8 Best Budget Android Phone (Expert Reviewed)

Flagship phones are becoming more increasingly expensive every year. Despite the competitive market, various brands can still tag their flagship phones at a very expensive price. A good example of this is the ASUS ROG Smartphone. Unfortunately, most consumers cannot afford these phones while some believe that it’s not worth the cost.

Must Read: Best Gaming Phones on Android (2019) – Android Phones – Every Android Users Must Know About

Fortunately, cheap and budget-oriented phones go with the flow as well. They become cheaper and better every year. However, the challenge here is determining which phones offer the best value for your money.

With that in mind, we created this article for that purpose. So, if you want to know which phones can give you the best value, let this article be your ultimate guide for cheap and budget-oriented Android phones.

What is the best budget phone to buy?

For a quick list, the best budget-oriented and cheap phones that run on the latest Android OS in 2019 are:

Best Overall	Realme 3
Cheapest	Huawei Honor Play 8A
Best Value for Money	Samsung Galaxy M20
Highly Recommended	Xiaomi Pocophone F1
Runner Ups	Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
	Huawei Y7 Prime (2019)
	Realme C1
	Xiaomi Redmi Go

For this article, we will detail down the best budget Android phones and the ones that offer more value for your money. We will also share our secret of finding the best cheap Android phone that money can buy.

Ultimate Cheap Android Phone Guide

If you plan to buy a brand new cheap Android phone, there are a few things that you need to know. A little reading and research will give you the ultimate weapon of knowledge. By doing so, determining which budget-oriented Android phone that suits your needs will be an easy task.

Without further ado, here are the things that you need to know and keep in mind when shopping for a budget-oriented cheap Android phone.

Smartphone Specification

First and foremost, when shopping for a brand new phone, we highly recommend checking its specification. One way to know if these phones feature the latest hardware is by checking the phone’s operating system. A little Google research wouldn’t hurt. Plus, it gives you information about the latest Android operating system for smartphones.

As of this writing, Android 9 or Android Pie is the latest Android operating system. However, following the current trend of Google, the next Android OS which is called “Android 10” or “Android Q,” should become available in around August of 2019.

Another thing to look for is if the phone runs on a Qualcomm or MediaTek processor. For budget phones, you would want either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 or MediaTek Helio A22 processor. These processors are the latest for entry-level phones.

Features

Cheap Android phones will usually have basic features for a smartphone. That is why knowing what you want from a phone matters. Do you either want a great front camera or big storage? Knowing what you want from a phone will make your purchase and selection count.

It is also best to expect that a trade-off is highly possible in this case. For example, a decent performing phone for an affordable price may come with a plastic frame as the trade-off.

Price

When buying an Android Phone, the price of the phone is an important factor to consider. This helps you determine if a phone is worth its price. For example, Xiaomi’s Redmi Go that runs on Android Go OS was announced to be sold for a slightly lower price than Xiaomi’s Redmi 6A in the United States.

The Redmi Go phone features 1GB of RAM, 8GB of Storage, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 while the Xiaomi Redmi 6A features 16GB of Storage, 2GB of RAM, and runs on MediaTek Helio A22, a more powerful processor than Snapdragon 425. If you chose to buy Redmi 6A, you get twice the RAM, twice the storage, a faster processor, and more for a slightly higher price.

So, deeming if a phone is worth its price or not comes down to personal preference most of the times. Although, we highly recommend that you check and research the phones that picks your interest first before purchasing.

8 Best Budget-Oriented and Cheap Android Phone (2020)

Now that we know what to look for let’s jump right into our list. So without further ado, here are 7 of the best budget Android phone or cheap Android phone that you can buy in 2019.

1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

The Redmi Note 7 is the first phone released by Xiaomi’s new sub-brand Redmi for 2019. The key selling feature of this phone is its 48MegaPixel rear camera. It also packs Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, 3GB RAM, 32GB Storage, and 4000mAh of battery. Despite not being the first phone to feature a 48MegaPixel camera, it’s by far the cheapest Android phone that comes with that feature.

Key Features:

• Released 2019, January
• Front/back glass (Gorilla Glass 5)
• Hybrid Dual SIM
• IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
• 6.3 Inches Display (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)
• Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octa-core (4×2.2 GHz Kryo 260 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260)
• Adreno 512
• 32 GB Storage, 3 GB RAM
• Dual Rear Camera – 48MP/5MP
• 13MP Selfie Camera
• Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery

What makes this phone irresistible is its 6.3 inches IPS 81.4% screen-to-body ratio display as well as its front and back glass design. It will only not look expensive but luxurious as well.

