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12 Most Admired Global Tech Brands According To Africans

12 Most Admired Global Tech Brands According To Africans

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African consumers are increasingly able to enjoy numerous global tech brands due to a growing middle class on the continent that is savvy and mindful of what brands can offer them.

Many of these brands have earned the admiration and loyalty of African consumers, with BrandAfrica ranking them in terms of the most admired brands from an African perspective.

From electronics to fin-tech, telecommunications to auto manufacturers, Africans have an affinity with many brands that they make use of on a daily basis.

We take a look at 12 of the most admired global tech brands according to Africans.

Sources: BrandAfrica, BizCommunity, CNN.

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Orange Telecom is available throughout Africa. Image: africatopsuccess.com

Orange

One of a number of telecommunications companies on this list, the French multinational firm operates in many Francophone countries, most of which see Orange as the telecoms company with the biggest market share. Around 16 countries in Africa have Orange or Orange-owned telecommunications companies in their territories.

The Glo brand is respected throughout West Africa. Photo: cp-africa.com

Globacom

The Nigerian-based telecommunications carrier is in operation throughout the West African countries of Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The business is known for consistently carrying out promotions for its subscribers, to ensure that they are kept happy on their network.

Tecno Mobile makes affordable smartphones. Photo: TheFinancialExpress
Tecno Mobile makes affordable smartphones. Photo: TheFinancialExpress

Tecno

Chinese handset maker, Tecno Mobile continues to climb up the list of Africa’s most admired tech companies, moving two spots up compared to the 2015/16 list. The company makes smartphones that are far more affordable compared to the likes of Samsung and Apple.

Etisalat
Etisalat is present throughout Africa – commsmea.com

Etisalat

This multinational telecommunications giant is based in the UAE, with operations in 15 countries around the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The 13th largest mobile network operator on the planet runs operations in Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan, Libya and parts of West Africa, allowing it to build a reputation as a company to be admired.

The brand promotes awareness through various competitions. Photo: QatarisBooming.com

Sony

The Japanese consumer electronics brand is well known within Africa as a maker of quality products across a wide spectrum of price ranges, allowing consumers the ability to select from a wider catalog of available home entertainment, mobile, and other electronics products.

BhartiAirtel Africa. Photo: Getty
Airtel has a strong footprint throughout Africa. Photo: Getty

Airtel

Headquartered in India, but with a strong presence on the African continent, Airtel connects subscribers in Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Chad, Tanzania, Congo, Zambia, Madagascar, Uganda, Seychelles, Malawi, Nigeria, DRC, Niger and Rwanda, which is perhaps why it is admired as a brand on the continent.

MTN stocks cheap enough for a takeover
Outside MTN headquarters, Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: Nadine Hutton/Getty

MTN

The highest placed African brand on this list, South Africa’s MTN is the continent’s largest telecoms operator. They revolutionized the mobile industry by being only the second telecoms provider globally to introduce a prepaid system, giving mobile access to a wider African audience.

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Toyota is a brand that commands admiration in Africa. Photo: moneyweb.co.za

Toyota

The car manufacturer from Japan is the most admired brand in its own category, beating German manufacturer BMW (which would have been the 13th brand on this list). A simple look around the streets of many African countries would reveal, by sheer number of vehicles versus competitors, the connection that African consumers have with Toyota.

Nokia remains a popular mobile brand on the continent. Photo: techview.me

Nokia

Nokia burst onto the African scene many years ago with a selection of popular feature phones such as the Nokia 3110, which soon dominated the market in the early days of mobile in Africa. To this day, Nokia’s reputation as a brand worth admiring in Africa remains strong.

LG Electronics is a popular consumer electronics brand in Africa. Photo: SlashGear
LG Electronics is a popular consumer electronics brand in Africa. Photo: SlashGear

LG Electronics

The third-placed brand on this list may surprise a few people, but consumer electronics power player LG have earned themselves place on the podium in this particular ranking, beating brands like Nokia, MTN and Sony to the punch.

Apple products are sought after in Africa. Photo: Wikipedia.org

Apple

In a list dominated by telecommunications companies, the handset makers of high-end smartphones have also done well to earn a place in African hearts, with iPhone, iPad and Mac computer maker Apple positioning themselves as Africa’s second most admired tech brand.

Samsung is Africa’s most admired brand. Photo: Samsung

Samsung

With the proliferation of mobile in Africa, a mega mobile brand like Samsung has inevitably built a strong platform on the continent, and was ranked the most admired brand in Africa for 2016/17.