The best budget smartphones of 2023
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I have been working with different equipment for many years, I have seen very bad budget smartphones and outstanding specimens. In that ranking of budget smartphones in 2023 for price and quality, the best of the best are collected, both in terms of battery life, and in terms of performance, camera and screen.
20. Xiaomi Redmi 9A
- Display 6.53″ (1600×720) IPS
- Built-in memory: 32 GB
- Memory: 2 GB
- Camera: 13 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G25
• This smartphone is unlikely to steal your heart with its design. But the battery capacity can be envied by models of more expensive price categories. According to its characteristics, Redmi 9A is optimally suited for people who need three features from a budget smartphone:
- call,
- use messengers,
- work without recharging 2-3 days.
• Redmi 9A has simple functionality, a loud speaker, the ability to increase the font, and in general it can be called its "grandma phone" in the world of smartphones. Or a useful gadget for a child. This model will pull logical or educational children's games. PUBG and similar demanding games are not.
• The camera in good lighting produces decent pictures in terms of detail, and that's all that can be said about it.
Pros and cons autonomy loud sound there is a separate slot for a memory card there is face unlock there is advertising in the shell no fast charging no NFC no fingerprint scanner19.HUAWEI Y5p
- Screen 5.45″ (1440×720) IPS
- Built-in memory: 32 GB
- Memory: 2 GB
- Camera: 8 MP
- Battery 3020 mAh
- Processor: Mediatek Helio P22 (MT6762R)
• Small, cute design "workhorse". Thanks to its compact size and non-slippery body, the HUAWEI Y5p is perfect even for a child with small hands.
• This inexpensive smartphone does not have Google services, so it is of interest primarily to a person who does not need “these Facebooks and WhatsApps of yours” (although they can be downloaded via Petal Search), or a schoolchild so that he is less distracted by games and instant messengers .
• In the reviews, users praise HUAWEI Y5p RU for its loud sound, bright display and excellent autonomy for such a baby – up to 3 days with periodic calls. You can't play "heavy" games on this device, but for some it's just a plus.
• The smartphone photographs mediocrely, in normal lighting the colors in the picture are natural, and the details are distinguishable, but at dusk everything is “blurred”.
Pros and cons compact size long battery life fits comfortably in the hand no NFC no Google services18. Oukitel WP12 Pro
- Display 5.5″ (1440×720) IPS
- Built-in memory: 64 GB
- Memory: 4 GB
- Dual camera: 13 MP
- Battery: 4000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762D)
• In the ranking of inexpensive smartphones in 2023, this is the only secure device. It will be an ideal gift for a schoolboy who handles things carelessly. Or for you, if you need a "long-playing" and drop-resistant device with a whole set of useful tools, such as a compass, sound level meter and range finder.
• Thanks to its rugged housing, the WP12 Pro will survive even a XNUMX-meter drop, as well as complete immersion in water.
• And its 4000 mAh battery will allow you not to worry about recharging for 2-3 days, even if you periodically talk on the phone, search for information in a mobile browser or play casual games.
• This device is capable of driving at low and even medium settings in popular mobile games. But don't count on high fps.
• The screen is comfortable to read indoors, but in the light the WP12 Pro is dim. But the communication quality of this model is good, and it catches satellites perfectly. The camera is present more for show (focuses for a long time, minimal settings), but it is quite possible to take a picture, for example, of the desired document or scan a QR code.
Pros and cons build quality loud sound autonomy has NFC face unlock only17. Tecno Spark 7
- Memory configuration: 4/64 GB, 2/32 GB
- Screen 6.5″ (1600×720) IPS
- Dual camera: 16 MP, 16 MP
- Battery 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio A25
• It is rare to see such a bright display (480 nits) in a budget smartphone. But in terms of pixel density, the indicators are below average – 269 ppi.
• The smartphone also boasts an NFC chip, which makes it suitable for contactless payments, as well as a fingerprint scanner, which is located on the rear panel.
• In general, the smartphone works quickly, everything is fine with responsiveness, no lags or freezes were noticed behind it. But don't expect good gaming performance, casual games will run smoothly and with good fps, but heavy games like Genshin Impact can slow down even at the lowest settings.
• Thanks to a 5000 mAh battery, the smartphone can “live” in standby mode for a month, according to the manufacturer. And with the most active use, the device will last one and a half to two days.
• But even the best budget smartphones of 2023 are never perfect. The manufacturer has to sacrifice something for the sake of the price, and in this case, the choice fell on the USB Type-C connector. Instead, the Tecno Spark 7 has an outdated Micro USB, so you have to get used to inserting the cable in the right direction.
