an increase in digital payments in Zambia. Additionally, more consumers are expressing a desire to use cash much less. The Zambian government, through regulators, continues to reaffirm this, as mobile money wallets are now more than ever a common way to store money,” says Cellulant Zambia Country Manager, Mr Gilbert Lungu.
Tingg by Cellulant is an easy to use, versatile and exciting service which has guaranteed advanced security and is password-protected
“Tingg by Cellulant , is an easy to use, versatile and exciting service which has guaranteed advanced security and is password-protected,” he added.
This is at the core of Cellulant’s efforts to enable frictionless payments for companies and their customers across Africa. The payments company integrates digital payments in 35 countries for more than 1000 retailers to unlock opportunities for millions of customers.
LC Waikiki Country Manager Mrs Sevda Bilen stated that using mobile money to pay for clothes and other accessories is going to be a huge advantage for the company in Zambia: “LC Waikiki Zambia customers now have a wider choice of payment methods. True to our mission that offers fashion at affordable prices in line with the belief that “everyone deserves to dress well”, every one of our clientele can now seamlessly pay at any of our stores through Tingg. Consistently providing convenience for our clientele is something we strive to achieve daily.”
She further said “As our business grows in Zambia, we are constantly looking for opportunities to add value to our customer’s experience of the LC Waikiki brand. The strategic partnership with Tingg by Cellulant represents our commitment to the Zambian market and we will continue to explore additional opportunities with the company.”
A mobile money platform is non-cash which allows customers to make payments and other transactions quickly and easily. It has been widely adopted by corporate, government and individual customers to purchase airtime, Person-2-Person cash transfers and utility bill Payments.
LC Waikiki has more than 1200 stores in 56 countries with almost 60,000 employees and a brand range that includes clothes and accessories for men, women and children of all ages, including babies, style-aware individuals and families. The brand accompanies itself with a distinctive methodology – high-quality clothes at great value. From close-fitting, stylish knitwear for men, to fashionable shoes and slippers for young girls, LC Waikiki has exactly what you need, when you need it.
Since many months ago, the two significant smelters, TSMC and Samsung, have been manufacturing 4 nm in large quantities. According to a report by Economic News Daily, Samsung would spend over 5,000 billion won, or 3.7 billion dollars, to expand its capabilities. Twenty thousand wafers per month are the smelter’s target production rate for the last three months of 2023.
Although Samsung has surpassed TSMC for the 3nm, it may seem crazy to invest in the 4nm. Especially given that Qualcomm, which trusted Samsung to produce its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, charged TSMC to deliver its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, which is still manufactured at 4 nm.
Additionally, if the Snapdragon Gen 8 Gen 2 has not yet received formal announcements, this chip may transition to the 3 nm etching node. However, Samsung Foundry officials want to keep producing other firms’ chips, such as Google’s second-generation Tensor SoCs, which are still expected to be etched in 4 nm, and combine manufacturing of those chips.
In any event, Samsung has to maintain competitive pricing and enough manufacturing capacity if it wants to sustain its attraction to its present consumers or possibly draw in new ones. However, industry sources said at the start of the year that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 output was just 35%. The output capacity of the Taiwanese smelter is much larger, with a ratio of roughly 1 to 5.
An investment of 3.7 billion US dollars is not a large number for the South Korean manufacturer. The way TSMC and Samsung handle the switch to new transistor types to replace finFETs in smaller etching finesses may turn the cards a bit in the coming months.
The Mountain View company sought to reinvent the Android TV user experience with Google TV by providing more suggestions in a more user-friendly interface. While many televisions, particularly those made by Sony and box TVs, are equipped with Google TV nowadays.
The latter is still the target of criticism, beginning with the navigation’s overall lag time. The behemoth company has been listening to customer feedback and has recently announced system-wide enhancements in a blog post as a response.
Using RAM more wisely and CPU enhancements will make Google TV speedier soon. The home page, the “For You” and “Live” tabs, and the loading of a kid profile, which might take too many seconds before being shown on the screen, will all be loaded more quickly.
Additionally, Google TV will allow you to increase your device’s storage. You may clear caches and delete programs you no longer use with just one click using the “Free Storage” option.
Additionally, the system will optimize the storage in the background while in use to prevent running out of room while installing applications. In the following weeks, all Google TV-enabled devices should see these upgrades.
The M2 chip, now used in the new MacBook Pro 13 and MacBook Air, will soon be replaced with an M3 chip. The M2 chip, introduced in June, will be finished in the following months by the M2 Pro/M2 Max chips, followed by a potential M2 Ultra processor.
It seems that Apple would then transition to an entirely new processor, the M3, whose main designs would have already been introduced internally. The Apple M3 processor presently answers to the code name “Palma,” according to information from the Commercial Times that was passed along by WCCFTech.
It would use TSMC’s N3E etching process, a more advanced version of the N3 protocol (3 nm), which the Taiwanese foundry plans to use extensively by the end of the year. According to the Commercial Times, the M3 chip will reportedly hit the market at the earliest during the second half of 2023 or the first quarter of 2024.
We believe that a launch at the start of 2024 would better fit Apple’s and TSMC’s respective timetables. This would give the two businesses enough time to introduce the 3 nanometers (N3)-capable M2 Pro / M2 Max and A17 Bionic processors, which are both anticipated for the next MacBook Pro 14 and 16 models.
We’ve become used to the apple company deploying their Apple Silicon ARM processors on as many goods as possible, not only Macs. With the upcoming M3 chip, it seems sensible that it would be the same. Thus, if certain speculations are to be believed, we may assume that it will be included in a future MacBook Air model with a screen that is even bigger than the one from 2022. However, it would also be on new iMacs, iPad Airs, and maybe iPad Pros.
Apple might repurpose its design, focusing on four cores with excellent performance and four seats with good efficiency, but it wouldn’t be strange if it aimed higher in 2024.
A first cohort of 35 women entrepreneurs from 9 African countries successfully completed the Ecobank Ellevate Leadership Training Programme. This is an innovative impact-driven programme, designed to equip women entrepreneurs with valuable leadership skills to be better empowered, and to equip them to empower their businesses and communities.
The Ellevate Leadership Training Programme is designed by Ecobank’s Commercial Banking Business and delivered by the Ecobank Academy in partnership with the Global Business School Network (GBSN).
Josephine Anan-Ankomah, Group Executive, Commercial Banking, said: “At Ecobank we are determined to grow and actualize the enormous potential of the female economy and help Africa’s female entrepreneurs succeed. Access to finance alone is not enough. Accordingly, though Ecobank is a provider of sustainable financing, we continue to invest in making available an array of non-financial interventions to sustain and grow women-led businesses faster and further across Africa. The Ecobank Ellevate Leadership Programme is part of Ellevate Equip, our Learning and Development Solution for women. It is exciting to see how Ecobank’s investment in upskilling women entrepreneurs is paying multifaceted dividends. We look forward to our graduates leveraging their new and enhanced skills to innovate, grow and positively impact clients, employees, other businesses and their communities.”
Dan LeClair, Chief Executive Officer, Global Business School Network, commented: “At the Global Business School Network we believe business leadership skills contribute to economic development. It is not just the participants who benefit, there is a multiplier effect as they invest in developing the leadership skills of their people and fostering the kind of business growth that leads to job creation. We are most proud of the class we had the privilege of teaching. They were simply wonderful – open, curious, serious, and engaged – and, for me, joining each session was a joy because of that.”
