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8 Best Cheap Gaming Smartphones in Malaysia 2024

Game away without breaking the bank

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Umar Naqshbandi

Umar Naqshbandi is ProductNation's resident tech enthusiast, photography expert and video maestro. He is also the host and brains for our YouTube channel as well as the main reviewer for all our tech-related content.
"Picking smartphones these days can be very confusing because of the simple fact that there’s just too many of them. All their specs and feature start melting into one making it very difficult to give a clear distinction and pick the right one. The easiest way to declutter from that mess and pick the right phone for you is by looking at the 5 main factors - Processor, Display, Camera, OS, Battery." - Umar Naqshbandi

You could be yearning for virtual adventure and excitement, and we believe that a mobile gaming phone is one of the best ways to fulfil that craving. The best part is that they can be affordable while packing good specs and performance. 

With many cheap Android smartphones offering great gaming performance, here’s a list of the best budget gaming smartphones in Malaysia that will thrill you and your wallet.


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8 Best Cheap Gaming Smartphones in Malaysia

Best overall budget gaming phone
Xiaomi
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S
Check Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S price below:
add_circle Decent performance
add_circle Fast charging
add_circle Good camera quality
add_circle Minimalistic design
remove_circle No 5G

Why It's Our Top Pick

There’s a lot to consider when you’re going for a budget gaming phone. Whether it’s specs, battery life, or even the design of the phone itself, there will always be sacrifices with a more inexpensive model. Still, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S seems to be the one gaming smartphone that excels in every field while still maintaining an affordable price. 

Details

  • Gorgeous AMOLED display
  • FullHD+ resolution
  • 90hz refresh rate
  • IP53 rated
  • Up to 8GB of RAM
  • Mediatek Helio G96 processor
  • 5000mAh battery
  • 33W charger allows you to top up the phone to full in under an hour

Who is this for?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S is pretty much an all-rounder for mobile gamers looking for everything they need in a gaming phone. With powerful specs, plentiful RAM, and a decent high refresh rate screen, you don’t really need to ask for more, especially considering the price.

The one glaring weakness is its 108MP main camera, which sounds good on paper, but the results are less than stellar. The pictures it produces are definitely decent, but nothing more than that.

Best budget gaming phone under RM500
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A03
Check Samsung Galaxy A03 price below:
add_circle Very affordable
add_circle Long lasting 5000mAh battery
add_circle Bluetooth 5.0 support
remove_circle Disappointing screen
remove_circle MicroUSB port

Overview

For the people on the most stringent budget, the Samsung Galaxy A03 is definitely the phone to look out for, especially if you’re a gamer, but don’t expect it to run high-end titles like Genshin Impact. 

Details

  • 6.5-inch HD+ LCD screen
  • Octa-core CPU
  • 5000mAh battery
  • 48MP main camera with 5MP selfie camera
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • microSD card slot

Who is this for?

The Galaxy A03 doesn’t offer a lot in terms of features and does the bare minimum when it comes to performance. 

However, because a lot of phones within this entry-level price range offer the same or even worse performance compared to the Galaxy A03, this makes it a strong recommendation from us especially if you’re on a strict budget. 

More: Find Out Which Of These 9 Best Xiaomi Phones Are For You

Best budget gaming phone with good camera
HONOR 50 Lite
Check HONOR 50 Lite price below:
add_circle 66W fast charging
add_circle Great camera setup
add_circle Long lasting 4300mAh battery
remove_circle 60hz screen
remove_circle Underpowered processor

Overview

The HONOR 50 Lite boasts an impressive camera setup as well as a competent Snapdragon 662 processor. While the processor may not be the best, it is still definitely capable of running lighter games. 

Details

  • Snapdragon 662 processor
  • Up to 8GB of RAM
  • 64MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth camera setup
  • 16MP front facing camera
  • 4300mAh battery capacity
  • 66W charging, capable of charging 40% in 10 minutes
  • 6.67-inch FullHD+ IPS panel

Who is this for?

