{"menuItems":[{"label":"Top 10 budget phones, ranked","anchorName":"#top-10-budget-phones-ranked"},{"label":"Methodology","anchorName":"#method"},{"label":"What to consider when buying a cheap phone","anchorName":"#learn"}]}
Finder's team of experts has tested and reviewed every phone on this list. For each phone, we consider the design, cameras, performance, battery life and overall value for money.
Our editorial team selected the phones on this list based on their overall quality and value compared to other phones on the market. All phones featured on this list have a launch RRP of under $400.
Motorola has very much staked its claim in the Australian mobile space within the budget category, and the Moto e32 sits towards the bottom end of its low-cost offerings. That rather inevitably leads to an ordinary phone, but at an RRP of $229 – and we've seen it cheaper than that – it's still a solid purchase option. You don't typically see phones with 90Hz screens at that price point, and despite that faster screen, the Moto e32 impressed us with its overall battery endurance.
However, there are notable compromises. Its triple rear camera array delivers very plain results, with poor digital zoom in our tests. With just 4GB of RAM and a Unisoc T606 processor, it's not fast in any way for apps or web browsing. It's also based around Android 11, which means it's already behind the pace for Android updates, which could be a concern if you want the Moto e32 to be your long-term phone.
One of the realities of the Android phone space is that competition is so fierce that new models quickly drop in price over time. The Oppo A74 5G is a good example because its original launch price of $449 would put it outside the scope of this guide, but it's now readily available within the budget price space if you shop around.
Yes, you're getting a slightly older phone, but in return, you're also getting a phone that was slightly better provisioned than is usual for the budget space. That gets you 5G, not common in budget phones yet, as well as a Snapdragon 480 processor with 6GB of RAM, more than the usual 4GB (or less) that you see in many budget handsets. That makes the Oppo A74 5G a more appealing prospect if you're heavily into Android apps, and it's even capable for lower-end mobile gaming as well.
Where it does stumble a little is in comparative battery performance – and 5G doesn't help any there either – and camera quality, which is rather average for an Oppo phone.
Motorola's Moto G22 very nicely covers what you can expect out of a budget phone right now because while it's not stellar in any one respect, it's generally good across most functions and features. Battery life was a notable standout in our tests within the budget space, with its 5,000mAh battery lasting longer than comparable phones. That was especially surprising given the inclusion of a 6.5-inch 90Hz display because faster refresh rate screens are notable battery hogs.
Some of that may be down to Motorola's choice of a Helio G37 processor, a very slow unit best suited for single applications at a time. While the Moto G22 packs in a wide array of camera sensors, including a primary 50MP sensor, the actual output for photos is quite ordinary too.
Oppo has long sold itself as both a camera-specific brand and a value one. The Oppo A54's proposition doesn't lean quite as heavily on its camera capabilities, which are fine but not exceptional in this price space, but instead on the inclusion of 5G for faster network access and NFC for contactless payments.
However, the rest of the package is on the average side, and we'd certainly only recommend it at a significant discount to the slightly nicer Oppo A74 5G, which can also be had now for a budget price.
Strictly speaking, the Motorola G82 5G doesn't count for our budget category because when it launched, it sold for $499 outright. However, time is not kind to Android phone prices, and we've seen more than a few retailers shaving $100 or more off the G82 5G's asking price, bringing it within contention. That means it makes the list, but it doesn't top it as you will need to get one at a discount price for it to qualify.
If you can, you'll get a very good phone that's 5G ready with superb battery life, surprisingly good cameras and a super-fast 120Hz capable 6.6-inch AMOLED display.
Where the G82 falters a little is in design. This isn't a looker of a phone if that's important to you. While Motorola talks up its IP52 rating, that basically just means that it's water-repellent rather than resistant, so getting it wet would be a bad idea. Also, like too many Motorola phones, security updates and full OS upgrade paths are at best unclear and often quite slow to arrive.
TCL used to exclusively sell its budget models under its Alcatel sub-brand, but these days it's got a laser focus on affordability under its own brand, arguably better known locally for affordable TVs.
It's not a surprise then that the best thing about the TCL 20 SE, outside of the asking price is its display. It features a 6.82-inch 720p display that uses TCL's own NXTVision capability to punch up the vibrancy of images and video that you watch on it. If you wanted a phone to binge-watch lower-quality YouTube clips on endlessly, the TCL 20 SE could be a good match.
However, beyond the screen, you will hit compromises. It's only running Android 11, and the core processor is not quick. The rear cameras deliver middling results, and while its 5,000mAh battery does support reverse charging, you probably wouldn't want to opt for that feature all that often because its general battery life isn't particularly good.
5G is a relatively new network technology, and it's not one you commonly see in the budget phone space. Back when it launched, Vivo's claim for the Vivo Y52 5G was that it was Australia's cheapest 5G handset. That's not reason enough to buy a smartphone all up, although the fact that the Y52 5G is now an older handset does mean that it can be had for some serious discounts off that already low-launch price.
5G aside, the Vivo Y52 impressed us with its camera quality, relative to it being a budget phone. It's reasonably powerful in processing terms, too. On the downside, battery life was middling at best, even on 4G. If you spent all day on 5G networks with the Y52, it'd be even worse.
