The world’s biggest smartphone brands got where they are today by knowing what the public wants. While factors like cameras and battery life are obviously important, a smartphone’s affordability is also a major factor. According to recent research into smartphone shopping, finding an affordable device or plan is important to 43% of respondents and the most important thing for 22%. Not everyone has the money or even the desire to splash out on the latest flagship. Luckily, if you’re looking for a good cheap mobile phone in Australia, both budget phones and refurbished phones are available to expand your choices.
Once seen as a “plan B” option, budget phones have become consistently more impressive in recent years. Now, the right budget smartphone can offer a close-to-flagship-level experience without the hefty price tag that comes with it.
Refurbished smartphones share this quality of providing a better experience for less. Second-hand phones that have been checked, tested and repaired to make sure they’re fully functional, refurbished phones are perfect for those who like their savings delivered in an eco-friendly way.
With so many options out there, it helps to have a budget phone comparison to go by. Here’s the OzMobiles guide to which cheap Android phone or iPhone is best for you.
What To Look Out For In a Budget Phone?
Affordability is probably not the only thing you’re thinking about when checking our budget smartphones. There are some other important factors (and a few potential pitfalls) to look out for to make sure you get the best value for your money. The budget smartphone market is big, and while it’s possible to strike the perfect balance between budget and features, it often requires some research.
Here’s what to look out for when doing your own budget phone comparison.
Internal storage
Even if you’re not doing a whole lot of RAM-intensive activities, you probably want enough storage on your smartphone for your favourite apps and games. Any less than 128GB and you may find you have to be very intentional with the space you take up. While a MicroSD card will boost your capacity, jam-packed internal storage will still slow down your performance.
The RAM
The amount of RAM on your phone is a major factor affecting its performance. The higher your RAM, the faster you can switch between apps without lag and perform tasks. For most users, though, 4GB of RAM is enough.
Battery life
Everyone can agree that the longer your smartphone’s battery lasts, the better. While a budget-friendly smartphone isn’t going to pack as much battery power as the highest-tier flagship model, you can still find budget models with nice long battery lives. It’s worth it.
Screen size
You’ll spend a lot of time looking at your smartphone screen, so you don’t want to have to squint. While screen size and resolution may seem like trade-offs on more affordable models, there are budget-friendly smartphones available with bright and brilliant screens.
Camera
Of course, high-grade flagship smartphones have exceptional cameras. That’s part of their appeal. If the power to take great pictures is all you need and the latest tech is just a bonus, a budget smartphone should be able to give you all the camera quality you require.
iPhone Affordable Refurbished Range
iPhone SE
Apple intended its SE series to be a more affordable option for those who don’t need all the latest flagship’s most high-tech features. The camera on the iPhone SE may have just two lenses, but this phone still manages to take beautifully captured photographs. The 2022 upgrade of this model comes with the powerful A15 Bionic chip, Apple’s most powerful processor at the time of release.
iPhone 8 Plus
Now discontinued, the iPhone 8 Plus is still available as a refurbished model and worth the buy as a budget phone. As speedy as the iPhone X, the iPhone 8 Plus has a long battery life and excellent camera capabilities, with fast autofocus and vibrant colours even in low-light conditions.
iPhone X
When it was released in 2017, the iPhone X was one of Apple’s greatest smartphones. Although its price has dropped, its quality hasn’t. You can now score a refurbished version of this flagship iPhone—complete with an excellent screen, a top-of-the-line design, and powerful performance—for a mere few hundred dollars.
iPhone XR
Pitched as a more affordable option in Apple’s range, the iPhone XR went on to become one of the biggest-selling iPhones. Available in a selection of colours, it comes with a mighty A12 Bionic chipset, a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina screen and a generous battery life.
Refurbished Samsung Budget Range
Galaxy Note 8
A large smartphone with a 6.3-inch infinity display, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is notable for the inclusion of an S Pen stylus. It also comes with a 6.3-inch ‘Infinity Display’ screen, a fast performance with 6GB of RAM, and a top-quality dual-lens camera.
Galaxy S20 FE 5G
The Fan Edition model of the Galaxy S20 line-up, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, has many of the same beloved features as the Samsung Galaxy S20: a fast processor, quick screen refresh rate and the ability to take excellent photos. Available in a selection of vibrant colours with a “Glasstic” back that looks and feels like genuine high-grade glass, the Galaxy S20 FE 5G is both budget-friendly and a user-friendly choice of smartphone.
Galaxy Z Flip 4
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is one of the best examples of Samsung nailing the flip phone style. Super-portable and fun to fold, the Flip 4 has features like a big battery, a quality Snapdragon chip and a screen with a pristine picture and high refresh rate.
Other Affordable Refurbished Android Phones
Google Pixel 4 XL
Google’s Android smartphones are known for features like security updates, speedy software and industry-leading cameras, and any budget phone comparison would do well to include them. The Google Pixel 4 XL has a sleek design, first-class software and hardware and the sort of winning cameras that Google’s Pixel range is renowned for.
Google Pixel 6A
Even as a new phone, the Google Pixel 6A is widely recognised as a quality phone that won’t cost you flagship-level money. For an affordable price, you get a smartphone that can hold its own when compared with more expensive models and has no shortage of its own unique charms. There’s a 12.2-megapixel main camera with a Tensor chip that takes the kind of brilliant, vibrant photos the Google Pixel name is known for.
Affordable Smartphone Shopping at OzMobiles
If you’re looking for a good cheap mobile phone in Australia, check out OzMobiles' range of locally sourced refurbished budget phones.
Our refurbished iPhones, refurbished Samsung Galaxy smartphones, and other Android phones strike the perfect balance between price and features. Refurbished devices need to meet high standards of quality to be sold in Australia, and we put ours through a 72-point testing process to make sure they’re worthy. With a price-beat guarantee, a battery life guarantee, a free 12-month warranty, a 30-day risk-free return and exclusive Oz rewards, OzMobiles is committed to offering you a better deal without having to buy brand new.
Browse our website for a budget phone comparison, and if you have any questions, contact the OzMobiles team.
