Samsung launches Galaxy A57 and A37 in South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA 13:39

Samsung launches Galaxy A57 and A37 in South Africa

Samsung announced the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 5G smartphones are available in South Africa. The latest Galaxy A series reflects Samsung's commitment to expanding AI (artificial intelligence) capabilities across more devices. The A57 will be offered in the colours navy and gray while the A37 comes in lavender, grey or dark green. Pricing starts at ZAR 11,999 for the Galaxy A57 and ZAR 8,699 for the Galaxy A37.

Honor 600 Lite launches in South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA 13:31

Honor 600 Lite launches in South Africa

The Honor 600 Lite has launched in South Africa, featuring a metal unibody design, 108MP camera system and AI-powered photography tools. The smartphone will be available in stores from 24 April in Sprout Green and Velvet Black at a recommended retail price of ZAR 8,999. Available promotions in retail include pricing of ZAR 399 per month over 36 months. Customers who purchase the device before 07 June will receive a free Honor Choice Watch 2i valued at ZAR 999 and an Honor care service benefit valid until ye

Honor introduces 600 series with 200MP AI camera, 7,000 mAh battery
GLOBAL 13:00

Honor introduces 600 series with 200MP AI camera, 7,000 mAh battery

Honor has confirmed the global launch of its new 600 series smartphones. The Honor 600 and 600 Pro boast a 200-megapixel camera with dedicated AI button for image and video creation and a 7,000 mAh battery with up to 80W fast charging, while a 'Lite' version of the phone also will be available in certain markets. The phones are rolling out in April in selected markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Oppo debuts premium Find X9 Ultra phone, Watch X3 and Enco Clip 2 earbuds
GLOBAL 12:28

Oppo debuts premium Find X9 Ultra phone, Watch X3 and Enco Clip 2 earbuds

Oppo has announced the global launch of three premium devices, including its flagship Find X9 Ultra smartphone alongside its latest Watch X3 smartwatch and a new pair of TWS earbuds. The camera-focused Find X9 Ultra features a 144Hz 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display, a 7,050 mAh battery with proprietary 100W wired and 50W wireless charging plus Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC.

T2 starts smartphone sales at Russian Post outlets
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 12:15

T2 starts smartphone sales at Russian Post outlets

Russian mobile operator T2, a subsidiary of the national operator Rostelecom, has expanded its partnership with Russian Post, reports Kommersant. The operator has started selling smartphones with SIMs in Russian Post offices. The operator also tests sales of smartwatches with SIMs in post offices in certain regions. The cooperation covers more than 2,200 post offices in 60 regions. 

Orange Poland offers 2-for-1 on unlimited data plan
POLAND 12:12

Orange Poland offers 2-for-1 on unlimited data plan

Orange Poland has a promotion for customers connecting to two Plan L tariffs, offering the monthly bundle for PLN 50 per plan or half price for the first year. The Plan L includes unlimited voice, data and SMS/MMS services and normally costs PLN 100 per month. The customers also can get discounts on the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G 8/256 GB, Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G 8/256 GB and Motorola Moto G86 5G Power 12/256 GB smartphones.

Vodacom sells over 51,000 refurbished smartphones in South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA 09:12

Vodacom sells over 51,000 refurbished smartphones in South Africa

Vodacom South Africa says it has sold over 51,000 "good as new" products, expanding on its initiative to reduce e-waste and promote digital inclusion in South Africa, MyBroadband reported.  

Vivo partners with Credit Direct to finance phones in Nigeria
NIGERIA 07:38

Vivo partners with Credit Direct to finance phones in Nigeria

Vivo and Credit Direct have launched a device financing scheme to make smartphones more affordable in Nigeria, ITWeb reported. Through this new partnership, customers can pick up a Vivo device by paying a 20 percent deposit, with the remaining balance spread over six monthly installments.

Orange Poland opens orders for Motorola Razr Fold Fifa Edition phone
POLAND 21 APR

Orange Poland opens orders for Motorola Razr Fold Fifa Edition phone

Orange Poland has started accepting orders for the limited edition Motorola Razr Fold Fifa Edition 5G smartphone. The device is available for PLN 9,999 with the Plan L from the operator, or PLN 11,499 without the subscription. In addition, customers buying the device are offered a free ticket to a FIFA World Cup match.

Vodacom South Africa organises AR Easter egg hunt
SOUTH AFRICA 21 APR

Vodacom South Africa organises AR Easter egg hunt

Vodacom South Africa is organising an augmented reality Easter egg hunt at Vodacom World in Midrand to wrap up the Easter season. Running from 22 to 25 April, the event offers participants the chance to win prizes worth ZAR 250,000. Using augmented reality technology, customers will hunt for virtual Easter Eggs while physically exploring Vodaworld, blending digital innovation with tangible experiences. Prize offerings include smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions, gaming consoles, smart appliances, dat

Telemach and Honor open store in Croatia
CROATIA (HRVATSKA) 21 APR

Telemach and Honor open store in Croatia

Telemach Croatia has opened a new "shop-in-shop" for Honor's latest devices and gadgets, in Split, Croatia. Located in City Center One, this is the first such outlet in Croatia and Europe. Visitors can try out everything from smartphones and wearable gadgets to smart home solutions, including the new Honor 600 smartphone series.

Honor meets Egyptian minister to discuss local smartphone production
EGYPT 21 APR

Honor meets Egyptian minister to discuss local smartphone production

Egypt's ICT minister Raafat Hendy met with Honor executives to discuss scaling the company's manufacturing footprint in the country. The talks focused on boosting output at the Honor facility operated in partnership with Etisal Trading to meet both local demand and increase exports. The company's plans to expand its manufacturing operations in Egypt are part of its strategy to establish Egypt as a major regional hub for its operations in the Middle East and Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA 21 APR

Vivo South Africa launches V70 smartphones

Vivo South Africa has launched the new V70 smartphone range, featuring enhanced photography capabilities and a streamlined user experience. Developed in partnership with Zeiss, the series boasts ultra-durable build quality and professional-grade imaging. The V70 FE 5G costs ZAR 22,999, while the standard V70 retails at ZAR 16,999. The range is now available at leading retailers and mobile operators nationwide.

