MTN unleashes branded budget Icon 5G smartphone in a bid to get people off 2G and 3G

MTN, one of South Africa’s largest mobile network operators, has unveiled the Icon 5G – an MTN-branded budget smartphone designed to lure customers away from the 2G and 3G networks that are still so prevalent among South Africans. The news comes soon after MTN announced its entry into the cloud gaming scene.

On the hunt for a budget Icon

The Icon 5G matches the price point set by Samsung’s own budget effort – the A06 – at R2,500. Whether it can compare to Samsung’s superior OS and build quality… remains to be seen. The specs, at least, appear to hit all the right notes, providing the bare minimum necessary for a phone in this price bracket.

“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 (via TechCentral).

“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,” it said.

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Read More: MTN once again named SA’s best mobile network in Q3 2024 report

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If the R2,500 entry point is still too high, MTN will offer the Icon 5G on contract from R220/m over 36 months on a Core price plan. The Core plan includes 1GB/month, and 50 minutes of calling, though a free once-off ’30GB start-up bundle’ is also included. Prepaid customers will also unlock an additional once-off 21GB of data.

We found the Icon 5G listed on reseller BMB Communications, though it offered no clearer indication of the specs customers can expect. Until MTN confirms the finer details, all we know is that the Icon 5G reps a 6.6in display (resolution unspecified), a solid 5,000mAh battery, and a 50MP main sensor accompanied by a 8MP sensor on the front. RAM, storage, and SoC specs are unconfirmed at the time of writing.

Judging by similarly-priced smartphones, we can assume the ICon will include no more than 128GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, and the cheapest 5G-capable SoC possible. While this may not seem like much, for MTN’s targeted clientele – customers on 2G and 3G devices – the power on offer will be more than enough to get by.

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