Budget

A useful alert button, but the software is laggy and everything feels budget.

Another cookie-cutter phone from the same supplier as Lava, disappointingly uninspired.

Soft screen, sloppy software and one real camera make it a no-show.

Second-generation phone that still has bloatware and the Chinese apps despite the CEO's claims.

Cheap 5G launch phone from AI Plus, caught up in the Chinese-apps controversy.

Arrived with all three Chinese Sprocomm apps despite the CEO's guarantee, and still shows bloatware after updating.

Cheap launch phone whose preinstalled Chinese apps undermined the brand's data-stays-in-India claims.

Winner of the budget category and the best value option, with Nothing polish, minimal bloatware and a modular design.

The spec-maxing choice under $300, with a good main camera, bright screen and 6,000 mAh battery.

Great interface and customer service for older users, but basic hardware for nearly $400.

A dated North Korean budget phone with poor camera quality, useless extra lenses and Android 10 with no updates.

A rebadged cheap Ukel phone with a clear interface and good support, but a weak display and a pricey subscription.

A surprisingly faithful copy on the surface, but slow, with terrible battery life and weak build, so not worth buying.

Fun idea with three speakers for around $90, but the speaker is no louder than an iPhone and sounds worse.

Maybe the most instantly recommendable phone he has used, with standout design, screen and battery for £200, held back by average performan…

Budget phone that punches well above its price, with a brilliant 200MP main camera, strong display and build, held back by sluggish softwar…

Shrugged off water and a huge drop that wrecked the old 3310, earning 10 out of 10 for durability.

A cheap Tecno Camon 20 with a glow-in-the-dark Mr Doodle design that only shows up when you look closely.

Wooden spoon winner: old chip, weak camera, poor screen and battery at a full $429 price.

Best budget phone: prioritises the right hardware, with a good chipset, flagship-feeling screen and a respectable 108MP camera.

A fake-spec phone with bad bezels that would not charge past 35%, had no signal and could not run Google Play, his worst product ever teste…

The $70 fake comes with lots of extras and a comfortable shape, but it is slower, has a worse screen and most of its camera lenses are fake.

Offers a lot for around $150 and has excellent battery life, but is propped up by pre-installed sponsored apps, a stripped-back software sk…

Budget smartphone of the year for its specs, design and focus on battery life.