Cellular6.11.2024

Cheapest 4G and 5G cellphones in South Africa

By Myles Illidge

South Africans can get a 4G smartphone for as little as R495, and although even entry-level 5G smartphones are substantially more expensive, some are available for under R1,500.

It is critical that South African residents upgrade from 2G and 3G devices, as mobile networks and the government wish to shut down these networks.

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) previously proposed that 2G and 3G be switched off by 31 December 2027. However, the deadline sparked backlash from the industry.

This is because major mobile network operators in the country say many residents and businesses still rely on legacy networks.

They said they would prefer an industry-led approach, with government support to help South Africans set aside their old 2G and 3G–only devices in favour of 4G and 5G.

Association of Communications and Technology CEO Nomvuyiso Batyi recently warned that the current deadline would likely leave many South Africans behind.

“In making sure that no one is left behind, let us not have a set deadline and cause unnecessary panic. Let us make sure South Africans have affordable devices in terms of 4G,” she said.

“There must be a massive public awareness campaign instead of just having a date.”

A Vodacom spokesperson recently told MyBroadband that a shutdown would impact both consumers and businesses.

They said 2G and 3G terminal sales still comprise a large portion of the market.

“Transitions of this nature have a significant impact on customers, and we are hopeful that Icasa will work with the industry to develop a practical schedule for sunsetting of legacy technologies during its feasibility study, which we expect to commence shortly,” the spokesperson said.

They added that many consumers still rely on 2G and 3G devices due to challenging economic conditions in the country, coupled with high taxation on 4G and 5G handsets.

“Our recommendation to government is to first engage with industry regarding managing the inflow rate of new 2G/3G devices into the market, and then monitor the rate of attrition of 2G/3G devices on the various networks, before deciding on next steps,” they said.

MTN South Africa also told Mybroadband that legacy devices still play a critical role in South Africa. It plans to subsidise 4G devices to make them more affordable to its customers.

“Some of the measures include increasing the investment towards smart feature devices and continue investing in subsidising 4G entry devices to reduce costs so that our customers can afford to purchase these devices,” it said.

However, various affordable 4G and 5G smartphones are already available to South African consumers.

Affordable 4G and 5G smartphones

MyBroadband searched South African online retailers for the most affordable 4G and 5G smartphones and found ten 4G devices priced between R495 and R599.

Moreover, we also found that Ackermans is selling the 5G-enabled ZTE Blade A72 for R1,499, which is more affordable than some of the 4G devices available.

We found four 4G-enabled smartphones that South Africans can get for less than R500 and six with price tags of between R500 and R600.

While these devices don’t offer impressive specs, they still provide sought-after features like access to social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook.

As 5G device prices tend to vary more significantly, we only included the five most affordable devices, with the ZTE Blade A72 5G being the most affordable at R1,499.

Other notable options include the Tecno Spark 10 5G from Edgars for R1,999.90, the Hisense H60 5G from Bob Shop for R2,999, and the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G from Takealot for R3,574.

Some of the cheapest 4G and 5G smartphones available to South African shoppers are listed with pricing below. We have specified the cellular technology each uses in brackets if not otherwise specified.