Looking for a new phone that won’t break the bank? We’ve compiled the top affordable smartphones available for S$700 or less. The most affordable smartphones may not have all the high-end features found on flagship models, but they still pack quite the punch.
These mid-tier smartphones can also be extremely effective and dependable. Since smartphones have become ubiquitous in urban life, it’s reassuring to know that there’s no need to wipe out your bank account whenever you need to purchase a new phone.
Here’s your motivation to get a smartphone below S$700 that delivers many of the same features at a fraction of the price.
iPhone SE 2022 (S$699)
(Apple | Amazon)
The iPhone SE should satisfy anyone who enjoys using Apple phones but don’t want to shell out for a more expensive iPhone. The inclusion of Apple’s powerful A15 Bionic CPU elevates the smartphone’s performance, such that it completely outperforms other Android phones when playing games or editing videos while on the road, thanks to the same technology that powers the iPhone 13.
Additionally, the new iPhone SE 2022, priced at S$699, has a number of photography features, including the Smart HDR 4, Magic Fusion for improved detail, and Photographic Styles, which the previous model lacked.
Google Pixel 6a (S$749)
(Google Store | Amazon)
The best budget phone on Camp Android you can get is the Google Pixel 6a (S$749). Equipped with the same Tensor chipset used in the top-tier Pixel 6 series, this makes it the most powerful and affordable Android phone. Additionally, this also makes it possible to use every single smart software feature found on the Google flagship devices, including Assistant Voice Typing, which lets you type using just your voice, and Magic Eraser, which enables you to remove unwanted backgrounds from your photos.
The 4,410-mAh battery comfortably lasts a day, and the AMOLED screen is easy to read in natural light. Users can also enjoy NFC for contactless payments, an IP67 rating so it can withstand swimming pool dips, and a respectably dependable in-display fingerprint sensor.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G (S$479)
(Samsung | Amazon)
Anyone looking for a reasonably priced smartphone should be won over by the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G’s beautiful design and outstanding battery life.
At S$479, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G phone is fantastic and does almost everything well enough. It sports a lovely 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is also one of the first Samsung phones to run the Exynos 1280, Samsung’s homegrown processor, which is good enough for users to carry out most daily tasks.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (S$459)
(Xiaomi | Amazon)
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ excels as an all-arounder, providing top-notch performance and value for money, with the added benefit of rapid charging with 120W HyperCharge. Boasting a 108MP pro-grade main camera, a 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay, dual speakers, MediaTek Dimensity 920 with 5G, and a 6nm ultra-performance processor, at just S$459. Simply put, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ gives other budget smartphones a run for their money.
Oppo A76 (S$301)
(Lazada | Shopee)
The Oppo A76 (S$301) features a 5,000mAh battery, along with 33W SuperVOOC fast charging, which can support 3.5 hours of talk time after just five minutes of charging. It also delivers a seamless user experience thanks to its 180Hz touch sampling rate and 90Hz refresh rate.
Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset it has inside, the Oppo A76 is a 4G/LTE phone. In addition to its internal capacity of 128GB, it also offers expandable storage (through MicroSD, up to 1TB). The RAM Expansion feature, which enables users to use virtual RAM to increase productivity, also aids the 6GB RAM.
OnePlus Nord N20 SE (S$199)
(Shopee | Amazon)
If you’re on a tight budget, the OnePlus Nord N20 SE is a great option, priced reasonably at S$199. Despite being limited to 60Hz, it has a stunning AMOLED display. There is also an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is unusual for a phone at this price.
With 33W charging, which is faster than top flagships such as the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Galaxy S22 Ultra, the OnePlus Nord N20 SE is arguably one of the most value-for-money smartphones around.
Motorola Moto G Power 2022 (S$256)
(Amazon)
The Motorola Moto G Power 2022 is the device for you if you worry that your phone will die before the day is over. The Moto G Power’s exceptional battery life is something that even the best smartphones rarely provide, making it the perfect choice for anyone who wants to be able to go longer between charges.
Besides its powerful battery life, the Moto G Power has a sizable 6.5-inch full HD display, decent cameras with triple lenses (a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor), and a decent price at just S$256.
It’s important to note that a smartphone doesn’t necessarily need to have excellent specs to be good. Sometimes all you need is a smartphone that can perform all of your daily tasks efficiently, competently, and comfortably. More than any other device, smartphones are used every day by urbanites. However, expensive handsets are not needed. We hope that our list of the 7 best budget smartphones in Singapore in 2023 will assist in determining which device is best for you.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Genshin Impact, cosplaying, or daydreaming of Henry Cavill.