CHINA 21 APR

Huawei adds new foldable format with Pura X Max launch

Huawei has unveiled a new wide-screen foldable smartphone as part of a refresh of its premium Pura range. Priced from CNY 10,999 (USD 1,613), the Pura X Max features a 5.4-inch external display and opens up like a book to create a 7.7-inch screen. It launches in China alongside the new Pura 90 Pro and Pro Max smartphones with Huawei's latest advances in smartphone cameras. 

INDIA 21 APR

India smartphone shipments drop 5% in Q1 amid inventory caution and pricing pressures

India's smartphone shipments fell by 5 percent year-on-year to 30.9 million units in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting seasonally weak demand compounded by cautious channel inventory strategies, according to a report from Omdia. The report also shows that demand was pressured by macro headwinds, including rupee depreciation and rising inflation weighing on affordability and delayed consumer upgrades. Additionally, earlier front-loading ahead of expected price increases limited incremental channel intake

GLOBAL 21 APR

Apple names hardware SVP Ternus as new CEO

Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO of Apple after 15 years and will become executive chairman from September, Apple announced. John Ternus, an Apple veteran and senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will take over as CEO from the same date. 

MALAYSIA 21 APR

CelcomDigi launches Endless Aisle digital retail service with Samsung

CelcomDigi has launched the 'Endless Aisle' service across its retail network in collaboration with Samsung Malaysia. This digital platform is now operational at over 300 CelcomDigi Store and CelcomDigi Express locations nationwide. The Endless Aisle service enables customers to browse, purchase, and set up Samsung smartphones, smart TVs, and home appliances at CelcomDigi stores.

ARMENIA 20 APR

Viva Armenia offers iPhone financing deal with Inekobank

The operator Viva Armenia introduced an offer with the bank Inekobank for customers to buy selected iPhone models without upfront payment and no commission fees or interest during the first year of an installment contract. The promotion is valid until 03 May for the iPhone Air 256 GB, iPhone 17 256 GB and iPhone 17e 256 GB.

GLOBAL 20 APR

Xiaomi unveils Poco M8s 5G with 7,000mAh battery

Xiaomi has introduced the latest smartphone in its budget to mid-range Poco M series: the 5G-compatible M8s. At the core of the device is a 7,000mAh battery with 33W fast-charging that delivers up to two days on a single charge, with Xiaomi also claiming that the cell maintains at least 80 percent of its capacity after 1,600 charge cycles and offers 7.5 hours of standby time even at 1 percent.

JAPAN 20 APR

SoftBank to launch 5G 'Natural AI Phone' with integrated AI assistant

SoftBank will launch the "Natural AI Phone", a 5G-enabled smartphone developed by US-based Brain Technologies, on 24 April, with pre-orders opening ahead of release. The operator will hold exclusive domestic sales rights for the device for at least one year from launch. The device incorporates a proprietary "Natural AI" system designed to support users by interpreting intent and generating suggestions based on accumulated user data. An associated "Understanding System" stores inputs, conversations and instr

POLAND 17 APR

Play offers cashback on premium smartphones

Polish operator Play, controlled by Iliad, has introduced a promotion on selected smartphones from Samsung and Motorola. A PLN 600 cashback is available when buying the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or S26+, or PLN 500 for buying the Samsung Galaxy S26. The promotion is valid until 10 May. A PLN 1,000 cashback is offered when buying the Motorola Signature until 08 May, and the cashback totals PLN 300 on the Realme 16 Pro+ 5G until 29 April.

GERMANY 17 APR

Gigaset brings out Easy 500 range with large keys and personal safety functions

Gigaset has announced the introduction of Easy 500, a range of three cordless telephones that are simple to use with big buttons, a high-contrast 2.2-inch colour display and clearly structured menu. They combine safety functions such as an SOS emergency call key with excellent clarity and high voice quality. They are available in stores and from the Gigaset online shop, where the standard Gigaset Easy 500 costs EUR 69.99 and the Easy 500A costs EUR 79.99.

SOUTH AFRICA 17 APR

Samsung South Africa offers funding to black-owned small and medium-sized service centres

Samsung South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the DTIC), has launched a new Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) campaign. It invites black-owned service centre enterprises to apply for its Enterprise Development (ED) programme. The 2025 campaign was a broad invitation to small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises operating within the ICT and service centre space to apply for funding. The ICT category received a sufficient number of applications but Sams

UGANDA 17 APR

MTN Uganda petitions Parliament to scrap import duties on entry-level smartphones

MTN Uganda has petitioned Parliament to abolish import duties on entry-level smartphones, arguing this would make devices more affordable and boost the uptake of digital services, Nile Post reported. Denis Kakonge, MTN Uganda general manager for corporate services, made the request while presenting the company's views on the tax amendment bills for the 2026/27 financial year. He told the Finance Committee that low-income earners are currently priced out of the smartphone market.

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Background

19 APR 23:04

The week in telecoms: SFR takover moves ahead, Amazon bags Globalstar and Netgear in favour in US

12 APR 23:28

The week in telecoms: Samsung profits soar, Netflix targets kids and telcos build defence vertical

9 APR 15:58

Ziggo Group creation at 2026 low point sets stage for growth ahead

7 APR 11:48

Netherlands TV-video market revenues up just 0.5% in Q4