Umar Naqshbandi
Considering the average smartphone lifespan to be about 2 years, it is completely understandable that not many are willing to fork out a few thousand ringgit to get a device only to have it replaced in 2 years. While there are some higher-end smartphones that offer beyond 3-4 years of lifespan, they are generally much more expensive upfront.
Shopping with a budget does not mean that you need to settle for sub-standard phones. Many smartphone manufacturers have started to incorporate fantastic handsets, quality screens, fast internals, and good camera features in their budget range for maximum value.
So, whether you’re limited by a tight budget or just looking for the best bang-for-the-buck, we’ve assembled a list of the best affordable smartphones with great features and specs that you can get your hands on now. Read on below for our take on our top picks of affordable and cheap smartphones on the market.
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8 Best Budget Smartphones in Malaysia
Table of Contents
Looking for something that meets your daily basic functions and isn’t too much of a hassle to learn? The OPPO A16 is a budget alternative you can consider!
Overview:
Powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 chipset, you can be sure to receive an improved user experience as well as reduction instances of lagging in this model generation.
In terms of supporting your daily usage, the OPPO A16 has a 5000mAh long-lasting battery, which is able to keep up with you as you go about your day. It has a smart AI Eye-Care feature that automatically adjusts the brightness of your screen based on the dimness or brightness of your surroundings. This provides comfort for the user experience!
The OPPO A16 comes with three different rear camera actions (AI Triple Camera): the 13MP Main Camera, 2MP Depth Camera, and 2MP Macro Camera. It also has an 8MP Front Camera and comes with different filter functions, suitable for your selfies and pictures with friends!
The OPPO A16 has a Charging Temperature Control function, which prevents your device from overheating when you are charging it.
Performance:
The OPPO A16 is a good entry-level smartphone which has a solid display screen and battery life. For its basic functions, users have commented on the affordability for its price. However, for those who are searching for 5G-compatible phones or a phone with more advanced features, this model may not be suitable for you.
Specs:
- Year Released: 2021
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (4x 2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8GHz Cortex-A53)
- GPU: PowerVR GE8320
- RAM: 3 GB or 4 GB RAM
- Storage: 32 GB or 64GB
- Display: 6.52-inch, IPS LCD 480 nits (typ)
- Camera: (Rear) (Front)
- OS: Android 11, ColorOS 11.1
- Battery: Li-Po 5000mAh
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If you’re after a big-screen smartphone with an affordable price tag, the Redmi Note 9 might just fit the bill. At 6.53 inches wide, the Redmi Note 9’s screen beats the 6.46-inched iPhone 11 Pro Max and is also larger than most other options on our list today.
While the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, the back of the phone is constructed from plastic that may feel a little cheap to some. Moreover, it’s also much more prone to scratches as compared to glass.
Features:
Running on a MediaTek Helio G85 with a maximum of 4GB RAM, the Redmi Note 9 delivers respectable performance in real-world daily use. If you’re into mobile gaming, you’d be happy to find that the smartphone is able to support 2D titles with the likes of Valkyrie profile as well as 3D games with the occasional minor judders.
Other than that, the phone is also equipped with a 48MP pixel count combined with an f/1.8, 26mm wide-angle lens, an 8MP ultra-wide 118-degree field of view and an f/2.2 lens to deliver sharp and crisp images with high clarity in well-lit conditions. It even has an included night mode to let you take decent shots in the dark.
Performance:
In terms of battery, you get a massive 5,020 mAh battery that can power the Note 9 for the whole day without any issue. Despite the large screen, many users have found that this smartphone’s screen on time rather impressive. One can get through a few episodes of video streaming, Wi-Fi hot-spotting and gaming without having to suffer a sharp drop in battery life.
With its large screen, big pixel count, and impressive battery capacity, the Redmi Note 9 is certain to scratch your flagship itch without burning a hole through your wallet. While it won’t stack up to the more premium models in terms of design, camera zoom, and performance, the Redmi Note 9 is still a winner for the price.
Remember Nokia, a brand we often associate with its sturdy Nokia 3310 model that was known for its durability?
Well, Nokia also manufactures decent value simple smartphones, with the Nokia G10 model being one of them!
