In Cameroon, offline shopping used to be a thing of the past, but it is no longer the case today. It is common practice for online shoppers to flood various WhatsApp or Telegram groups searching for laptop or phone deals. However, this has drawbacks as a warranty and after-sale issues could potentially be a problem very often than not.
I took time to go through laptop deals on major online websites and offline stores in Douala, Yaounde, and Bamenda (major cities in Cameroon) to ascertain the best and cheapest laptop with all features baked into it and a practical computing experience.
This was not limited to Cameroon because I also looked at other online marketing sites in different Africa for a consumer who needs a brand new laptop without worries.
This was not limited to Cameroon because I also looked at other online marketing sites in other African countries / including India. I then concluded that there could only be one buy that would suit the needs of a consumer who needs a brand-new laptop without worries. This is the Lenovo Ideapad V330.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Review
DISPLAY
The specific model is V330-15IKB. This is a 15.6-inch laptop. The resolution of the screen is 1366×768. This is very standard for this price category, so no complaints.
HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE
The processor is the Intel Celeron 3060U, a dual-core with a base frequency of 1.1 GHz. With the help of Intel’s turbo boost technology, this can go up to 2.48GHz. Combined with the processor is the graphics processor, which is the Intel HD 620. This is not a beastly graphics unit but is, however, capable of handling the latest games at lower framerates. Hence, handling basic computing tasks should not be an issue.
STORAGE
A 500GB hard drive is what we get. Understandably, an SSD lacks speed-up boot times and performance. However, it can easily be upgraded. The hard drive itself has a decent spin of 7200rpm. The RAM is 4GB DDR4 which is soldered. There is a free slot to provide RAM upgrades to up to 20GB. Hence, you can easily upgrade the RAM after purchase.
SOFTWARE AND PERFORMANCE
Lenovo, as usual, has pre-installed applications to make the laptop use pleasant. The software side of things comes preloaded with Windows 10 64bit, Microsoft’s latest operating system. Combined with 4Gb, the experience should be ok since Windows 10 is optimized for PCs running on 2GB RAM.
AVAILABLE PORTS
There are good ports. Three USB 3.0 ports (one always-on port) have been cramped in, with an HDMI port, VGA, Ethernet for wired internet, and a headphone/mic port.
CONNECTIVITY
For connectivity, you get the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265, which delivers high speeds over WiFi on both WiFi bands. Bluetooth is a bonus and is included. The Ethernet port comes in handy when there are no wireless connectivity options.
POWER AND BATTER LIFE
The laptop boosts a 30KWH battery that can run for up to 6 hours without AC power. It charges using the Lenovo proprietary charger.
Lenovo IdeaPad Price in Cameroon
The Lenovo IdeaPad sells from 110000 FCFA to 150000 FCFA in most online and offline stores. The cheapest deal I found was 113750 FCFA.
