The year so far has been jam packed with release after release of smartphone. Some that have been exceptional and others a true disappointment. Choosing the perfect budget smartphones can be a challenge with all the changes and hidden details. But so is the world of tech, it has its highs and lows. In this article, we will be diving picking five budget smartphones that fill the pocket without breaking the bank.
On a budget? There is a high demand for this range of smartphones from students and those looking for affordable. The market this year has not failed to provide decent phones with some high end specs such as camera, processor and enough storage at this price range.
With the back to school here, these are a worthy consideration for your pocket and they will not fail you.
Best Budget Back-to-School Laptops under 500USD in 2024
Let us have a look.
Budget Smartphones Under 250USD
To kick off we will start with the:
1. Nothing CMF Phone 1
The Nothing CMF Phone 1 is the new kid on the block dropped by Nothing Phone company to compete in the budget smartphone category. The phone offers some of the best specs and would clearly take the lead in this category for those looking for me subtle design.
It was announced in July 2024. Now going for around $230-$259.
Specs
| Display | AMOLED, 120Hz, 500 nits, 2000 nits (peak) 6.67 inches, Resolution 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio |
| CPU | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) |
| Storage | 128GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP + 2MP Dual Rear |
| Front Camera | 16 MP Front |
| Battery | 5000mAh |
Pros:
- Fresh Look and Design
- Good battery life
- Powerful processor
Cons:
- A bit gimmicky
2. Redmi Note 13 pro 5G/4G
Redmi a sub-brand of Xiaomi is famous for its budget phone year in an year out. Compared to most of the phones in this category under $250, the Redmi is a bit limited for quality feature. Here I will recommend the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro, launched in late September 2023.
The phone will hold its ground going against phones such as the Galaxy A35. It will go for around $230-$259, depending on if it’s the 5G or 4G variant.
Specs
| Display | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, 500 nits (typ), 1200 nits (HBM), 6.67 inches) 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| CPU | Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| Storage | 128GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 200MP + 2MP Dual Rear |
| Front Camera | 16 MP Front |
| Battery | 5000mAh |
Pros:
- Unique Design
- Powerful camera
- 120Hz Screen
Cons:
- Previous generation processor
3. Samsung Galaxy A34
The phone will definitely hold its own ground going against phones such as the Galaxy A35. It will go for around $230-$259, depending on if its the 5G or 4G variant.
Specs
| Display | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) 6.6 inches, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| CPU | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| Storage | 128GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 48MP + 8MP + 5MP Rear |
| Front Camera | 13 MP Front |
| Battery | 5000mAh |
Pros:
- Powerful processor
- Good quality camera
- Quality display
Cons:
- Battery issue
- Overheating
4. Moto G 5G (2024)
The Motorola Moto series is a series of budget smartphones that are cheap and outperform their price. It is perhaps one of the cheapest phones in this category with these kind of specs. In performance, it will perform better than most phones at its price point.
It costs around $155.
Specs
| Display | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1000 nits (HBM) 6.6 inches, 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio |
| CPU | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) |
| Storage | 128GB |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Rear Camera | 50MP + 2MP Rear |
| Front Camera | 8 MP Front |
| Battery | 5000mAh |
Pros:
- very affordable
- Long-lasting battery
- Vegan leather
Cons:
- Dim display
5. Oppo A60 4G (2024)
The Oppo A60 4G also offer the cheapest budget smartphones with that feel and look of all the phones in this list. However, it will not disappoint in performance or battery life. The CPU and all the other specs are nothing to boast about but it will definetly go toe to toe with the Tecno Spark series.
It costs around $160-190.
Specs
Oppo A60 4G
| Display | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 950 nits (peak) 6.67 inches, Pixels, 20:9 ratio |
| CPU | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| Storage | 128GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Rear Camera | 50MP + 2MP Rear |
| Front Camera | 8 MP Front |
| Battery | 5000mAh |
Pros:
- Long battery life
Cons:
- IPS display low-quality
Worthy Mention
The Redmi Note 13 Pro series comes with several variants; Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro +. The latter is the high-end budget smartphone in this line. With $100-150 more this phone is worth a second look. It offers unbeatable bang for the buck, going toe to toe with Samsung Galaxy A55.
It also has a super crisp camera, good for taking photos and close to professional video. The design is also just a brilliant.
