Uganda’s smartphone and feature mobile phone market is a dynamic landscape, with feature phones currently dominating usage despite the increasing accessibility of smartphones.
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The latest UCC industry report indicated that as of 2023, feature phones account for a significant portion of mobile devices in use, numbering 25 million, a considerable rise from 17.8 million in 2020. This continued dominance can be largely attributed to their affordability, durability, and longer battery life compared to smartphones, making them particularly appealing in rural and low-income areas.
Smartphones, while still lagging behind feature phones in terms of overall numbers, have seen a rapid increase in usage. Between 2020 and 2023, smartphone usage in Uganda grew from 7.6 million to 15 million, driven by the availability of more affordable devices and innovative affordability schemes.
However, the overall smartphone penetration rate in Uganda stands at 33%, compared to the global average of 54%. Despite this gap, Uganda has made strides in smartphone adoption among adults, with a penetration rate of 67% in the addressable adult market.
The rise of smartphones in Uganda is intrinsically linked to the increasing popularity of social media apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and WhatsApp, particularly among the country’s young and tech-savvy population.
The growth in both feature phone and smartphone usage underscores the ongoing digital revolution in Uganda. While feature phones remain dominant due to their affordability and practicality, smartphones are steadily gaining ground, driven by the appeal of social media and digital connectivity. This trend is likely to continue as smartphones become increasingly accessible and data costs decrease.
