Here’s a fact of life: no one gets everything they want. We often have to settle for the second-best option if we’re lucky. Many times, we end up with the very last thing we would have picked.
This is true for the devices we use. Like most of you, I wouldn’t be using the laptop and phone I currently use if funds weren’t an issue.
I like to think I have no need for a tablet in my life, but I’d probably find it handy for those late-night doomscrolling sessions before bed. So maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have one.
All of this points to a simple truth: the devices we use don’t always reflect our ideal choices in a world where we could get whatever we wanted.
We asked our community on WhatsApp which smartphone they would pick if they got it for free.
The choices were: Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro Max, OnePlus 12, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
It turns out the Techzim community is made up of Samsung (Sammy) fans, just like the rest of Zimbabwe. Here are the results in percentage terms:
- Galaxy S24 Ultra – 61%
- iPhone 16 Pro Max – 20%
- Pixel 9 Pro XL – 9%
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 6%
- Pura 70 Ultra – 3%
- OnePlus 12 – 2%
I knew the S24 Ultra would be popular, but I didn’t think it would dominate this much—61% of the votes is wild. All that talk of the iPhone being the aspirational phone doesn’t seem to apply here. Over here, the South Koreans have the more desirable products.
You should note that the Galaxy is the second oldest on the list, having been released way back in January 2024. The iPhone came out just last month, and the Pixel is only two months old, yet people still picked the Galaxy.
Galaxy dominance
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra winning 61% of the votes reflects the brand’s popularity in Zimbabwe, even when price is irrelevant.
Historically, Samsung has been a household name in the region and even across the continent, known for its wide availability and strong after-sales support. However, Samsung hasn’t had a physical presence in Zimbabwe for years, yet the lack of official after-sales support doesn’t seem to affect its desirability.
Samsung’s popularity means that it’s widely available despite the company pulling out of the country. No phone reseller worth their salt—except for Apple-exclusive shops—would fail to stock Samsung.
The dominance of Samsung in this poll suggests that Zimbabweans still favor the brand due to its established reputation for quality, reliability, and familiarity. Even those who had bad experiences with ultra-budget Samsung phones from years ago probably still appreciate Samsung.
Apple’s underperformance
Despite the removal of price as a factor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max only secured 20% of the votes. This challenges the assumption that Apple’s premium status and aspirational value would generate more interest.
It suggests that, in Zimbabwe, consumers may prioritize functionality, durability, and ecosystem over brand prestige. Alternatively, it could be that Zimbabweans see Samsung as being just as prestigious, with added practicality.
Globally, Apple is seen as the luxury option, but this doesn’t seem to be the case in Zimbabwe. Despite its status, Apple doesn’t have the same cultural or functional appeal in these parts.
That said, I think one major factor could be the age of the respondents. I imagine that if most were teenagers or Ama2Ks (born in the 2000s), Apple would have topped the poll. This is just an assumption, considering how Apple is more popular with the youth than with older generations.
Although some people had bad experiences with budget Samsung phones, that might still work in Samsung’s favor. Apple doesn’t have budget devices, so only a small percentage of Zimbabweans have ever used one.
Samsung’s extensive product range, from budget to premium devices, makes the brand accessible to a wide variety of consumers. This could explain why, even in a price-neutral scenario, Samsung holds a significant edge.
Many Zimbabweans are more familiar with Samsung’s interface and overall user experience, making it the more comfortable and trusted choice.
The rest
With 9%, the Pixel 9 Pro XL took third place. Google has come a long way—I wouldn’t have guessed it would land in third. Other polls show that a significant percentage of people in our community use Huawei phones, so I expected Huawei to be third.
It seems that many of those Huawei users would switch loyalties if price weren’t a factor, and the Pixel appears to be one of the beneficiaries.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra managed to capture 6% of the votes, indicating that it hasn’t yet achieved the same level of desirability as Samsung or Apple in this poll.
Xiaomi’s competitive pricing, high-end specs, and value-for-money approach are usually its strengths, but in a poll where price is irrelevant, fewer people chose the brand.
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra and OnePlus 12 trailed behind with 3% and 2%, respectively.
I don’t think Zimbabweans ever really got on the OnePlus hype train, but we were definitely riding the Huawei one hard. It seems the lack of Google services has impacted Huawei more than one might expect.
Zimbabweans generally can’t afford to upgrade devices as often as they’d like. If they could, those older Huaweis still in use would probably be replaced.
What do you think?
That’s my take on the poll results. You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I’m sure some will point out that the Techzim community doesn’t reflect the views of regular Zimbabweans, and that’s true. A truly random sample of Zimbabweans wouldn’t have picked the Pixel as third—I’d bet on that.
So, just maybe, Huawei would still have come in third.
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What’s your take?