A few weeks ago, we were discussing about the proliferation of smartphones especially Android devices and how they were becoming cheaper and packed with more features than entry-level devices were normally known for.

Some days later we heard about another one poised to enter the Nigerian market and we got curious. Enter Gionee and Opera Software and the first thought was that the later had commissioned the former to build a mobile device for its teeming mobile browser users. But on interaction with the Sub-saharan Coordinator for Opera Software, Osibo Imhotisike, it turns out that it was a marketing partnership which sounds good considering that Opera Software already had a foothold in the online Nigeria.

There are two of them – Gionee Pocket and the Gionee Pioneer. On first look, the Pocket looks like another Pocket that we all know but that is where the similarities end. The Gionee Pocket was noticeably faster (it has a 1GHz processor speed), more responsive albeit with no 3G and a lower quality camera. It is however a dual-SIM phone which will definitely come in handy since our mobile networks have not gotten their acts together.

The Pioneer is supposed to be a higher version of the Pocket and it sports a bigger screen, better camera and better user experience. Speed is also not a problem with this phone because we played memory-intensive games on it with no lag whatsoever. There is 3G available for data but not for calls, which is fine since the call quality is great and it also saves battery too.

On further research, we discovered that the manufacturer actually had a range of devices in Asia which included devices which had the specifications of Samsung Galaxy’s flagship phone – Galaxy S3 – but at a crazy price, about half the price of the S3. There will be some features which won’t be in them but they won’t be missed.

Entry price for the Pocket is thought to be around 10-11 thousand Naira, while that for the Pocket will likely be around 13-14 thousand. Both devices are great competition for the Tecno N3 which is currently the known one especially the Pioneer.

The specifications for both devices are below.

Gionee Pioneer

Gionee Pocket