If you are on a budget and 5G means the world to you, then you are definitely in the right place. It’s 2023, and no one wants to miss out on the advantages that come with 5G. Learn more here. Or if it’s all about the hype, then you are in the best place possible. Here are the Best 5G Phones Under 300 USD In 2023
There was a time (not that long ago) when a $300 smartphone was just not up to any task. You know, it was bad and, after buying it, you felt bad. Those days are over. 5G comes with some advantages, and at the same time, it has some crazy disadvantages. Either way, read till the end to learn more.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is in for review. And the most immediate question is does it have the ability to outperform its predecessors? Especially after the superb performance of the Redmi Note 9 in 2020, followed by the stunning performance of the Redmi Note 10 in the midrange sector last year. The Redmi Note 11 Review
Join me on this ride to determine if it has enough guts to carry the crown of the best midrange phone (under 250 USD) in 2022
This is a full Review
and will take an indepth look into
1. Design , Build Quality and display
2. Software , Performance and Batery life
3. Camera, Photos and Video Quality
4. Competiton, alternatives, and Verdict
Since 2020 Xiaomi has held the best budget phone under 250 USD on our lists. And this for basically the simple reasons. They have great processors, Substantial Battery life, Reasonable Pricing, and exceptional Camera, All accompanied by Xiaomi MIUI. Which has its own issues but is completely feature-rich.
Build Quality, Design And Display – Redmi Note 11 Review
Design
The moment you get the Redmi Note 11 out of the box one thing is clear the phone is super light. Weighing 179 grams and 8.1mm thick, the Note 11 has an IP53 rating to protect from dust and light water sprays. On the front, the Redmi Note 11 follows the Redmi Note 10 impressive design with a punch-hole 13Mp camera which has a destructive silver-like ring around it making it more proportional. compared to its predecessors.
On the back is a matte plastic back which is a little bit of a fingerprint magnet. In terms of design, the Redmi Note 11 feels right in the hand. The camera has a slight bump which sits a 50Mp main lens which is a downgrade from last year’s 64MP, an 8MP ultra-wide, and obviously the gimmick 2Mp depth and Macro lenses. The Camera bump has a cool finish making it classy. except for lots of writing on the back.
The Redmi Note 11 easily scores a 7 out of 10 in terms of design especially considering it downgraded to gorilla glass 3 on the front from gorilla glass 5 in the Redmi Note 9 Pro and plus it has a plastic back compared to the Redmi Note 9 gorilla glass 5 back. The frame is plastic which is not a surprise but really looks cheap and might easily scratch just like in the note 10 and 9 series.
on the top side, is a 3.5 mm jack pretty hard to find these days on certain phones. Though it’s worth noting that Xiaomi doesn’t include earphones in the box. next is the top stereo speaker and eventually IR sensor. The bottom part has a USB type C port which supports 33W fast charging and stereo speakers.
Display Redmi Note 11 Review
The Redmi Note 11 really isn’t messing about when it comes to display. The use of AMOLED at this price point is not always a given – helping ensure punchy colors and rich blacks – while the 90Hz panel delivers a decent refresh rate at this end of the market. At 6.43-inch display size, the note 11 has a chunkier bottom bezel, and only offers a 60Hz or 90Hz refresh rate not variable. But all this is to be expected. the Redmi Note 11 comes close to the Motorola moto G31 visually. The display is obviously top tier for this price range.
SOFTWARE, PERFORMANCE, AND BATTERY LIFE – Redmi Note 11 Review
Software
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, like the rest of the Redmi Note 11 quartet, comes with Android 11 and on top sits the most current MIUI 13 version. Most of the new MIUI features are under the hood and should make for a smoother, smarter, and more secure experience.
This version of MIUI 13 is based on Android 11, and it does not include any of the Android 12 features like the revamped widgets and their new widget page in the app drawer. There is no advanced Privacy Dashboard either with options like a protected clipboard, approximate location, updated Face Unlock algorithm. The updated File Manager and Clock app with Bedtime mode is nowhere to be found either.
in other words, the Redmi Note 11 runs on the same software as the 2-year-old Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Still, Xiaomi claims that MIUI has been reworked completely, even if you cannot tell that by the interface and its design alone – it looks and feels just like MIUI 12. But the new version reportedly focuses on much better resource distribution and should handle processor, RAM, and storage usage better and smarter.
Performance
The Redmi Note 11 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 4G chip, a relatively new mid-range System on Chip (SoC), backed by either 4- or 6GB of RAM.
It’s a solid performer for this end of the market, with average Geekbench 5 multi-core scores that are similar to the Poco X3 NFC and way ahead of the Moto G31.
Its GPU isn’t quite as impressive, with GFXBench results that fall far short of the aforementioned Poco X3 NFC and the Realme 8, and are roughly equivalent to the Moto G31.
