TOP 10 best low-cost smartphones

A mobile phone has long been firmly entrenched in our daily lives, but not everyone has enough money to buy a model of famous brands. It is for this reason that we decided to write a review of inexpensive smartphones that will be affordable for most people. Before proceeding to the rating itself, we will give some tips in terms of choosing this gadget, which, we hope, will be useful to you if you do not like any of the review models and decide to purchase something else.

How to choose a budget smartphone?

First of all, all prejudices about the fact that Chinese products are of low quality and fragility should be discarded. Today, the situation has changed a lot compared with the situation a decade ago. Many Chinese manufacturers of mobile devices are not inferior in quality to such world-famous brands as LG or Samsung.

One of the most important selection criteria is the RAM - this parameter is more important than the built-in memory, since the latter can be significantly expanded due to the installation of a flash drive. RAM along with the processor ensures the speed of the device. The best option is 2 GB - this device is suitable for both games and for simple surfing on the Internet.

In terms of the operating system, you don’t have to particularly choose - all budget models work on the basis of the Android platform. Be sure to pay attention to the battery of the device. Many users, preferring inexpensive models, think that the charge will be consumed slowly due to a weaker processor, a screen with a low level of color reproduction, but this opinion is erroneous. The fact is that the battery for the device is selected depending on the functionality of the model. If the smartphone has average characteristics, then a 3000 mAh battery will be enough. In the case when the user needs to make the life of the device without recharging as much as possible, he should pay attention to models with a battery of 4600 mAh and above.

When compiling our rating of the best low-cost smartphones of the year, we relied primarily on user reviews, and also took into account the price-quality ratio of the device. For this reason, you cannot find low-quality models here. So, let's start our review.

The best models of low-cost smartphones in 2019

10. ZTE Blade Z10

Our rating is opened by this rather budget model, the iron of which is placed in a case made of soft-touch plastic, and the front side is additionally protected from various kinds of damage with the help of special glass. The front panel is not original - it has a 5.2-inch display, a 5 megapixel front camera, a speaker and several useful sensors. On the back there is a main camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels, it is additionally equipped with a flash based on LEDs. The model is quite thin, it holds well in the hand, the back panel has a special anti-slip coating, but fingerprints will remain on it. The display has good clarity, but the color rendition suffers somewhat compared to other budget models, especially with regard to contrast.

The key element of this device is a 4-core Snapdragon 425 processor with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz, an Adreno 505 graphics processor, 2 GB of RAM with 16 GB of internal memory. However, in reality, only 11 GB will be available to the user, since the rest will be occupied by the operating system itself, drivers and standard applications. There are two slots for SIM cards, moreover, one of them can be used to connect a microSD memory card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. The interface is standard for Android, it works quickly, does not slow down even with heavy workload.

Benefits:

• Available in several color options;
• The presence of anti-slip coating soft touch;
• Supports all ranges of mobile Internet and communications.

Disadvantages:

• There is no fingerprint scanner;
• Average performance;
• The sub-screen panel is completely unused.

9. Meizu M6 16 GB

This Chinese company was able to find the perfect balance between reasonable cost and quite good performance of its models. This smartphone is no exception. The case is made of polycarbonate materials with metallization - these materials have a fairly high level of strength. The display here has a fairly good color rendering, a fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel, the battery has a high capacity. The smartphone runs on the latest Android operating system. It has an 8-core 64-bit processor with a maximum clock speed of up to 4.5 GHz. The ARM Mali-T860 MP2 GPU allows you to install even the most demanding games and other applications. There is not too much RAM here - 2 GB, built-in 16 GB, it is possible to install an additional flash drive with a capacity of up to 128 GB.

The display has a diagonal of 5.2 inches, is protected by a special glass with a 2.5D effect, which will be smoothed to the edges of the device. Above the display, there is a conversational speaker, near which there are light and proximity sensors, a front camera is provided, there is also a warning LED. In case of a missed call, receiving a message, it will glow with a rather pleasant bluish light. The main camera has an LED flash, and dual-tone. The display resolution is 1280 × 720 pixels - for a budget smartphone this is a very decent indicator.

Benefits:

• High-quality and reliably protected display with a high level of color reproduction;
• Easy to manage;
• Good performance.

Disadvantages:

• The case is easily soiled - fingerprints will be visible on it;
• The manufacturer could install more RAM.

8. HTC Desire 530

The manufacturer claims that this is a rather unique model, which cannot be found on the market today. Overall dimensions are quite acceptable - 147x71x8.3 mm. The case is plastic, molded, additionally decorated with golden blots. The assembly is excellent - there are no backlashes or creaks anywhere. The level of strength of the case is average, if you do not drop it often, then it is able to maintain its original appearance throughout its entire life. The keyboard here deserves special attention - the manufacturer has developed its own device, which will be very economical to use the free space of the screen, without creating the slightest inconvenience to the user.