This pioneering graduating class was made up of 35 participants from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A formidable group from diverse sectors spanning Oil & Gas, Information and Communications Technology, Manufacturing, Education, Hospitality, Logistics, Commerce etc., who showed commitment and dedication throughout the programme.
The participants benefited from globally recognized faculty from Lagos Business School, MIT Sloan Global Programs, INSEAD Africa Initiative and INSEAD Gender Initiative, The American University of Cairo School of Business, Stanford SEED, University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business. These members of the Global Business School Network delivered modules on:
Emotional Intelligence
Leading with Authenticity
Defining your Strategic & Leadership approach
The Three Lenses: Mastering Influencing and Decision-Making Skills
Negotiating for Results
Leaders as Coaches
Sustainability and Leadership and
Innovative Partnership and Collaboration
Each of the women entrepreneurs received a certificate of completion from the Ecobank Group and GBSN at their graduation ceremony held earlier this month.
Ellevate by Ecobank is a multi-award-winning solution designed for businesses owned by women, managed by women, with a high percentage of female board members or employees, or companies that manufacture products for women. Ellevate customers benefit from smarter cash management solutions, favourable lending rates and value-added services such as leadership training and networking opportunities designed to bridge the financing gap and scale their businesses.
Equity Group has today released its 2022 half-year results that continue to reflect a sustained digital transformation with 99 per cent of all customer transactions now happening outside the branch network.
The Group’s recovery and resilience strategy saw the Group’s profit after tax grew by 36 per cent to Kshs 24.4 billion up from Kshs 17.9 billion for the comparative half-year results of the previous year.
“Covid-19 acted as a tailwind to our efforts of digitising our business,” said Dr James Mwangi, Group Managing Director and CEO while releasing the results.
“The business transformation has supported recovery and built resilience in the business. Going online and virtual through digitisation has brought ease and convenience to our customers resulting in increased uptake of our products and growth of the business”, added Dr Mwangi.
The profit growth was principally driven by a 29% growth in interest income to Kshs 55 billion up from Kshs 42.8 billion as a result of the growth of loans to customers by 29% to Kshs 650.6 billion up from Kshs 504.8 billion. “The loan growth was targeted to supporting our clients to recover and rebuild after the Covid-19 business disruptions while allowing re-purposing and retooling for resilience and agility to take advantage of emerging opportunities and green shoots in the real economy, “said Dr Mwangi.
The differentiated strategy adopted by management to support borrowers to cope with the difficulties of Covid-19 business disruptions has seen most of the businesses survive and recover. Out of Kshs 171.4 billion Covid-19 restructured loan book, Kshs 46.6 billion has been fully repaid, and a further Kshs 114.0 has resumed repayment, with only Kshs 8.1 billion non-performing. Out of the remaining Kshs 11 billion which is anticipated to resume repayment within the next six months, only Kshs 2.7 billion is showing the strain of recovery.
The Group’s culture of customer centricity and focus informed the management’s Covid-19- environment strategy of focusing on customers’ recovery and resilience. Targeted lending reflected by the 29% growth of the loan book is part of the strategy to sustain recovery, and growth and allow the real economy to thrive and brighten the lights of the economy in generating growth opportunities.
In pursuit of resilience and prudence, management has fully provided for the entire Kshs 8.1 billion Covid-19 books that have resumed repayment and is non-performing while proactively downgrading Kshs 2.7 billion of the remaining restructured book. The success of the recovery and resilience strategy is reflected by the decline in NPL ratios to 8.5% compared to 10.7% the previous year. The Group’s 8.5% NPL positively and favourably compares to Kenya’s banking industry NPL ratio of 14.7% as of 30th June 2022.
The Group’s NPL coverage stands at 94%. NPL coverage inclusive of credit risk guarantees stands at 119.8% and the cost of risk has normalised to pre-Covid rates of below 1.5%.
The Group continues to prudently hedge against default through a loan book diversification strategy across market segments, with large enterprises holding 26%, SMEs 43%, consumers 20%, agriculture 8%, and micro enterprises 3% of the loan book. Group loan book diversification currently reflects 45.9% in US dollars and 54.1% in local currencies. Geographical sovereign risk diversification has Kenya holding 65%, DRC 19.6%, Uganda 7.3%, Rwanda 4.4%, Tanzania 3.6% and South Sudan 0.1%.
Over the last three years during the Covid-19 pandemic, Equity Group has gone through its greatest business transformation in line with the environmental challenges. “Equity Group had adopted a strategy of business transformation through digitisation to offer customers a more online business experience offering ease and convenience. Digitisation compresses time and geography, transforming the Equity banking experience from where you go, to what you do on your own devices, whatever time, wherever you are, a truly 24 hours banking experience.” While our agility and flexibility allowed us to increase our software engineers by 600 new staff and our Chief Information Officers to 17 from one, Covid-19 coping, mitigation and adaptation protocols acted as a catalyst and tailwind for customers adoption of digital tools, online practices and change of technology adoption culture to deliver a speedy business transformation of the look, feel and experience of the Equity Group business,” said Dr. Mwangi.
Between June 2019 and June 2022, digital banking transactions through mobile and internet channels, Agency and Merchant infrastructure doubled from 330 million to 663.9 million while transactions on the Group’s own infrastructure of branches and ATMs declined from 25.3 million to 19.2 million transactions delivering an online self-service business model with 99% of banking transactions being outside the branch and a corresponding 74% of the value of transactions, leaving branches to do high value transactions. During the same period, the value of digital transactions has grown over 400% to Kshs 4.4 trillion up from Kshs 1.2trillion while the value of branch and ATMs based transactions have grown to Kshs 1.7trillion up from Kshs 1.1 trillion.
The Group has witnessed take-off of its business-to-business, consumer digital payments and consumer-to-business payments through corporate internet cash and liquidity management EazzyBiz and retail payment solutions. Pay With Equity merchant solutions have grown by nearly 400% from June 2019 to June 2022 from 13.5 million transactions to 52.2 million transactions.
Year on year personal internet transactions grew by 1,081% from 600,000 to 7.5 million transactions with the value of the transactions growing by 366% from Kshs 39.5 billion to Kshs 184 billion. Consumer to business retail commerce digital transactions on Pay with Equity retail merchants grew by 382% from 7.8 million to 37.5 million transactions whose value grew by 314% from Kshs 42.2 billion to Kshs 174.8 billion. Business-to-consumer payments transactions through the internet Equity cash and liquidity management solution EazzyBiz grew by 51% from 2.2 million transactions to 3.3 million transactions with value growing by 52% from Kshs 637 billion to Kshs 966.7 billion. The value of mobile transactions on Equitel grew by 62% from Kshs 844 billion to Kshs 1.366 trillion while Equity mobile app value of transactions grew 97% to Kshs 552.9 billion up from Kshs 280.1 billion.
“To align to the realities of the operating environment, the business challenges of disruptions by Covid-19 and the broken global supply chains, the Group strategically opted to focus on becoming a leading Trade Finance regional bank to ease the cost of financing trade while facilitating cross border trade in the East African common market and the African Continental Free Trade Area,” said Dr Mwangi.