After having the phone as a daily driver for a month now I kinda got a few hiccups that are worth noting
Quite often when letting an app go idle, the screen automatically switches off so the phone can reserve battery life (perfectly normal), it can be an issue to get the Note 11 to reactivate as you’d expect (not so normal)
Multiple fingerprint strokes especially with sweaty fingers
Inconsistency in performance some games run soo smoothly other demanding games like call of duty literally get overheating issues and high battery consumption
The wallpaper carousel that has xiaomi slected images at times display very unpleasant images some even embarassing. we suggest turning this off.
Anyway, if you don’t press the Redmi Note 11 with too much to do – avoiding heaps of multiple browser tabs, multiple apps being open, and so forth – it’s more amicable.
Battery Life
With a 5000MaH Battery, the Redmi Note 11 Supports 33W fast charging, No wireless charging though it comes with an adapter and a USB C cable. So you don’t have to worry about getting it from third parties. In my experience, a long 14 hour day of intensive usage that involved 6 hours and 50 minutes of screen on time left me with around 40%. That’s an excellent result and means that the phone is good for two full days of ‘normal’ usage.
In our regular PCMark Work 3.0 battery benchmark the Redmi Note 11 managed a decent 11 hours and 35 minutes. This places it above the Moto G31 and the Realme 8 on 10 hours and 36 minutes, but below the Poxo X3 NFC at 15 hours and 48 minutes.
Redmi note 11 review – CAMERAs
Main Cameras
When it comes to cameras we’re not surprised to see four lenses on the rear of the Redmi Note 11, as it’s the go-to number for most manufacturers who want to oversell their system as a “quad-camera”. Here you can ignore the macro and depth sensors, which are a waste of space, and think of it as a dual-camera setup instead. check out my video on Gimmicks mid-range phones should stop.
The main camera is a 50Mp wide sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, which is backed by an 8Mp ultra-wide. and while the wide-angle isn’t anywhere near as good quality, it’s still really useful to have that extra-wide view at your fingertips. There’s also a 2x digital zoom that’s adept enough to be of use. So this core two-camera unit certainly has enough to shout about.
The main camera doesn’t handle high dynamic range (HDR) all that well, though, its images are somewhat grainy, too, and you can see sharpening from processing being pushed rather strongly. But at least there’s some grain in there, giving it a sense of filmic reality, rather than total overly smoothed processing. Interestingly, even low-light shooting is perfectly plausible thanks to a decent wide-open aperture – and that despite no optical stabilization here.
If you were to put this camera side-by-side against the Moto G31. Then it’s really quite similar in terms of the overall offering. Although the Redmi is slower for the app to load, we feel. There also aren’t higher-end features such as optical stabilization (OIS), but you do get phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) for easy tap-to-focus, plus the app will bring up an exposure slider on screen for quick and easy adjustments if you want to make any.
front camera
The 13Mp selfie camera is adequate, but it did smooth my skin out to a slightly distracting degree. Meanwhile, the portrait selfie mode created that disconcerting forcefield effect around my outline. most of the time it’s a hit or miss for selfie photos
All in all, the Redmi Note 11 camera achieves a comfortable par for a $250 phone. But it’s not a stand-out phone by any means.
Redmi note 11 review – VERDICT
In 2021 if someone asked me which phone under $250 should they buy a Redmi note would never miss on the first 3 phones I would suggest. But this sort of changing and after spending a month with this phone. I am left perplexed as Its specifications are super for its anticipated affordable price point, which sets it off on a strong start.
However, in use, the experience doesn’t match the expectation. Sure, having a decent AMOLED screen is nice, as is the decent battery life. But when running into occasional lagging, and overheating then that’s something to really consider.
I want to believe a software update might be of importance but with limited updates promised. the middling camera setup that is just average for the price is the only caveat on this budget phone.
Still, at its price point, it’s almost impossible to resist it.
Redmi note 11 review – COMPETITION
It’s an attractive price, but there’s a lot of competition around this mark including Xiaomi’s own devices mentioned earlier. And the likes of Realme and Motorola. If 5G is a must then look to phones such as the Oppo A54 5G.
Flagship phones are getting more expensive, and with the current economic conditions, they might become exclusive. However, budget phones are getting better, with more features, more software updates, and upgrades. Today you can buy a $250 phone to handle anything you throw at it. So here are the 8 Best Affordable Phones Under $250 – 2022
The minimum RAM for this category is 4GB. Thou some of the phones go as high as 8GB of RAM.
Price not higher than 250USD
The Minimum Storage is 128Gb
The battery size minimum to fit in this list is 4500mAH, as that’s enough for full-day use.
Acknowledging these phones for at least two Android upgrades plus up to 5 years for security updates is important.
All phones have a USB Type-C port.
Things like minimum video capabilities are 1080p @30fps for selfie and back cameras.
With that out of the way, here are the Best Affordable Phones Under $250 In 2022.