Overview:
The Nokia G10 has a 6.5-inch screen, a wide enough screen to allow you to enjoy your movies, apps or photo-taking wherever you go! This model is also updated with the Android 11 software, keeping you up to date with some of the latest features!
For its affordable price, users can also look forward to using Nokia G10’s triple rear camera in capturing their memories. Taking photos and videos may take up a lot of your phone’s battery, right? The Nokia G10 can withstand several hours per day – even with active usage!
To solidify the value of the Nokia 5.4, it also has an AI-assisted battery technology; prioritizing your device’s power to be as long-lasting as possible. In terms of privacy features, there will be monthly security updates (up to 3 years) as well as facial recognition and a side fingerprint sensor to keep your phone access exclusively to you!
Performance:
Users have commended that the Nokia G10 is good value for its price, and is basically a good option for a daily-usage basic smartphone. It has decent camera quality and good in-call quality. While it all seems pleasant, there have been mixed reviews on this phone.
Some users have reported that they experienced stuttering while going through tabs. Moreover, not everyone is raving about the camera quality, and warned that it is not a phone suitable for advanced features (e.g. gaming).
Specs:
- Year Released: 2021
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)
- GPU: PowerVR GE8320
- RAM: 3GB or 4GB
- Storage: Choice of 32GB or 64GB
- Display: 6.52-inch, IPS LCD
- Triple rear camera: 13MP (Wide), 2MP (Macro), 2MP (Depth)
- Front camera: 8MP (Wide)
- OS: Android 11
- Battery: Li-Po 5050mAh
If you’re looking for a budget smartphone for simple daily use without too many advanced features, the Vivo Y12A is an option you can consider! It has a smaller memory space compared to other models of its line, so it comes down to what you are looking to use your device for.
Overview:
The Vivo Y12A has 6.51-inch display screen and a slim build, with security efforts such as a fingerprint scanner and power button integrated together on this model. There’s also an AI power saving technology that allows you to stream movies and game on your phone seamlessly.
Worried that a budget phone isn’t up to par in battery life? The Vivo Y12A is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, and should be a great accompaniment as you go about your busy day!
A notable feature on Vivo phones is the well-received Multi-Turbo 3.0 feature, and it’s available on this model. This feature helps to prioritise your device’s energy in order for the user to have a smoother gameplay. It has an AI Dual Camera, the 13MP rear camera and 2MP Bokeh camera.
Performance:
Reviewers have praised this phone model for its price, decent camera, and battery life. Not surprisingly, some users have mentioned that the Vivo Y12A is not very gaming-friendly as several have experienced frequent crashes and lagging with demanding ones.
Specs:
- Year Released: 2021
- Chipset: Qualcomm SDM439 Snapdragon 439 (12 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.45 GHz Cortex A53)
- GPU: Adreno 505
- RAM: 3GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Display: 6.51-inch, IPS LCD
- Rear Dual Camera: 13MP (Wide), 2MP (Depth)
- Front camera: 8MP
- OS: Android 10, Funtouch 11
- Battery: Li-Po 5000mAh
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Samsung’s line-up of mid-tier Android phones has gotten a lot better in recent years, with one of its examples being the Galaxy A52.
Features:
Running on a Snapdragon 720G processor paired with 8GB RAM, the smartphone is a smooth performer. The device is able to manage multi-tasking decently and is capable of handling routine tasks without an issue. Games are also stable though you would need to tweak your settings for this task.
On camera, the A52 has a main sensor (64MP with f/1.8 aperture) which allowed the A52 to produce better dynamic range and more details in its images. It also has a 12MP ultra wide-angle camera and macro camera.
The smartphone features a 6.5-inch AMOLED 1080P display resolution which delivers sharp, crisp and vivid colours even when outdoors.
Moreover, the Galaxy A52 offers Dolby sound support experience for you to enjoy your music on both speakers and with headphones on.
Its build quality and design are some of the aspects where we really love this phone for. And with an IP67 certification, it really goes go a long way when using the phone under light or even heavy rain.