Gross trade finance revenue grew by 64% to Kshs 2.6 billion up from Kshs 1.6 billion while trade finance related lending grew by 106% to Kshs 34.4 billion up from Kshs 16.7 billion as trade finance guarantees and off-balance sheet items grew by 62% to Kshs 158.4 billion up from Kshs 97.7 billion. Focus on payments and trade finance saw non-funded income grow by 23% to Kshs 25 billion up from Kshs 20.4 billion to compare with the 28% growth of Net Interest Income of Kshs 39.8 billion up from Kshs 31.2 billion. The non-funded income, a higher quality class of income, constitutes 38.6% of the total income in spite of the 29% growth in both the loan book and interest income.
Geographical expansion and business diversification have started to bear fruit and impact the Group’s value creation and growth. The Group registered a 19% growth in total assets to Kshs 1333.9 billion from Kshs 1,119.7 billion primarily driven by 59% growth in long-term debt funding to Kshs 162.6 billion and 18% growth in customer deposits to Kshs 970.9 billion up from Kshs 820.3 billion as customer numbers grew 18% to 16.9 million up from 14.3 million.
The geographical expansion and business diversification strategy have successfully reduced the concentration of sovereign risk in Kenya by having subsidiaries contribute 40% of the Groups Total Assets, 42% of the Group’s total revenue and 28% of the profit after tax. Expansion and diversification initiatives have affirmed the strategy as subsidiaries other than Kenya posted a return on average equity of 22.3% above the cost of capital of 21% and enabled the Kenyan mother business to register a 35.5% return on average equity and 4.2% return of average assets. The Kenya business also registered a 39.2% cost-to-income ratio as a result of declining unit costs on shared services on account of economies of scale.
An efficiently funded and leveraged balance sheet structure with 73% of funding from short-term customer deposits, 12% medium-term debt funding and 11% long-term shareholder funding has allowed the creation of an agile asset mix of 49% net loan book, 27% government securities and 16% cash and cash equivalent. The initial prudent and conservative risk backstopping through capital buffers conservation saw dividends not being paid for two consecutive years and a conservative policy that saw Group register 62.4% liquidity in June 2021.
Provisions for NPLs saw NPL coverage reach 94% and 120% with credit risk guarantees and the mass distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, making the pandemic business, as usual, has left the Group strategically positioned for balance sheet efficiency and optimisation. With the normalisation of Covid-19 risk, the Group is focused on using the balance sheet agility to unlock efficiencies and optimisation.
Asset allocation from low-earning assets saw cash and cash equivalent decline by 2% while growth in loans accelerated to 29% from 23% in Q4 2021 while investments in Government securities decelerated to 16% down from 81% driving Net Interest Margins to increase to 6.9% up from 6.6% at H1 2021 as yields on earning assets grew to 9.7% up from 9.2%. On the strength of efficiencies of business transformation through digitisation and realisation of economies of scale on growth and diversification, the Group has registered strong performance.
In the period, the Group cost-income ratio improved to 46.7% down from 48.5% and the cost-to-asset ratio improved to 4.7% down from 5.4% on a 19% expanded balance sheet of Kshs 1,333.9 billion up from Kshs 1,119.7 billion. Group return on average equity has increased to 28.9% up from 25% while Group return on average assets has risen to 3.8% up from 3.3%. “Growth of the scale of business and economies of scale, the pursuit of efficiencies and optimisation of the balance sheet, and efficiencies of business transformation through digitisation have served us well and positioned us strategically for the future,” said Dr Mwangi.
With the assessment of Covid-19 pandemic risk normalising to business as usual, the Group has dialled conservative measures down. The Group has resumed dividend payment with 30% to 50% of profits after tax available for payout in accordance with the dividend policy, conservative capital recognition has been eased to pursue growth through balance sheet efficiency and optimisation. Core and total capital computation during the Covid-19 pandemic conservatively excluded deferred tax assets from loan provisioning and mark to market gains and losses.
As the pandemic has normalised to business as usual, the deferred tax asset relating to those items is now included as permitted by the Central Bank prudential guidelines and to allow industry comparison of capital ratio. “The strong capital ratios of 15.5% for core capital to risk weighted assets and 20.2% for total capital to risk weighted assets together with strong liquidity ratio of 53.2% positions the Group to reallocate low earning assets to high yielding assets,” said Dr Mwangi
Recognising the need for and importance of social licence to operate, Equity Group has scaled its shared prosperity model of the twin economic and social engines that includes society and host communities as key stakeholders through payment of dividends of social impact investments. These are designed to their aspirations which currently comprise of education, financial inclusion and financial literacy for funding wealth creation opportunities and poverty eradication, access to affordable health and responsible preservation of the environment. The social impact investments to date amount to Kshs 69.377 billion or USD 583 billion under the social engine of Equity Group Foundation.
Equity Group continues to attract global recognitions and accolades such as Moody’s and GCR sovereign risk credit rating, the 5th Strongest Banking brand by Brand Finance, the Oslo Business for Peace award, Inclusion in the Bloomberg 50 list, the global top ranking by the Banker Top 1000 Banks, the Global SME awards and the African leadership awards.
ANKA, the “all-in-one solution for selling anywhere, shipping globally and receiving payments quickly”, has announced the appointment of Morin Oluwole as its first Strategic Advisor.
Morin is currently the Global Luxury Director atMeta, where she leads a global business team and is also an avid leader within the Women@ Meta and Black@ Meta employee resource groups. Morin will lend her expertise to ANKA by supporting the strategic development of the wider team, product development, and ecosystem.
Morin Oluwole said: “Growth and innovation are testament to ANKA’s success. The company and its incredibly talented team are taking immense strides in building out what has undoubtedly become a leading e-commerce platform, and I am honoured to advise on this journey. I look forward to sharing my knowledge of the global business and commerce sectors, whilst working alongside Moulaye and the ANKA team to further develop the world of e-commerce that ANKA is revolutionising.”
Having spent her career in leadership positions in global marketing, partnerships, and innovation, Morin has steered businesses at the forefront of technological and creative transformation. A natural choice to guide the navigation of ANKA’s Pan-African and global expansion strategy, her expert knowledge on management, business development and team building will grow the company’s operations across emerging markets.
Founded in 2016 originally as Afrikrea, an online marketplace for selling and buying African-inspired clothing, accessories, arts and crafts, ANKA (meaning “Ours” in Bambara and Djoula) aims to position the brand as the cognitive referent for African commerce. The platform launched the first of its kind all-in-one SaaS solution to provide a seamless e-commerce service for African micro-retailers in 2021, exporting literally “all things made of Africa ” to a global audience. ANKA has seen its retailer base grow by 300% to date, with the platforms currently recording over 1,2M visits a month and the majority of customers located in Europe and North America.
Speaking on the new advisor appointment, Moulaye Tabouré, CEO and Co-Founder of ANKA said, “With almost two decades worth of experience at Meta and in the technology sphere, Morin will provide an unparalleled perspective making her a key asset to ANKA. As we seek to strengthen and increase our reach across African and international markets, these skills will prove invaluable, allowing us to open up new opportunities for our customers and stakeholders. I’m thrilled to welcome Morin as a Strategic Advisor”.
OPPO brand has expanded its A-series of smartphones in Kenya with the launch of OPPO A77 smartphone. The affordable OPPO smartphone marks generational leaps in a multitude of areas for the A-series, each of which enhances the everyday user experience.
Price, color and availability
OPPO A77 is officially available in the market with the recommended retail price of Ksh. 26,999. Customers can purchase at OPPO’s official online store and E-commerce partners like Jumia, Kilimall, Sky Garden and Masoko. It is available in two colors: starry black and sky blue.
