Introduction
If you're in the market for a budget-friendly, affordable new smartphone under Dhs.1,398 (Early 2024), you're in luck. You may not have the hefty price tag of something like the latest flagship models, but these smartphones offer all of the features that you need to keep up with you everyday needs without breaking the bank. This list includes the best budget phones available for purchase right now.
This includes something for everyone, whether you prefer Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, or Xiaomi. With features such as AMOLED panels to days-long battery life, the value in these budget phones is very impressive. Ready to find you new affordable smartphone companion? Let's dive right in and see our top 10 picks for the best budget phones available.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G
If you are looking for a budget smartphone then Redmi Note 13 5G is a great option. You’re getting an AMOLED display and enduring battery life in a phone that has decent hardware with this smartphone. What’s more is that it manages to do this while coming in at under Dhs.1,098.23. The plastic build is easy to forgive, particularly with Corning Gorilla Glass protection and IP54 splash resistance in play. The display quality is terrific for the price point, serving up vibrant colors and high resolution that makes it a great way to watch shows or edit photos. You’ve also got handy features like a headphone jack and expandable storage being available here, things you couldn’t always count on with more expensive devices. Performance is pretty smooth for daily tasks, even if it might struggle with the most demanding titles, thanks to the Dimensity 6080 chipset.
The 5,000mAh battery is an absolute delight as it does indeed last for ages, although the charging speed isn’t quite as impressive. The camera output doesn’t quite match the flagships, as the lack of optical image stabilization and general low-light struggles show, but it’s decidedly decent for the money. All in all: a pretty solid budget smartphone, but one that’s made even better by Xiaomi’s reputation for frequently dropping security updates. Add to that the option to upgrade to the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G if you want a 108MP selfie camera, a faster 120Hz main display, or a slightly faster charging speed, and this budget smartphone is definitely worth a look.
Poco M6 Pro
Another budget-friendly option that packs a lot of punch for the price. The M6 Pro features a design reminiscent of the Redmi Note 13 5G, with a plastic frame and Gorilla Glass protection, alongside IP54 splash resistance. In other words: this is a tough and durable phone for its price. The 120Hz refresh rate on its full HD AMOLED display ensures nothing less than a vibrant and smooth viewing experience. One of its most interesting features is a stereo speaker arrangement, meaning it offers double what most budget phones offer in the audio department.
Its 5,000mAh battery should give long battery life, with 67W wired charging now supported for quicker top-ups. Even if we wouldn't necessarily expect the 64MP main the rear camera which is fine, but nothing more to offer much help in low light, this is still a phone that's more than capable for everyday photography. The Helio G99 platform offers basic performance, but serves for basic tasks. Again, there's no 5G here so that can still hurt given the price points we're at here. This does come in at a very competitive price, giving the brand a very compelling offering in the budget smartphone market.
Poco X6
A surprising amount of features are available on this phone at the price. Powering the device is a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, again offering basic performance but just what you need again for that everyday snappiness, as well as gaming. It's actually a bit more durable at the front end too. A stereo speaker setup is once again something most budget smartphones can't deliver, making the audio experience one much richer than a phone at this price could normally offer.
The full HD AMOLED display looks vibrant and crisp, with an audio and visual experience that's not too bad from this budget perspective. A fast-charging 67W wired charger is the fastest (up to usual charging voltages) the rest of the Mi 13s are offering so you won't be waiting long for top-ups. Once again, the camera quality like on most of these isn't anything to write home about but decent results will come for everyday photography. As these usually regularly fall below our budget price point, keep your eye on Xiaomi's website, friends.
OnePlus Nord C3 Light 5G
The OnePlus Nord C3 Light 5G is an affordable smartphone that offers an impressive experience with Oxygen OS – atop Android 13. With a strikingly bright lime finish, the Nord C3 Light 5G looks good in a crowd and packs a 6.72-inch full HD+ IPS display with a snappy 120Hz refresh rate for silky-smooth swipes and taps.
Audio is equally solid, with a beefy pair of stereo speakers and an ultra-loud 200% mode for those times when you really need to crank the volume. You’ll get a couple of years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches, keeping the Nord C3 Light 5G up to date for a while to come.
Running on the capable Snapdragon 695 chipset, the Nord C3 Light 5G breezes through daily tasks, supports 5G for faster download speeds, and has a 5,000mAh battery for a full day of use, with 67W Super V charging managing to top off the phone in just over half an hour.
The 108MP Samsung HM6 sensor on the Nord C3 Light 5G makes for fantastic photo quality at this price point. Whether you’re taking photos in the bright sunlight or in darker conditions, the smartphone’s 9-in-1 pixel binning means this is one area in which it delivers top-rated value. Overall, the OnePlus Nord C3 Light 5G stands out from the pack of cheap smartphones, offering an excellent experience at an incredibly affordable price.
Motorola Moto G84
Talking about Motorola Moto G84, it is a phone with an appealing design underlying its output that comes at the right price. The device boasts of a brilliant 6.5-inch 120Hz display and outstanding stereo speakers, making Mediam somebody that will be a terrific device for watching multimedia content. The Snapdragon 695 chipset is good enough for handling day to day activities, but it may have to pull all of its resources if one tries to use it for gaming.
