TOP 20 best low-cost smartphones: 2024-2025 ranking by price / quality and which good model to choose

Choice of budget smartphone - the process is no less complicated, and maybe even more energy-consuming than the choice of the flagship model.

Smartphones differ not only in their filling, but also in their “profile” - somewhere there are more profitable cameras, and some models are not inferior to more expensive ones. game performance.

To speed up the selection process, we present you with a ranking of inexpensive popular smartphones in 2024-2025. When compiling, we took into account the opinion of specialists and users, as well as statistical data from Rosstat.

The selection was carried out taking into account all technical characteristics, price / quality ratio, autonomy and power.

Rating TOP-20 inexpensive smartphones 2024-2025

Place	Name	Price
TOP 3 best inexpensive smartphones in price / quality ratio for 2024-2025
1	Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 6/128GB	Ask for a price
2	Samsung Galaxy M31	Ask for a price
3	realme 6 8/128GB	Ask for a price
TOP 3 inexpensive smartphones with a good camera
1	vivo V20 SE	Ask for a price
2	Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 6/64GB	Ask for a price
3	HONOR 20s 6/128GB	Ask for a price
TOP 3 inexpensive smartphones with a good battery
1	Samsung Galaxy A51 64GB	Ask for a price
2	Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 6/128GB	Ask for a price
3	HUAWEI P smart Z 4/64GB	Ask for a price
TOP 3 gaming inexpensive smartphones
1	Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 6/64GB	Ask for a price
2	realme 6S 6/128GB	Ask for a price
3	ZTE Blade 20 Smart	Ask for a price
TOP 2 inexpensive smartphones with NFC
1	HONOR 9X 4/128GB	Ask for a price
2	Samsung Galaxy A51 128GB	Ask for a price
TOP-2 inexpensive smartphones under 15,000 rubles
1	HONOR 20 Lite 4/128GB (UK)	Ask for a price
2	Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T 3/32GB	Ask for a price
TOP-2 inexpensive smartphones under 10,000 rubles
1	Huawei Y6 (2019)	Ask for a price
2	Samsung Galaxy A10	Ask for a price
TOP-2 inexpensive smartphones under 5000 rubles
1	MAXVI MS531 Vega	Ask for a price
2	ZTE Blade A3 (2020) NFC	Ask for a price

How to choose an inexpensive smartphone today?

Buying an inexpensive smartphone is an investment that requires special attention, because there is always a risk of acquiring a model that is either globally outdated, or of very mediocre quality, or not suitable for your needs.

Experts recommend paying attention to such details as:

• build quality and body strength - in budget smartphones, the main material is plastic, glass is quite rare. The material, although quite fragile, still significantly reduces the cost. When buying offline, you should carefully consider the model for backlash, the quality of seams and details;
• screen - it is worth checking the brightness, its lower and upper levels, compare color reproduction, white balance.Too high contrast or brightness can damage vision, especially at night, and a lack of brightness on a sunny day will severely limit visibility;
• specifications - are determined by the needs of the buyer, but it is better to give preference to slightly more advanced options and a later date for the model to enter the market.

TOP 3 best inexpensive smartphones in price / quality ratio for 2024-2025

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 6/128GB

In 2024-2025, this smartphone is popular due to its excellent ratio technical characteristics and cost.

Thoughtful design takes into account not only the aesthetic component, but also adds ergonomics. The case lies comfortably in the hand, does not slip, fingerprints do not remain on the lid.

The smartphone has two color solutions, one of which compares favorably not only in color, but also in the special shape of the camera unit.

It includes 4 well-designed lenses, the macro camera is much better than most similar gadgets. A high-quality display will provide a clear image, a high margin of brightness allows you to use the device even on a bright sunny day with virtually no loss of visibility.

A good chipset and enough RAM allows you to multitask without losing speed.

A capacious battery with support for fast charging lasts for 14-16 hours when the device is fully loaded.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 209g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.67?;
• Rear cameras: 64 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 16 MP;
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/6 GB.

Samsung Galaxy M31

The model is quite advanced both externally and internally.. Stylish design with bright colors, good quality plastic, thin frames, ergonomics - and the output turned out to be a very good smartphone in the budget segment.

