In the world of budget smartphones, the $150 mark is a sweet spot for a lot of people. As a matter of fact, I was not surprised when someone requested that I put together a list of the best Android phones under 150 dollars.
This price point is critical because it is where you find the crossover between 2 GB RAM and 3 GB RAM. If you are a non-technical person, RAM is the quantity of memory allocated to running apps on your smartphone. So, the more RAM your phone has, the smoother it launches apps and the smoother it switches between apps when you are using it.
We will be exploring the best smartphones under $150 in different categories – top performance, the best battery life, the best physical build, all-round value, and lastly a budget category.
Table of Contents
Best Android phones under 150 dollars: Top Performance
In this section are the best performing smartphones in this price point. Major considerations are RAM and processor. Think of the processor as the engine of the phone. The more powerful the processor, the more powerful and faster the phone. It is a little more complicated than that, but that’s simple enough for you to run with. Now, let’s get down to our list.
Infinix HOT 8 – the new King of the best Android phones under 150 dollars
I am adding the HOT 8 to this list weeks after it was originally published because it has just been announced. This phone automatically jumps to the very top of our list of the best Android phones under 150 dollars.
It offers the best value and also shares the spotlight with the phone earlier listed as having the best battery life under $150. What does the Infinix Hot 8 offer? Android 9 Pie, a 6.52-inch water drop display, MediaTek Helio P22 chipset, 8 MP selfie camera, 13 MP + 2 MP + low-light triple rear camera, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal memory, and a 5000 mAh battery. Price: $111.
Gionee S11 Lite (4GB,32GB)
The S11 Lite from Gionee was released in 2017, so it runs Android 7 Nougat, which is a bit old now. But it is still a very capable smartphone and is one of the best Android phones under 150 US dollars you can buy today. It has a respectable Snapdragon 430 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage. With that amount of RAM, launching apps and switching between apps is bliss. It has a 5.7-Inch HD display with18:9 aspect ratio, 4G LTE, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
The dual SIM slot is hybrid though, which means if you want to use a memory card, you have to forego one SIM card slot. Battery capacity is 3030mAh. Price: $102.
UMIDIGI A3 Pro
With the same 5.7″ screen size as the Gionee S11 Lite, UMIDIGI A3 Pro is more up-to-date in terms of software. It runs Android 8.1. and is powered by a quad-core Mediatek MT6739 processor.
Its strength is in the fact that it is equipped with 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage. Plus, there is a 12MP+5MP dual camera, along with a fingerprint reader, at the back. If you want the A3 Pro, Jumia and Konga are the places to check. Price: $90.
Nokia 3.1 3GB/32GB
The Nokia 3.1 is the most capable and most up-to-date smartphone on this list. It was launched in 2018 with Android Oreo and it has already received Android Pie, and it is on line to receive Android Q update as well.
The Mediatek Mediatek MT6750’s performance is good in itc class, and coupled with 3GB of RAM for multitasking and 32GB internal storage makes it a delight. At the back is a 13MP camera.
The 2990mAh battery may seem small, but when you consider that the display is only 5.2 inches (13.21 centimetres), it is more than adequate. Why you might shy off is the fact that there is no fingerprint reader on the phone.
Price: $85-$92.
Best Android phones under 150 dollars: Best Battery Life
If you are looking for the best smartphone under 150 dollars with really solid battery life, you will have to look in the direction of TECNO Mobile, and the Pouvoir 3 is the model that wears this cap. PS: With the arrival of the HOT 8, you will have to choose between the two. At least, you now have an alternative to the Pouvoir 3.
TECNO Pouvoir 3 (LB7)
TECNO Pouvoir 3 has a massive 5,000mAh battery. The display is 6.2″ in size, and there is 4G LTE support, 32GB storage, 2GB RAM, 13MP + 13MP dual camera, Fingerprint reader, and Face Unlock.
If a battery that does not run out for over 24 to 48 hours is what you want and have a budget under $150, this (or Infinix HOT 8, listed above) is it. Price: $111.