• The main camera is a good average. There are good lighting conditions – the pictures will be bright and detailed. The selfie module has a dual flash, and shoots well, again, in good light.
Pros and cons convenient HiOS shell with a lot of “custom” settings loud and clear sound from the speaker autonomy the kit includes a silicone case and a protective film on the glass there is a call recording function Micro USB connector16. Realme C11 2021
- Screen 6.52″ (1600×720) IPS 60 Hz
- Built-in memory: 32 GB
- Memory: 2 GB
- Camera: 8 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: Unisoc SC9863A
• One of the best budget smartphones of 2023 for price and quality features a 6,5-inch HD+ LCD display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
• It supports 4G LTE connectivity and has two SIM card slots as well as a dedicated memory card slot. A powerful 5000 mAh battery allows the device to work for 2-3 days without the need for charging.
• Despite its budget price, the Realme C11 is equipped with an NFC chip for contactless payments.
• Thanks to the loud and clear sound from the speakers, as well as the concise advertising-free shell, this model is suitable for the elderly. The interface works smoothly, simple games run without problems – what else do you need from a smartphone that costs less than 8000 rubles? Of course, I would like a fingerprint scanner, but alas, there is only face unlock.
• The photo quality of Realme C11, like most state employees, is 90% dependent on lighting conditions. Small details in the picture will be clearly visible only if the picture was taken in good natural or artificial light.
Pros and cons interface does not lag clean and loud sound long autonomy low power processor mediocre camerasMicro USB15. ZTE Blade A31
- Display 5.45″ (1440×720) IPS
- Built-in memory: 32 GB
- Memory: 2 GB
- Camera: 8 MP
- Battery 3000 mAh
- Processor: Unisoc SC9863A
• This is the best budget smartphone of 2023 if you want three things:
- Compact size.
- Ability to make contactless payments.
- And all this for the price of up to 6.
• Also, buyers praise the ZTE Blade A31 for its bright screen and removable battery – a rarity these days.
• Otherwise, this smartphone has nothing to surprise you with, the camera is more suitable for shooting static, well-lit objects, and the battery will last a day or two with periodic calls and Internet surfing.
• ZTE Blade A31 is often taken as a gift to a child, with such a mobile phone he will not be able to play more or less "heavy" games, and if he breaks the device, it will not be so pitiful because of the low price.
Pros and consNFC sizesnimble and comfortable shellreplaceable batteryseparate memory card slotno fingerprint scannermicro-USB14.Samsung Galaxy A02
- Screen 6.5″ (1600×720) PLS 60 Hz
- Built-in memory: 32 GB
- Memory: 2 GB
- Dual camera: 13 MP, 2 MP
- Battery 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek MT6739
• This budget smartphone is designed for those who want to watch content or play games on a big screen and not have to recharge the device for a long time. It features a large 6,5-inch HD+ display and a 5000mAh battery.
• 32 GB of flash memory is small, but the phone has a separate slot for a memory card up to 1 TB.
• Instead of a fingerprint scanner, face unlock is provided. The processor and camera of the Galaxy A02 are rather weak, so if you want to play PUBG at least at medium settings or shoot high-quality photos in any lighting conditions, then look for another model.
Pros and cons large, bright screen lasts 2-3 days without recharging separate memory card slot micro-USB connector no NFC13. Infinix Hot 10 Lite
- Display 6.6″ (1600×720) IPS
- Built-in memory: 32/64 GB
- RAM: 2/3 GB
- 3 cameras: 13 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor MediaTek Helio A20 @ 1800 MHz
• The screen of the novelty is bright and clear, although the color reproduction is not the best I've seen. But viewing content is comfortable even when used outdoors.
• The Infinix Hot 10 Lite has a good main camera, which takes bright, very clear pictures in normal lighting conditions. But in the dark, “soap” appears.
• As for performance, it is quite enough for banking applications, Internet surfing and other everyday "mobile affairs". But games like PUBG can be very slow.
• The Infinix Hot 10 Lite battery will easily last 2-3 days with moderate usage (no games or videos). With proprietary 10W charging, the smartphone will charge in about 4 hours from 0 to 100%.
• The device has a fast fingerprint scanner, it is traditionally located at the back.
• And finally, it is worth noting the brightly designed shell of XOS 6.2, fast and well optimized.