An astonishing 50MP camera on the Moto G84 brings Optical image stabilization to you, which means no more shaking your hands when taking pictures whether to capture the daily scenes or not. Under Moto app, Motorola offers Stock Android all the while maintaining a range of standalone Motorola apps that can benefit you in the fullest possible experience. However the Moto G84 has still kept the great battery life because of its power saving performance ensured.
In the array of cheap phones, the Moto G84 introduces a copy of the famous leather material. The downside of Moto G84's update and OS upgrade policy might be limited ,but this device has still a reliable and stylish feature for you to enjoy its great service at a relatively low price. The overall Moto G84 is an enjoyable phone that easily defends its worth within the type, and proves to be a good dispatcher of the budget phones market.
Motorola Edge 40 Neo
At this budget price point, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo brings redefining style with some substance. It's good looking, sure, but it also has the features to help you stand out from the crowd. Not many in this price range can claim IP68 water and dust resistance, so you can get it wet without worry of killing your playback.
Off a notable upgrade over the Moto G84 before it, the Dimensity 7030 also isn't likely to bat an eye at the most memory-intensive of games. The highlight of the Edge 40 Neo's display is, of course, the HDR10+ streaming and 144Hz refresh rate.
On top of great performance and display, the Edge 40 Neo has fast charging to get back in your hands stat. Like most budget phones, it will probably come up short on security and OS updates, but that's about the only thing not to like here.
Overall, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo offers a strong list of features at a budget-friendly price point that make it a worthy addition to the budget smartphone landscape. A stylish design, powerful chipset, and killer display all combine to make the Edge 40 Neo a phone worth looking at for anyone who wants some style to go along with performance without breaking the bank.
Samsung Galaxy A34
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is a Dhs.1,864.44 mid-range offer from Samsung, but with frequent discounts, you can find it for an attractive Dhs.1,398.33. Water- and dust-resistance with a full IP rating will help you rest a bit easier if you're one for outdoor adventures. Samsung also makes a habit of announcing years of OS updates and support, so even with its budget-friendly past, the Galaxy A34 should age quite nicely.
The Galaxy A34 — after all — does sport a very bright and in-your-face Super AMOLED display fronted by stereo speakers for a sublime viewing experience. Inside is Mediatek's Dimensity 1080, which will keep you flying through your games and tasks during the day. A 5000mAh battery guarantees you'll last all day into the night without reaching for a charger.
The A34 has all the camera modes you'd expect from a phone at this price to help you capture everything from the most mundane to the most crazy of moments. You won't have the best low-light friend here, but it does okay in every other situation. Samsung's One UI launcher, like it or hate it, is what gives this phone a distinctly Samsung feel above all the rest, granting you access to all of Samsung's services and a host of great features.
Overall, the camera isn't the greatest — what do you want for Dhs.1,398.33 anymore? — but this properly does everything else and does it well. There are a couple of other options worth considering in the budget phone market as alternatives as well, such as the Galaxy A25 5G and Nokia G60 5G, but neither one of those come with as complete a package as we've got in the Galaxy A34.
Nokia G60 5G
The Nokia G60 5G is an eco-conscious consumer’s dream come true and is a sustainable option at less than half the cost. Built from recycled materials, the G60 5G forgoes polluting during production and provides a climate-conscious device.
This smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, offering smoothly handled day-to-day tasks and light gaming. It has a large 6.58-inch IPS display with vibrant colors and a mostly pleasant viewing experience, although it may not get quite as bright as some of the other budget smartphones available.
Battery life is good on the Nokia G60 5G and the phone also has expandable storage and a headphone jack — both of which are becoming increasingly rare to find on modern-day smartphones. It may not perform as well as its higher-priced counterparts, but the device’s camera still snaps a satisfactory photo when you need it — provided you’re not in a very low-light condition. Plus, with guaranteed years of OS and security updates, you can rest worry-free with the device. It may not have all the bells and whistles of flagship smartphones, but at this budget price point, the Nokia G60 5G offers a sustainable option, without leaving all of the features you’d most miss, behind.
FAQ
a) Are they reliable in terms of performance?
Yes, for everyday tasks. They may not be able to handle the latest 3D games, but they are more than adequate for browsing, streaming, and regular social media use.
b) Do they have good battery life?
Yes. Battery sizes in this range tend to be massive, ranging from around 5,000mAh to 5,500mAh. In short, they’ll last a full day under moderate to heavy use.
c) Are their cameras decent?
They may not be as advanced as those on their more expensive counterparts, but the phones in this list do offer very passable image quality in good light.
d) Do they get software updates?
Most manufacturers do offer at least some level of software support. Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9 for instance, has a guarantee from the company that it will receive OS updates and security patches “for at least” two years. Others are less clear and some only ever receive one big update. As ever, be sure to check a manufacturer’s update policy before buying.
e) Are there some things they can’t do which flagship phones can?
If you’re not a gamer, or super fussy about photography, no. Most of them have headphone jacks (some don’t), some have expandable storage (usually not more than 2TB), and they’re also pretty tough. Most have displays made of unscratchable by anything short of diamonds Dragontrail, but they will have the odd area where they skimp compared to a more expensive phone. That could be in camera quality in general, display technology, or speed, although they provide great value for money.
