diPhones are getting more and more expensive.
The premium devices from Apple, Samsung and other big phone manufacturers now cost as much as a laptop.
Case in point: the most expensive Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1TB of storage will set you back an eye-watering $2,663.40.
There’s so much you can do with $2,639. Think of all the plates of chicken rice you can get (we counted that as 665 plates of $4 Hainanse chicken rice).
Thankfully, there is no need to sell your kidney to get a phone now. Cheap phones have become so much better.
Phone manufacturers are all fighting to make the best cheap smartphone, with the cheap end of the mobile phone market being arguably the most competitive price segment.
Manufacturers are doing their best to squeeze more features and specifications than their competitors while keeping the price of the phone low.
As such, there are a dizzying amount of options to choose from.
But balancing price, performance, and specifications is not easy at this price point.
That’s where this list comes in.
We have created a guide to phones that aren’t just affordable and great for the price. They also have a signature feature that sets them apart from their peers.
Not to mention, all of the phones are really affordable. Most of the phones cost less than $500, with $700 as a cut-off point due to the inclusion of options from Apple and the Google Pixel lineup.
However, note that these phones lack certified dust and water resistance and wireless charging.
Also, we have excluded Huawei devices from this list due to a lack of Google services. We have also added only phones with newer local warranties for device longevity.
TL;DR: Best Budget Phones in Singapore From $229 – $947.65 — A Cheap Phone Singapore Guide
| Phone | Standout Feature | Price (From) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone SE 2022 | Cheapest Apple Phone: | $705.45 – $947.65 |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | Best Overall Budget Phone | $378 |
| Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G | Best Value | $229 |
| Pixel 8a | Best Camera | $648 – $738 |
| Poco X6 Pro 5G | Best for Gaming | $405 |
Cheapest Apple Phone: Apple iPhone SE 2022 – 64GB/4GB or 128GB/4GB or 256GB/4GB ($705.45 – $947.65)
If you are firmly in the Apple ecosystem, there is only one ‘budget’ iPhone for you.
That phone is the iPhone SE (2022):
Here are the phone’s specs.
iPhone SE (2022) Specs
Release Date: 8 March 2022
Network: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Screen Size: 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Screen Type: Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Resolution: 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
OS: iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 17.5.1, planned upgrade to iOS 18
Processor: Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
Storage & Ram: 64GB/4GB RAM, 128GB/4GB RAM, 256GB+4GB RAM (NVMe) | No SD card slot
Battery: 2,018 mAh
Charging: 20W (wired) | 7.5W (Qi wireless)
Main Camera: 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
Selfie Camera: 7 MP, f/2.2
SIM: Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM and eSIM)
Weight: 144g
Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm
NFC: Yes
Dust and Water Resistance: IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
The iPhone SE 2022 is good but has some downsides. It looks a lot like older iPhones, which might not excite everyone. Its 4.7-inch screen is smaller than most new phones, so watching videos or playing games might be less fun. Although it works fast with its A15 Bionic chip, the small 1,821 mAh battery doesn’t last very long, so you might need to charge it more often. The camera is okay in good light but struggles to take great pictures in the dark. It doesn’t have as much storage as other phones, and it doesn’t have Face ID, which is a cool way to unlock your phone.
So, if you want a basic iPhone, it’s fine, but if you want something fancier at this price range, you might want a refurbished iPhone or look at the options below.
iPhone SE (2022) Price Singapore and How to Buy
The phone starts at $705.45 for the 64GB version, $786.20 for 128GB, and $947.65 for 256GB.
Also, you can get the Apple iPhone SE (2022) from Apple.
Best Overall Budget Phone: Samsung Galaxy A35 5G – 128GB/8GB RAM ($378)
Next up, we have a Samsung device.
Fun fact: Samsung actually makes screens for most phones on the market. Even Apple, their closest competitor, use Samsung OLED screens for their iPhones.
Arguably, Samsung makes the best OLED smartphone panels, and the company usually reserves the best for its smartphone line.
Even though the Samsung Galaxy A54 is a budget device, it has many premium features that are found in more expensive Samsung phones like the S lineup.
This makes the phone a pretty solid device overall.