Pros and cons beautiful glossy design there is an event indicator in the kit there is a case and a film micro-USB connector no NFC12. Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho
- Screen 6.5″ (1600×720) PLS
- Built-in memory: 32/64/128 GB
- RAM: 3/4 GB
- 4 cameras: 48 MP, 5 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: Samsung Exynos 850 or MediaTek Helio P35
• If you need a budget smartphone with a good camera in 2022, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy A12.
• It is equipped with a 48 MP module, a 123-degree ultra wide-angle module, a 2 MP macro camera and a depth camera. Photos taken with the Samsung A12 are recorded in pixel binning mode by default, resulting in 12MP images instead of 48MP images.
• Under normal daylight or artificial lighting, pictures are detailed, although bright areas are often overexposed.
• The Nacho's peak brightness is in the range of 446 cd/m² against a pure white display background, which is excellent considering this is an entry-level phone. The stability of the viewing angles is also at a decent level. However, the display dims noticeably even at slight tilt.
• The Exynos 850 paired with 3GB of RAM delivers solid system performance in the entry-level segment. Modern games like PUBG Mobile can be played at low settings.
Pros and cons NFC good main camera separate memory card slot autonomy 15 W fast charging no FM radio no Samsung Pay11.Realme C21Y
- Display 6.5″ (1600×720) IPS 60 Hz
- Built-in memory: 32/64 GB
- RAM: 3/4 GB
- 3 cameras: 13 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: Unisoc Tiger T610
• Xiaomi and Realmi are the main competitors in the market for the best cheap smartphones. And although the C21Y model does not provide the Realme brand with an unconditional victory, it pleases with the right balance of price and functionality.
• The build quality of the smartphone is very good, and the fingerprint sensor located on the back panel works almost instantly. The IPS display is easy to read even in direct sunlight.
• The main 13-megapixel camera is complemented by a 2 MP macro lens and a 2 MP depth sensor. However, you can take a more or less decent photo only in sunny weather.
• In undemanding games like Plants vs. Zombies or Angry Birds can be played comfortably and without delay. And between regular applications, the smartphone switches quickly and smoothly, which is impressive.
Pros and cons there is an NFC chip a separate slot for a memory card a protective film is already pasted on the screen a loud and clear sound there are complaints that the GPS is buggy (loses satellites, transfers to another place, etc.) a mediocre cameramicro-USB10. Vivo Y31
- Diagonal: 6.58 inches
- Built-in memory: 64 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 48 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
• The Vivo Y2023 was included in the ranking of the best low-cost smartphones of 31 for a reason – it has an eye-pleasing design, good pictures and there is an NFC module for contactless payments.
• The IPS screen with a diagonal of 6,58 inches and a resolution of 1080 x 2408 is high for a budget device. And anti-glare properties are on top – even in the bright summer sun you can safely read the text.
• The smartphone includes 3 photomodules, of which only one is “working” (main, 48 MP), the rest are just for show (this is a macro and a 2 MP depth sensor). By default, the smartphone shoots perfectly with a resolution of 12 MP, and at a maximum of 48 MP, the pictures come out blurry.
• The processor is eight-core, Snapdragon 662, but far from the fastest – it will pull heavy games only at medium and low settings. But the interface and applications work like clockwork. Another nice feature of this model is a slot for a memory card, which can be installed without removing one of the SIM cards.
Pros and consbright screen with good viewing anglesgood cameracase and film includedfingerprint scanner on the sidenot the most comfortable shell9.Realme 8i
- Display: 6.59 inches
- Built-in memory: 64 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 50 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G96
• This is a stripped-down version of the Realme 8 smartphone with an excellent 120Hz refresh rate for a budget employee.
• The capabilities of the Mediatek Helio G96 processor are quite enough not only for the interface to work without annoying freezes, but also for modern games.
• As usual in the budget segment, there is only one working camera (the main lens is 50 MP), the other two are purely for beauty, with a resolution of 2 MP. In an attempt to improve the image and hide the lack of detail, the image is slightly blurred (apparently by software).
• This model has 18W fast charging. And one more feature: the speaker, although monophonic, is certified according to the Hi-Res sound standard.
Pros and consSeparate slot for NFC memory cardBeautiful designCase and film includedHeats under load8.Samsung Galaxy M12
- Screen: 6.5 inches
- Built-in memory: 32/64 GB
- RAM: 3/4 GB
- Cameras: 48 MP, 5 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: Samsung Exynos 850
• The Samsung Galaxy M12, which entered the top of inexpensive smartphones abroad, came to Russia with a slightly reduced battery capacity – instead of 6000 mAh, as in the Indian version, ours has only 5000 mAh. This means that listening to music for almost five days in a row will not work on it. But in return, the Russian M12 received an NFC module.