Although the gaming performance of the HONOR 50 Lite could be better, the superb camera performance more than makes up for it. 

So if you’re someone who likes to take a lot of pictures and is a bit of a casual gamer, then the HONOR 50 Lite may be the phone for you. 

More: The Top 10 Smartphones You Should Get This Year

Best budget gaming phone with 8GB RAM
Vivo
vivo Y33T
Check Vivo Y33T price below:
add_circle 8GB of RAM
add_circle Smooth UI
remove_circle Easily scratchable back panel

Overview

Featuring a Snapdragon 680 processor and a whopping 8GB of RAM, the vivo Y33T is one of the best deals you can get right now if you want a decently powerful gaming phone for not a lot of money.

Details

  • 6.58-inch FullHD+ LCD display
  • 128GB storage and 8GB RAM
  • 50MP main camera
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging
  • Reverse charging feature

Who is this for?

With 8GB of RAM, the vivo Y33t isn’t only good for gaming, but also for serious multitaskers who need to open multiple apps at once. So, if you need to maximise your productivity, the vivo Y33t is a strong option.

More: 10 Best Budget Wireless Earphones & Earbuds You Can Own For Under RM300

Best budget gaming phone for games like Genshin Impact
Poco
buy-POCO-X4-Pro-price-malaysia
Check POCO X4 Pro 5G price below:
add_circle Great screen
add_circle Powerful Snapdragon 695 processor
remove_circle Weak camera performance
remove_circle Running on Android 11

Overview

Although most phones today are more than capable of handling most modern games like COD Mobile and Mobile Legends, there’s still one title that pushes your phone to the limit. Not every phone can run Genshin Impact, even on its lowest setting, but POCO’s X4 PRO 5G is not one of them. 

Details

  • AMOLED display with a FullHD resolution running at a 120hz
  • Max brightness of 1200 nits
  • Side mounted fingerprint reader
  • Snapdragon 695 5G processor
  • 6GB RAM

Who is this for?

The POCO X4 Pro 5G is a great for gamers looking to play more demanding titles like Genshin Impact or esport gamers that want the best performance possible for not a lot of money. 

Best budget gaming phone for games like Mobile Legends
Infinix Zero X Neo
Check Infinix Zero X Neo price below:
add_circle Slick design
add_circle Long lasting battery
remove_circle Filled with bloatware

Overview

Infinix may not be the most well-known brand on the market, but they are among the best when it comes to budget phones. Offering great designs and powerful specs, the Infinix Zero X Neo is a great candidate in this list, especially if you’re on a strict budget.

Details

  • 6.78-inch FullHD+ IPS screen with a 90hz refresh rate
  • Powered by a Mediatek Helio G95
  • 5000mAh capacity with an 18W quick charging

Who is this for?

Mobile Legends runs smoothly on the device, even when the settings are cranked up to ultra. It's made even better by the 6.78-inch screen, which allows a wider field of view for your character on the map. 

More: 10 Best Earphones That Are Perfect For All Kinds of Smartphone Users

Best budget gaming phone for games like CODM & PUBG
Huawei
Huawei Nova 8i
Check Huawei Nova 8i price below:
add_circle Comes with a 3.5mm jack
add_circle Super-narrow bezel
remove_circle Does not support 5G

Overview

Aside from its gaming capabilities, the Huawei Nova 8i sports a quad-camera system, as well as a large display. Conveniently, the Nova 8i is also part of Huawei’s ecosystem, so it’s easy to pair with other proprietary accessories such as earbuds, and notebooks.

Details

  • 6.67-inch Full HD+ display
  • Dual SIM slot
  • 3.5mm audio jack
  • 64MP camera
  • 8GB of RAM alongside 128 GB storage
  • Snapdragon 662 chipset

Who is this for?

The lack of Google services is definitely something to keep in mind when purchasing a Huawei device, especially one of their smartphones. But still, the Nova 8i is a capable smartphone that can run lightweight to medium games at respectable settings. That said, do temper your expectations when trying to run more demanding titles like Genshin Impact.

