The smartphone market is getting competitive as budget smartphones are getting better with most of them packing midrange features that make them hard not to recommend. Budget smartphones now combine both function and form so you don’t have to break the bank when looking around for a device that will meet your needs. Here are some of the best budget smartphones that bring more value for your money.
Infinix S4
Infinix is common in Kenya for the low price to feature ratio. They bring in a lot of juice for much less and the new S4 does not disappoint either. The Infinix S4 runs on the Helio P22 mid-range processor hence they phone is impressively good for its price; the relatively good processor is backed by sufficient 3 /6 GB of RAM and 32 /64 GB of internal storage.
The camera which has been the main compromise of budget smartphones is pretty impressive on this phone with the AI beauty, portrait modes and HDR all implemented. The rear has a triple camera set up. A 13 MP PDAF camera, 8MP secondary and a 2MP depth sensor.
It has a large 6.2-inch HD display which is just okay and also rocks that trendy dew drop notch. And lastly, for the battery, it still packs a warping 4000mAh. I could say this is an all-around smartphone, even its design looks premium especially the nebula blue variant does not leave out the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.
The 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage variants currently retail for Ksh.13,999. Read how it compares with the Huawei Y7 Prime 2019.
Infinix Hot 7
Last on our list is the Infinix Hot 7. This is the latest smartphone by Infinix and comes in three variants-: a 16GB/1GB RAM/single camera variant which will retail for Kshs 9,999, a 32GB/2GB/dual back camera variant that will retail for Kshs 10,999 and a reportedly Pro version packing 3GB RAM and either 32 or 64GB.
Here are some of its other specs:
- A 720p 6.2-inch display in an 18:9 aspect ratio
- 13MP, Pro: Dual 13 MP + 2 MP main cameras
- 8MP selfie camera
- 4000mAh battery
- 4G
- Fingerprint scanner
- 1GB/2GB/3GB RAM and 16GB/32GB/64GB internal storage
- Android Go – Android 8.1 Oreo, Pro: Android 8.1 Oreo with XOS 4.1 Honeybee on top
- Quad-core 1.3 GHz Mediatek MT6580P Processor
Read the review here. The 2GB variant retails at Ksh 10,799 on Jumia.
Tecno SPARK 3 Pro
The Tecno SPARK 3 Pro is another latest contender that will shake the sub 15K table – especially the Pro version. Here’s why – the Tecno SPARK 3 comes in two variants; an ordinary one without 4G LTE, 2GB/16GB memory combination, as well as a Pro version with 4G(Faiba supported), 3GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. 
Here are some of its specs:
- 13MP + 2MP main cameras
- 8MP selfie camera
- Android 9 Pie
- 3G, 4G LTE Support for the Pro version
- 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage, 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage for the Pro
- 3500 mAh battery
For now, only the Pro version is available in online shops such as Jumia and authorized dealers at KES 12499.
TECNO Camon 11
Another Tecno favorite is the TECNO Camon 11 that was launched in the latter part of last year.
Here’s a brief breakdown of its specs:
- 6.2” 720p HD display in a 19:9 aspect ratio
- Android 8.1 Oreo
- MediaTek Helio A22 processor
- 3GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage
- Dual 13MP and 5MP camera on the back
- 16MP selfie camera
- 3750mAh battery
- Faiba 4G Support
If you’re looking for a power horse, then the TECNO Camon 11 is the one to pick. Check out this review from Techweez. It retails for Ksh 14,999 on Jumia.
Tecno Spark 2
Tecno makes it to this list with its Tecno Spark 2 that now retails for Ksh 9,299 on Jumia. It packs enough modern specs for a sub 10K phone and would be a perfect choice if you’re coming from a feature phone and you don’t want to miss on the modern design it packs.
Here are some of its specs:
- 13MP main camera
- 8MP selfie camera
- Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition)
- 3G Support
- 1GB RAM and 16GB internal storage
- 3500mAh battery
Read the full review here.
Huawei Y6 Prime 2019
The Huawei Y6 Prime 2019 is Huawei’s latest budget smartphone on its Y Series that doesn’t compromise on quality.
Here are some of its specs:
- 13MP main camera
- 8MP selfie camera
- EMUI 9.0 on top of Android 9.0 Pie
- 4G Support
- 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage
- 3020mAh battery
The Huawei Y6 Prime 2019 goes for Ksh 13,499. See how it compares with the TECNO Spark 3 Pro
Huawei Y5 Prime (2018)
The Huawei Huawei Y5 Prime(2018) was launched last year and packs a 5.45″ (720*1440) display in an 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, you get 2GB RAM and 16GB of onboard storage plus Android 8.1 Oreo on top of EMUI 8.0. The phone is powered by MediaTek MT6739 processor.