• In other aspects, the Samsung Galaxy M12 doesn't look that impressive. It has a PLS TFT display with a diagonal of 6,5 inches and a frequency of 90 Hz, however, the resolution for such a diagonal is not too large – 720 x 1600. The Exynos 850 processor is more than enough for everyday tasks, but such a luxury as demanding games is here Excluded.
• Camera with four lenses – the main 48 MP, wide-angle 5 MP, macro and depth sensor – both 2 MP. Selfies in 8 MP resolution. The smartphone also has a microSD memory slot, a 3,5mm headphone port and a fingerprint scanner.
Pros and ConsNFC autonomy Supports 15W fast charging No Always On Display function Doesn't support Samsung Pay7. Samsung Galaxy A22 4G
- Screen: 6.4 inches
- Built-in memory: 64 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 48 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G80
• 4G is in the name of the model for a reason – Samsung has released two A22 models, one of them is designed for 5G, and the second is ours.
• One of the main advantages of this model is a Super AMOLED screen with a frequency of 90 Hz; it's bright enough to read in sunlight, with great viewing angles and vibrant, rich colors, yet very energy efficient.
• The second advantage is the eight-core MediaTek Helio G80 processor (two regular cores and two enhanced performance) that is fast for such a price. Alas, you can’t play “heavy” games at maximum speeds at this, but you can safely surf the Internet with a couple of dozen tabs.
• The main rear camera module received a resolution of 48 MP, there is autofocus, optical stabilization and pixel binning. There's also an 8MP wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens (just for show, as macro shots come out better from the main sensor) and a 2MP depth sensor. The application is very good, with many settings and modes in which it is easy for a novice photographer to get lost.
• But the phone has one problem – the pictures from the main module may be out of focus, and the pattern cannot be identified. Therefore, I recommend checking how the phone shoots before buying.
Pros and consbright screenlong battery lifenimble fingerprint scannerNFC camera problems6.Xiaomi Redmi 9C
- Display: 6.53 inches
- Built-in memory: 128 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 13 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G35
• Among the most budget smartphones of 2023, Redmi 9C stands out with a large 6,53-inch IPS screen with good viewing angles, natural colors and a peak brightness of 400 nits.
• Judging from the point of view of an ordinary user, it is very comfortable to use Redmi 9C – applications open smoothly, when switching between them, the smartphone does not “stupid” and does not get very hot during operation. For fans of mobile games at maximum speeds, Redmi 9C is hardly suitable, Call of Duty Mobile and the like come with normal fps only at medium and low settings.
• The main camera shoots decently only in good lighting: a good picture will come out only on a clear sunny day, which is normal for this price category.
Pros and consSeparate memory card slotAutonomyNFCMicro-USB5.Samsung Galaxy A32
- Diagonal: 6.4 inches
- Built-in memory: 64/128 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 64 MP, 8 MP, 5 MP, 5 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G80
• A rare budget smartphone boasts a Super AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass 5 and a refresh rate of 90Hz. But the "Korean" Galaxy A32 – maybe.
• The main camera is also impressive – the resolution of the main sensor is 64 MP, the depth sensor (instead of the usual 2 MP plug) is 5 MP, and the ultra-wide and macro are 8 and 5 MP, respectively. The Helio G80 octa-core processor can run demanding games like CoD at medium settings. Of course, there will be no problems with all sorts of social networks and browser tabs. True, there is no stereo, but there is an NFC module.
• The autonomy of the device is not bad – with active work and entertainment, the smartphone can last about a day and a half (5000 mAh battery). In general, if you were wondering which budget smartphone is better to buy for work or for elderly relatives, the Galaxy A32 is more than a worthy choice. There is NFC, the screen is good, you can surf the Internet and play simple games without any problems – what else does an ordinary user need?
Pros and cons Bright screen with good viewing angles Large 90Hz Super AMOLED battery Supports Samsung Pay 15 W fast charging Fingerprint sensor often glitches4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
- Screen: 6.43 inches
- Built-in memory: 64 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 50 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
• In the end, Xiaomi released a novelty to the Chinese market, the Redmi Note 11 smartphone, which quickly became a hit and earned the nickname “budget flagship”. Despite the fresh release date, the model has already received a new firmware version. It is well balanced in terms of price / functionality – for a moderate amount you get a fingerprint scanner, a 5000 mAh battery and fast charging and stereo speakers (which is rare in budget smartphones).