The touch screen display has excellent performance, the surface is perfectly smooth and fingers move quickly around it. Even despite the fact that all components do not have very high performance, navigation through the menu sections is carried out with the greatest smoothness. The front camera has a resolution of 2.5 megapixels, the main - 8 megapixels. The quality of the pictures is quite decent, largely due to the presence of LED flash. The liquid crystal display has a diagonal of 5 inches, a resolution of 1208x720 pixels.This model is characterized by a good level of color reproduction, image clarity.

Benefits:

• There are several modes of energy saving;
• It is made in several rather original colors;
• Good performance, despite the fact that it is made from basic components.

Disadvantages:

• You will not be able to play demanding games;
• Lack of lighting greatly affects the quality of pictures.

7. Huawei Honor 6A

This model is equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, which runs on eight cores. Thanks to this device, you can play demanding games, easily use any application. Another advantage of such a processor is that it practically does not heat up even during active operation. There is 3 GB of RAM here - this provides high-speed gadget, Adreno 505 graphics controller creates a feeling of smoothness of all transitions between sections of the menu. The appearance of the device is also quite interesting and attractive. The back side is metal, able to withstand any, even quite serious physical exertion, including strong shocks. On the front side is a 5-inch display, earpiece and proximity sensor. The fingerprint sensor is located on the back of the smartphone, which is quite convenient, since it does not take up space on the front panel.

The ergonomics of the device are well thought out - due to the slightly rounded edges, the gadget fits comfortably in your hand, does not slip out. Despite the decent diagonal of the display, there is no feeling of massiveness, moreover, the dimensions allow it to be worn even in small pockets. The viewing angles of the display are quite large, which is not quite typical for budget smartphones and favorably distinguishes this model from analogues. The screen has a reading mode, thanks to which the eyes will practically not get tired.

Benefits:

• Pleasant appearance;
• High maximum brightness, colors do not fade even in direct sunlight;
• Quality cameras.

Disadvantages:

• A separate slot for a memory card is not allocated - you have to install it in the slot for a SIM card;
• The Wi-Fi module works in only one band.

6. OUKITEL U11 Plus

This phone has a fairly large screen - its diagonal is 5.7 inches. Users note its high performance, good color reproduction and beautiful appearance of the device. The case has a classic design, a robust aluminum alloy frame is provided. The shape is a bit angular, which, against the background of other models with smooth corners, gives the design an originality. Overall dimensions are pretty decent - 155x79x8.8 mm with a mass of 220 grams. The center of gravity is not biased, the device is well balanced, so it is pleasant to hold it in your hand, it will not slip out.

The display is protected by glass with an effect of 2.5 D, which prevents scratches, and also fingerprints will not remain on it. The back cover is matte, has a slightly rough pattern, the phone will not fly out even with wet hands. The device runs on the processor MediaTek MT6750T with 8 cores with a maximum frequency of 4.5 GHz. For speed, in addition to the processor, the dual-core graphics controller Mali-T860 MP2 with a clock frequency of 650 MHz is responsible. These two elements allow you to use even demanding games. The RAM here is 4 GB, built-in 64 GB, the user will be available 57 GB. You can install two SIM cards or one SIM card and a flash drive.

Benefits:

• Significant amounts of memory;
• Large display;
• Long life without recharging;
• Front camera with high resolution.

Disadvantages:

• Decent dimensions;
• Lack of an additional slot for memory cards;
• Sometimes there are problems with the sensors.

5. DOOGEE Y6 Max

The gadget is placed in a metal case, which allows the model to easily withstand significant loads. Appearance gives the impression of a rather expensive device.The diagonal is also quite large - as much as 6.5 inches, so it is very convenient to work with this device. The frame is narrow, which can significantly save on overall dimensions, so the design does not seem overly cumbersome. Decent weight - as much as 250 grams. On the back there is a camera with a flash that extends about 1 mm beyond the body, and there is also a fingerprint scanner. The display resolution is 1920 × 1080 pixels with a pixel density of 338 ppi, so that they will not be noticeable at all even at close range. The picture is bright and clear.

The phone operates on the basis of a 4-core MediaTek MTK6750 processor, the clock frequency of each core is 1 GHz. The Mali T860 graphics controller and 3 GB of RAM allow you to use the design to work with any graphics program. You can open several demanding applications at the same time, but at the same time, performance will remain at the same level. The main camera has a resolution of 13 MPs - not bad for a budget model, it also features fast and accurate focusing. The front camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, which is quite enough for bright and clear self-shots.

Benefits:

• Superior build quality
• Large display
• Good performance;
• A large amount of RAM and internal memory.

Disadvantages:

• There is no way to replace the battery yourself;
• There is no electronic compass;
• Pretty heavy.

