Buying Tech in Kenya: Your Questions Answered

Add the item to your cart, fill in your name, phone number and delivery location at checkout, then tap 'Pay with M-Pesa' to pay instantly. Prefer to talk to someone first? Tap the WhatsApp button on any product page and our team will confirm availability and take your order in the chat.

No. You can check out as a guest with just your name, phone number and delivery location. Creating an account lets you see your order history under My Account.

Yes. At checkout tap 'Pay with M-Pesa' and you'll get an M-Pesa prompt on your phone. Enter your PIN and your order is confirmed straight away. Online payments are processed securely by our payment provider, Cyzora, and we never see your M-Pesa PIN.

By M-Pesa only. Accessories: pay via M-Pesa before delivery, or pay when you pick up in Nairobi CBD. Phones & laptops: inspect your device in person in Nairobi CBD and pay on the spot via M-Pesa. Delivery is available once payment is made.

Delivery within Nairobi is free and usually takes 1 to 2 days. Orders outside Nairobi are sent through trusted couriers such as Fargo Courier, G4S and Easy Coach and usually arrive in 2 to 3 days, for a flat fee of KES 500.

Yes, we deliver across Kenya, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Thika and smaller towns. We share the courier receipt or tracking number with you on WhatsApp as soon as your package is sent.

No. Trivo Kenya is an independent reseller: we don't hold our own inventory. When you order, we buy the item from trusted suppliers and distributors and deliver it to you. Supplier stock changes quickly, so we confirm availability for every order, and if we can't get your item we'll offer an alternative or a full refund.

We're an online store based in Nairobi, so there's no walk-in shop. Instead we deliver to your home or office, free within Nairobi. Not having a shop keeps our costs, and our prices, lower.

Every item comes with a 7-day replacement policy. If it has a factory defect or isn't working properly within 7 days of delivery, send us a short video of the problem on WhatsApp and we'll arrange a replacement. Any manufacturer warranty is provided by the manufacturer under its own terms.

After you pay you'll see your order number on screen. We then keep you updated on WhatsApp: for Nairobi deliveries we confirm the delivery time, and for upcountry orders we send the courier tracking number. Signed-in customers can also see their orders under My Account.

Dial *#06# to show the phone's IMEI number and make sure it matches the IMEI printed on the box and in Settings. Check that the box is sealed, the model number in Settings matches the box, and the software updates normally. In Kenya you can also SMS the IMEI to 1555, the Communications Authority's device check, to confirm the device is genuine and registered.

An unlocked phone isn't tied to one mobile network, so it works with Safaricom, Airtel or Telkom SIM cards. Phones imported second-hand are sometimes locked to a foreign network; always test a Kenyan SIM before paying for a used phone.

Buying online is usually cheaper because online stores don't pay for expensive shop space, and you can compare prices and specs easily. The key is buying from a trustworthy store: secure payment, clear returns policy and genuine products. Many Kenyans now buy online and have the phone delivered to their door.

The IMEI is a unique 15-digit number that identifies your phone on mobile networks. It lets you confirm a phone is genuine, check it hasn't been reported stolen, and track it if it's lost. Dial *#06# on any phone to see it. Never buy a phone whose IMEI doesn't match its box.

A brand-new phone is unused and comes sealed in its original box. A refurbished phone was used or returned, then repaired and tested before being resold. 'Ex-UK' usually means a used phone imported from the UK; condition and battery health vary a lot. Each Trivo product page states the condition, so you always know what you're buying.

Open Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health (called Battery Health & Charging on newer iOS versions). It shows the battery's maximum capacity compared with when it was new. Above 85% is healthy; below 80% the battery will drain noticeably faster and may need replacing.

Go to checkcoverage.apple.com and enter the iPhone's serial number (Settings, then General, then About). It shows whether the phone is still under Apple's limited warranty and confirms the exact model.

128GB is a comfortable minimum for most people today: apps, WhatsApp media and photos fill 64GB quickly. Choose 256GB or more if you shoot lots of video, play big games, or keep your phone for several years. If you're tight on budget, a phone with a memory card slot (many Samsung, Tecno and Infinix models) lets you add storage later.

For smooth everyday use on Android, look for at least 4GB of RAM, and 6GB to 8GB if you multitask, game or want the phone to stay fast for years. iPhones manage memory differently, so compare iPhones by model and chip rather than RAM.

Under about KSh 20,000, Tecno, Infinix and Redmi offer the best value: prioritise battery life, at least 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. Between KSh 20,000 and 50,000, Samsung Galaxy A-series and Redmi Note phones add better cameras and longer software support.