• The screen of Redmi Note 11 will delight both readers and mobile gamers – 6,6 inches diagonal, AMOLED, 90 Hz frequency and FHD + resolution. Information from the display is read without problems even in direct sunlight, and the colors are rich and pleasing to the eye.
• The Snapdragon 680 processor is powerful enough to easily cope with everyday tasks – instant messengers, social networks, watching videos on streaming services, music and tabs in the browser, it will pull without problems.
• But with demanding games, the situation is worse – games like CoD will only run at low or medium settings. The camera is also average, four-sensor, of which only two are working: the main module is 50 MP and the wide-angle 8 MP. It shoots quite decently, there is support for HDR.
• With active use (video, surfing, music, instant messengers), the phone will last a day and a half thanks to a 5000 mAh battery. The charger from the manufacturer is quite fast -33 watts.
Pros and cons excellent screen good camera stereo speakers no NFC (but there is a version with it)3.Realme 8
- Screen: 6.4 inches
- Built-in memory: 128 GB
- RAM: 6 GB
- Cameras: 64 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G95
• Looking at the specs, the model has everything you need for a budget smartphone – a 6,4-inch AMOLED display with a maximum brightness of 1000 nits, bright and with good angles, as well as a pretty good MediaTek Helio G95 chipset.
• While there is no wireless charging, the 5000 mAh battery charges fairly quickly thanks to the 30W charger that comes with the box.
• The performance is enough to run games at high settings (for example, PUBG will run at 29-30 fps).
• On the back of the smartphone is a quad-camera setup with a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a macro lens, and a depth sensor. Although sometimes the pictures lack brightness, however, the images are clear, detailed, and generally pleasing to the eye. There is a 16 MP selfie camera, and video can be recorded in 4K (30 fps). Add to this additional features like night mode and AI photo processing, and it turns out that Realme 8 is one of the best smartphones with a good camera and a capacious battery.
Pros and consexcellent price/performance ratiohigh performance for the budget segmentgood screenno2. Xiaomi Redmi 10
- Screen: 6.5 inches
- Built-in memory: 64 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Cameras: 50 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G88
• Xiaomi has long enjoyed the fame of a company that offers customers gadgets with high-end features at a relatively low price. Xiaomi Redmi 10 was no exception – a good inexpensive smartphone, the reviews for which on the Internet are the most positive.
• The screen is the strong point of the Redmi 10; it's bright with good detail and a 90Hz refresh rate. By the way, the refresh rate is automatically reduced to 60 Hz if you are watching something undemanding to FPS – for example, a streaming movie.
• Camera – with 4 sensors (50 MP main, 8 MP wide-angle and macro and 2 MP depth sensor). Selfie – 8 MP. The quality of photos is not the most advantageous side of Redmi 10, but during the day they shoot very decently in the light.
• The MediaTek Helio G88 chipset is not the most powerful phone in the world, so you have to say goodbye to the idea of playing Fortnite or ARK: Survival Evolved at maximum speeds (except at the lowest settings).
• The battery is capacious, 5000 mAh, there is also fast charging of 18 watts. Another strong point of the phone is a full-fledged stereo pair and the presence of NFC.
Pros and cons good price / functionality ratio high autonomy easily soiled case requires a cover1Poco X3 Pro
- Diagonal: 6.67 inches
- Built-in memory: 128 GB
- RAM: 6 GB
- Cameras: 8 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
- Battery: 5160 mAh
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 860
• And here is the most outstanding instance in the top 10 budget smartphones of 2023. The updated version of the popular Poco X3 NFC has a much better processor (Snapdragon 860 octa-core), which automatically makes it one of the best budget smartphones in 2023 for playing Fortnite, CoD or whatever you want.
• However, in order to maintain the price, a sacrifice had to be made – and these are cameras. The Poco X3 NFC had more pixels in the sensors, plus the "pro" version has a tendency to blur small details. However, this does not mean at all that the camera is bad – it is capable of producing quite decent pictures, clear even at high magnification.
• Fortunately, this is the only drawback of this excellent, thoughtful device. The IPS screen with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate is simply gorgeous, the 5160mAh battery provides up to 3 days of battery life.
• The phone does not catch 5G, but be honest: what is more important for you: using 5G or playing resource-intensive games with the same frame rate, sensitivity and responsiveness as last year's flagships? The answer, I think, is obvious.
Pros and cons high performance 120 Hz frequency fast charging massive and heavy •
