How Mobile Devices are Replacing Laptops

Michael Ogillo’s preferred workstation was a laptop less than ten years ago. The gadget was always in a bag on his shoulder, no matter where he went.

He could use it to write reports, send and receive emails to his office, and even participate in meetings via video links while on the move.

The weight of the device was a minor inconvenience that he gladly overlooked in comparison to the efficiency it provided him.

Today, the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation’s General Manager, Sales and Marketing does not need to carry his laptop everywhere he goes, thanks to technological advances that have shifted his preference to his smartphone.

“Many of the tasks that were previously only possible on laptops and desktop computers can now be done on smartphones. It comes preinstalled with Microsoft’s Office suite apps such as Excel, Word, and PDF which are great for writing reports and presentations. Since I handle communication, I can also design simple posters using apps like Canva,” says Mr Ogillo.

The Roaming Chef, a well-known Kenyan ticktoker, has used the new smartphones’ powerful processing capabilities to establish his brand.

Through his social media pages, Ombachi publishes his material.

“I love cooking, and this is one of the reasons I share my recipes with people. With the new gadgets, I am able to record myself cooking, edit using the same smartphone and then post the short videos to various social media channels,” says Mr Ombachi.

Being a one-man crew, he says he has been able to keep the costs of his productions low.

“I tried out a few methods. I remember I even bought a professional camera, but it was not working out for me. It was hectic and I needed to shoot today, edit quickly by tomorrow and have the content out without going through all the complex video editing process. So, with the new devices, I am able to edit the videos very first and post them,” he adds.

Public relations and marketing professional Eunice Victoria is likewise unable to recall the last time she brought her laptop to a meeting.

“As a public relation personnel, I need a fast-charging phone with long battery life. I make several calls and hold various meetings. With a good device, I can work from anywhere,” says Ms Victoria.

Smartphone power has increased over the past ten years thanks to advancements in microprocessor technology.

The low-end cell phones of today are more powerfully equipped than the flagship models of ten years ago.

For example, the Samsung Galaxy S4 in 2013 boasted 64 GB of internal storage and 2 GB of RAM. This contrasts with the Samsung Galaxy S23, the current flagship model, which has 512GB of storage space and 8GB of RAM.

Yet, the International Data Corporation reports that Africa’s smartphone market shrank by 18% in 2022 compared to the previous year, despite the region’s growing transition to smartphones.

The main cause of this is the decline in consumer expenditure brought on by ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty.

According to a report by the Corporation, 73.4 million cell phones were transported into Africa, with Samsung of South Korea and Tecno and Itel of China accounting for 65 percent of the overall shipments.

“We continue to witness consumer demand dwindle as refresh rates climb past 40 months in most major markets. “With 2022 declining more than 11 percent for the year, 2023 is set up to be a year of caution as vendors will rethink their portfolio of devices while channels will think twice before taking on excess inventory. However, on a positive note, consumers may find even more generous trade-in offers and promotions continuing well into 2023 as the market will think of new methods to drive upgrades and sell more devices, specifically high-end models.”