4. Highscreen Fest XL

The manufacturers of this model relied on the highest quality sound and did not fail, although in terms of appearance the smartphone is nothing special. In addition, this gadget is characterized by a rather powerful and capacious battery - 8000 mAh. According to the manufacturer, with average loads on the device, it is able to last for a week without recharging. The battery is not removable, but due to the high capacity, the mass of the smartphone has also increased - it is 235 grams. The back panel is made of matte plastic, very rough to the touch, which allows the structure not to slip out of hands. The diagonal of the display is 5.5 inches - quite enough for the average user. Pixels are a bit large, however, the feeling of graininess of the image does not occur. Unfortunately, viewing angles are not too wide.

The camera resolution is 13 megapixels, the pictures are clear enough, but the image stabilizer is pretty weak here, so something will not work on the go. A distinctive feature of the front camera is the presence of a flash. The sound is really luxurious, both through the speaker and through the headphones. The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel, a little recessed into the body, however, finding it by touch is quite easy. The average performance is not suitable for demanding games, but for all sorts of useful applications it will be more than enough.

Benefits:

• Superb sound
• There is a separate slot for a memory card;
• Convenient fingerprint scanner.

Disadvantages:

• Slight viewing angles;
• Average performance.

3. LeEco Cool1 3 / 32GB

In third place in our review of the best inexpensive smartphones is this rather famous model. First of all, users note the high build quality of this product - all parts are tightly fitted to each other, there are no backlashes and creaks, they do not arise even due to strong pressing. The side end parts are made of aluminum alloy, but the back cover is plastic. The front panel is light, because of which black frames are clearly visible, framing the display of the device. On the back there is a dual camera with LED flash, there is also a fingerprint scanner.Below are two grilles, under one of them is a speaker, under the other microphone.

The diagonal of the display is 5.5 inches, it is well protected with a special oleophobic coating, so that scratches and other surface defects will not occur. For people who like to play mobile games, the device is not very suitable, but for ordinary users it will be quite enough. The interface is fast, the camera is of high quality. RAM can be installed 3 GB with a user volume of 32 GB.

Benefits:

• Acceptable performance;
• Good color rendering display;
• Touch buttons are backlit;
• Through the infrared port you can control various household appliances.

Disadvantages:

• There is no memory card slot;
• No quick charge function.

2. Samsung Galaxy J1

World famous brands also produce fairly budget options for smartphones, and Samsung was no exception, introducing not so long ago its new model. This gadget is quite compact largely due to the small screen diagonal, which is only 4.3 inches, so its dimensions are small - 130x68x9 mm and weighs 122 grams. The case is made of reliable plastic, which does not leave fingerprints. Managing the gadget is quite convenient even with one hand. The design for the models of this brand is quite familiar and recognizable. The display resolution is 480x800 pixels with a pixel density of 217 ppi. The color reproduction is quite decent, the brightness is also at a high level - you can easily see what is happening on the screen even in the sun.

The functionality is quite acceptable, however, users note that the device boots up long enough, but after that it starts to behave quite quickly and stably. A set of applications is standard for gadgets of this brand. There is a front camera with a resolution of 2 megapixels, the main camera at 5 megapixels, it is possible to record video in 480p format. Despite the fact that their resolution is low, both cameras are capable of producing high-quality, clear and bright pictures regardless of the lighting conditions.

Benefits:

• There is an additional slot for a flash drive;
• Supports all available ranges;
• Good screen brightness.

Disadvantages:

• Buttons do not have a backlight.

1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X

According to user reviews, this model is the best in the field of low-cost smartphones in most respects. First of all, it should be noted the front panel, which is closed with a special protective glass Gorilla Glass 3, it is slightly rounded on the sides. At the bottom there are several touch buttons that, when the backlight is off, will be practically invisible. Directly above the display is the earpiece and front camera. The back panel is metal, it also has a camera, an LED flash of two colors, under which there is a fingerprint scanner. The camera is designed in such a way that it does not extend beyond the device. Accordingly, the lens will not be scratched.

The average screen diagonal is 5.5 inches, it works on an IPS matrix with a maximum resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. It behaves perfectly in the sun - absolutely everything that happens on the display is visible. The model has 3 GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 625 processor and an Adreno 506 graphics accelerator, which provides instant device response and fast operation of even heavy applications. The model has two slots for SIM cards, one of them can be used for a flash drive with a capacity of up to 128 GB - in addition to 32 GB of internal memory.

Benefits:

• High battery capacity;
• Excellent performance;
• There is a quick charge function;
• The infrared port allows you to use as a remote control.

Disadvantages:

• Not found.

In conclusion, an interesting video

So, our rating of the best low-cost smartphones has come to its logical conclusion. If you have any questions about the models in the review, then ask us in the comments. Here you can share your impressions regarding the use of a device.

(3 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)

Loading...