Choose an iPhone for long software support (often 5+ years), strong resale value in Kenya and easy use with other Apple devices. Choose Samsung for more choice at every price, expandable storage on many models, and more customisation. Both make excellent flagship cameras.

Most Android phones sold in Kenya support two physical SIM cards. Recent iPhones usually combine one physical SIM with an eSIM, or are eSIM-only in some markets. Check the SIM details in the product specifications, or ask us on WhatsApp before you buy.

5G is available in parts of Nairobi and other major towns, and coverage keeps growing. A 5G phone is worth it if you plan to keep it for several years, but a good 4G phone still works well everywhere 5G isn't available. To use 5G you need a 5G phone, 5G coverage, and a plan from your network that supports it.

It depends on the brand and model. iPhones usually get iOS updates for 5 or more years. Recent Samsung Galaxy S and many A-series phones promise several years of Android and security updates. Budget brands usually update for a shorter time. Longer updates keep your phone secure and keep your banking and M-Pesa apps working.

8GB is the minimum for smooth everyday use: browsing, Office, Zoom and light multitasking. Choose 16GB for programming, design, video editing or keeping lots of browser tabs open. Gamers and heavy creative users benefit from 16GB to 32GB.

Always choose an SSD. Laptops with SSDs start in seconds, open apps much faster and are more durable because there are no moving parts. A 256GB SSD is the minimum; 512GB is more comfortable if you store photos, videos or games.

Many Windows laptops let you add RAM or swap in a bigger SSD, but some thin models have memory soldered to the board. MacBooks with Apple M-series chips can't be upgraded at all, so choose enough RAM and storage when you buy.

They're closely matched: both handle schoolwork, office work and coding well. The processor generation matters more than the brand, so a recent Ryzen 5 will beat an old Core i7. Compare the model numbers, and check battery life and screen quality too.

Look for at least 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, a recent Intel Core i3/i5 or AMD Ryzen 3/5 processor, and good battery life for long days on campus. HP, Lenovo and Dell offer reliable student laptops at every budget.

Aim for 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD and a modern Intel Core i5/i7, AMD Ryzen 5/7 or Apple M-series chip. A comfortable keyboard and a Full HD screen matter more than graphics for most developers. MacBooks are popular for web and mobile development, while Windows laptops offer more choice per shilling.

Choose a MacBook for excellent battery life, build quality and strong resale value in Kenya. Choose Windows for more choice at every price, easier upgrades and compatibility with specialised software, such as some accounting and engineering tools.

A dedicated graphics card (such as NVIDIA GeForce RTX), at least 16GB RAM, an SSD and a high-refresh-rate screen (120Hz or more). Gaming laptops run hot, so good cooling matters, and battery life is usually short.

On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, then System, then Activation. It should say 'Windows is activated'. Genuine Windows gets security updates and won't show activation warnings.

On Windows, open Command Prompt and run 'powercfg /batteryreport' to get a report comparing the battery's current capacity with its design capacity. On a MacBook, hold Option, click the Apple menu, choose System Information, then Power to see the cycle count and condition.

13 to 14 inches is lightest and easiest to carry around campus or the office. 15.6 inches gives more room for spreadsheets, coding and movies, but is heavier. Whatever the size, choose a Full HD (1920×1080) screen or better.

Yes, if you buy from a shop that has a real website, clear prices and policies, and pays through a registered business payment system rather than a personal M-Pesa number. On Trivo you pay through a secure checkout, get an order number straight away, and are covered by our 7-day replacement policy.

Be careful with deals that are far cheaper than everywhere else, sellers who only accept payment to a personal number, and pressure to pay before you've seen proof the item exists. Ask for the IMEI and check it, use a business Paybill or Till, and keep your M-Pesa confirmation message.

Yes. If we can't get the item you paid for, we'll offer you an alternative or a full refund of the amount you paid.

Never. When you pay online, the M-Pesa prompt comes from Safaricom to your phone and you enter your PIN there. No one from Trivo will ever ask for your PIN, password or verification codes. If someone does, it's a scam.

Not always. iPhones and recent Samsung Galaxy flagships ship with only a cable, no charging brick. Many Tecno, Infinix and Redmi phones still include a charger. Check what's in the box in the product specifications.

Use a charger that supports your phone's fast-charging standard and wattage, for example USB-C Power Delivery (PD) for iPhones and Pixels, or Samsung's Super Fast Charging (PPS). A good USB-C PD charger of 20W or more safely fast-charges most modern phones.

Uncertified chargers can charge slowly, overheat and in rare cases damage your battery. Buy chargers from known brands, and avoid unbranded ones with no safety markings.