HMD Global, the company that makes phones under the Nokia brand, has released a lot of budget models with much the same selling proposition. Within the low-cost space, they're reasonably attractive, reasonably affordable and they're typically all "Android One" phones, which means that they get a couple of years of Android upgrades guaranteed.
The Nokia 5.4 is an older phone now – which does mean it's not too hard to score it for a significant bargain price – but unlike many competing low-cost phones, that Android One inclusion means that it should be good through to Android 12, making it an up-to-date model in software terms, even if it's running on older hardware. Nokia phones tend to have very clean Android interfaces with few bundled apps, meaning it's easy to make them your own as well. In our tests, the Nokia 5.4 gave good battery performance as well.
The downsides here are mediocre cameras and a slightly less enticing 720p display. While it's an older phone, it actually didn't shift up its processor choice from the model that came out the year before it – which means that now it's an even slower, older model. However, it's still worth considering as it can be had quite cheaply now.
Aspera's R40 isn't a new phone by any stretch, and it's also something of a clone of one of our favourite rugged phones of years past, the Nokia 800 Tough. You'd be hard pressed to find a Nokia 800 Tough to buy these days, but Aspera's clone model is still available through some online retailers.
It's also a feature phone, so it's a niche within a niche, although there are plenty of folks who do prefer that classic big button, small screen style. The underlying KaiOS does offer a few apps, but it's a slow and clunky experience. This is a phone best suited to those who need a truly rugged device that can survive falling down a flight of stairs or into a bucket of water. How do we know the Aspera R40 can survive that? Because we did that when we tested it.
The realme C21 is an older phone, but it's also one that's available at quite bargain prices. That's partly down to its age, and also to the fact that it was already a low-cost phone even when it was new. It's typically available anywhere from $139–$200 at the time of writing, which buys you a basic but rather attractively designed phone, and that's not typical in the budget space.
You also get a few nice features including NFC, which means you can use it with services such as Google Pay. It's not quick, but that slow processor only sips at the 5,000mAh battery, so it's a good prospect if you need a light-use phone that'll last all day long.
Amazon prices last updated on 29 July, 2023 at 09:01 ameBay prices last updated on 28 July, 2023 at 04:10 pm
Methodology
100+ Mobile phones reviewed
10,000+ Hours spent testing
10 Top budget picks
We've spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing mobile phones.
Our editorial team has a combined 60+ years of experience writing about tech and reviewing the latest devices.
The phones on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
For this round-up, we narrowed down all the phones we've tested to those that retail at the time of writing for less than $400. That's typically a reflection of their general RRP, but when you're shopping for a budget phone, bargains are also worth considering.
Next, we considered the design, performance, camera, battery life and overall value for money for each phone. We used a range of benchmarks and real-world tests to evaluate how the phone's performance and battery life compared to other available phones.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
What to consider when buying a cheap phone
Which features do you really need? Budget phones are all about compromises, but different models make different compromises. For example, you might find a larger screen more important than a varied camera array or a bigger battery more vital than a somewhat faster processor. Weigh up the pros and cons of each model carefully because you can't "upgrade" a mobile phone without replacing it.
Do I need this phone for now or for the long term? Budget phones are priced lower for a reason, but there can be quite a bit of variance in the quality of cameras, batteries, screens and processors. If you're buying a cheap phone simply to see you through a brief period – a burner phone, we won't judge – then your needs will be different to those buying a phone that they need to last for a longer term.
How up to date is my phone? A lot of budget phones don't see regular Android updates all that quickly – or in some cases at all. That doesn't mean your phone will simply stop working, but if you're buying a phone with an operating system version that's more than 2 years out of date, you may hit issues with some apps loading or working properly down the track if they can't meet minimum security and software requirements.
Can I get cases or other accessories? Not surprisingly, the range of accessories specifically for cheap phones isn't as wide as it is for fancy flagship models. For many cases, you may have to order online to wait for a case or screen protector.
What kind of warranty do I get? Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it won't be covered by Australian consumer law, but it's worth knowing if you're going to have hassles if something beyond your control goes wrong with your new budget phone.
A multi-award winning journalist, Alex has written about consumer technology for over 20 years. He has written and edited for virtually every Australian tech publication including Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and more. He has also been the Editor of Gizmodo Australia, PC Mag Australia, CNET.com.au and the Tech and Telco section at Finder. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.
Motorola’s lagged behind Samsung in the foldable stakes for years now, but the Motorola RAZR 2022 flips that script, delivering an excellent (but expensive) foldable with great battery life.
If bigger phones leave you exasperated but you crave power, there’s a lot to like about the ASUS Zenfone 9 – with a few limitations along the way too.
Hi Ivor, you can find a list of Australian ZTE phone manuals here. Depending on how old your phone is they may have removed the manual from their site, in which case your best bet is to contact their customer support network:
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan and read any disclosure documents (such as any Target Market Determination (TMD) and/or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)) issued by the provider before making a decision.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
100+
10,000+
10
I am trying to locate a user set up manual on line for an Android Telstra mobile model ZTE,
Z6356T, any ideas please
Hi Ivor, you can find a list of Australian ZTE phone manuals here. Depending on how old your phone is they may have removed the manual from their site, in which case your best bet is to contact their customer support network:
ztemobiles.com.au/customer-support/
EmaiL: mobile@zte.com.cn
Phone: 1300 789 475