The main advantage of the gadget is an extremely powerful battery that can hold autonomy in standby mode for up to four days, and when fully loaded with applications, it works up to 24 hours.!

Not all flagships can boast of such capabilities. At the same time, such a powerful battery practically does not weigh down the device.

Proprietary processor provides stability, sufficient amount of RAM 6 GB - clear multitasking.

The device copes with demanding applications and games quite easily.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 191g;
• Screen: AMOLED, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.4?;
• Rear cameras: 64 + 8 + 5 + 5 MP;
• Front camera: 32 MP;
• Processor: Samsung Exynos 9611, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/6 GB.

realme 6 8/128GB

Not very popular, but quite interesting model Realmescreen quality. An efficient matrix and high-quality impact-resistant glass would seem to be what else is required, but the manufacturer managed to achieve a refresh rate of 90 Hz.

Such characteristics, combined with a gaming processor and a powerful video chipset, will give a smooth picture in heavy games with maximum graphics settings.

This is facilitated by a good amount of RAM 8 GB. Built-in memory is also enough to accommodate a lot of games and applications.

The battery supports fast charging, and a full charge will last for 16 hours of gaming or web surfing.

The cameras here are also decent for the budget segment, the front camera turned out to be especially worthy, capable of taking good pictures even in poor lighting conditions.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 191g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.5?;
• Rear cameras: 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 16 MP;
• Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/8 GB.

TOP 3 best inexpensive smartphones with a good camera

vivo V20 SE

A worthy representative of the budget line of smartphones Vivoequipped not only good cameras, but also quite acceptable parameters of technical equipment.

The model has a stylish design with a nice lid, fits comfortably in the hand, the display has thin frames.

Thanks to a good matrix, the resolution of the screen is quite good, the color reproduction is very juicy and clear.

Multitasking is ensured by the work, albeit not a top-end, but efficient processor and a sufficient amount of RAM.

In games, it shows itself stably at medium graphics settings.

The selfie camera of this smartphone is one of the best in the ranking, the main cameras give clear pictures with excellent dynamic range, correct color reproduction and accurate detail.

Autonomy, however, is somewhat below average - in active mode, the battery is able to hold a charge for 8-10 hours.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 172g;
• Screen: AMOLED, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.44?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 2 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 16 MP;
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/8 GB.

Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 6/64GB

An unusual smartphone with the original location of the photomodule - round centered platform at the top.

The classic plastic case fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, while the reinforcement with a metal frame protects the gadget in case of accidental drops.

The main unit includes three good lenses, the pictures are obtained with accurate color reproduction, good detail and contrast..

Weak lighting gives the predominance of warm colors. Night mode allows you to get clearer shots and not illuminate them from light sources.

The screen is on an IPS-matrix with good Gorilla Glass 5 glass, and the front camera is located directly in the center of the notification curtain.

Stereo speakers with good sound coverage, but users note a lack of mids.

The performance is average due to the budget processor, undemanding applications run smoothly, but complex programs can cause system crashes.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 215g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.67?;
• Rear cameras: 64 + 13 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 20 MP;
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 64/6 GB.

HONOR 20s 6/128GB

Classic smartphone from the famous Chinese brand comes in four design solutions.

This model is one of the lightest and most ergonomic, thanks to a small diagonal it fits easily in the palm of your hand and is controlled with one hand. The case here is made of glossy glass, which is not so common among state employees.

The high-resolution screen with eye protection provides a good high-definition image, the sensor response speed is optimal for efficient work.

Cameras in good light give high detail shots with a well-balanced white balance.

In conditions of low lighting, noise and graininess appear. A speaker with an average maximum volume gives a smooth sound with pleasant bass.

Autonomy is quite average - up to 10 hours of surfing the Internet or watching videos.

Gaming performance here is also not the best, but thanks to special modes, average texture rendering in games will not put a heavy burden on the gadget.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 159g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.15?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 8 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 32 MP;
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/6 GB.

