Best Budget Android Phones in Australia [Updated 2023]

There’s a common myth in the tech world that the most expensive gadgets are the best. But contrary to popular belief, that is not always true. There are plenty of mobile phones on sale that are just as powerful as the best flagship phones from a few years ago. Honestly speaking, the latest smartphones boast bigger and brighter screens, more superior cameras, and all sorts of cool and advanced features. However, smartphone innovation isn’t cheap, and these devices tend to come with a big price tag to match. You don’t have to spend a fortune to own a great phone. For the penny savers among us, here is a guide to some of the best Android mobile phones in Australia.

Samsung S10

The Galaxy S10 was Samsung’s 2019 flagship phone. It has since been surpassed by the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S20, and Galaxy S22. However, that makes it no less powerful and attractive. This Android phone oozes style and class, thanks to its glass front and back, which comes in six gorgeous colours. Samsung sidestepped the notch trend, officially making punch-hole displays a trend. In terms of display, the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S10 sports a 6.1-inch 19:9 Super AMOLED screen that elegantly curves at the sides. The display has excellent outdoor visibility, and with HDR10+ support included, you can expect superior colour and contrast when viewing media. Under the hood, the Galaxy S10 runs on the Snapdragon 855, which makes it a powerhouse that delivers near-perfect performance across the board. It features a triple rear camera set up, comprising of a 16MP ultrawide shooter and 12MP wide and telephoto lenses. The selfie camera is 10MP. The Samsung S10 price starts at $379 in Australia.

Galaxy Z Fold 2

Samsung Fold phones don’t come cheap. But if you miss the clamshell design of the classic flip phones, then the Galaxy Z Fold 2 may be the phone for you. It was launched back in 2020, curving a new path in the mobile space as the first truly foldable phone to reach the market. With the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, you get a tablet-sized 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen that folds in half. It is incredibly bright, clear, and punchy. Folded, the Galaxy Z 2 fold sports a 6.23-inch cover display. However, it offers a great way to quickly view notifications without having to fold the phone out. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 5G+ paired with a whopping 12GB of RAM. So performance-wise, the Galaxy Fold certainly delivers. The Samsung Z Fold 2 price starts at $1,099 and it is still a great buy if you are looking to grab the attention of those around you with a gorgeous fold phone.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 lite was launched as a budget option to the Note 10 line. Despite being cheaper, it looks and feels quite similar to its premium sibling, the Galaxy Note 10. It comes with a full-screen display with a centre-mounted notch for the selfie camera. The display is quite excellent for a budget phone. It features a 6.7-inch full HD+ AMOLED screen, with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. This should give you a crisp and vibrant scrolling experience. Samsung didn’t sacrifice the cameras. The rear camera module is made up of three 12MP shooters, while the selfie camera is 32MP. Under the hood, the Galaxy Note 10 is equipped with the Exynos 9810 (10 nm) chip, with either 6G or 8G of RAM. This should guarantee you a great user experience without lag or stutter. Essentially, the Galaxy Note 10 Lite offers the S pen experience on a budget.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

At $399 AUD, the Samsung A series has Galaxy A32 which ticks all the right boxes for a great budget phone. It’s packed with thoughtful features stacked in an impressive design. As is tradition with Samsung budget phones, it comes with a plastic back panel and chassis. However, it looks anything but cheap. On the front, it sports a 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels peaking at a refresh rate of 90Hz. Despite being an LCD, the screen is still vivid and bright. The phone also has slight bezels and a teardrop notch at the top. The battery life is pretty decent, thanks to its 5000mAh battery. As for the cameras, the Samsung Galaxy A32 is equipped with a quad rear camera configuration. This includes a 48MP main shooter, 8MP ultrawide lens, as well as a 2MP depth sensor, and a 5MP macro camera for close-up shots. For selfie shots, the phone features a 13MP front camera. The Galaxy A32 runs on the MediaTek MT6853 paired with 4GB RAM, Android 11, and One UI 3.1.

Verdict

If you are not too keen on getting the absolute latest and greatest, then one of the smartphones on this list may be just what you need. Essentially, they are still high-end phones, offering excellent performance and specs at an affordable price tag. 

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7 Best Medium Price Smartphones in Australia