Budget SIM cards have been catching on, so we figured—why not budget smartphones too? Here is a roundup of cheap Android smartphones available on Amazon. The criteria for picking them out:
- Brand-new units
- Relatively recent models
- Easy to buy
Ulefone Note 7
First up is this one—the Ulefone Note 7. It has a stylish full-screen display with the notch (the front-camera area at the top) kept to a minimum. The standout feature is the triple rear camera. With three cameras at 8MP + 2MP + 2MP, you can enjoy higher-quality photos than what other smartphones in this price range deliver.
- RAM: 1GB
- Storage: 16GB
- CPU: Quad-core 32-bit (1.3GHz)
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Android 8.1 Go Edition
- Main camera (8MP + 2MP × 2)
- Compatible with docomo / SoftBank lines
The biggest weakness of this phone is that it does not support 4G LTE. So it is not suited for everyday main use. Calls and Wi-Fi do work, so it should serve well as a secondary device for use around the house. Also, the CPU is 32-bit, which does not match the now-mainstream 64-bit. 32-bit apps are scheduled to stop being distributed on the Google Play Store after August 2021, so anyone who relies on store apps should be cautious.
UMIDIGI A3 Pro Updated Edition
This appears to be the A3 Pro from a no-name brand called UMIDIGI. Considering you can get a smartphone with the bare minimum of features at this price, it feels like quite a bargain. Spec sheet below.
- RAM: 3GB
- Storage: 32GB
- CPU: Quad-core (1.5GHz)
- Battery: 3,300mAh
- Android 9.0
- Main camera (12MP + 5MP dual)
- Fingerprint recognition
- Compatible with docomo / SoftBank lines
With 3GB of RAM and a quad-core CPU on board, it should be able to handle a variety of tasks. It suits a wide range of uses—work, play, photos. That said, it obviously can't keep up with top-tier flagships from major brands, so don't expect it to handle heavy processing or feel particularly snappy. Heavy users, or anyone who uses their phone a lot day-to-day, would do better to buy a more powerful smartphone. (Brand-new units of older flagship models from a few years back are a good target.)
OUKITEL C13 PRO
Next up is the "OUKITEL C13 PRO." Its standout feature is the large 6.18-inch full-screen LCD. The basic specs are largely the same as the UMIDIGI A3 Pro above, and it carries a dual camera and fingerprint authentication—giving the impression that it covers the bare minimum of current smartphone trends. Spec sheet below.
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 16GB
- CPU: Quad-core (1.5GHz)
- Battery: 3,000mAh
- Android 9.0
- Main camera (8MP + 2MP dual)
- Fingerprint recognition
- Compatible with docomo / SoftBank lines
Don't expect it to run heavy apps like 3D games well. That's the inevitable fate of low-priced smartphones. It's recommended as a secondary device, or for light users who don't use their phone much.
ASUS ZenFone Live
ASUS is a well-known Taiwanese maker that produces a wide range of products including smartphones, monitors, and PC components. This phone is the entry-level model in the ZenFone series, and the appeal is its low price. Being an ASUS-branded device, you can probably use it with more peace of mind than a no-name Chinese brand. Spec sheet below.
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 32GB
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (octa-core)
- Battery: 3,000mAh
- Android 8.0
- Main camera (13MP)
- DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby) supported
- Compatible with docomo / au / SoftBank lines
At first glance it gives the impression of a typical entry-level model. It also supports DSDS, letting you use two SIM cards at once. Recommended for people with multiple SIMs. With a Snapdragon-series CPU on board, performance-wise it doesn't seem to differ much from the OUKITEL C13 PRO above, but with more cores it may have an edge in certain situations. There's also info suggesting Snapdragon 430 is the better one on the graphics side. ※ Performance comparison: Mediatek MT6739 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) [link removed: original reference URL was malformed] (in English). It also supports microSD up to 2TB, so depending on how you use it, it may deliver more value than its price tag suggests.
The Ultimate Low-Cost Mobile Life: Cheap Smartphone + Budget SIM
If you're someone who doesn't play 3D games and just wants a bit of internet access, isn't a low-priced to mid-tier smartphone combined with a budget SIM the best choice?
(UQ mobile
, LINE Mobile
, Rakuten Mobile
, etc.)
Budget SIMs are now sold by all kinds of carriers, and you can buy the phones themselves online too. In our article on "DMM Mobile," a budget SIM we recommend for light users, we cover the actual speed measurements and our impressions from using it.
[MVNO] How is DMM Mobile? We Tried It and Investigated the Speed and Pricing