Performance:
The Samsung Galaxy A31 smartphone is also backed by a 4,500 mAh battery which may seem small, considering that this phone is backing a 90Hz screen. But with about a day's worth of average use, it can end the day with about 15-20% of juice left.
The rising prices of smartphones have compelled several smartphone manufacturers to focus on the ultra-budget price segment. One such product in this category includes the Realme C11, which retails for under half a grand. Despite the cheap price tag, this smartphone comes with a polycarbonate body that looks and feels rather unique compared to other models in this category.
Features:
The Realme C11 features a 6.52-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio that is protected with a coating of Cornell Gorilla Glass 3+ to prevent any scratches. On top of the ability to let you control the colour temperature of the display, the device also comes with an Eye Comfort mode to help you prevent eye strain from staring at the device for too long.
The smartphone is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G35 processor with an IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU, which isn’t the best out there. Paired with a 2GB RAM, many have noticed that the Realme C11 does lag massively, especially when attempting to multitask or play mobile games on the device.
A major highlight for the smartphone is its dual rear camera setup. That comprises a 14MP primary camera with f/2.2 aperture and 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture to produce rich images with ample amount of detailing and contrast. Furthermore, the smartphone is backed by a 5,000 mAh battery with 10W of charging support to last more than a day on a single charge.
Performance:
At less than RM500, the Realme C11 is definitely a good buy thanks to its good looks, decent display, good camera, and massive 5000 mAh battery. While the package lacks a fingerprint sensor, this is still a decent entry-level choice to give competition to other smartphones in this price segment.
Despite the “Lite” moniker, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is almost as powerful as its high-end sibling, the Mi Note 10.
Features:
The main difference between the Mi Note 10 and Lite version is the camera module - offering a respectable 64 MP resolution instead of 108 MP. Still, the device is capable of producing high-quality images and videos thanks to the combination of ultra-wide, macro, and depth-sensing cameras.
The Mi Note 10 lite features a 6.47-inch AMOLED curved display (not usually seen in budget range) that is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Combining the curved glass with the slim metal case frame, the device gives off a sleek and premium feel that looks anything but cheap.
Under the hood, the mid-range “Lite” smartphone still features the same octa-core Snapdragon 730G SoC processor and 8GB of RAM to deliver an impressive performance for a mid-range device.
Performance:
One thing to note is that this phone is not designed for mobile gaming, so some may notice a slight lag while running processor-intensive 3D games.
The phone also has a huge 5,250 mAh battery to let you use the phone for up to 2 days without recharging. And if you’re in a hurry, the device supports 30W quick charging to give you a full battery in just about an hour.
Overall, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is a strong mid-range contender with plenty of reasons to love – premium design with curved edge display, decent performance, good camera, and great battery life!
While Redmi might not be the pick of choice in the flagship category, the company really excels in the budget smartphones arena. Focused on delivering a value-for-money experience, the Redmi Note 9 Pro brings great performance and good camera capabilities to a price point that many can afford.
Features:
The smartphone now comes with an intuitively placed side-mounted fingerprint scanner that is integrated into the power key for a seamless entry into the phone. This is in contrast to their awkwardly placed volume rocker that seems to be a bit too far up and may need some getting used to.
In front, the 6.67-inch display offers a Full HD+ resolution to deliver punchy colours at default settings while the interior features a Snapdragon 720G paired with two Kryo 465 Gold cores and six Kryo 465 Silver cores (total of eight cores) to tackle day-to-day usage with satisfactory performance.
Performance:
Despite being a mid-range chipset, the Snapdragon 720G has proven to be more than capable of powering through any game you throw at it without any noticeable stutters. However, gamers are advised to opt for the 6GB RAM variant if they plan on holding onto the phone for a few years.
While Note 9 Pro comes with a 5,020 mAh battery to power through a long day of heavy use, it does not feature quick charging. Charging speeds are limited to 18W and may take more than 2 hours to completely fill up the battery from scratch.
Aside from the slow charging, the Redmi Note 9 Pro still delivers the best bang-for-the-buck with its balanced performance in everything. Overall, the smartphone offers a great set of features and hardware for the price.
Are Budget Phones Worth It?
The short answer is that it’s always worth it. But, it’ll depend on your needs.