Features and specifications
Oppo A77 is a robust mid-range device built to perform and last. It boasts of 4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory space, and 6GB RAM and 128GB Memory space The device runs on Android 12, ColorOS 12.1 and is powered by an Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55), MediaTek MT6833P Dimensity 810 (6 nm) processor, and Mali-G57 MC2 Graphics Processing Unit.
The processor is powerful enough for multi-tasking and running high-demanding operations without lagging. The device features straight and curved edges, is as light as a feather, and boasts excellent ergonomic styling.
The device comes with 33W SUPERVOOC advanced charging technology which charges your phone in minutes. Furthermore, OPPO A77 AI night charge protection avoids overcharging issues smartly. With the anti-burnout protection, it schedules a segmented battery charging plan . A pair of temperature sensors inside the phone manages the charging rate to avoid excessive heating of the battery from outside sources while charging.
The combination of 33W SUPERVOOC and 5000mAh Long-Lasting Battery on OPPO A77 will keep you calm when your phone’s battery runs low. It provides you with enough power to dominate a full-length movie in just 5 minutes of charging! With a 5% battery charge, you can stay connected to your loved one over 50 minutes straight. The 5000mAh battery provides enough power to use your favorite social media platforms for over 15 hours, and with power-saving mode, you won’t miss out on anything.
OPPO A77 has an Ultra-Linear Stereo Speaker that will allow you to share your awesome playlist with your friends without strain! It has dual speakers and you can increase the volume by up to 200% to immerse yourself and your squad in music regardless of background noise such as in a busy gym, a crowded bus stop, or a fast-food restaurant. You can also enjoy the various movie streaming platforms on your phone with a cinematic sound experience. Dirac’s automatic audio optimization technology OPPO A77 ensures that harsh noise is suppressed and optimal stereo sound is provided for a better binge-watching experience.
OPPO A77 consists of a dual-camera setup: 48 MP + 2 MP sensors. On the front, there is an 8 MP wide camera for clicking selfies. The size of the display is 6.56 inches IPS LCD while the screen resolution is 720 x 1612 pixels. With a few AI-powered adjustments, AI Portrait Retouching has you looking like you belong on the red carpet. The Advanced AI Portrait Bokeh provides the perfect amount of focus and blur to make you shine like a movie star. The OPPO A77 will help you easily take great photos.
Accelerate Plus is an affordable Subscription Video on Demand Service launched by Accelerate T.V. that brings the best content from Africa to you anytime, anywhere.
Accelerate Plus aims to be a forerunner in shifting the dominant narrative about Africa, a key reason that led to the creation of the platform as a space to highlight only the continent’s finest creative works.
According to the company, the Accelerate Plus app can be accessed in all African countries and some European and American countries. It is a safe platform for the entire family to enjoy the best content out of Africa and it has control features that make it safe for children.
According to the company,the Accelerate Plus app can be accessed in all African countries and some European and American countries. It is a safe platform for the entire family to enjoy the best content out of Africa and it has control features that make it safe for children.
Think Dramas, Films, Music, Talkshows, Lifestyle and entertainment content and you’re only a click away from it with Accelerate Plus. Current user favourites on the platform include Visa on Arrival, The Olive, The Cover, Third Avenue, Pay Day and The Herbert Macaulay Affair.
VISA ON ARRIVAL:
Watch this hilarious comedy show starring Bovi Ugboma, Anita Asuoha (Real Warri Pikin), Oluwatoyin Albert (Dat Warri Girl) and Temisan ‘Taymesan’ Emmanuel as they crack your ribs with their mannerisms while denying or approving visas to people who want to travel. Each episode in this series promises to keep you hooked.
THE OLIVE:
This series follows the life of a man, Anayo, who revisits old memories a year after his wife passes and finds more than he bargained for. This slow burner is sure to keep you immersed as what you see is not what it is. This series stars actors like Joke Silva, Ibrahim Suleiman, Theresa Edem and many more. Watch this series on Accelerate Plus and join Anayo in discovering his wife’s secrets a year after her demise.
THE COVER:
Watch what happens behind the scenes of our monthly fashion cover shoot. This lifestyle and entertainment programme features celebrities from different spheres of the creative industry and provides the viewers with an in-depth look into their lifestyle. The discussions vary and cover different exciting and educative subjects.
PAY DAY:
Payday tells the story of two close friends and flatmates, Paul and Ortega, who lose their landlord very suddenly, before renewing their annual rent, seemingly without an heir apparent. The young lads grab the unpleasant but advantageous occasion to “enjoy” themselves somewhat. Unfortunately, the daughter of the landlord appears and gives the guys a 24-hour notice to pay or vacate. They devise a plan to retrieve the rent overnight, which leads to a deadly encounter.
THE HERBERT MACAULAY AFFAIR
Join William Benson as he takes on the role of Herbert Macaulay in this historical piece centered around events that shaped Macaulay’s life and politics. The Herbert Macaulay Affair set in the 1920’s follows Young Herbert who returns from England and begins the opposition to the colonial government.
A monthly Accelerate Plus subscription costs as little as N100 if you bank with Access Bank and N500 if you do not. Before downloading the app from the iOS app store or Google Play store and signing in, you must register and subscribe at www.accelerateplus.tv in order to avoid paying the $4.99 rate which is the monthly subscription fee outside of Nigeria. Once this is done, you will be able to access the best Afrocentric content on the platform.
PC gaming has come a long way ever since it was a gaming-parlor-only specialty even a decade ago. Today, most people build their own gaming rigs to de-stress after a tiresome day. Video gaming, undoubtedly, is one of the most chosen options by people to connect with friends online in a fast-paced, interactive world. Besides, people who are really good at gaming also choose gaming as a profession, participating in eSports and all that.
However, gaming can sometimes be quite frustrating, especially if you don’t have some of the most essential gaming accessories. Companies like HYTE have the best gaming accessories that can turn your luck on virtual battlefields.
Of course, anyone can play with just a typing keyboard and a USB mouse, but that won’t help you accurately place the crosshair on your enemies while gaming or help you hear approaching footsteps clearly.
So, what are the most essential gaming peripherals to play like a pro? Well, you can find that out in this article.
1. USB/Bluetooth Gaming Headsets
Not that a $20 earphone won’t do the job but playing multiplayer games online requires a sound gaming headset.
Most gaming headsets have an over-the-ear form factor with soft and cushioned earcups. These cups ensure that long gaming hours do not hurt your ears. The best gaming headphones also offer an unmatched audio experience, preferably stereo sound or 7.1 surround sound. It will easily help gamers detect crucial audio inputs while gaming to win matches.
One can choose either a USB/Bluetooth gaming headset, according to personal preferences. Wireless headphones usually cost more than wired ones.
A full-sized backlit wired keyboard will guarantee that your gaming experience is undisturbed. The top choices by most gamers are Mechanical and Membrane keyboards because of their tactile feedback upon pressing.
At around $100, a standard gaming keyboard will provide mid-height keys and a mecha-membrane keypad for the best key-pressing feedback. Some keyboards also have detachable wrist rest spaces. The backlit colors can be RGB LEDs in different color gradients. Most top-end gaming keyboards have lights that are even programmable via software.
3. Dual Monitors for Multitasking while Gaming
Having dual monitors is not necessary but can help you multitask while gaming. Especially if you are into live-streaming your gameplay, having dual monitors is essential to connect with the audience. Not just that, gamers can also use dual monitors to have a more immersive experience while gaming.