BONUS: Best mid-range gaming phone with good camera
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A33
Check Samsung Galaxy A33 price below:
add_circle Great camera performance
add_circle 90hz refresh rate
remove_circle Bit pricey in terms of budget phones

Overview

When it comes to the compromises manufacturers make in designing a budget gaming phone, the camera is usually where they’ll go. Still, there’s a few companies out there that realise some gamers love taking pictures as well. So if you’re both a shutterbug and a gamer, then you can consider the Samsung Galaxy A33.

Details

  • Exynos 1280 chip and up to 8GB of RAM
  • Improved camera setup
  • 48MP main camera, the 8MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro cam setup
  • Good image stabilisation

Who is this for?

The Galaxy A33 is definitely a strong option when it comes to gaming-capable phones with a decent camera, but its higher price tag is definitely not for everyone. 

But if you do have a bit more flexible budget and don’t mind spending a little more, the Galaxy A33 is definitely one of the best phones you can buy for both gaming and photography. 


Is 4GB RAM enough for gaming?

Phones these days usually come with at least 6GB of RAM, and that already seems enough for most of your gaming and multitasking needs, but what happens when you opt for a 4GB of RAM model instead?

  • The short answer is that you’ll have a worse time. Any intensive tasks you do will be severely limited due to your limited RAM. 
  • Multitasking between apps will take longer, and any demanding games will stutter and crash constantly. It's not really a good idea to choose a 4GB model, especially when the price difference between the 4GB and 6GB variants aren’t that significant.
  • But if you’re not planning on doing a lot of intensive things, then you could be fine with just 4GB of RAM. But don’t though. Seriously. Treat yourself better. 

How to Choose Your Ideal Budget Gaming Phone? 

With so many brands releasing their latest flagship model every year and a vast range of Android phones to pick from, we understand that the hardest part is knowing what to even look at in entry models anymore. So, here are some factors you may want to look into: 

i) Processor

We all know that it’s more than an uphill task for an iPhone 5 to operate on the latest operating software simply because the processor isn’t keeping up with it. When considering the processor, the number of cores is often the determining factor. 

To note, more cores allow the phone to run/process more as well as functioning smoothly. By standard, most phones today come with octa-core.

ii) RAM 

RAM is no different from car lubricants. They ensure that your phone is running smoothly despite multitasking. Usually, a minimum of 2GB worth of RAM is sufficient for your daily tasks. So, you might want to look for at least 4GB in budget models if you’re a regular gamer or 6GB for heavier gaming.

Aside from RAM, do understand that your processor (chipset) is still an underlying factor as to whether it is suitable (or designed) for gaming.

iii) Screen Size 

It comes down to personal preference on which screen size you would prefer. Thus, a screen with or without the bezel may also play an important factor in your viewing and gaming experience. The more screen there is, the more space for your fingers to also move around.

Aside from the conventional considerations in picking your ideal budget gaming phone such as a capable graphics card, our picks of budget gaming phones also take into account that phones should come with a reasonable camera and wide enough screen to watch your favourite gaming videos on Youtube. Yep, you can have the best of both worlds after all.


How Much RAM do I need for a gaming phone?

If you think RAM is all there is to have a perfect game, it’s not. Most of the time, games use about 1GB of RAM or slightly more. The rest are used to run the phone’s UI.

So what you’ll need to look at is the phone’s OS and processor as well.

  • A minimum of 4GB is good enough for a start. 
  • However, if the games are more intense and are more demanding on the graphics, consider getting a smartphone with 8GB or 12GB RAM.

How To Optimise Gameplay?

Got a slightly laggy phone? It is possible to optimise your phone further for a smoother game play. Try these:

  • Change the screen refresh rate to the highest option
  • Free up storage space on your phone 
  • Download a game booster app
  • Use a fast internet connection when gaming 
  • Invest in external phone gaming accessories such as a fan cooler

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