TOP 3 inexpensive smartphones with a good battery

Samsung Galaxy A51 64GB

A popular smartphone in 2024-2025 due to build quality, components, appearance and good performance.

The screen on the AMOLED matrix made it possible to save space and introduce a fingerprint scanner directly into itself.

Good cameras provide high-quality images comparable to those of semi-professional equipment - high definition, color accuracy, detail and contrast are not so common for budget models.

The front camera is built into the display and is almost invisible.

The processor is very productive, in combination with 6 GB of RAM it provides responsiveness, multitasking, gaming at high settings.

An additional bonus was a separate slot for a memory card - there is no need to choose between a second SIM card or a flash drive.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 172g;
• Screen: AMOLED, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.5?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 12 + 5 + 5 MP;
• Front camera: 32 MP;
• Processor: Samsung Exynos 9611, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 64/6 GB.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 6/128GB

The advanced version of Redmi Note 8 has a great variety in design, which will appeal to fans of the aesthetic component of gadgets.

The main advantage of the smartphone is an improved processor with liquid cooling, which does not heat up even when the device is fully loaded, a capacious battery.

Ergonomics has been improved not only by reducing heat, because holding a hot smartphone in your hands is not very pleasant, but also by the form factor, body and screen materials.

The model has enough performance resources for at least two to three years of active service, despite the fact that the model belongs to the previous generation.

The increased amount of 6 GB of RAM facilitates the work of heavy processes, especially for mobile games.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 200g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.53?;
• Rear cameras: 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 20 MP;
• Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/6 GB.

HUAWEI P smart Z 4/64GB

Reasonably budget smartphone Huawei, which is "in the stream" in all respects, except for one: the front camera, the location of which can pleasantly surprise those who are tired of the endless cutouts on the display.

Standard design, frameless screen, gradient back panel, neat camera block and fingerprint scanner. The advantage of the screen is a good pixel density per inch and, accordingly, high image clarity.

The color reproduction is saturated, pleasant, the brightness is enough not to look for a shadow on a sunny day.

However, on the top frame there is no usual teardrop-shaped cutout for the front camera, since in this model it extends from the top end of the gadget.

The camera is protected from all kinds of obstacles to its work, quickly appears and hides in 3 seconds, another second is spent on focusing on the face.

Productive battery 4000 mAh is capable of working up to 11 hours without recharging when watching videos in good quality and at maximum brightness.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 197g;
• Screen: TFT, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.59?;
• Rear cameras: 16 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 16 MP;
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710F, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 64/4 GB.

TOP 3 gaming inexpensive smartphones

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 6/64GB

A good smartphone of an advanced version is almost no different from the one described above. models, except for the amount of built-in memory.

The liquid cooling system of the CPU, powerful hardware, ergonomics and design - all this is maintained at a height and allows the model to stubbornly stay at the top of many ratings, despite the fact that it is still a smartphone of the last generation.

Gaming performance is among the best here due to the large amount of RAM, thoughtful processor and high autonomy..

Multitasking does not give friezes and crashes in the system, many games run on high graphics settings, and only the most demanding of them can cause a decrease in the speed of the gadget, but this is easily solved by a slight decrease in the quality of graphics.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 200g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.53?;
• Rear cameras: 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 20 MP;
• Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 64/6 GB.

realme 6S 6/128GB

A good smartphone of a “lightweight” format has, in general, all the qualities, necessary for mobile gaming.

Here is a high-quality screen with a high refresh rate, which will give a smooth picture without unnecessary jerks, a sufficient amount of 6 GB of RAM for multitasking and facilitating workflows, a lot of pre-installed memory.

A high-quality battery supports fast charging mode, a fully charged battery will keep autonomy up to 15-16 hours of games without interruption.

An additional plus are the cameras, both main and front. The latter will allow you to get good quality pictures even in low light conditions.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 172g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.5?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 8 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 16 MP;
• Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/6 GB.

ZTE Blade 20 Smart

A native of 2019 from ZTE is distinguished by a really low price with the maximum functionality that can be obtained for such an amount.

The design does not stand out in any way: gloss, durable plastic case, teardrop-shaped cutout on the display for the front camera, thin screen bezels.

