Need a new phone but want to avoid going into debt doing it? Here is a list of the top Singaporean cell phones chosen by us. Although they lack some of the premium features of more expensive smartphones, even the cheapest smartphones offer impressive performance. Since smartphones are now a standard part of city life, it's comforting to know that replacing yours doesn't have to deplete your savings completely.
Editor
Eric Ryan chevron_right
Table of Contents
How to Choose a Budget Phone - Buying Guide
Planning to buy a new phone, but tight on budget? We got you! This guide will help you consider which affordable phone you should get without compromising its quality.Â
1. Define your needs and set a budget
Why are you getting a new phone? We recommend you make a list of smartphone features essential for you. For example, do you need a great camera? Long battery life? Lots of storage? 5G connectivity?
Once you decide, set a realistic price range that fits your needs. Usually, you can get a new phone under $400.Â
2. Get the right screen size and display resolution
There isn’t really any standard when it comes to this factor, so you should consider the phone’s screen size and resolution that would suit your needs.Â
Smartphones with a 6-inch screen or above are great for media consumption or multitasking with multiple applications, but they make it less pocket-friendly. Screen sizes below 5.8 inches are much easier to handle but offer less viewing space.
Resolution talks about how sharp a smartphone’s display is. Get a smartphone with at least 1280 x 720p resolution.
3. Opt for at Least 6 Hours of Battery Life
The battery gives life to a smartphone, so it should be capable enough for your usage. Look for phones with capacities of 4,000mAh or more for heavy use. This battery capacity is enough to run your device all day long.Â
Top 10 Budget Phones in Singapore 2024
Why it's our top pick
This budget smartphone is at the top of the list because of its impressive performance at a competitive price. Imagine having a budget phone with a brilliant and water-resistant camera – just wow!
Google Pixel 7a, the company's newest best budget Android phone, offers high-end features at an affordable price, including the company's top processor and the category's best camera. It has a friendly and vibrant 6.1-inch OLED display with an enhanced 90Hz refresh rate to keep scrolling fluid. The phone has a pocket-friendly dimension and a screen large enough for video viewing during the commute.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: Google Tensor G2
- Operating System: Android 13
- RAM & Storage: 8+128GB
- Battery: 4,385 mAh
- Display: OLED (429 PPI)
Performance
The Pixel 7a is one of the best budget phone 2023 Singapore. It crams even more premium smartphone features into a smaller, less expensive model. It is quicker than most competitors due to its superior processor, ample RAM, and adequate storage space. The camera is the best in its class, outperforming many phones that cost twice as much and completely dominating the competition in the mid-range.
If you are a photo enthusiast with a limited budget, this Samsung Galaxy a53 is the best pick. This handy gadget is a suitable alternative to high-end digital cameras for those who want to use their phones as cameras. Its front camera has 32 MP with f/2.2 aperture. It has 26mm-wide lenses that deliver accurate selfie quality and enhanced skin tone. The features add a modern feel and guarantee high-quality shots.
Product Specifications:Â Â Â Â Â
- Processor: 5nm Octa-core      Â
- Â Operating System: Android 12Â Â Â
- RAM & Storage: 8GB + 128/256 GBÂ Â Â Â Â
- Battery: 5,000 mAh  Â
- Â Display: Infinity-O display
PerformanceÂ
This budget camera phone has excellent, responsive virtual proximity sensors, a gyro, and a fingerprint reader. It made its way to the top of the list for being one of the best budget camera phones considering its use for traditional photography. The 120Hz display does not usually come under budget devices, but this gadget outperforms many competitors in the market.Â
The Poco F4 GT impresses in many areas for a phone in the mid-range pricing range; it is fast and equipped with a large screen and powerful speakers; it also has some fantastic features, like LED illumination on the rear and shoulder trigger buttons.
In addition, the POCO F4 GT has LiquidCool Technology, allowing you to play games on it for hours without it becoming too hot to handle.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Operating System: Android 12
- RAM & Storage: 8+128GB , 12+256GB
- Battery: 4,700 mAh
- Display: AMOLED
PerformanceÂ
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 takes the POCO F4 GT center stage.
Performance is blazingly quick, as expected. The combination of a fast chipset, lots of RAM, and temporary storage guarantees that anything you load and run on the phone will function very well. And the POCO F4 GT indeed demonstrates that.
The Asus Zenfone 9, which sits towards the top of the mid-range market, is our pick if you need a powerful smartphone that can still fit comfortably in your hand or a small pocket. Those who believe that "bigger is better" should look elsewhere, but the Zenfone 9's 5.9-inch screen makes it a good choice for those who find larger smartphones challenging.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: UFS 3.1
- Operating System: Android 12, upgradable to Android 13
- RAM & Storage: 6+128GB , 8+128GB , 8+256GB, 16+2256GB
- Battery: 4,300mAh
- Display: Super AMOLED
Performance
Qualcomm's updated, more efficient Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 ensures energetic performance. The Zenfone 9's vapor chamber cooling technology makes up for its diminutive size, allowing it to handle many tasks simultaneously and support high-performance games at smooth frame rates.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G retails for just $200 and is the entry point to the company's premium budget range. Unlike other Samsung smartphones, the A14 5G is exclusively available in black. The device has a fixed 64GB of storage space, which can be expanded to a maximum of 1TB, and 4GB of RAM. You can get the phone pretty much anywhere, though.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: OCTA CORE
- Operating System: ANDROID
- RAM & Storage: 4GB/6GB+ 128GB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Display: PLS LCD
Performance
The Galaxy A14 5G performs admirably in real-world conditions. The Galaxy A14 5G can handle all your communication needs, from making and receiving calls and texts to editing images and playing the most elementary games. Longevity of use from a single charge is another indicator of performance. The Galaxy A14 5G performs admirably.
