Smartphone competition in Togo shifts toward AI features

ITC

Wednesday, 18 March 2026 11:09

Smartphone competition in Togo shifts toward AI features

(Togo First) - TECNO Mobile launched its Camon 50 smartphone in Togo on Tuesday, positioning the device as an affordable option in an increasingly competitive market where artificial intelligence has become a key differentiator.

The Chinese handset maker unveiled the phone at the Hôtel 2 Février in Lomé, continuing a strategy introduced with the Camon 40 to bring AI features to affordable smartphones in an African market with strong demand for versatile devices.

From Photography to Broader AI Uses

While photography has traditionally been the focus of the Camon lineup, TECNO is shifting its approach with the Camon 50 and Camon Pro toward a broader mix of content creation, digital assistance and user support tools.

The new model includes AI features that can automatically summarize online videos, create new visuals from existing images and recognize audio in real time. It also offers real-time conversation translation, text correction and summarization, as well as tools for generating creative content, said Sonia Kpakpayi, training manager at TECNO Mobile Togo.

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A “Student Mode” for Educational Use

Another addition is a “student mode”, designed to guide users through solving problems without providing direct answers. The feature targets educational use of smartphones, which has become increasingly widespread.

This reflects a broader trend among smartphone makers, where AI is emerging as a key differentiator. In markets such as Togo, it marks a notable shift, as competing devices often limit AI functions to photography or performance optimization.

A Multipurpose Personal Assistant

With the full Camon 50 lineup — including the Camon 50, Camon Pro and Camon Ultra — TECNO is expanding the range of use cases. The addition of student-focused features and basic health monitoring tools signals an effort to position the smartphone as a multipurpose personal assistant, in line with growing digital usage, particularly among urban youth.

Manufacturers continue to emphasize traditional features such as battery life, durability and display quality. On those fronts, the Camon 50 highlights a high-capacity battery, improved durability for everyday use and sustained performance over time. TECNO Mobile Togo General Manager Papa Thiam Medoune described the device as offering good value for money for a broad consumer base.

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For TECNO, which has a strong presence across Africa and particularly in Togo, the objective is to strengthen its market position by focusing on innovations that are directly accessible to users. As smartphones become the main gateway to digital services, embedded AI could play a decisive role in purchasing decisions.

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REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.