4. An Ergonomic Gaming Mouse
The need for a high-performance gaming mouse is more than that for a gaming keyboard. Gaming mice have different buttons other than the right and left cursor ones. These buttons can be configured to perform different tasks while gaming.
Moreover, they have different DPI settings, which is highly crucial to gamers. The right DPI (dots per inch) ensures that your game characters move with utmost precision. The click response of these mice is also much better than a regular mouse. If you want a perfect mouse and keyboard combination, choose a gaming mouse with RGB lights.
Final Words
Gamers need a lot of things, especially if they are into full-time gaming. Companies like HYTE can be their top destination to pick up relevant gaming items whenever needed. Online gaming components and accessories are available on these websites in great deals and discounts during sales.
Moove, the mobility fintech and Uber’s largest vehicle supply partner in EMEA, has launched in three cities in India as a part of its global expansion, just days after it raised R300 million (US$20 million) from Absa bringing its total funding to-date to over $200 million since its launch in 2020.
According to Ladi Delano, co-founder and co-CEO at Moove, “As our first global expansion outside of Africa, launching in India is a very special moment for the whole Moove team. We’re excited to be expanding our revenue-based vehicle financing model to enable the sustainable creation of jobs across the country, where there are some of the lowest vehicle ownership rates in the world, in part because of the lack of access to credit. We are delighted to be expanding our Uber partnership to solve this problem for our new customers in India.”
Launched in 2020 by Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, Moove has been democratising vehicle ownership across Africa by providing mobility entrepreneurs access to revenue-based financing in markets with low access to credit. Using its alternative credit scoring technology, Moove provides vehicle financing to its customers to purchase brand new vehicles using a percentage of their weekly revenue. Having experienced overwhelming demand and exponential growth across its six sub-Saharan African markets, Moove-financed vehicles have completed over 6 million trips to date.
The revenue-based financing to mobility entrepreneur started has expanded from its African roots to Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore to provide accessible vehicle financing to driver partners on Uber’s platform.
In what will be one of Uber India’s largest vehicle partnerships, Moove will be launching 5,000 EV and CNG vehicles within the first year, with plans to scale to 30,000 over the next five years, creating sustainable employment opportunities in a rapidly developing economy.
Abhilekh Kumar, Director, Business Development, Uber India South Asia, said, “This partnership is aimed at enabling access to vehicles among mobility entrepreneurs at a time when capital availability is the key issue. The Moove team has created an innovative “drive to own” model that can fundamentally transform vehicle ownership in the country. We’re excited about their potential to unlock sustainable livelihood creation by removing the existing barriers to ownership. It’ll help drivers to seamlessly grow their own businesses and create a more sustainable mobility infrastructure in India. With demand from riders higher than ever in India, we’re looking forward to partnering with Moove to ensure we can provide an unparalleled experience to both drivers and riders on our platform in our top markets.”
Mobility entrepreneur with newly assigned vehicle
Transforming mobility gig economies through vehicle finance
The company is now bringing its impact-led model to India, its first expansion outside of Africa, as part of its mission to close the finance gap for mobility entrepreneurs globally. Similar to sub-Saharan Africa, Moove’s innovative model will help thousands of drivers return to work, by putting 5,000 vehicles on the road within the first year, with the intent of scaling to 30,000 vehicles and becoming Uber India’s mega-fleet partner across 300 cities over the next five years.
Moove India team with co-CEO and co-founder Ladi Delano (middle)
Powering the electrification of mobility
Moove aims to be a global leader in the electrification of ride-hailing and mobility with a commitment to ensuring that 60% of the vehicles it finances globally are hybrid or electric. India has recently set targets for improving renewable energy uptake and reducing harmful emissions by 2030, creating the perfect market opportunity for Moove to provide accessible financing for fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.
Half of the world’s 1.1 billion gig workers are denied access to financial services and lack access to credit because traditional banks rely on historical data to underwrite their loans. In emerging markets across Africa, Asia and MENA, poor credit penetration is restricting the ability of millions of people from buying new vehicles – India has extremely low vehicle ownership with less than 25 per 1,000 people compared to Europe, where it is 600+ per 1000 people.
Fleet of vehicles
Binod Mishra, Regional GM for South Asia at Moove, said, “We’re looking forward to working closely with the Uber India team to roll out Moove’s innovative platform, starting in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, and scaling up to many more cities over the next five years.”
The Biggest Gambling Markets in Africa. BetZillion’s Expert Overview
Image Source: People Sitting on Poker Table in the casino · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)
When talking about gambling at popular spots, the continent of Africa is not one that usually pops up on the list. However, that does not mean African countries do not support or are disinterested in betting activities. On the contrary, the gambling scene is rife in Africa. Whether you talk about the north or the south, the people there love their wagers and all the joy that gambling brings. That is why only new SA betting sites are coming up just now.
In this piece, Rebecca Martin, gambling expert and connoisseur, examines Africa’s online gambling and betting market. You can check out the various aspects of the African gambling market from legalities, rules, and more. You can also pick up some handy tips to ensure you choose only the most trustworthy and profitable SA betting sitesavailable. Rebecca Martin discusses all these things with BetZillion so that you can easily take your pick from African gambling venues. See below to learn more about Africa’s online gambling and betting market.
General Situation of African Gambling
Africa has seen a vibrant change of attitudes toward gambling from the 17th century till today. Gambling in South Africa has seen endless restrictions imposed on the sport since 1673. Going a step further, three centuries later, the South African Gambling Act of 1965 entirely eradicated any form of gambling. However, placing bets on the sport of horse racing was still allowed legally. So you see, sports betting in Africa is not a new concept at all.
In 1965, leaders of certain groups in South Africa – namely the Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda tribes – decided to allow casino owners to establish a business on territories. The leaders of the Bantustan were the first in South Africa to sign a contract related to casinos with Holiday Inn and Southern Sun.
Fast forward to 18 years later when the owner of the Southern Sun company, Sol Kerzner, peddled off his shares. By the next seven years, Sol Kerzner acquired control of all 18 homeland gambling licenses in Africa. He then continued to set up the gambling enterprise of Sun International.
With his unparalleled success, the South African government became concerned and moved forward with a tax plan. In exchange for accepting the strict tax charges, Kerner’s Sun International gained renown as the top gambling company in South Africa. The establishment also perpetuated a monopoly on the gambling market as it was the only enterprise in South Africa. It continued to hire mostly European workers to oversee casino operations until criticism rose against this move. Eventually, the organization chose to lean on the expansive African workforce to operate the casinos.
The South African government moved towards more democratic reforms in 1994, which opened and allowed for the legalization of gambling as a whole. In 1996, the National Gambling Act allowed national lotteries and licensed casinos to begin operations. However, the Act was repealed in 2004 by the existence of yet another newly formed Gambling Act. Finally, the government introduced the National Gambling Amendment Act in 2008.
The National Lottery of South Africa, managed by ITHUBA, was introduced on the 11th of March, 2000. The first day of releasing tickets to the public saw a sale of more than 800,000 tickets. So, as you see, the development of gambling in South Africa is rather recent. To this weekly draw came an additional supplementary weekly lottery. It was introduced in November 2003. One could buy the Lotto Plus game on a primary ticket that cost a single South African Rand.
A few years later, the Gidani consortium stepped into its role as the operator of the National Lottery in 2007 for seven years. However, certain legal issues caused the consortium to lose its status for a few months. They regained their title in September of the same year. The next month, ticket sales resumed, with over 200,000 tickets sold in the first three hours.