To help you get a feel for the phone, here are its specifications.
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Specifications
Release Date: 11 March 2024
Network: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Screen Size: 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Screen Type: Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density)
Display Glass: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
OS: Android 14, One UI 6.1
Processor: Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
Storage & Ram: 128GB(UFS 3.1)/8GB RAM | Has microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Battery: 5,000 mAh
Charging: 25W wired
Main Camera:
50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.96″, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm
5 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Selfie Camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06″, 1.12µm
SIM: Nano-SIM, eSIM or Hybrid SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight: 209g
Dimensions: 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm
NFC: Yes
Dust and Water Resistance: IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Samsung Galaxy A35 Singapore Price
For $378, Samsung has created a relatively affordable near-flagship device with a glass back. The Samsung Galaxy A35 also comes in four vibrant colours: lemon, Navy, Blue, and Lilac.
Many of the features from their more expensive flagship phones, like the in-display fingerprint, have trickled down to the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G.
The phone’s highlight is the bright, fast, and vibrant 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen, elevating your Netflix viewing experience.
The cameras also hold up pretty well, as you get three different zoom focal (zoom) lengths with decent performance.
Cheapest Android Phone: Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G – 256GB/8GB RAM ($229)
Next up, we have the budget Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G, one of the cheapest phones you can get in Singapore
Xiaomi has made a name for itself by offering great hardware at affordable prices, and the Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G in Starlight Black, Startrail Green, Startrail Silver is no exception:
For context, here are the phone’s specs.
Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Specifications
Release Date: 6 December 2023
Network: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Screen Size: 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Screen Type: IPS LCD, 90Hz, 450 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)
Display Glass: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution: 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density)
OS: Android 13 MIUI 14
Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ (6 nm)
Storage & Ram: 256GB/8GB RAM (UFS 2.2) | Has SDXC card slot
Battery: 5,000 mAh
Charging: 18W wired, USB Power Delivery
Main Camera:
50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
0.08 MP (auxiliary)
Selfie Camera: 5 MP
SIM: Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight: 192g
Dimensions: 168 x 78 x 8.1 mm
NFC: Yes
Dust and Water Resistance: IP52, dust and splash resistant
Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Singapore Price
Xiaomi has created a great budget device for just $229 for the 256GB+8GB RAM version.
Best Android Camera Phone: Google Pixel 8a – 128GB/8GB RAM or 256GB/8GB ($648 – $738)
If you want a budget phone with the best camera, you must, unfortunately, spend a bit more on the Pixel 8a, which comes in Bay, Obsidian and Porcelain:
Take note that the Aloe colour is not available.
Simply put, it has the best smartphone camera in this price range and even competes with phones two or three times its price.
Pixel 8a Specifications
Release Date: 7 May 2024
Network: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Screen Size: 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Display Glass: Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Screen Type: OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (peak)
Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~430 ppi density)
OS: Android 14
Processor: Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
Storage + Ram: 128GB(UFS 3.1)/8GB RAM or 256GB/8GB | No SD card slot
Battery: 4,492 mAh
Charging: 18W, USB Power Delivery 3.0 (wired) | 7.5W (wireless)
Main Camera:
64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73″, 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Selfie Camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
SIM: Nano-SIM and e-SIM
Weight: 188g
Dimensions: 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm
NFC: Yes
Dust and Water Resistance: IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
As a Pixel device, the phone benefits from running a clean version of Google’s software, elevating the smartphone experience.
The phone also receives prompt updates from Google until May 2031.
The phone is not perfect either. The base Pixel 8 lacks mmWave 5G support. It is more expensive than last year’s model. The Tensor G3 chip can still overheat sometimes, and no telephoto lens is included.
However, despite the compromises, the phone still delivers a great experience. If you want one of the best cameras in a phone that’s not a flagship, the Pixel 8a is best for you.
Pixel 8a Price Singapore and How to Buy
$648 (8/128GB) and $748 (8/256GB) MisterMobile with one year Google Singapore Warranty:
Best Budget Phone for Gaming: Poco X6 Pro 5G – 256GB/8GB ($405)
Next up, we have the Poco X6 Pro 5G, the best phone on this list for gaming:
