To drive 5G adoption and lure consumers away from legacy 2G and 3G devices, MTN South Africa is launching its own branded 5G smartphone. The MTN Icon 5G will retail for R2,500 and offer consumers mid-range performance. Components include a 2.2GHz octa-core processor, a 6.6-inch touchscreen, a 5,000mAh battery, a 50-megapixel rear camera, and 128GB of flash storage.
The MTN Icon 5G is available from R219 per month for 36 months on the core plan, which includes 1GB of data and 50 minutes of talk time per month. Prepaid customers will receive 21GB of data at once.
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The smartphone is tailored to the needs of South Africans looking to switch from MTN South Africa’s 2G and 3G
devices. MTN South Africa GM Thando Gabela said the launch of the phone was aimed at making it easier for customers to switch from ageing 2G and 3G devices to a more modern platform.
“The launch of this affordable 5G smartphone is an essential step in MTN’s strategy to make next-generation connectivity available to a broader base of customers, including those who may not have access to high-end devices,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The new 5G smartphone provides an affordable entry point for customers seeking the benefits of 5G technology, including faster data speeds, lower latency and enhanced user experiences,” the company said. “This smartphone is tailored to the needs of South Africans who want to migrate from older 2G and 3G networks to 4G and 5G networks, but perhaps don’t have the features they need on a high-end device budget.”
The MTN Icon 5G appears to be a more affordable option than competing devices with similar specifications. For example, the Hisense H50S 5G phone with 128GB storage is priced at R3,150 on Takealot, while the Nokia G42 128GB 5G device is also priced at R4,000 on Takealot.