The widespread usage of the internet also saw the rise of the online gambling and betting market. Online sites are well on their way to overtaking physical casinos. Let us look at the advantages of hitting online casinos in Africa.
Advantages of Gambling Sites in Africa
Africa offers infinite opportunities for gamblers to get their buzz on. With various online gambling and betting marketspots cropping up, bettors have an excellent chance to get on with the new sites. Therefore, Rebecca Martin has compiled a brief but comprehensive list of reasons why sports betting in Africa is where you want to spend your money.
Convenience: Many African regions are not exactly conducive to a gaming environment. The arid and flaming hot temperatures and topsy turvy weather can cause intense discomfort, even sickness, among those unaccustomed to African climes. Online betting sites can alleviate such issues. You can participate in online betting events at your convenience.
Safety: It is not very safe for gamblers to walk to their residence or a bank after a big win. With NA or SA betting sites, gamblers can easily access their winnings without worries. The online casino will deposit your money right into your bank account. You can make deposits or withdraw your money immediately.
Time: SA betting sites offer more than a fair share of goods compared to other regional gambling sites. It is evidenced by the fact that African sites allow gamblers a lot of time to make their next move. Unlike at a traditional casino, bettors can choose to move their wagers at a pace that suits them.
Saves Money: Flying to Africa on a whim only to play at their casinos is impossible for many ardent gamblers. The costs associated with this venture are humongous. Many cannot bear the financial costs of travel and stay. Therefore, online sites are the only way, if not better, to get the complete experience of African gambling.
Availability: One of the most significant advantages of the online gambling and betting market in Africa is that the establishments are open 24×7. You will not have to keep any business hours in mind if you want to place a wager. The lack of time constraints enables gamblers to play whenever they want.
Gaming Opportunities: If there is one thing that the African gambling marketoffers, it is a varied gaming experience. If you are into sports betting in Africa, you will find a whole array of sports; you will also find more games than you ever will at a traditional casino. Gambling sites in Africa always contain something for everybody.
Playing at online casinos has a variety of advantages. Moreover, there are many things that even the most ardent gamblers are unaware of when it comes to the betting scene in Africa. Rebecca Martin offers a detailed view of some of the most interesting facts about the African online gambling and betting market.
Fantastic eGaming Opportunities
If you are into eGaming, then we have good news for you. South African casinos are well on their way to acquiring most of the eGaming opportunities in the region. Due to this process, you can expect the introduction of some new spectacular sports as well as the promotion of older games.
Legalities are Still Questionable
Although South African traditional casinos are still legally operating, eGaming is not allowed by law. The Gambling Act of 2004 is still in place, which can cause trouble for anyone who accesses online casinos. Unless the Interactive Gambling Act of 2008 is implemented, the problem will persist. Those who want to play in online casinos should check out the rules of the country as well as of the establishment.
Online Casinos are Overtaking Physical Ones
Since South Africa fosters a friendly work environment from home, the online casino industry has flourished in the region. The eGaming industry has seen success, particularly in the Cape Town area. The projected earnings from online casinos in 2021 were already in the billions. 2022 will only see an uptick, both in users as well as revenue.
Offshore Casinos Are Very Popular
Due to the ambiguous legalities surrounding gambling in South Africa, offshore casinos see a huge profit margin. It is from South African punters making a go at offshore locations rather than taking a risk with the current laws. Many gamblers hope the government will enforce the 2008 Act as soon as possible.
Banned Sites
Despite the potential for economic growth, many African countries continue to dissociate from the online gambling and betting market. Did you know that seven countries in Africa ban casinos from operating? Libya, Mauritania, Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Burundi, Eritrea, and Somalia have laws to punish anyone who visits casinos. Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Egypt, Togo, Nigeria, The Central African Republic, and South Africa have restrictions and limitations on the gambling industry.
Popular Gambling Avenues in Africa
No matter the different restrictions operating in the various parts of the country, gambling continues to flourish in Africa. Sports betting in Africahas not slowed down due to the 2004 Gambling Act. Bettors continue to hit casinos where they are allowed, and online casinos are thriving throughout the country. Rebecca Martin has listed the top online casino games that South African gamblers favor on the site:
Slot Machines
Poker – Texas Hold ’em
Blackjack
Roulette
Craps
Baccarat
Sports Betting – Cricket, Football, Horse Racing, etc.
Live Casino
South Africa is the place to be if you are into any of these casino games. Go ahead and start betting today!
How to Find the Best Betting and Gambling Market in Africa? Expert’s Advice
Gambling in the African gambling marketis one of the most pleasurable activities you could enjoy. However, you should choose only trustworthy websites that cater to your tastes. Rebecca Martin encourages gamblers to check out BetZillion with the list of online sites you can access. Remember to go for only new SA betting sitesyou know are trustworthy. You can link your bank account to any of these casinos without worry. Make deposits and take home your winnings today!
A Final Word
Gambling in Africa is quite different from your usual repertoire of playing in other countries. You need more than your standard bag of tricks to be able to take part in sports betting in Africa. You need to know the legal implications and repercussions of the law of the land where you play. With the stringency of African gambling laws, it is crucial for you as a gambler to constantly update yourself on the rules and policies.
When it comes to your safety, never take a risk. Always check whether it is licensed to operate, no matter how attractive the casino looks or what promos it offers. Moreover, if you want to play exclusively on SA betting sites, make sure that you choose only new SA betting sites. Avoid playing eGaming events in countries that ban the sport. You might fall into legal trouble if you are caught out.
Gambling expert Rebbecca Martin has years of experience in the gambling industry. She writes advisory pieces on gambling for BetZillion to help other gamblers. If you look at her articles, you can also become a gambling genius in no time!
ChamsSwitch, a Nigerian payment solutions & switch companies, has received recognition from Visa for its compliance with industry security standards and is now a valued service provider listed on the Visa Global Registry.
The Registry, which only enlists service providers who comply with industry security standards and invest in data security and the protection of cardholder data, is the payment industry’s designated source for information on compliant providers of payment-related services to Visa clients and merchants.
Expressing his delight, the CEO of ChamsSwitch shared his thoughts on the milestone, “this enlistment is an incredibly big win for us and reaffirms our promise to provide secure and innovative financial payment solutions to our customers. As a member of the Visa Global Registry, we are recommitting to maintaining the highest level of security across all our platforms and defending our customers’ data against compromise. “
Announcing the enlistment, Visa acknowledged ChamsSwitch’s commitment to security demonstrated by meeting the requirements of the Payment Card Industry Standard, “We appreciate your continued support and commitment to safeguarding the payment industry,” the financial giant expressed in a statement.
With the new listing as a member of the Visa Global Registry, ChamsSwitch’s innovative payment solutions can now be accessible to potential clients globally.
ChamsSwitch is one of the leading fintech companies in Nigeria with a commitment to providing robust technologies for secure and reliable online payment in Nigeria. ChamsSwitch currently manages four electronic funds transfer platforms, including PelPay, Naira.com, SwitchPay, and Naira Plus.
Wahed,a New York-based halal fintech firm has expanded into the South African market.
The move comes after the company received a regulatory licence from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, allowing the start-up to offer services locally.
According to the company, the acquisition of the South African licence is a huge achievement, even as it seeks to deliver investment services in the country.