Table of Contents
1. Best Affordable Phones Under $250 2022 – Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro
If you don’t need 5G and prefer a great OLED display over 5G, the Poco M4 Pro 4G will exchange one for the other when compared to the M4 Pro 5G, which we have reviewed.
The Dimensity 810 chipset is replaced in the 4G version by Helio G96, another Mediatek design that is just slightly less powerful and lacks next-generation networking. On the other hand, it receives a 6.43-inch OLED display, which is somewhat smaller than the 6.6-inch panel in the 5G, maintains the 90Hz refresh rate, and offers significantly higher brightness, on top of OLED’s other inherent benefits.
Light changes can also be seen in the camera area, where the primary unit now includes a 64MP sensor instead of the 50MP sensor found in the 5G edition, and a 2MP macro camera has cropped up where there previously was none. “the true definition of midrange phone” The ultrawide camera on the rear and the selfie camera remain unaltered.
The Poco M4 Pro retains the 5,000mAh battery capacity as well as the 33W charging capabilities that has been a standard in the Xiaomi series. Other standard features include an infrared emitter, a headphone port, and a dedicated microSD card, rounding out the feature set.
The Poco M4 Pro has a few shortcomings, and they’re neither major nor unusual in the throng with which it competes. More advanced video recording will be more expensive in 2022, and Night mode-capable ultrawide cameras in Xiaomi’s portfolio aren’t a certainty at the lower end of the pricing spectrum.
Some updated MIUI 13 features are considered outdated on this Poco release, not to mention that we should be seeing Android 12-based MIUI across the board by now, which isn’t the case here. The issue of design and appearance is subjective, and just because we don’t like the camera island doesn’t imply you have to.
The rest of the Poco M4 Pro is primarily a list of accomplishments. We enjoy both of the significant differences between the LTE and 5G versions. The OLED display is somewhat smaller but far superior. The primary camera is a noticeable upgrade, the ultrawide is comparable, and the selfies are also improved.
Other things haven’t changed, but they’re for the better. The IP53 certification has been seen on an increasing number of Xiaomi phones, and while it is not genuine waterproofing, it is better than nothing. The battery life is excellent, charging is really rapid for the market position, and no little convenience feature is lacking in the hardware.
PROS
IP53 rating is nice to have, even though that doesn’t make the phone greatly water-resistant.
Excellent AMOLED display – bright, color-accurate, with a 90Hz refresh rate.
Long-lasting battery, some of the fastest charging for the money.
The very capable primary camera, ultrawide is good in daylight too, selfies are also competitive.
The full set of nice-to-haves – 3.5mm jack, FM Radio, NFC, IR blaster, microSD slot.
CONS
Overdesigned camera bump, the black colorway is dull and picks up fingerprints.
The MIUI 13 build is still based on Android 11 and is missing some features.
No 4K or 1080p60 video recording.
No Night mode on the ultrawide camera
2. Best Affordable Phones Under $250 2022 – Realme 9 – 4g
Realme has one main strategy: bombarding the budget segment with tons of phones. Sure, it provides consumers with a variety of alternatives to pick from, but it does so at the expense of increased confusion. That is the case with Realme’s 9 series, which has already seen six phones (all at competitive prices) in only a few months, including the recently announced Realme 9 — a 4G-only counterpart of its 5G sibling. Without the 5G cost, Realme is able to improve numerous other features of the phone, including display quality and charging speed. However, these enhancements may not be enough to compete with competing phones like Xiaomi, Samsung, and even Realme itself.
Compared to its 5G sibling, the Realme 9 4G adds a nice OLED panel, an in-display fingerprint reader, Android 12, and a faster 33W charger. These are some solid reasons to get the 4G model, especially considering it costs just ₹500 (~$7) more and 5G connectivity is nowhere near fruition in India. However, all the other aspects of the phone are holding it back. The lack of a stereo speaker pair already puts it behind the competition, and Realme’s decision to use a middling processor (when its own 9 Pro uses a beefier chip for the same price) doesn’t seem right.
While providing consumers with a plethora of alternatives makes logical, Realme must draw the line someplace. In the current form, the business has numerous phones in the sub-$250 market, with the Realme 9 4G being the most confusing of them all. It’s not designed for entertainment (it lacks stereo speakers) or gaming (due to the CPU), and its low-light camera performance is among the worst of any phone at this budget. So, for whom is this phone intended? If you want a no-nonsense phone with cutting-edge software that can handle your basic social networking and business applications, the Realme 9 4G is a no-brainer.
3. Best Affordable Phones Under $250 – Xiaomi Redmi Note 11:
Xiaomi’s current Redmi Note lineup naming is a shambles, and that’s just being polite. As things stand, don’t mistake the model we’re looking at with last year’s Redmi Note 11 for China or the Redmi Note 11 4G, even though the phone we’re reviewing today is also 4G-only.