Optic-wise, the Huawei Y5 Prime (2018) rocks a single 13MP main camera and a 5MP selfie shooter. You also get a 3020mAh battery and other features such as face unlock and a front-facing speaker. It is 4G enabled dual SIM and there’s a slot to expand storage via a microSD card. Online and in physical stores it starts selling from Ksh 10,000.
Huawei is also set to launch the Huawei Y5 2019 later next month and this upcoming device promises to have a bigger screen at 5.71” dewdrop display, a faux-leather finish similar to the Huawei Y6 Prime 2019, EMUI 9.0 on top of Android 9.0. RAM, storage, cameras, and battery stay the same. The phone is speculated to start selling from Ksh 10,000.
Nokia 5.1 Plus
This mid-range smartphone, brings with it a few changes over its successor, including adding a notch, in line with all the “Plus” series Nokia smartphones. Here are some of its specs:
- 13MP + 5MP main cameras
- 8MP selfie camera
- Android 8.1 Oreo but is getting the Android 9 Pie update
- 4G LTE (No Faiba Support)
- 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB internal storage
- 3060mAh battery
Get the 3GB variant at Jumia for Ksh 15,000.
Nokia 6
Jumia is selling the Nokia 6 for Ksh 15,000. Here are some of its specs:
- 16MP main cameras
- 8MP selfie camera
- Android 7.1.1 Nougat
- 4G
- 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage
- 3000 mAh battery
Xiaomi Redmi 6
The Redmi 6 was released mid-2018 and has one year later proved to be the best value for money. For starters, the smartphone runs the entry-level octa-core MTK Helio P22 clocked at 2. 0Ghz. This means very good performance considering it comes with 3 or 4gb of RAM to back the processor and a super optimized MIUI 10 skin running on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. The Internal storage options are 32GB and 64 GB but with a dedicated sim slot expandable up to 256 GB for all of you with large storage needs.
At the rear is a dual camera set up with a 12 MP main sensor and 5MP depth sensor with a 5MP camera sensor in the front. The pictures taken by this camera are decent for the price but can also surprise you greatly in good lighting.
The phone has a 5.5-inch HD screen at 720 X 1520 resolution. The screen is impressively sharp. It has large bezels. Finally, it is powered by a 3000 mAh battery that holds impressively during use mainly because of the power efficient chipset and a lower resolution screen. The phone is also impressively light. The phone has been on offer and currently on and the 3GB or 64 GB variant only goes for Ksh.11,999.
Xiaomi Redmi 6A
Our second pick is Xiaomi Redmi 6A. Its offerings pleasantly surprised us. We have come to accommodate the Xiaomi’s MIUI skin that the phone comes in.
Here are some of its specs:
- 13MP main camera
- 5MP selfie camera
- Android 8.1.0 Oreo with MIUI 9.6 on top
- 4G Support
- 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage
- 3000mAh battery
The Xiaomi Redmi 6A is currently going for Ksh 7,999 on Jumia. Read the full review here.
Redmi Go
The Redmi Go runs the entry-level Snapdragon 425 which makes it impressively snappy for its price point. This is made possible because it runs the toned-down Android Go which is super optimized for Speed. It runs Android 8.1 out of the box and has a 5MP front camera and 8 MP rear camera.
The smartphone packs 1gb of ram and 8gb of internal storage. Not to worry though about limited storage. It has two sim slots and a dedicated micro SD expansion slot up to 128 GB of storage and finally packs a 3000mAh battery. More importantly, this phone has band 28 capability for all you Faiba addicts.
The Smartphone retails at Ksh.8999 in stores but has had prices drop by half, you can get it on Jumia on the link below for Ksh. 4999.
Samsung Galaxy M10
For all those Samsung lovers, there is something for you as well: The Samsung M10. The phone runs on Samsung’s Exynos 7870 octa-core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, which is not as fast but can efficiently do basic tasks such as browsing and watching videos as well as light gaming. Runs the new OneUI on top of Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. In terms of memory, the smartphone comes in 2/3GB RAM and 16/32 GB internal storage.
On the rear, it is packed with an impressive wide-angle 13MP camera and even more impressive 5MP ultra-wide camera sensor. On the front is a 5 MP camera sensor. It has HD 6.2-inch IPS screen rocking their infinity display with a very small chin and almost no side bezels.
The battery, however, comes short at 3400 mAh but do not worry, the 720 x 1520 screen does not consume much power so battery life should be decent. The phone, however, does not come with the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. However, if you want a Samsung phone with a little more to offer than this, then look no further than the big brothers, the M20 and the M30.
Jumia sells the Samsung Galaxy M10 for Ksh 15,000.