“We are looking forward to making an impact in South Africa. We know we can help bridge the wealth divide in South Africa through our products. We combine fintech and values to create simple, accessible and halal products – we are honoured to be trusted and to launch in South Africa,” says Junaid Wahedna, Wahed CEO.
Wahed which is a digital Islamic investment platform currently operates in the US and UK, and has been on an expansion ambition since last year.
The fintech targets Muslim markets, including Indonesia, Nigeria and India, and has now set its sights on the local Muslim community.
Rashaad Kalla, Wahed SA general manager, says: “We are delighted to provide financial products that put the customer first. South Africa has a thriving fintech ecosystem, an established banking sector and a population that is hungry to reap the benefits of a new and better way to invest.”
With the acquisition of the South African licence, Wahed now has nine regulatory licences around the world, and is now seeking to venture into international expansion.
Since its launch in 2015, the company has attracted over 200 000 customers around the world and has raised more than $40 million in funding .
Roam, a Kenyan electric vehicle manufacturing company has launched an electric bus targeting public transport .
The electric bus which has been dubbed Rome Rapid, has a capacity to carry 90 passengers with room for both seating and standing commuters.
According to the company , they were looking to create a mobility solution that is inclusive, modern, efficient and sustainable. “The focus for the bus has been to design a robust vehicle with best in class carrying capacity, range and comfort to enable mass adoption of clean transport across the continent,” said Dennis Wakaba, Roam project coordinator.
The bus comes with a 384-kWh battery pack that allows for a range of 360 km and has the ability to fully charge in less than 2 hours through DC charging ports hence giving operators full flexibility to decide their charging and operating schedule.
The Changing Transport Organisation report, found that between 2000 and 2016, Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a 75% increase in emissions, with transport emissions increasing by 153% in Ghana, 73% in Kenya, and 16% in Nigeria.
Following the health and environmental concerns and the need to reduce dependency on oil imports, electric mobility is currently gaining prominence across the continent’s public and private sectors.
Electricity company KenGen and supplier Kenya Power are currently planning to set up charging hubs of electric mobility units.
KenGen said that it has already set up one station in Nairobi and is now importing cars to test the hubs. Kenya Power on the other hand announced on Tuesday that it would test its stations in Nairobi and Nakuru from next month.
Roam joins Kenyan electric vehicle start-up BasiGo which has launched Sh5 million passenger electric bus as demand for environmentally friendly transport rises
Car and General (C&G) in January promised that it will start selling electric vehicles and tuk-tuks as part of a plan to diversify into the ‘green’ mobility business that is expected to grow amid a push to address climate change and pollution.
Kwik ,a Nigerian logistics startup ,has announced today that it has officially launched its innovative and award-winning just-in-time delivery solutions to merchants, entrepreneurs, businesses, government agencies and social vendors in Ibadan region and promises delivery under 60 minutes.
Dubbed “Africa’s largest village”, Ibadan is one of the fastest-growing urban area in Nigeria and a key commercial city. One of the downsides to this rapid development is the increasing difficulties in moving goods around the city. Kwik aims to play a significant role in solving this problem by delivering parcels from businesses to customers under 60 minutes.
Kwik aims to feature over 500 partner vehicles located in Ibadan on its platform in the next 12 months, according to Founder & CEO Romain POIROT-LELLIG. “The Lagos-Ibadan corridor is fast becoming the most dynamic industrial and commercial hub of West Africa thanks to improving infrastructure, unparalleled market depth and attractive local government policies” declared Romain POIROT-LELLIG. “Kwik’s role is to ensure that all the moving parts can circulate effectively.”
In addition to its award-winning delivery service, Kwik is also making available in Ibadan its KwikStore feature, an innovative, free to use online storefront tool that helps merchants automate their online sales and manage their inventory. Setting up an online store now literally takes 5 minutes.
“E-commerce activities in Nigeria have continued to grow at a steady pace since 2015. More than 80% of Nigerians prefer to shop online from the comfort of their homes and have these products delivered to their doorsteps”, Yinka Olayanju, Kwik’s Chief Operations Officer said. “With its isothermal bags, Kwik will ensure that all kind of products arrive in mint condition.”
She added that “This rising trend in online activities has led to a steep increase in public spending as well as all-round economic growth, both of which require logistics support of the kind that Kwik Delivery is best-equipped to provide”.
Launched in 2019, Kwikas continued evolve with new innovations, providing digital and logistics solutions to African B2B merchants and e-commerce social vendors in the fields of delivery, fulfilment, and payment. The Kwik platform is currently open to merchants and businesses operating all over Nigeria, with last-mile delivery available in Lagos State, Ogun State, Abuja FCT, and now Ibadan city of Oyo State.
HerRyde, a woman-only ride-hailing company has launched operations in Abuja Nigeria.
According to the company’s CEO Monsurah Oluwafuyi, COO Muhammad Muazu, and Chief Product Officer Kamaldeen Ibrahim, the company aims to provide a safer option for female drivers and riders and also create employment opportunities for more women.
“HerRyde is committed to women’s safety and inclusion in the ride-hailing/mobility space. We aim to provide women with safer taxi experiences while driving inclusion by providing a safe space for women to work and earn as mobility entrepreneurs.”
The move follows a collective desire to change the reality that too many women get harassed and abused on ride-hailing trips. Social media platforms are often rife with tales of physical assault, sexual assault, and robbery suffered by women while on rides.
HerRyde’s Chief Product Officer, Kamaldeen Ibrahim, told TechCabal that the company chose to launch in Abuja because of Abuja’s lower barrier to entry compared to Lagos, which demands numerous licences from drivers and ride-hailing apps.
Women-only ride-hailing platforms are on the rise across the world. For example In Saudi Arabia, Uber launched the feature for female drivers, which provides them with a choice in selecting a preference to be connected to women riders. Bolt, has also adopted a women-only feature on its platform which is currently active in five countries across the globe
More ride-hailing companies are now beginning to include women-centered services to ensure their safety, which is a great development. In a 2019 study on women-only ride-hailing platforms, researchers from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and Hong Kong Polytechnic discovered that because there is a smaller pool of drivers available, these services are typically more expensive and of lower quality.
In response to these potential challenges of cost and quality, the three co-founders said that the company will determine fares the same way Uber and Bolt do, based on time and distance, instead of using InDriver’s approach, a ride-hailing platform that allows users to negotiate their final fare.
Oppo’s latest flagships deliver a premium experience with excellent features that support it. OPPO did a clean job on the Find X5 series from the pro-model to the Find X5 lite in terms of features.
Naturally, devices in the midrange lack a spick feature or two from the pro models Oppo worked around this one by bringing out a similarity on the most important parts so we won’t give the Find X5 and the Find X5 Lite the cheaper brother tag, thanks to the excellent performance.
The Find X5 Pro definitely stole the show, but the standard versions equally stood out on their own including the same to-end price tag of an affordable flagship phone.
It’s been a minute since we had a high-end OPPO phone in Kenya since the 2019 Reno 10x that is still scaling high as a premium phone. Glad to see them back in the market with the Find X5. We’ve had the device for a while now with regular usage, battery performance and a range of features we will share in our review shortly.
Our quick pick on the Find X5 model
In the few weeks we’ve had the smartphone, this is what we had to pick.
We would say the camera performance of the unit is unmatched, it gave us a real flagship experience even in lowlight angles. The Camera was quite good and would capture some nice shots as far as a kilometre away. The selfie option for night mode wasn’t really up to the task but it still gets my vote. Very few phones even the flagship ones have it on this.