With its 120 Hz AMOLED display and an advertised peak brightness of 1,200 nits, the Redmi Note 12 aspires to stand out in the inexpensive middle class. You can get the Redmi Note 12 with either 64 or 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage and 4 GB of RAM. The large 5,000 mAh battery enables 33W of rapid charging, and the phone, unlike the 5G variant, operates on the newest Android 13 with MIUI 14 out of the box.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: Snapdragon 685 Chipset
- Operating System: Android 13, MIUI 14
- RAM & Storage: 4GB/6GB/8GB + 64GB/128GB/
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Display: AMOLED
Performance
The Redmi Note 12 is an excellent compromise between power and cost. The cameras' poor low-light performance, the absence of 60 fps footage, and the lack of stereo speakers are all drawbacks. This still needs to change the fact that it's an excellent smartphone for the price, thanks to its speedy operation, beautiful display, and good camera in bright light.
When a phone's battery lasts for over two days, that's beautiful. The Oppo Reno 8 is similarly reliable, as we can verify. This well-styled mid-ranger is available in black, gold, and beige. It comes with Triple rear cameras, fast charging, a charger in the package (rejoice! ), and good performance that is on par with the most costly phones on the market are all included in either design.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: Octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1300
- Operating System: ColorOS 12.1
- RAM & Storage: 12GB + 256 GB
- Battery: 4,500 mAh
- Display: AMOLED
Performance
The OPPO Reno8 5G, particularly the Sunkissed Beige model with 12GB of RAM, offers above-average performance for a phone in its price range. If top performance is a priority, be aware that prolonged use of the maximum settings may cause throttling. Are you worried about the Reno8 5G overheating while charging? It has multiple temperature sensors built right in.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 demonstrates that a high-quality smartphone need not cost a little fortune to acquire. Our top pick is one of the cheapest Android phones in Singapore in 5g since it offers essentials like a vast screen, long battery life, and reliable software at a reasonable price.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: 5nm Octa-core
- Operating System: Exynos 1380
- RAM & Storage: 8GB+ 128GB/ 256GB
- Battery:5000mAh
- Display: Full HD + Super AMOLED
Performance
For less than $500, you can obtain 128GB of built-in storage and an additional 1TB via microSD expansion. The 6.4-inch screen boasts Full High Definition Plus (FHD+) quality, allowing for sharper images and video. Thanks to Knox Security's built-in protections, your private information is safe from prying eyes.
The Galaxy A32 5G is a very attractive cellphone. Its body and back are plastic, but they don't appear like those cheap budget phones. The phone has standard dimensions for a 6.5-inch handset, coming in at 6.5 by 3.0 by 0.4 inches and weighing 7 ounces. A 6.5-inch LCD with a waterdrop notch and thin bezels takes up most of the Galaxy A32 5G's front panel. The pixel density is 270 PPI, with a resolution of 1,600 H 720.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 720 5G
- Operating System: Android 11
- RAM & Storage: 4GB + 64GB
- Battery:5000mAh
- Display: Full HD + Super AMOLED
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G's long battery life and sleek appearance make it a top choice among the cheapest smartphones. Excellent call quality. The earpiece's maximum level of 86 dB is powerful enough to be heard even in noisy public places. Wi-Fi on board supports dual bands but not Wi-Fi 6 in addition to Near Field Communication (NFC) for mobile payments and Bluetooth 5.0 for connected wearables.
The Redmi Note 11 Pro's new dual-glass design is sleek and modern, featuring a bezel-less display, flat sides, and an IP53 rating for resistance to water and dust. It uses the same 6.67-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED as the original Redmi Note 10 Pro. Helio G96 chipset is not the quickest in the mid-range, but we will see how it performs in the new Redmi Note 11 Pro.
Product Specifications:
- Processor: Qualcomm Adreng. 619
- Operating System: MIUI 13
- RAM & Storage: 8GB + 128 GB
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
- Display: FHD + AMOLED
Performance
The Redmi Note 11 Pro, like the 5G variant, features a pair of speakers located on opposite sides of the device. The exterior of the Redmi Note 11 Pro never gets hot or even warm, and it maintains a constant room temperature no matter the circumstances. The interface of the Redmi Note 11 Pro is generally smooth. However, there are moments when the 120 fps frame rate drops due to an interruption from a notification or another operation.
ConclusionÂ
Understanding that a good smartphone doesn't have to have impressive specs is crucial. Sometimes, all you need is a smartphone to handle your daily chores skillfully, efficiently, and comfortably. Smartphones are utilized by urbanites more than any other device daily. Our list of the top ten affordable smartphones in Singapore in 2023 will help you decide which gadget suits you.