Best Android phones under 150 US dollars: Best Physical Build
There are people who are not power users and do not care about how much RAM a smartphone has. If you do not use your phone intensively – if you do more of voice calls and SMS than anything else on your smartphone, this is you – but want a smartphone that says you have a taste for the good things of life, then these phones in this section are what you are looking for.
Nokia 3.1 Plus 2GB/32GB
The Nokia 3.1 Plus is the classiest smartphone in this entire list. Not only does it look good, it feels superb in the hand and has a solid, premium build. I was so enamored by the build when we reviewed it here on MobilityArena. It is easily one of the best Android phones under 150 dollars.
Premium build aside, it is also up-to-date in terms of software and will stay so throughout the 2/3 years that Nokia guarantees for software and security updates. Price: $115. Nokia 3.1 Plus Specs.
Samsung Galaxy A10
Samsung’s Galaxy A10 is a solidly built phone with a polycarbonate shell. It has a 6.2-Inch display, 2GB RAM, 32GB ROM, and runs Android 9.0 Pie. There is a 13MP + 5MP dual camera at the back as well.
Being a Samsung, carrying one around, puts you in the class of cool people. Definitely one of the best Android phones under 150 dollars, if you want the cool factor. Price: $107. Samsung Galaxy A10 Specs.
Huawei Y5 2019
Another classy mention among Android phones under 150 dollars is Huawei’s Y5 2019. If you like the look and feel of leather, it has a very nice faux leather finish.
It has a compact 5.71″ display with a teardrop notch, 2 GB RAM, and options of 16 GB and 32 GB storage. We are looking at the 32 GB storage option here. The 3020mAh battery is adequate, if you keep the screen size and quad-core MediaTek MT6761 processor in view. It lacks a fingerprint scanner, though. Price: $99.
Best Android phones under 150 dollars: All-round Value
Some smartphones do not stand out in one particular feature or the other but offer a general package with all-round value. I like to call them decent phones that get the job done. Three of them make our list of the best Android phones under 150 dollars.
TECNO Spark 3 Pro
When it comes to overall features, TECNO’s Spark 3 Pro is a smartphone under $150 that you should consider. It has a 6.2″ display with wide notch, 4G LTE, dual camera, fingerprint reader, and a 3500mAh battery. Price: $108.
Infinix Smart 3 Plus 2GB/32GB
Like its sibling from TECNO Mobile, the 2 GB RAM version of Infinix Smart 3 Plus has a 6.2″ water drop display, 32GB storage, 4G LTE, dual camera, fingerprint scanner, and a 3500mAh battery. Price: $112.
Redmi 7A 2GB/32GB
Xiaomi phones offer good value for money, and the Redmi 7A is no exception. You will get the 2 GB RAM/32 GB storage version. It has a compact 5.45″ display, runs Android 9 Pie, a capable Snapdragon 439 processor, and a hefty 4000mAh battery keeps the lights on. Those who want solid battery life will want to look keenly at this one. Jumia and Konga are the places to look for this one. Price: $103.
Best Android phones under 150 dollars: Low Budget Recommendation
If you are really on a budget and looking for specs that are comparable to some of the above phones under $150, here is the section for you.
Redmi 6A
For those who want to spend around $90, we have one recommendation for you – the Redmi 6A by Xiaomi. You get a 5.45-inch display, 2 GB RAM,16 GB internal storage, Android 8.1 Oreo, a 13MP camera, and a 3000mAh battery. You have to forego a fingerprint reader, though. If you want the Redmi 6A, Jumia and Konga are the places to check. Price: $82-$87.
The Best Android Phones Under 150 dollars: Wrap up
There is a common thread that runs through all the smartphones highlighted here. Except for the sub-$100 Redmi 6A, they all have 32 GB internal storage. Also, fast charging is absent. Fingerprint reader is quite a common feature, though some of them lack this feature.
It is a budget segment above the most entry-level smartphones, so you get good performance and premium build in some instances, but none of the more advanced features that are common in the above $150 range. And it is a wrap on our list of the best Android phones under 150 dollars. Happy shopping!