Pros

• Dual Camera with 48MP/5MP and 13MP Selfie Camera
• Price
• Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• Glass Body

Cons

• Plastic Frame
• Water Drop Notch
• Availability

2. Samsung Galaxy M20

Samsung Galaxy M series is Samsung’s newest entry-level series of smartphone. Samsung Galaxy M20 features 5000mAh battery, Exynos 7904, 32GB Storage, and 3GB RAM. Of course, it’s main key selling feature is its 5000mAh battery and a whopping 83.6% screen-to-body ratio for a 6.3 inches display.

Key Features:

• Released 2019, February
• PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen
• Android 8.1 (Oreo); Experience 9.5
• Exynos 7904 Octa-core – 1.8GHz Dual-core (Cortex-A73)+1.6GHz Hexa-core(Cortex-A53)
• Mali-G71 MP2
• 32GB Storage
• 3GB RAM
• Dual Camera 13MP/5MP
• 8MP Selfie Camera

Despite having a higher selling price than the Redmi Note 7, hardware-wise should perform similarly. So, if you want a Samsung branded phone that’s cheap but has decent device performance, then the Samsung Galaxy M20 is worth considering for its value.

Pros

• 5000mAh Battery + 15W Type-C Charger
• 16cm (6.3″) Infinity V Display
• Dual Camera with Ultra Wide Lens
• 83.6% screen-to-body ratio

Cons

• Price Compared to Others
• V Style Notch

3. Huawei Y7 Prime (2019)

The Huawei Y7 Prime (2019) is the successor of the Y7 Prime (2018). The key selling features of this phone are 4000mAh, 3GB RAM, 32GB Storage, 6.26 Inches IPS Display, Snapdragon 450, Adreno 506, and a Dual Rear AI Camera. It also features a water drop notch that probably no one would like since it’s a notch.

Key Features:

• Released 2019, January
• IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
• 6.26 inches ~80.0% screen-to-body ratio
• Android 8.1 (Oreo); EMUI 8.2
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53
• Adreno 506
• 32GB Storage
• 3GB RAM
• Dual Rear Camera 13MP/2MP
• 16MP Selfie Camera
• Non-removable Li-Ion 4000 mAh battery

If you want a cheap Android phone that has a great front camera, then the Huawei Y7 Prime (2019) might just be the one for you. With a 16MP selfie camera, your selfies will produce high-quality images. Your pictures will be clear and crisp.

Pros

• 16MP Selfie Camera (Front Camera)
• Classic Design
• 4000mAh Battery

Cons

• Price – Too Expensive for its Features

4. Xiaomi Redmi Go

Xiaomi’s Redmi Go phone is the brand’s first Android Go powered phone for 2019.

The Redmi Go features basic smartphone hardware. The idea behind the Redmi Go phone is to take advantage of the Android Go OS. This OS is a standard Android OS with performance tweaks to ensure that it will work on underpowered devices.

Key Features:

• IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
• 5.0 inches ~70.0% screen-to-body ratio
• 8GB Storage
• 1GB RAM
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53
• Adreno 308
• Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery
• 8 MP, f/2.0, AF Rear Camera
• 5 MP, f/2.2 Selfie Camera

What sets the real value for this phone is its price. As of this writing, we are not certain of what will be the price of this phone in the US. Regardless, the Xiaomi Redmi Go is definitely the cheapest Android phone that anyone could buy. Although the idea of using a stripped down Android OS just to cut the cost of a phone is arguably lackluster for us.

Pros

• Price – Affordability
• Android Go Version
• 3000mAh Battery

Cons

• Features – Don’t expect much from this Phone since it’s inexpensive
• Price – Adding a few bucks can get you a Redmi 6A

5. Realme C1

Realme is a brand that many might not know about. It first appeared in China in 2010 and is commonly known as “OPPO Real,” a subbrand of OPPO.  In 2018, Realme became an independent company. Their first phone was Realme 1 and was exclusively available in India. One of their value and a budget-oriented phone was “Realme C1.”

Now, Realme C1 is available in 2019 version. Which has a few upgrades compared to its 2018 version. Well technically, on papers, the only upgrade that the 2019 version get was bigger storage and RAM.

Key Features:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53
• Adreno 506
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB Storage
• Dual Rear Camera 13MP/2MP
• 5MP Selfie Camera
• Non-removable Li-Ion 4230 mAh battery
• Android 8.1 (Oreo); ColorOS 5.2
• 6.2 inches ~81.2% screen-to-body ratio

Despite having underpowered hardware, the Realme C1 still is a great value phone. It’s hard to complain if you’ll get an octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of Storage, and 4230mAh Battery. Making it hard to criticize this phone.

