The smartphone market, particularly Android, is getting increasingly saturated as time goes by. Popular and emerging brands have aggressively competed with each other to offer their respective range of phones for every budget. But in this article, we will be focusing on budget-friendly or cheapest smartphones that you can get in Malaysia.
Now, don’t be fooled by the word “budget” since such smartphones these days offer the likes of large AMOLED displays, bigger batteries and speedy chipsets. You can even get cheap 5G phones at below RM 1,000. So, if you are planning to buy one, here is our pick of the 9 best budget smartphones between RM 500 and RM 1,500 price range.
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Table of Contents
8 Best Budget Smartphones in Malaysia
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FAQ
- Are budget phones worth it?
In a perfect world, (most) of us would love to own a premium or high-end phone without paying a hefty price tag. Budget phones, on the other hand, may have been cheap but that doesn’t mean they are disposable.
a. Why You Should Consider It
- It’s affordable and if you are tight on a budget, you can get a decent phone for as low as RM 300 such as the Redmi 15C, which runs a clean Android build and has a large display.
- Most budget phones these days pack a large battery at 5,000mAh. This type of battery can last around a day or so, depending on your use. Some phones support fast-charging capability too.
- Budget phones typically use plastic chassis, which are more likely to survive an accidental knock or drop onto the floor.
- Depending on the budget phone you are looking for, some of them come with reasonable chipsets such as Mediatek Helio G99 which can handle multitasking and some medium-to-light gaming.
b. Why You Shouldn’t Consider It
- If you are a heavy user who wants a lag-free performance using graphically-intensive apps and games.
- If you are a photography or videography enthusiast expecting a best-in-class camera phone. For instance, budget phones often falter in low-light performances.
- If you care about aesthetics and longevity with a premium design and durable build quality, namely metal framing and tough Gorilla Glass Victus.
- Most flagship and high-end phones at least have a high IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. You can’t get that in budget phones.
- Which cheap smartphone brands are popular?
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Redmi
Xiaomi’s sub-brand of Redmi is known for its affordable entry-level (Redmi) and mid-range (Redmi Note) smartphones. They offer a value-for-money, price-to-performance ratio, namely the Redmi 15C, which pairs 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage for under RM450 chipset. Many users purchase Redmi phones due to their budget-friendly prices with reasonably good features, even though the MIUI interface can be problematic such as battery drain issues over time.
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Vivo
Vivo V series offers the key highlight of “Aura Portrait Master”, which focuses on camera excellence using advanced technologies such as Aura Light Portrait that intelligently detects low ambient light and enhances your photo with better brightness. Most users praised its camera performances, even though there are others baulked at the lack of ultra-wide sensor and 3.5mm audio jack.
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Infinix
The Hong Kong-based Infinix has been gaining popularity these days due to its budget and mid-range smartphones at an affordable price. Among the popular models is the Infinix Note Edge 5G, which costs around RM1,259. Highlights include a 120Hz AMOLED display with 900-nits peak brightness, a huge 108MP wide-angle primary sensor and wireless charging capability are among the reasons that define the Infinix Note Edge 5G. Most positive user responses come from Infinix’s reasonable price-to-performance ratio. However, fans of Qualcomm Snapdragons might need to consider other brands since Infinix is largely devoted to Mediatek Helio chipsets.
- Best time in the year to buy a smartphone
Not everyone has the luxury of spending their disposable income on a smartphone. But assuming you need to buy a brand-new smartphone and you are not willing to pay a full price. Lucky for you there are times that you can take advantage of getting a smartphone at a discounted price. Here are some of them below:
- Shopee and Lazada monthly sales (e.g. 11.11)
- Pay attention to early bird promos of newly-launched phones and they even throw in some free gifts if you pre-order them. You normally see the brand launch them on social media such as Facebook and online media outlets.
- Heard of Black Friday? This bargain-savvy day may have been popular in the US but we do get that here in Malaysia. It falls on Friday every November after Thanksgiving and this year, the 2023 Black Friday is on November 24.
- In case you miss Black Friday, you can look forward to getting good deals on Cyber Monday. Among the e-commerce outlets that offer Cyber Monday include Shopee and Lazada.
- How long should a budget smartphone last?
Generally, a budget smartphone lasts around 2-3 years before you need to replace a new model. Among the factors are the outdated Android software and security that manufacturers have stopped updating, depending on the range of the phone models.
However, that doesn’t mean you need to replace a new phone every 2 years. You can maximise its lifespan if not forever by:
- Take good care of the battery by not exposing your phone to extreme temperatures. Also, it’s best to charge your phone when the battery hits around 20-30% and avoid letting it drain until 0% since it can lose capacity over time.
- Protect your phone such as the display with a screen protector. Also, layer your phone with a sturdy, protective case that minimises direct impact in case you accidentally drop it on the floor.
- Dust and debris are among the main culprits that can damage your phone over time. Keep your phone clean using a soft and dry cloth to remove them.
- Budget vs. mid-range smartphones
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Budget
Budget smartphones typically use entry-level chipsets that are meant for basic daily tasks such as web browsing and light gaming. Displays are usually lower-resolution varieties while the cameras are less advanced in terms of their megapixel counts and technologies. The build quality comes from a cheaper plastic material than say, a premium metal design. Manufacturers also have to cut the cost down by omitting certain features like wireless charging and dual stereo speakers.
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Mid-Range
Mid-range smartphones use mid-tier chipsets that have a balanced performance of efficiency and power. These chipsets can handle multitasking such as switching between apps and moderate gaming. Displays are better than the cheaper options, offering the likes of AMOLED displays with a higher refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
The cameras have better sensors that can capture decent low-light performances with multiple lenses (typically 3-4) for different shooting conditions. The build quality has a more refined and premium-like look, thanks to its high-quality plastic materials.
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Flagship
Flagship smartphones are the high-end models within the phone range. They come with top-of-the-line processors that you can multitask seamlessly between graphically-intensive apps, gaming and streaming minus the performance lag. Displays normally come in ultra-vibrant OLED or AMOLED panels with extra features like HDR, Dolby Vision and higher refresh rates.
Owning a flagship phone means you can get advanced camera systems sporting multiple lenses, bigger sensors and optical image stabilisation (OIS). The build quality comes from premium materials using glass and metal that feels solid in the hand. Flagships often get the first priority of releasing premium features, namely facial recognition and iris scanning.
Not to forget, flagships get the upper hand of timely and latest software & security updates from the manufacturers compared to mid-range and budget varieties.
Related recommendations:
- Best Smartphones in Malaysia
- Best Mid-Range Smartphones
- Best Small-Size Smartphones
- Best 5G Smartphones
- Best Smartphones under RM 700
- Best Gaming Smartphones in Malaysia
- Affordable Smartphone Brand WIKO Launches New Smartphone, the WIKO 10