At the time of writing this review, a Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 will set you back about EUR 200 in Europe. An entry 4GB/64GB unit is currently going for $177 on Amazon, which is a bit cheaper still. Not a bad price, but not necessarily the best deal either in today’s highly-competitive budget market.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 specs at a glance:
Body: 159.9×73.9×8.1mm, 179g; plastic body; IP53, dust and splash protection.
On paper, the Redmi Note 11 looks like a decent budget device that even manages to offer a few small upgrades over its predecessor without breaking the back. Notably, its excellent 90Hz AMOLED display, as well as its improved battery efficiency. The latter is a particularly impressive side of the Redmi Note 11. While it deserves credit for delivering in both of these aspects. The Redmi Note 11 is unfortunately not a well-balanced device.
When you go a little further, you’ll notice that the Snapdragon 680 soils a significant portion of the whole experience. It lacks power, notably in the GPU category. It frequently falls short of keeping up with the Snapdragon 678 inside the Redmi Note 10. The superb MIUI 13 mainly compensates for this out of the box and works perfectly great. However, some performance-related features, like as split-screen, appear to be missing. Xiaomi makes a big deal about storage and under-the-hood long-term performance enhancements. But we have to question how smooth the Redmi Note 11 will feel after a few months of running dozens of more demanding apps.
PROS
Stylish dual-glass design with a matte finish and a premium look, IP53-rated.
Excellent AMOLED screen, bright, 90Hz, great color accuracy.
Great battery life with fast 33W charging.
Loud stereo speakers, good audio.
3.5mm jack, FM Radio, NFC, IR blaster, microSD slot.
Solid if unimpressive main camera performance. Great portraits and macro shots.
CONS
MIUI 13 implementation is lean on new features and based on the old Android 11.
The Snapdragon 680 is lacking in performance, particularly in the GPU department.
Disappointing ultrawide camera.
Underwhelming Night mode, and it’s only available on the main cam.
4. Best Affordable Phones Under $250- Nokia G21 review
The Nokia G21 launched in early 2022, a digit behind the times, seeking to give an inexpensive all-around package with an emphasis on battery life. Taking on Xiaomi and Realme at their own game is never simple, and Samsung has been launching aggressive entry-level options as well, for people who still look askance at the traditional Chinese companies. So how competitive is the $200 Nokia G21?
Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
Battery: 5050mAh; Fast battery charging 18W, USB Power Delivery 3.0.
Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); FM radio, RDS; 3.5mm jack.
My Thoughts
The Nokia G21 isn’t a dud; it gets a lot of things well. Battery life is one of its strongest points, and Android One implies a simple UI and quick upgrades. Selfies are decent, and there’s a slew of extras like a card slot and an FM radio. We also like the conservative appearance.
We’re not crazy with the primary camera, and the lack of an ultrawide lens irritates us even more. The basic video recording capabilities are also insufficient. The processor is unsuitable for gaming, and other little flaws like the low-ish maximum brightness delayed charging, and easily scratched camera bump add up in the end.
Nokia’s budget-conscious G21 is facing some stiff competition – from classic value-focused brands like Realme and Xiaomi’s Redmi, but also from Samsung and Motorola (if you’re into brands with heritage).
PROS
Understated yet stylish design, Nokia badge on the back.
Extra-long battery life.
Android One is an OS purist’s dream.
Very good selfies.
3.5mm jack, NFC, FM radio, DualSIM with a dedicated microSD slot.
Cons
The camera island is prone to scratching.
The display’s maximum brightness is unimpressive.
Relatively slow charging, particularly with the bundled adapter.
Underpowered chipset, especially in the GPU department.
High-performance smartphones on a budget are always enticing. When you have a limited budget, however, not everything you desire is possible; there must always be some concessions. However, iQOO, Starting at Rs. 15,499, the iQOO Z6 5G not only claims to give an ultra-gaming performance but also has a long battery life and a competent camera. But that’s only a saying! And we’ve been putting it through its paces for the past two weeks to see if it excels in all areas. And here’s what I’ve discovered.
The iQOO Z6 5G is an excellent phone that tries to tick all the right boxes. A phone that supports 5G technology, runs on Android 12, and provides decent performance, battery life, and cameras at an affordable price is something to consider. Especially if you enjoy gaming, the iQOO Z6 5G is an excellent choice.
The Galaxy A13 is the latest entry-level phone to join the Galaxy A series. We got the 4G version, which is already available in India and Europe, for evaluation. There is also a Galaxy A13 5G, which has a 90Hz screen and a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor but is otherwise quite comparable to our 4G model.
It should be noted that the Galaxy A13 is not the lowest-priced member of the Galaxy A family, since it is still priced more than the Galaxy A03. Samsung has been beefing up its offering recently. Unfortunately, this results in a vast number of gadgets that are quite identical.
The body of the Galaxy A13 is essentially identical to that of the A13 5G, albeit it does include Gorilla Glass 5 display protection, as does the Galaxy A23. The same size 6.6″ PLS LCD, but at 60Hz, as opposed to the A13 5G and A23, which can both do 90Hz.
Except for the loss of OIS on the main camera and the unfortunate 1080p video recording constraint imposed by the 8nm Exynos 850 chipset, the camera system on the A13 is essentially identical to that on the A23. The Galaxy A13 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700, while the A23 is powered by the Snapdragon 680, and both can record 4K video.
All three phones feature 5,000 mAh batteries, however, the A13 pair can only charge at 15W, whilst the Galaxy A23 can charge at up to 25W. As previously stated, the differences in various portions of Samsung’s lineup are minor.
At the time of writing the Samsung, Galaxy A13 is listed for $200.
When creating a phone, especially one on a tight budget, there is a lot that may go wrong. The issue is that most of these gadgets appear to be extremely comparable on paper. You have to spend some time with them to unearth any faults hiding beneath the surface, and regrettably, the Galaxy A13 had a few major ones.
While the A13 is physically sound, it was clearly built cheaply with soft plastics that are prone to damage. In-person, it also seems and feels fairly cheap. The same is true for the display. While its FullHD resolution produces a crisp image, its pixel reaction time is slow, resulting in smearing and ghosting. It also has poor lighting consistency and since Samsung did not include a proper proximity reader or an ambient light sensor, you have to do a lot of manual adjustments.
It’s a real shame since the Galaxy A13 still delivers in other key aspects. It has stellar battery life, and its cameras, while not exactly impressive, benefit from mature processing and deliver decent results.
The most significant selling point of a smartphone today is the camera. And this doesn’t matter whether the phone costs $100 or $1500. From large companies like Sony which sell pro camera Smartphones for over $1600 to the Redmi’s, Poco’s, Realme’s, and Nokia’s that are budget centric. Before we get to the Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022. Let’s take a look at the key features to consider and what exactly influences the camera quality of a Smartphone in 2022.
Table of Contents
Understanding Camera Specifications – What each Terminology means
Terminologies such as megapixels, OIS, HDR, and others are often thrown around when referring to smartphone cameras. And it can be very frustrating to understand all this or to even relate to it. Except for what most of us have come to believe and that is. Higher or more Megapixels Means Better Camera Quality. Which is ideally correct and wrong at the same time. And here is Why,
MegaPixel:
Megapixels: Refers to the number of small picture elements in a photo called pixels. These are usually really tiny dots or squares that make up a complete digital image. A million pixels are known as a megapixel.
Remember that one megapixel contains a million pixels. As a result, a 16-megapixel picture has sixteen million pixels. This is referred to as the ‘resolution’. The better the resolution of the photographs produced by a smartphone camera, the more megapixels it possesses.
There are smartphone cameras with high megapixel counts, up to 108MP. However, don’t be fooled by high megapixel numbers. Megapixels by themselves DO NOT guarantee improved camera performance. There are several more aspects that influence image quality. And that brings Us to…
Sensor Size:
Sensor Size: The image sensor in a smartphone camera is a device that converts the light that enters the camera into a digital picture. It is essentially a substitute for photographic film. The sensor’s size is significant since the larger the sensor, the more light it may possibly receive.
The greater the picture quality, the more light it can get. Because of the size constraints of smartphone cameras, this is extremely crucial.
Pixel Size:
Pixel Size: This refers to the size of each pixel found on the sensor.
When buying a phone for its camera, one of the most crucial factors to consider is the pixel size. A camera having a sensor with large pixels is more desired. Since the larger the pixels, the more probable the camera will produce high-quality images. Measured in microns ‘µm’ or just ‘µ’
Aperture:
Aperture is often defined as the adjustable opening between the lens and the sensor. That determines how much light reaches the sensor. The aperture’s width or narrowness is indicated in f-numbers. A lower f-stop (e.g., f/2) indicates a larger aperture than a higher f-number (e.g., f/16).
The lower the f-stop, the more light your smartphone camera can capture. And, obviously, more light means better pictures.
To learn more about camera specifications click here: this includes specifications such as;
So with that out of the way here are the best budget camera phones in 2022.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022 will contain a list of phone pricing ranging from 170USD to 500 USD.
1. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Realme 9 pro plus
The photochromic design, responsive AMOLED screen, flagship-grade camera, and super rapid charging set the Realme 9 Pro+ apart. Realme’s strength is offering powerful phones at low prices. And the Realme 9 Pro+ is shaping up to be one of the finest mid-range options right now.
Launched on 21st Feb this year, and priced below 300 USD. The only major downside is the lack of a microSD card slot.
On the rear, the Realme 9 Pro+ boasts a triple camera arrangement with a 50MP OIS main, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro. There is also a 16MP front-facing camera for taking selfies. The absence of a depth sensor on the rear is striking, but we’d gladly exchange it for OIS.