Pros

• 4230mAh Battery
• Price
• Octa Core

Cons

• Underpowered Hardware
• Not much of an upgrade compared to its 2018 version
• Gorilla Glass 3

6. Huawei Honor Play 8A

Honor, a sub-brand of Huawei, launched their newest phone in the entry-level category, the Honor Play 8A. This affordable cheap Android phone is powered by Android 9.0 PIE and runs on MediaTek Helio P35, PowerVR GE8320, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of Storage, and a 6 inches display. The Honor Play 8A features the most powerful processor amongst any phones included in this list. Thus, making it one of its selling point.

Key Features:

• Released 2019, January
• LCD capacitive touchscreen
• 6.01 inches ~78.8% screen-to-body ratio
• Android 9.0 (Pie); EMUI 9
• MediaTek Helio P35 Octa-core (4×2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)
• PowerVR GE8320
• 32GB Storage
• 3GB RAM
• 13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF Rear Camera
• 8 MP, f/2.0 Selfie Camera
• Non-removable Li-Po 3020 mAh battery.

For its price, this phone is an irresistible offer. However, if you’re looking for an Android phone for gaming, then there are other better options out there. The PowerVR GE8320 is a low-end mobile graphics processing unit. So, you can expect low to almost unplayable performance in most demanding games for Android with this phone. Other than that, this phone is excellent in most cases as a daily driver phone.

7. Xiaomi Pocophone F1

If there’s one smartphone right now that spells “Value” as clear as the sky, that’s gonna be the Xiaomi Pocophone F1. You’ll get a 64GB Storage, a whopping 6GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, a 20MegaPixel Selfie Camera, a rear camera capable of recording 960 frames per second,  4000mAh battery, Android 9 PIE, and more!

The Pocophone F1 is considered to be the cheapest Android phone that features the best hardware in the market. Performance wise, using a benchmarking tool called 3DMark, the Pocophone F1 scored 3662 which is on par with Google Pixel 3 that scored 3704 and cost twice as much.

Key Features:

• 6 Inch IPS Display with 1080×2246 18.7:9 Pixel Ratio and ~82.2% Screen-to-Body Ratio
• Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10.2 POCO
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
• Octa-core (4×2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
• Adreno 630
• 6GB RAM
• 64GB Storage
• Dual Rear Camera 12 MP, f/1.9 with dual pixel PDAF and 5 MP with f/2.0 and depth sensor
• 960 Frame per Second Video Recording
• 4K Ultra High Definition Video Recording
• 20MegaPixel Selfie Camera
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Dual Band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac
• Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery

Arguably, considered as the best cheapest Android phone in the high-end category. The Pocophone F1 lacks a few features that found on other high-end Android phones. Features such as classy glass body, on-screen fingerprint scanner, and more. Other than that, this phone is a big hit. If you want a value that gives the best for your money, then we highly recommend considering Pocophone F1.

Pros

• Price – Cheap Android Phone with Flagship Performance
• Components and Features – Processor, Storage, Camera, Built

Cons

• Doesn’t have water-proof protection
• Lack of Camera OIS
• No NFC

8. Realme 3

The sub-brand of OPPO, Realme, just released one of their latest and affordable Android smartphone, the Realme 3. You can get a smartphone that runs on Helio P60 chipset, Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53), from the Taiwanese semiconductor brand MediaTek and has a 6.2-inch LCD display with a resolution between 720p and 1080p.

Key Features:

• Mediatek MT6771 Helio P60 (12 nm)
• Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Front glass, plastic body
• Mali-G72 MP3
• 32 GB, 3 GB RAM
• A back camera with 13MP and 2MP Depth Sensor
• A Selfie Camera with 13MP
• microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go
• Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
• Non-removable Li-Ion 4230 mAh battery
• Supports Fast battery charging 10W

With all that specs and features for cheap, the Realme 3 is considered the new budget king. Performance-wise, it may not offer you a similar or somehow near the performance of high-end phones that are extremely expensive but for this affordable phone, the flaws are negligible.

Pros

• Price – Affordable with the latest in Android
• Solid Screen Color Display
• Huge Battery

Cons

• Doesn’t have water-proof protection
• Lack of Camera OIS
• No NFC

Conclusion

Choosing the best budget Android phone or the cheapest Android phone for your budget is not an easy task. You need proper knowledge and skills to be able to do that. However, a quick Google search will help you along the way.

We hope that this article helped you somehow. We want our readers to be well informed. No matter what you are looking for, the JoyofAndroid team is here to help you. So, if you know an Android phone that should be included our list, or you own one of these phones, let us know in the comment section below!

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