However, the build quality pleases - there is no backlash anywhere, and the materials are of high quality, when compressed, the case only barely noticeably creaks.

The display has good color reproduction with deep blacks and no visible pixels, which is important for an inexpensive smartphone..

The maximum brightness level allows you to easily see the displayed interface even in bright sunlight. In the field of “stuffing”, the phone definitely pleases for its price.

The standard octa-core processor and good graphics allow you to run fairly demanding games, although sometimes you have to sacrifice image quality for performance..

The autonomy of the smartphone is amazing - 9 hours of active work without recharging, which is almost a record for such budget smartphones.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 190g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.49?;
• Rear cameras: 16 + 8 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 8 MP;
• Processor: MediaTek Helio P60, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/4 GB.

TOP 2 inexpensive smartphones with NFC

HONOR 9X 4/128GB

The glass case is not such a frequent occurrence among inexpensive models, but it is just that. the most occasion.

The screen is protected by glass with an oleophobic coating, the back with a holographic effect - and the result is an aesthetically and structurally pleasing gadget.

The selfie camera is retractable, so the cutouts do not “spoil” the screen.

High resolution display gives a good image, the eyes do not get tired even after long work.

Shooting gives clear contrast shots with high detail, but at night there is a characteristic graininess.

The speaker is of high quality, but its volume margin is not high, although it is quite enough for listening to music or watching movies without a headset.

The battery holds a charge in standby mode for up to two days, and active use is up to 8 hours.

A solid processor and a sufficient amount of RAM will provide good gaming performance.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 197g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.59?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 16 MP;
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710F, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/4 GB.

Samsung Galaxy A51 128GB

An excellent model that combines optimal price and quality, high performance, appearance and quality of components.

The camera block makes it possible to get good shots with high detail, does not distort the color, the night mode reduces the amount of glare and does not give too deep shadows.

The front camera is built into the screen, selfies are also obtained with good detail and post-processing.

The fingerprint scanner does not take up space on the body, as it is built into the display.

The processor is very productive, together with ample 6 GB of RAM, it will provide fast response and optimal multitasking.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 172g;
• Screen: AMOLED, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.5?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 12 + 5 + 5 MP;
• Front camera: 32 MP;
• Processor: Samsung Exynos 9611, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/6 GB.

TOP-2 inexpensive smartphones under 15,000 rubles

HONOR 20 Lite 4/128GB (UK)

Lightweight, stylish, elegant and affordable - that's what this smartphone is valued for. In spite of its cost, it belongs to the flagship models, albeit in a lightweight version.

The main parameters of camera quality and performance have been preserved, although functionality has somewhat decreased.

The photo module gives good pictures with clear details and color elaboration, the selfie camera does not distort colors, does not deepen the shadows.

Night mode improves image quality in low light conditions.

Autonomy is somewhat reduced, although it is quite enough - the battery can provide 12 hours of active use of games or a browser.

RAM is a little small, but with an average load there will be no crashes and friezes.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 159g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.15?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 8 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 24 MP;
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 128/4 GB.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T 3/32GB

The model, although the last generation, is still quite good for its price.. Appreciated it is not only for good performance, but also for a pleasant appearance - a high-quality case made of tempered glass that is pleasant to the touch, shock-resistant glass of the screen.

The main module consists of four rather powerful cameras by modern standards, so the pictures are very clear and comparable in quality to the frames taken by more expensive smartphones.

The front camera is also not far behind, although far from the most advanced..

Processor installed pretty powerful, capable of handling heavy games at low settings and resource-intensive software.

The battery supports up to 16 hours of active use, which is a very good indicator for a budget employee.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 200g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.3?;
• Rear cameras: 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP;
• Front camera: 13 MP;
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 32/3 GB.

TOP-2 inexpensive smartphones under 10,000 rubles

Huawei Y6 (2019)

A good smartphone of last year, similar in appearance to the flagship models, has become an excellent a godsend for those who are undemanding to performance and use a smartphone for communication and web surfing.