The Realme 9 Pro+’s primary camera is a 50MP Sony IMX766 1/1.56″ sensor with 1.0m pixels and a Quad-Bayer filter. This sensor is combined with a stabilized 6-element 24mm lens with an f/1.8 aperture. This camera has a Night Mode feature.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Photo Quality
By default, the main camera saves 12.5MP photos, which is excellent for this class. There is plenty of resolved detail, high contrast, mostly accurate white balance, and no visible noise.
Despite the Auto HDR, the dynamic range is about average. Despite the clipped highlights, the images appear natural, though we would have traded some contrast for a slight dynamic boost if we could.
The sharpening process does not sit well with us because the photos appear over-sharpened in areas of high detail such as grass, car plates, decorations, branches, and buildings. Aside from that, the primary camera takes excellent photos.
There is an AI option that will adjust settings based on automated scene identification. The majority of the images we’ve taken are of blue skies, greenery, and buildings, and they have bright hues that appear unreal. But if that’s what you want, then, by all means, keep the AI on.
Here are a bunch of 50MP photos. These are not simple upscales either, but some high-quality 50MP images. They are a bit soft, the detail is average, and the noise is higher, but, on some occasions, shooting in 50MP and then resizing those down to 12.5MP may or may not give you slight sharper results. We are not sure if the minor difference is worth that hassle, though.
Although the Realme 9 Pro+ lacks a depth sensor, it can still shoot portrait photos with its primary camera. And they’re amazing – the subjects are always detailed and well illuminated, the colors and contrast are excellent, and the noise is kept to a minimum. The artificial blur is also pleasant.
2. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
The Galaxy A mid-range series from Samsung has received its yearly redesign, and it looks fantastic. The Galaxy A33 retains the Galaxy A32’s 90Hz Super AMOLED screen, but it has a far more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset with a newer GPU and gaming-friendly graphics. There is now an inbuilt 5G modem, so you no longer have to select between 4G and 5G models. The camera has also been upgraded. The 48MP primary now has optical stabilization and can capture up to 4K video. The 13MP selfie camera can also record 4K videos.
It’s not all updates, though, as two things have changed for the worse since the Galaxy A32. The Galaxy A33 has no audio jack, and the microSD bed is now shared with the second SIM option.
KEY FEATURES: Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
Body: 159.7×74.0x8.1mm, 186g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back; IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins).
The Galaxy A33 5G uses the same cameras as the Galaxy A32 5G, but with a number of improvements: the main camera now supports OIS, and both the primary and front cameras now allow 4K video capture.
The Galaxy A33 5G, has a 48MP OIS main camera, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 2MP depth cameras. There includes a 13MP front-facing camera for selfies.
The primary camera uses a 48MP Sony IMX 582 1/2″ sensor with 0.8µm pixels and a 26mm f/1.8 optically stabilized lens. It is quite rare to see OIS in this mid-range class, and we appreciate it. The camera has a Quad Bayer color filter, which means this camera normally does 12MP photos with 4-in-1 binning, though a high-res 48MP shooting mode is available (within the aspect ratio options, go figure). Phase-detect autofocus is supported.
The ultrawide camera uses an 8MP Sony IMX 355 imager with a 1.12µm pixel pitch. The sensor is behind a 13mm f/2.2 lens, and the focus is fixed.
The macro camera uses a 5MP GalaxyCore GC5035 sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and focus fixed at about 4cm.
The depth sensor uses a 2MP GalaxyCore module with an f/2.4 aperture and focus fixed at infinity.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Photo Quality
We chose to capture photos with both Scene Optimizer, and Auto HDR turned on as intended by Samsung. The Scene Optimizer option rarely makes a difference, though the HDR does help in certain scenes, and the tonal extremes are usually well developed.
So, the default 12MP photos from the primary camera are superb for the mid-range class. They are sharp and offer more than enough resolved detail, good contrast, and are pleasantly dynamic. There is no noise either.
You can’t but notice the usual Samsung processing – all the photos show eye-popping colors, and the foliage presentation, while okay, is not ideal, especially across the grass.
We know many people like the saturated colors, and they will be more than happy to post these overprocessed photos on social networks. But if these over-saturated images are not your cup of tea, turning off the Scene Optimizer and the Auto HDR might help. This way you will reduce the image processing involvement, though it still may not get you the natural look you were hoping for.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Video Quality
The primary and selfie cameras of the Galaxy A33 5G capture 4K@30fps footage. The standard 1080p mode at 30fps is accessible on all cameras, however, 1080p at 60fps is only available on the main camera.
Electronic stabilization is available for the primary, ultrawide, and selfie cameras, but only at a resolution of 1080p. Of course, the main camera’s optical stabilization is always on.
The video bitrate is ample in 4K, at 48-49Mbps, and in 1080p, at 17Mbps. The audio is captured stereo with a bitrate of 256Kbps, and the sound quality is consistent throughout all videos.
So, the 4K videos from the main camera are superb – there is plenty of resolved detail and good sharpness, and there is absolutely no noise. The dynamic range is noticeably wide, but it didn’t hurt the contrast, and we are happy with what we saw. The colors are a bit punchier than they should have been, as usual.
3. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Vivo iQOO 9 SE
In many ways, the iQOO 9 SE resembles its brothers. Sure, the design is a little unusual. That is true of the entire iQOO 9 trio, but the iQOO 9 SE is certainly not a completely distinct phone slapped onto the iQOO 9 family.
While it is not the “cream of the crop” in terms of specifications and features, it is also not your average “mid-ranger.” In terms of specifications, iQOO has practically recreated a true flagship from a year or two ago. An approach that has a lot of promise in our opinion since, more often than not, flagship hardware is still “flagship hardware,” if that makes sense.
Key Features: Vivo iQOO 9 SE
Body: 163.2×76.4×8.4mm, 196g; plastic frame and back; Splash and dust resistant.
The iQOO 9 SE boasts a very common triple camera configuration, consisting of a 48MP primary camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor.
That’s a step down from the iQOO 9 Pro’s 50MP primary shooter with gimbal OIS, 16MP telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide with autofocus. With its gimbal OIS and telescopic camera, even the basic iQOO 9 is out of reach. The iQOO 9 SE, on the other hand, only sports OIS on its primary camera.
We did manage to find out some information on the camera hardware within the iQOO 9 SE. The primary 48MP camera has a Sony IMX598 sensor. It is a Quad Bayer unit with a 2×1 on-chip lens PDAF, a 1/2″ size, with individual pixels measuring 0.8 m. In this setup, it is mounted behind an f/1.8 lens and features OIS. The Sony IMX598 was designed exclusively for Vivo and can be found in devices such as the Vivo X50, X50 Pro, X60, X60 Pro, and the iQOO 7.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Photo Quality
Let’s start with some footage from the primary camera. Because it is a Quad-Bayer device, it automatically records 12MP stills. Overall, these appear terrific, with plenty of resolved detail, almost little noise, and vibrant colors.
In fact, the saturation of the colors is undoubtedly the distinguishing feature of these stills. Great if you like that look or want to show off the “pop” on your OLED monitor, however, the saturation is turned up to 11 and the colors are far from realistic.
Furthermore, there is a lot of apparent sharpening done across the frame, mixed with some flattening of specific surfaces, which results in a plasticky look up close with a lack of substance.
These photos have been taken with the AI option ON, as we like to shoot with all options in their default state as they come out of the box.
Switching to full-resolution 48MP mode truly highlights how excessive the processing is in ordinary photo mode. Colors aren’t quite as saturated, there isn’t nearly as much sharpening, and more surface roughness is visible in the 48MP images.
Both cases have a limited dynamic range, but it’s not a deal-breaker. By choosing 48MP mode, you’ll have to cope with significantly slower capture times and much higher file sizes, but you’ll receive some more fine detail in return. While we don’t usually encourage utilizing high-resolution settings on Quad-Bayer cameras, employing this one offers advantages – at least in daytime.
The iQOO 9 SE lacks a dedicated telephoto camera, but it can still crop and zoom from the main cam. At 2x, shots look nearly identical to 1x ones and are perfectly usable.
Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022: Video Quality
The iQOO 9 SE can capture video at up to 4K@60fps on its main camera and 1080p@30fps on the ultrawide. Pretty standard considering its hardware. In terms of additional video capture features and options, you can choose between the h.264 codec or the higher compression of h.265 (HEVC) if you want to save space. The iQOO 9 SE also offers a few motion autofocus options like tweaks to Eye or Body autofocus, which is not something you typically see on phones.
It can also do 3D soundtracking, or try to synchronize audio and video focus. For low-light footage, the frame rate is automatically reduced to 24fps. This mode is used when the scene is extremely dark, and it allows the iQOO 9 SE to reduce the shutter speed and apply further processing to the photos.
The video from the primary camera looks fantastic in 4K. Colors and detail are both nice and natural-looking. The severe saturation applied to stills appears to be absent or greatly reduced here.
The most serious fault here is undoubtedly a lack of dynamic range. Highlights, in particular, are nearly completely removed. And it’s not only that the iQOO 9 SE overexposes the scene.
1080p videos from the ultrawide camera have noticeably different colors and contrast. The detail is decent, though unimpressive and dynamic range is even more of an issue here.
The iQOO 9 SE has a couple of stabilization modes. A regular one works across both the main and ultrawide cameras and does not necessitate a lower capture resolution. It does a great job smoothing out most big shakes and bumps and doesn’t crop too much away from the frame.
4. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – OnePlus 10R
The OnePlus 10R is the newest entrant in OnePlus’ mid-range R-series. Known as the OnePlus Ace in China, the 10R is essentially the Realme GT Neo 3 but with minor changes.
The OnePlus 10R is based on the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 platform. It features a large 120Hz display and a triple camera system on the back. The phone is also launching in two variants, one with a 5000mAh battery and 80W charger and the other with a 4500mAh battery and 150W charger.
The OnePlus 10R is equipped with a triple camera system on the back and a single camera on the front. The rear camera system has a 50MP Sony IMX766 quad-Bayer wide sensor, an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP GalaxyCore GC02M1 macro sensor. The front-facing camera is a 16MP Samsung S5K3P9SP quad-Bayer.
The camera app is the same as that seen on most Oppo and Realme phones. There is no Hasselblad branding here, and many of the functions have been removed, but the essentials remain.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Photo Quality
The images from the main camera have decent resolution and detail. Unfortunately, the white balance was consistently off on our review unit, producing overly warm images. The dynamic range was also quite weak, as the camera has a tendency to underexpose shadows.
The ultra-wide camera strangely has better white balance in most situations. However, the image quality is significantly worse, with colors occasionally looking washed out and the detail being very low due to the low-resolution sensor and lack of autofocus.
5. Best Budget camera Phones in 2022 – Apple iPhone SE(2022)
The Special Edition iPhone, also known as the cheapest iPhone, or the retro one, has been refreshed and is now available for purchase. It’s a very minor refresh of the phone with the same name from 2020, most upgrades stemming from the new chipset and its accompanying 5G modem.
Apple really likes recycling. It is proud of its eco-friendly assembly line, recycled materials, PVC-free packaging, thin retail boxes, smaller and smaller e-waste footprint. But it’s also clearly very keen on recycling design as the third-generation iPhone SE has the same exterior as the second-generation iPhone SE from 2020, and the iPhone 8 from as far back as 2017.
KEY FEATURES: iPhone SE 2022
Body: 138.4×67.3×7.3mm, 144g; Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame; IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins), Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified).
Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS, stereo sound rec; Front camera: 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS.
Battery: 2018mAh; Fast charging 18W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Qi wireless charging.
Misc: Fingerprint reader (front-mounted); NFC.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Camera
The iPhone SE (2022) has the same 12MP rear and 7MP front cameras as the iPhone 8 and the iPhone SE (2020). They both use the same old sensors and same lenses. This is probably the reason why they don’t get night mode despite the vast amounts of processing power available. Still, Smart HDR and the Deep Fusion are enabled to boost image quality.
There is no ultrawide camera, nor is there a telephoto one. Macro photography is not among the iPhone SE (2022)’s capabilities and generally any of the contemporary niceties we’ve come to expect from even mid-range smartphones these days are not possible with this one. What it does have, however, it uses well.
The rear camera relies on a 12MP sensor with 1.22µm pixels and a 28mm f/1.8 stabilized lens. PDAF is available, and this camera can capture up to 4K videos at 60fps.
The front camera utilizes a 7MP sensor and can use the screen as a flash. It has a 32mm f/2.2 lens and the focus is fixed.
Portraits are supported on both cameras.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Photo Quality
The photos taken with iPhone SE (2022)’s rear camera are good in many ways – there is enough detail, noise is low, the white balance is spot on, the contrast is high, and the dynamic range is just right.
But there are two flaws that have been part of Apple’s image processing for years. First – is the color saturation. It is trying too hard to stay true to life and ends up looking dull. Everyone needs a little color in their life, and we think the default image processing would benefit from a boost in color saturation. Luckily, changing the default Photographic Style now offers an easy fix.
And second, the inconsistent results in areas of random detail like foliage. Sometimes foliage is great, other times it’s an awful smudge fest akin to an oil painting.
We’d say the photos are great, in spite of their two flaws, especially for an iPhone on a budget.
Best Budget Camera Phones In 2022: Video Quality
Apple iPhone SE (2022) main camera supports all popular resolutions and frame rates – it can do 4K at 60fps and 1080p at 240fps. – all of them are optically stabilized as usual. All modes also feature cinematic video stabilization and expanded dynamic range thanks to the Smart HDR.
The video bitrate is about 45Mbps in 4K at 30fps and 100Mbps for 4K at 60fps. Audio is recorded in wide stereo with a 160Kbps bitrate.
The 4K videos from the rear camera are simply outstanding. The resolved detail is plenty, the sharpness – is just right, the noise is low, and the white balance and color presentation are spot on. The dynamic range is wide, while the contrast doesn’t suffer, and everything looks good. The foliage could be a hit and miss as seen in the photos, but other than that – these are some really good 4K videos.
conclusion
If you reached this last part then you understand that the number of Megapixel alone is never enough to validate a good camera. This can be seen in the flagship segment too where the likes of Samsung have used the same number of Megapixels since S20 to date and each has a new look and feel.
And on your next Budget try get a better camera or a good deal here or check the budget segment phones