Safaricom’s Neon range has become a go-to for affordable, locally assembled 4G smartphones in Kenya, popular with first-time smartphone users and anyone wanting a reliable budget device for social media access. Two of the most talked-about models are the Neon Smarta 2 and the newer Neon Smarta 3. On paper, the Smarta 3 looks like a big step up, but is it worth choosing over the cheaper Smarta 2? Here is a clear and honest breakdown.
The Answer
The Neon Smarta 3 is a major upgrade over the Smarta 2 in almost every area that matters: a much bigger screen, more RAM, a sharper camera, and a significantly larger battery. If your budget allows, the Smarta 3 is clearly the better phone and the one we would recommend for most buyers. The Neon Smarta 2 remains a fine choice only if you want the absolute lowest price or prefer a smaller, more compact phone. Let’s look at exactly where they differ.
Display: A Big Jump in Size
This is the most obvious difference between the two.
The Neon Smarta 2 has a compact 5.0-inch display, which is easy to handle one-handed but feels cramped for video, browsing, and social media by today’s standards.
The Neon Smarta 3 jumps to a large 6.9-inch display, nearly two inches bigger. This makes a huge difference for everyday use: watching YouTube, scrolling WhatsApp and Facebook, reading, and browsing are all far more comfortable on the bigger screen. For most people, this larger, more modern display alone is a compelling reason to choose the Smarta 3.
Winner: Neon Smarta 3, by a wide margin.
Memory (RAM): Smoother Performance
Performance gets a real boost on the newer model. The Neon Smarta 2 comes with 2GB of RAM, which is enough for basic tasks but can feel sluggish when switching between apps.
The Neon Smarta 3 upgrades to 3GB of RAM, giving the phone more breathing room for multitasking and helping apps run and switch more smoothly. Both phones have 32GB of internal storage with microSD expansion, so you can add more space as needed on either.
Winner: Neon Smarta 3, thanks to the extra RAM.
Camera: Sharper Photos on the Smarta 3
Photography is another clear win for the newer phone.
The Neon Smarta 2 has an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP selfie camera, fine for occasional snaps and video calls, but limited in detail.
The Neon Smarta 3 steps up significantly to a 16MP main camera and an 8MP selfie camera. That is double the resolution on the rear and four times on the front, meaning noticeably sharper, more detailed photos and much better selfies and video calls.
Winner: Neon Smarta 3.
Battery: Much Longer Endurance
Battery life is where the Smarta 3 really pulls ahead.
The Neon Smarta 2 has a 3300mAh battery (around 3000mAh on some variants), which delivers a day of light use.
The Neon Smarta 3 packs a much larger 5100mAh battery, a big increase that comfortably lasts a full day and often into a second day of typical use. For students, first-time users, and anyone dealing with long days or limited charging, this bigger battery is a genuine everyday advantage.
Winner: Neon Smarta 3, clearly.
What They Have in Common:
Both phones share the same core Safaricom Neon DNA:
Both are Kenyan-assembled and part of Safaricom’s push toward accessible 4G smartphones. They offer 4G LTE, 32GB of expandable storage, FM radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, and both run a lightweight, Go-optimised version of Android designed for smooth performance on affordable hardware. On both, note that one or both SIM slots are locked to the Safaricom network only
Safaricom Neon Smarta 3 vs Neon Smarta 2: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Neon Smarta 2 | Neon Smarta 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.0-inch LCD | 6.9-inch LCD |
| RAM | 2GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 32GB + microSD | 32GB + microSD |
| Main Camera | 8MP | 16MP |
| Selfie Camera | 2MP | 8MP |
| Battery | 3300mAh | 5100mAh |
| Network | 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM |
| Software | Android Go | Android Go |
| Assembly | Kenya-assembled | Kenya-assembled |
So, Which One Should You Buy?
- Buy the Safaricom Neon Smarta 3: If you want the best everyday experience for the money. Its bigger 6.9-inch screen, extra RAM, sharper 16MP camera, and much larger 5100mAh battery make it a far more capable and future-ready phone. For the vast majority of buyers, students, first-time smartphone users, and anyone wanting a dependable daily device, the Smarta 3 is the clear choice and well worth the small extra cost.
- Buy the Safaricom Neon Smarta 2: If you want the absolute cheapest option, or you specifically prefer a smaller, compact 5-inch phone that is easy to use one-handed. It still handles the basics, calls, messaging, WhatsApp, and light browsing, perfectly well.