The gadget fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, thanks to a small diagonal it is quite comfortable to operate it with one hand. A high-quality display does not give artifacts and color distortion even during prolonged use.

The smartphone has a fingerprint sensor, which is rare in budgets.

The processor, although not bad in its own way, is frankly outdated for the 2019 model.

Gaming performance is quite poor, even on minimal graphics games cause overheating and crash.

In multitasking mode, it also manifests itself not in the best way, due to the small amount of RAM.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 150g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.09?;
• Rear cameras: 13 MP;
• Front camera: 8 MP;
• Processor: MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761), 4 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 32/2 GB.

Samsung Galaxy A10

The smartphone belongs to the previous generations, but still enjoys relevance for those who need a working simple smartphone without claims to be able to pull modern games.

High-quality assembly, uninterrupted communication and relatively decent cameras - what this gadget can present as its main advantages.

Both the main and front cameras in normal lighting give pictures with good color reproduction and good detail, but in dim light there is a strong graininess, and the night mode practically merges everything into light and dark spots.

The processor copes well with multitasking and simple applications, but the RAM of the model is clearly not enough. Autonomy supports 6-8 hours of web surfing and about a day in standby mode.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 10;
• Weight: 168g;
• Screen: TFT, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 6.2?;
• Rear cameras: 13 MP;
• Front camera: 5 MP;
• Processor: Samsung Exynos 7884, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 32/2 GB.

TOP-2 inexpensive smartphones under 5000 rubles

MAXVI MS531 Vega

A smartphone for surfing the Internet, calls and social networks - for more than its hardware unfortunately not enough.

A small gadget with a metal frame and a plastic back, controlled by touch buttons.

Low-resolution screen, although made on an IPS-matrix.

A simple processor copes only with a minimum of applications, the lack of RAM is felt on multitasking. The built-in memory is only enough for the operating system, for applications on top you will need a memory card.

The battery lasts for 18 hours of standby mode, and web surfing greatly reduces the "life" of the charge to 4-5 hours.

The cameras are weak, with not the highest detail, with a lack of light they give a lot of noise.Suitable as a work device or as a simple smartphone for younger students.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 8.1;
• Weight: 169g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 5.34";
• Rear cameras: 8 MP;
• Front camera: 5 MP;
• Processor: MediaTek MT6739, 4 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 8/1 GB.

ZTE Blade A3 (2020) NFC

Very simple smartphone ZTE with polycarbonate housing and rounded protective glass. The display on the IPS matrix gives good color reproduction and good viewing angles, but users note the lack of maximum brightness.

The front camera is housed in a classic waterdrop notch.

Cameras for 2024-2025 are of rather low quality, they are able to give good shots even in normal conditions not the first time, the detail is low.

The speakers are loud enough, with good quality.

Do not support wireless or fast charging, autonomy in standby mode is a little more than 20 hours, and with active use it lasts no more than 5-6 hours.

The processor is not bad, but the games slow down even at the minimum settings.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 9.0;
• Weight: 160g;
• Screen: IPS, touch multi-touch;
• Diagonal: 5.45?;
• Rear cameras: 8 MP;
• Front camera: 5 MP;
• Processor: Unisoc SC9832E, 8 cores;
• The amount of built-in / RAM: 32/1 GB.

Which firm to choose?

The most popular manufacturers among inexpensive models are:

• Xiaomi – an ideal price / quality ratio, the latest technologies and constant updating of the database of models, which in turn reduces the cost of the previous ones while maintaining all their performance;
• Samsung – the titan of the industry, due to which there is a kind of cheating on the price for the brand. The choice of smartphones is very wide, all of them are of high quality and have outstanding functionality.
• Honor is a young Chinese brand that invests in its models no less than the advanced "sharks" of smartphone production. In a short period, the company was able to achieve good popularity - their smartphones are productive at a low cost, and some models are not even inferior to the flagship ones.

You can learn more about the ratings of smartphones for a specific price in these articles: models up to 30000, 25000, 20000, 15000, 10000, 5000 rubles.

Customer Reviews

Useful video

From the video you will get acquainted with the review of inexpensive smartphones: