Two smartphones in South Africa which cost R449

The two most affordable 4G smartphones in South Africa in May 2026 are the Hisense U32 and Hisense U967, both of which cost R449.

While Hisense is well known for its home appliance products in South Africa, it has offered smartphones in the country since 2015.

In its launch year, the company sold 307,000 devices. That had climbed to 1.8 million by 2018. StatCounter estimated Hisense’s South African smartphone market share at less than 1% in 2025.

However, several of South Africa’s major mobile networks continue to list Hisense’s devices among their top-selling smartphones.

In early 2025, both Vodacom and MTN said that the Hisense U607 was among their top-selling smartphones. At that time, it was priced at R399, making it South Africa’s cheapest 4G smartphone.

Hisense has a strong presence in the budget segment in South Africa, with various models priced under R2,000.

The Hisense U32, priced at R449 from Bash at the time of publication, offers a 4-inch LCD screen, 16GB internal storage, 2GB RAM, and a 1,500mAh battery.

It does not boast much in the way of photography, with a 5MP rear and 2MP front camera. Other specifications, like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi versions, are not publicly available.

The U967 boasts nearly identical specifications, apart from a larger 5-inch screen and 2,500mAh battery. It is taller, wider, and thicker, but about 10 grams lighter than the U32.

In terms of software, the U967 has a much more capable operating system — Android 13 — instead of Android 11 Go Edition. Considering pricing was the same, it offered better value for money than the U32.

Pep also included earphones with the phone, something which is rarely offered with mid-rangers and flagships, apart from on bundle deals.

As is the case with many budget smartphones, these two models were locked to a mobile network, which is typically because their cost is subsidised.

Affordable 4G smartphones key to advancing cellular connectivity in South Africa

Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C are offering many 4G devices below R1,000, on which they make little or no profit.

They recoup the subsidies by requiring that customers use their services for a period, typically 12 months, before they can move to another network.

The two Hisense models were locked to MTN but featured dual SIM slots. While the primary SIM must remain active on MTN, the secondary SIM can be used with any network.

The networks stand to gain from subsidising low-end devices in the long term. Moving people away from older 2G and 3G devices will enable the sunsetting of those network technologies.

If the spectrum currently occupied for 2G and 3G services is freed, it can be refarmed for 4G, 5G, and other more efficient wireless connectivity.

While the Hisense U32 and U967 were the cheapest smartphones available at retail, Vodacom and MTN offered promotions last year where select customers could upgrade to 4G devices for under R100.

MTN’s Smartphone for All campaign, launched in May 2025, aimed to distribute 1.2 million 4G smartphones of various makes and models at R99 per phone.

Vodacom began selling its Kicka 6 smartphone for R67 in July last year, in celebration of the 67 years Nelson Mandela fought for human rights.

The government also contributed to a reduction in smartphone prices in 2025 by removing ad valorem duties on imports of smartphones cheaper than R2,500.

That development came following lobbying by communications minister Solly Malatsi, who made the removal of the tax one of his earliest priorities after assuming office in July 2024.

Hisense U32

Hisense U967

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