It also houses a great design, thinner bezels, and a dated design on the front adopting a unique style and an exemplary premium look.
It doesn’t come with an expandable memory card slot but you can expand storage space using the available RAM with options of 2GB, 3 GB and 5 GB which is more but what would you do with 256 GB of space on a phone anyway? we hardly fill 128GB Memory so this should be enough.
We don’t have 3.5mm a headphone jack as is the norm. Someone said blood group O’s don’t let things slide but with this one, we’ll have to adopt a USB-C mini jack adapter or much simpler adopt the Bluetooth way.
It is also power-packed with vibrant colours, excellent viewing angles and so much more features that you’d really enjoy.
Lastly, for us who are enthusiastic about phone colours or would just want to all out with a vibrant colour like Coral pink or moss, or a violet hue to evoke your energies then this is not your phone. OPPO selfishly worked out on two traditional but incredible colours, to top up the list.
Another cutting measure however is the lack of water resistance and dust proof technique, this was reserved for the pro-model but overall it gives you a super feel.
DISPLAY &Resolution: 6.55-inch LTPS curved AMOLED screen display, a Full HD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate 1080 x 2400 pixels 20:9 (~402ppi density).
Battery: Type Li-Po 4800 mAh, non-removable, Fast charging 80W
Colours: Colors Glaze Black and Ceramic White
Price: Ksh99,999
Price and availability
The Find X5 IS available in all Oppo shops countrywide and e-commerce retail shops including Jumia, Kilimall, Skygarden and Safaricom shops.
Design, functionality and build
The OPPO Find X5 brings out a vibrant design featuring a 6.55-inch LTPS curved AMOLED screen display and a Full HD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. The AMOLED screen also makes it brighter and much clearer and a lag-free user experience.
The phone is designed in a streamlined curve and comes in two outstanding shades of glaze black and ceramic white.
It gives a premium look and feels made out of unique frosted glass, giving it a silky, unique glossy finish, that is both scratches resistant and fingerprint-proof; not to mention splash, resistant thus always appearing newer for much longer.
The glaze black mode has a dark black eye-catching mirror finish on the rear panel that gives it a unique glow, making it an elegant accessory for the most discerning eye., it feels quite smooth and seamlessly transitions to the side frames without forming any unwanted ridges.
It also hosts a unique angled camera set-up that can’t go unnoticed.
I love the idea that it’s big enough to let you enjoy seamless browsing, enjoy your video games in Full HD and much more.
On the sides, it’s slightly curved for easy hold and navigating around the phone coupled with thinner bezels for a user-friendly experience. It’s however gives an uncountable feel with the protective phone case.
The front glass also hosts a similar smooth finish giving it a more high-end look. It comes with an almost invisible screen protector that adopts a curved Corning Gorilla Victus screen. On the upper right, we have a tiny hole-punch-designed front camera.
We have a volume button on the left panel, and a fingerprint sensor also acts as the power button on the right panel oppo went for separate buttons on either side of the phone like in most premium phones. See photos below.
The phone also packs a unique set-up on the sim tray stashed in between the USB-C charging port and the loudspeaker grille. Oppo didn’t include a MicroSD card slot but 256GM of space is more than enough. Oppo also minimized antennae openings on the phone, perhaps to enhance its looks and improve the signal quality.
OPPO Find X5 series also features 360° Smart Antenna 3.0 that keeps you connected, whichever way you hold your phone, wherever you may be. This is the kind of phone that leaves a lasting impression anywhere you go – by complementing your style and effortlessly making a statement of sophistication on your behalf.
OPPO Find X5 series is supercharged to handle even the most demanding games and applications.
Camera
The X5 is equipped with a 50-megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and 2-axis OIS for more stable videos and sharper photos. It also comes with a 50-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor with f/2.2 aperture though no freeform lens, and there’s a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture and 2x optical zoom.
The Marislicon X enhances the performance of the sensor helps to help you capture videos with a great dynamic range of Ultra Night Video and the 4K Ultra HD Video take videography using the OPPO Find X5 series as a whole new level. It also enhances all colour, tone, sound and clarity of the moment are captured in its truest form – with no compromise on quality, regardless of the time of day.
Find X5 Night shots
The Find X5 series adopts a 32MP front camera with even much more camera options including Portrait, dual view, slow motion, and Pano. Co-developed with Hasselblad, the OPPO Find X5 camera delivers a rich and vibrant colour experience thanks to the dedicated imaging Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which will offer the user a world-class imaging experience, enabling them to magnificently capture every valued moment, no matter the lighting.
The camera houses some unique camera features, thanks to the Hasselblad’s Color Calibration (runs only when using the camera’s Pro Mode), Automatic Night mode, AI Scene Enhancement 2.0, LED flash, HDR, Auto HDR, Panorama, leaf shutter sound and an Xpan mode.
A few pieces we took with the OPPO Find X5 Camera
Battery
It’s equipped with a 4800 mAh battery capacity, and 80W fast-charging that lasts up to 48hours of normal usage.
The Find X5 offers relatively good battery performance and power efficiency. You do not have to worry about leaving your house or workplace for an impromptu engagement. We had earlier flagged it off, most mid-range phones offer a 4800mAh battery capacity and there’s no way a premium flagship should. A few weeks into it it has been an excellent performer. OPPO says Find X5 can be charged from close 50 per cent in just 12 minutes and full capacity in just 34 minutes.
We weren’t keen to pinpoint the exact charging time but it took us less than 50 minutes to charge to full capacity. Thanks to the 80W SUPERVOOC The Find X5 supports 80W flash charging and 30W AIRVOOC.
The battery drain capacity also drops by roughly 7 per cent an hour for normal usage and 12 per cent for heavy usage even with the display set to maximum brightness. (And it’s lower when eye comfort is on or when you have brightness set lower) which is quite impressive. The capacity normal weakens over time so it might not be a full guarantee with a month’s usage review.
Performance and software
OPPO Find X5 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Mobile Platform, which is believed to fuel flagship experiences on smartphones including gaming, streaming and photography making it ideal for creatives who need the best photography or when doing video games.
It also supports OPPO’s first imAging NPU, MariSilicon dual-chip imaging system that uses advanced 6nm process technology that supports advanced computing power and ultra-high energy efficiency, real-time AL calculations on the original lossless image signals. It also supports 20-bit ultra HDR Fusion technology which significantly improves computing efficiency and imaging scenes.
The device is also 5G enabled. Most parts of the city are 5G ready so I didn’t experience any lags rather the loading performance is commendable.
It also comes with 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. We don’t have a physical slot for the memory card option, OPPO did away with this on the flagships but you can expand storage space using the available RAM with options of 2GB, 3 GB and 5 GB. This option brings out a very modern touch on the Find X5.
OPPO Find X5 is supported by Android 12 and OPPOs ColorOS version V12.1. ColorOS is a highly customized operating system including a built-in feature that lets you upgrade your device storage and controls for a much more smooth experience.
Conclusion
This is without doubt a good flagship phone. I’d personally want to have it for my photography. However, the price factor is quite a limitation. If you have a limited budget then this is out of the range.
The OPPO Find X5 is also, not waterproof, slight altercations with water might cost you the device.
Mobility entrepreneur with newly assigned vehicle
Moove India team with co-CEO and co-founder Ladi Delano (middle)
Fleet of vehicles