Intend of use:
Opting for a budget phone will depend on the purpose you intend to use it for (basic or advanced features), the quality you expect, and the brand that manufactures these phones.
Say if you would like to use your phone to practice your photography or gaming with your friends, a budget phone may not have the best processor for your needs.
Simplicity of phone:
Choosing a budget phone also depends on the user/audience using it. For example, it may be complicated to get a high-end, complex phone for your older relative who may not be able to adapt to using it as easily as you do.
Brand of phone:
Though the outset impression may be that cheap smartphones aren’t worth it, that is not always the case. Over the years, some models of budget phones were updated with new features that were available on the brand’s higher-priced models.
Because brands play a role in manufacturing the phone’s build quality, so it’s always worth checking out the budget models from them. If a model is dirt cheap but simple in features, it’s a safe bet in our books to get it.
Keep in mind, there are also flagship phones that are sold at budget prices as well.
What cheap smartphone brands are popular?
Samsung:
Samsung is a pretty notable brand, especially around Asia. From a global scale, Samsung smartphones are known for their premium and sleek design, bright display that makes the colours pop on your screen, and a pretty solid battery life.
As we are on the topic of budget smartphones, Samsung’s Galaxy A series is the brand’s entry-level lineup.In other words, this line features the brand’s best affordable devices in comparison, with general feedback on the lineup just as great as the brand’s flagships.
Another area that puts Samsung up the pedestal is the reliability of Samsung Galaxy’s interface, a common feature for all its lines. This is also followed by Samsung’s constant improvement to their OS software, though some users have commented that certain hardware (audio and microphone) can be worked on.
Xiaomi:
Xiaomi is pretty notable for its extremely value-for-money offerings. The brand is also quite a popular brand in Asia. In fact, they are one of the largest phone manufacturers behind Samsung!
Another hing about Xiaomi is that they have a huge list of series and sub brands, with one of them being the popular budget-friendly Redmi series. This line up is widely known for its entry-level or mid-range smartphones. They are commonly equipped with a combination of great hardware and price.
If we’re going to talk about Xiaomi strictly, the brand’s Mi series is known for their upper-range and flagship phones. They are offered at competitive prices with performance that go head-to-head against other premium brands. In general, users often praise the brand for its budget-friendly series, but are mixed on its higher-end offerings.
Vivo:
Another relatively well-known brand is Vivo, also originating from China, has marked and made itself known on the tech market with its affordable smartphones. Vivo has several popular lines, with their Y series being popular due to their budget-friendly smartphone options.
While there have been mixed reviews by users on Vivo phones, overall, Vivo has produced not just reliable and durable smartphones, but also good-looking smartphone, all with a keen eye for including interesting innovations.
Best time in the year to buy a smartphone
Just as how people in USA look forward to Black Friday sales (we have it too!), Malaysians can also look forward to big sales/discounts available on Shopee or Lazada!
In Malaysia, users can expect to easily find good deals almost every month with the two top marketplaces having double-digit sale, notably 11.11 or 12.12 on Shopee and Lazada. Another time to buy products is usually on year-end sales occur, particularly in November and December. Sales include 11.11, Black Friday, 12.12, Christmas and even a New Year Sale.
Additionally, there are now PayDay sales every month-end, with discount promos offered by various banks up for grabs so you can use them for your monthly shopping needs.
How long should a budget smartphone last?
There’s no specific answer to the lifespan that a budget smartphone should lasts, but we can talk about the lifespan of smartphones generally.
Based on many articles online, the average length a smartphone can last (before its performance deteriorates) is between 2-3 years. A longer length of time is possible, depending on how you use and take care of your smartphone as well. And that’s also depending on the brand’s OS supports as well as build quality.
Lucky you, there are several tips on how you can preserve the life of your budget smartphone.
- In terms of the physical condition of your phone, getting a screen protector helps to protect your screen from fingerprints smudge or further damage if you drop your phone.
- Keeping your phone clean also plays an important role. Cleaning the charging port of your phone can prevent dust or lint from blocking the charge from your charger going to your phone’s battery sensor.
