Living in an era of digitalization, smartphones are essentially devices you must have at hand. Phones have gone far beyond their foundational utility as a means of communication. It has also become a mode of simplifying day-to-day processes such as scheduling meetings and paying for your meals.

Seeing that the demand is off the charts, the smartphone market has grown immensely over the years. Regardless of which electronic brand you’re a fan of, the options seem to be endless. While this is great for us as consumers, it could also be overwhelming when choosing a smartphone for yourself. On top of the wide selection of smartphones for different needs, there is a huge deciding factor, the price.

Getting the latest technology may burn a hole in your wallet. However, apart from flagship phones, there are some hidden, or let’s say forgotten, gems that may be a good fit for your phone usage as well as your wallet. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve put together a list of top budget smartphones as of 2022 that you should definitely consider buying.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

This Xiaomi phone is said to be the best bargain you can get these days for a smartphone of this capacity. The 90 Hz refresh rate paired with the Full HD + AMOLED display gives the phone a smooth user experience; It is most praised for its top-notch display. With an impressive Snapdragon 680 processor, Redmi Note 11 boasts an extremely seamless performance that is usually only matched by competitors which are double the price.

Additionally, it possesses a long battery life at 5000 mAh plus only an hour of 33 W fast charging to reach full charge. The only downside you’ll notice is the low camera quality whereby videos are only 1080p at 30 fps. But overall, the camera quality is an average 50 MP for the main wide camera and 13 MP for the selfie camera. All in all, it is rare to find a better phone than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 at the current market price.

Apple iPhone 8

This one is for the ardent Apple users out there. It is obvious that the iPhone 8 is nowhere as good as the latest iPhones, but it deserves some credit. The A11 Bionic processor, although a little backdated, still manages to get the job done, even the high-intensity ones. Plus, it is equipped with Apple’s ongoing iOS 15 operating system. This way, you don’t have to worry about dealing with an outdated system.

Unfortunately, the battery life of the iPhone 8 isn’t its best quality; although it has a 15 W fast charging ability, this phone’s 1821 mAh battery life doesn’t hold up to others in the market. However, to combat this, a tip to conserve battery is to apply dark mode.

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro

Yet again, Xiaomi has delivered. Similar to the Redmi Note 11, the Poco X3 Pro is an incredible bargain. The screen display has a polished refresh rate of 120 Hz and a commendable Snapdragon 860 processor that gives you exceptional performance. In addition, the smooth screen display reduces eye strain, making this phone an amazing device for all your gaming needs. You could use your business laptop, but why do that when you can game on a compact hand-held device? It even has a substantial 5160 mAh battery life; slightly higher than some of Xiaomi’s releases this year.

For a phone as good as this with a price as low as this, there are bound to be some limitations. Covering just the external factors, the Poco X3 Pro is a little on the bulkier side. In terms of screen display, the IPS LCD means that the backlight causes a low contrast ratio. Additionally, if you can excuse the average camera quality, this phone will be a swift tick on the top affordable smartphone list for you.

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G

First of all, we have to address the exterior. The phone’s sleek, streamlined design gives it a modern look. Additionally, the side-mounted fingerprint sensor of this Samsung phone makes it quick to unlock the phone as well as convenient to authorize logins and payments. Also, the clean and user-friendly interface is certainly a feature to look forward to. But the software is thus far the best thing about this Galaxy model; the software can last for a long 4 years, surviving another two Android updates.

Moving on to the interiors, the main triple camera does a decent job for a phone priced as such.  However, it’s not all good news. Although the battery life is a whopping 5000 mAh, the Samsung Galaxy A13 has much to improve on the charging technology front; the maximum charging rate is only a low 15 W. And the Exynos 850 processor gives it a relatively poor performance. Last but not least, the 90 Hz screen refresh rate just further shows that this phone isn’t the best find on the market.

Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G

With only a slight shift in pricing, this phone sure has undergone quite the upgrade compared to its predecessor. The AMOLED display and the 120 Hz refresh rate provide a smooth-sailing user experience. Another glaring addition to address is the 5G speed availability. However, with a little bit of giving and taking, this model ended up with the Snapdragon 695 instead of the previous 860 to accommodate the 5G speed.

Getting back on track with its upsides, the Xiaomi team poured their undivided attention into the camera quality. The new and improved main camera now boasts a 108 MP and 64 MP wide camera. But we must say that video and selfie camera qualities have gone down a little. But to make up, the 5000 mAh battery life is topped with a 67 W fast charging feature where your phone can reach its 70% capacity in 22 minutes.

If you need more insight before making a decision, NanoReview has compiled information to create a full-fledged comparison between the two phones. What is the final verdict? Well, it is safe to say that compared to others on the current market, the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G is worth way beyond its set price range.

Finding the perfect phone for yourself is no easy feat. As smartphones are generally an expensive need, you’re bound to be a little more cautious before taking the plunge headfirst into the big purchase. At the end of the day, it boils down to whether your priorities; do you need to take pictures of your travels or play competitive mobile games when you’re on the go? Either way, with a bit of compromise, there will be an affordable solution that fits you.