With an eye on the Christmas and New Year festive spending, Gionee launched its premium X1S smartphone in Kenya on Tuesday.

The phone, which was launched recently in Asian markets, comes with a fingerprint sensor, bigger battery capacity to last for two days, three slots for SIM and storage, and a selfie-focused camera, among other features.

Targeted mainly at the growing youth market, the smartphone is priced at Ksh18,999 ($184) and comes in black and gold colors.

According to Eric Ai, the Gionee Kenya general manager, the company has upgraded the cameras for X1s to 13-megapixel rear with flash and a 16-megapixel front with flash for selfie lovers, backed by a larger 4000mAh battery.

"The new X1s has been shaped by user demands and adopted a 16MP selfie camera that allows users to take brighter, more beautiful and more natural-looking selfies anytime, day or night. It can capture four times of amount of light, which improves the imaging quality greatly, especially in low light," Ai said.

In X1s, he said that Gionee is offering smartphone users a combination of advanced technology and enhanced selfie and battery capabilities in line with the X series goal to establish a stronger connection with the younger customers.

It is fitted with smart power consumption management software that optimises performance to ensure the device is always powered.

"The X1s also has a split-screen function that makes it possible for you to hold two different things in one screen at one time. Users can, for example, keep chatting while watching videos," Ai said.

Dismas Omondi, the Gionee Kenya regional manager, said Gionee smartphones use Amigo UI, the latest android operating system customized for better user experience. That operating system, he said differentiates it from the other phones in the market.

Omondi said in 2018, the Shenzhen-based company will invest heavily on media advertising to popularise the phone.

Launched in Kenya in July 2016, Gionee is banking on offering high-spec, low-cost smartphones that meet the needs of the youth and the business community.

Kenya has about 38 million active mobile phone numbers with the internet-plus-data market registering 22 million users.