- Mind the storage usage on your phone too. The amount of storage you use can also affect your phone’s performance. Technically, the more apps you have (depending on how much energy it uses), it might lead to more lag on your device.
Over time, the battery life of your smartphone would deteriorate. Some users may opt for replacing the battery instead of buying another phone.
Budget vs Mid-Range vs Flagship Smartphones
Budget Smartphones:
Frankly speaking, budget smartphones are designed for those who are on a strict budget or those who are getting a smartphone just for its basic use.
In terms of reliability, many are manufactured by reputable brands so there shouldn’t be an issue in getting support. But this will depend on which line of phones (budget, mid-range, flagship, high-end) the brand’s focus/expertise is on. So there’s a chance you might not get the best value.
Moreover, budget smartphones tend to adopt software that are not the latest but still relevant in the industry.
Mid-range smartphones:
Of course, they are more expensive than budget smartphones. However, they definitely have a place in a smartphone brand’s hierarchy. Often, they are cheaper but have less advanced technology in comparison to a brand’s flagship smartphones. Usually, great software is included and that they are a very popular range to go for many ordinary users.
Though mid-range smartphones perform quite well, but their prices also mean that sacrifices were made to the quality of the smartphone hardware, paling in comparison to higher-priced smartphones. In general, expect good performance but compromises on their build quality.
Flagship smartphones:
As you may have know; the term “flagship” is used to describe a “leading product.” In other words, it is the top-of-the-line leading product or series that many consumers know a brand for.
These phones have the latest hardware and can get pricey, but not necessarily the most premium hardware and software. In fact, they are generally designed to give you the best of everything, save for features that would benefit advanced technological enthusiasts better (in the premium line).
How to choose a smartphone?
You think you know what you want in a smartphone, but lifestyle and usage patterns may change that entirely. Long gone are phones that just pick up calls and send messages. Today, they become your entertainment, news, social and emergency tool. Before you fork out money to buy the next flagship model, consider these quick pointers:
What do you usually do on your phone?
We tend to buy phones for a specific feature, only to not use them as often.
- Phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note series are expensive because you're paying partially for the S pen!
- So, understand what you are paying for and if it's worth the money.
- If you'd love to experience vivid visuals, find a phone with an AMOLED screen.
- Game a lot? Make sure the phone's processor and RAM can handle it.
- If you don't do much in particular and just want a simple, reliable phone for general purposes, you'll find that your options become more budget-friendly.
Design
Quite an odd thing to recommend, but we mean it! More often than not, our phone actually becomes part of our daily accessories.
- Love the comfortable, innovative design? You'll find yourself proud of the money you invested in it.
- Uncomfortable and unfriendly to use? It will inevitably push you into changing phones sooner.
- Other things to look at are the body's durability and accessories that suit the phone.
Brands
Let's skip the "Android vs iOS" talk. Brands are equally important as the hard and software of a phone. The last thing we'd want is a phone to die so quickly. A quick review; we recommend researching through forums and testimonies on a brand's specific prowess and well-known bugs.
- For example, Samsung is well-loved for its beautiful screen.
- Whereas iPhones are touted for their smooth and seamless performance.
- Xiaomi is known as the budget brand and Huawei just makes headlines for its camera innovation.
By knowing a brand's prowess and also its history, you can pinpoint the exact phone that's right for you.
How much RAM does a smartphone needs?
Understand that most budget smartphones will not feature as much RAM as higher-end ones which will commonly have about 12GB RAM.
- At a minimum, with the exception of iPhones, most smartphones would feature a minimum of 6GB or even 4GB RAM.
- iOS tend to use less RAM as everything has been optimised. The latest iOS system will use just 1GB RAM seamlessly on an iPhone from 2016.
- Meanwhile, many Android phones have their own added skins and systems to run, which will usually take 2-3GB RAM.
To help you picture it clearly:
- Most social media apps will use about 100 to 300MB of RAM.
- Browsing the internet and watching videos such as YouTube would be about 500MB.
- Games alone can use up more than 1GB of RAM when running.
- From here, you can gauge that for simple uses, 4GB of RAM is enough. If you'd like to play some games, 6GB of RAM may be better.
