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When on a tight budget, I actually wouldn’t recommend just focusing on newly released cheap phones. There is actually a quite cost-effective approach to buying a phone now: look at the previous generation models that have already dropped in price. Especially for some phones that were originally higher-end, after a year or two on the market, their screens, cameras, build quality, and even performance might still be better than new phones at the same price point.

So in this list, I won’t just rank them from lowest to highest price. As long as they are still readily available and the price has reached a reasonable level, I will consider both the new and old models together.

Some phones are suitable for those on a tight budget, while others suddenly become great deals after a price drop. The following are a few models I currently think are more worth buying.

1. vivo Y600 Pro: Around 2000 yuan, the battery life satisfies me more than the performance

What I like most about the vivo Y600 Pro is not its performance or camera, but its battery life. A 10200mAh battery in a phone priced around 2000 yuan is indeed very attractive. Especially for those who frequently watch videos and use navigation but dislike carrying a power bank, the convenience of this large battery is far more practical than a slightly higher benchmark score.

The body controls are also more reasonable than I expected. With a minimum thickness of 8.15mm and a starting weight of 221g, you will definitely feel the heft after holding it for a while, and one-handed operation isn’t particularly comfortable. However, considering the battery capacity exceeds 10,000mAh, I think this trade-off is acceptable. The 90W fast charging hasn’t been downgraded, which is also good news.

The screen is a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED flat display. The 120Hz refresh rate paired with OriginOS 6 makes daily web browsing and video watching quite smooth. I actually really like the practicality of this large screen, though those accustomed to small phones might need some time to adjust.

The performance is not quite as exciting. The Dimensity 7300e handles WeChat, short videos, and daily apps without much pressure, but if you play large games frequently, I wouldn’t recommend it as a priority. The camera is similar; the 50-megapixel main sensor is sufficient for daily recording, but without a dedicated ultra-wide and telephoto lens, the limitations become quite obvious when you need a wider field of view or long-distance shots.

One more thing worth mentioning is that it supports IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance, and is equipped with the E1 communication enhancement chip. These features might not be as eye-catching as the large battery, but for those who frequently use their phones outdoors, they are truly practical.

The biggest impression the Y600 Pro gives me is its clear trade-offs. It doesn’t spend its budget on a more powerful processor or a complex camera system, but instead prioritizes battery life, the screen, and durability. If you care more about a phone that lasts a long time rather than having every spec aimed at the flagship level, this phone is definitely worth considering.

2. Honor Power2: With a 10080mAh battery, battery life is its true killer feature.

What I am most satisfied with about the Honor Power2 is its battery life. The 10080mAh battery is indeed exaggerated, but what truly impresses me is that it manages to keep the thickness at just 7.98mm. At 216g, it is not exactly light, but for a phone with such a massive battery, it is not as bulky as one might expect.

When testing battery life, I care more about the power consumption during continuous daily use rather than just looking at the battery capacity. Operations like watching videos, navigation, and taking photos are significant tests for the battery life of any ordinary phone. The large battery of the Power2 indeed gives me more confidence, so I don’t need to check the remaining battery level all the time. The 80W fast charging is also acceptable, after all, it takes time to fully charge such a large battery.

The 6.79-inch OLED flat screen is also quite good, with a 120Hz refresh rate making daily operations very smooth, and it offers good brightness performance for outdoor viewing. The performance of the Dimensity 8500 Elite is sufficient for daily applications and mainstream games, but if you are pursuing flagship-level performance, it is clearly not the most suitable choice.

Photography is actually where I find it somewhat mediocre. The 50-megapixel main camera supports optical image stabilization, which is perfectly fine for daily life recording, but the 5-megapixel ultra-wide lens is definitely a weak point. Especially for those who love landscape photography, the camera configuration is still not versatile enough.

What truly makes me willing to recommend the Honor Power2 is this 10,080mAh battery. If you frequently travel for business, use navigation apps, or simply dislike carrying a power bank, its advantages are very direct. However, if photography and extreme gaming performance are your priorities, I wouldn’t recommend it as your first choice.

3. OnePlus Turbo 6: In the 2000 yuan range, the gaming performance is more attractive than I expected.

I think the most competitive aspect of the OnePlus Turbo 6 is its gaming performance. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (Wind Speed Edition) paired with a 165Hz gaming screen is definitely more impressive than standard budget phones. Especially for games like Call of Duty Mobile that support 165 FPS, the high refresh rate makes the visuals much smoother. However, not all games can reach 165 FPS; the actual smoothness still depends on game optimization and system load.

The 9000mAh battery is also a feature I highly value. After all, playing games for a long time is inherently power-consuming, and a large-capacity battery can significantly reduce battery life anxiety. Although the 80W fast charging is not the fastest, it supports bypass charging, which can reduce battery heating and the burden of charging and discharging while playing games, making it more practical than simply increasing the charging power.

In terms of hand feel, the OnePlus Turbo 6 features a relatively large rounded corner design, and the weight distribution of the body has also been specifically adjusted. When holding the phone horizontally for a long time, whether the frame digs into your hand or the camera module blocks your fingers is actually more worth paying attention to than how good it looks.

The camera, however, is not as outstanding. The Sony 50MP main camera is perfectly fine for everyday snapshots, but it is clearly not a phone designed for photography. Especially for those who enjoy landscape photography or want to explore different focal lengths, I don’t think it’s worth having overly high expectations.

If I had to choose a gaming-oriented phone at this price point, the OnePlus Turbo 6 would be a top contender. Its biggest advantage isn’t a single exaggerated spec, but rather the combination of performance, a 165Hz high refresh rate, and a 9000mAh battery, which truly meets the needs of long gaming sessions.

4. REDMI Note 17: The screen is indeed large enough, but it’s not for everyone

For the REDMI Note 17, I think the aspect you really need to consider is its size. The 6.99-inch screen definitely has its advantages for watching videos and browsing the web, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes daily scrolling much smoother. However, once the screen approaches 7 inches, one-handed operation becomes less convenient, especially for those accustomed to small-screen phones; this size might not be comfortable for everyone.

The 7700mAh battery is quite fitting for its positioning. Large-screen phones naturally put a heavy demand on battery life, but with a larger capacity, you won’t have to worry excessively about power consumption when watching videos for long periods or using navigation outdoors. However, the 45W fast charging is indeed quite mediocre, making it unrealistic to fully charge such a large battery in a short amount of time.

As for the camera, I don’t think it’s necessary to have too high expectations for it. The 50-megapixel main camera is geared towards everyday snapshots, and without a dedicated telephoto or ultra-wide-angle lens, the framing options during shooting are quite limited. If you usually enjoy photographing distant buildings or want to capture complete landscapes with an ultra-wide angle, it is indeed somewhat inadequate.

Performance is also not the most outstanding feature of this phone. Basic apps like WeChat and short videos are its more suitable use cases, so heavy gamers don’t need to consider it as a priority. The 224g weight is not exactly light either, especially when holding it with one hand for a long time; the impact of the phone’s size is more noteworthy than just looking at the weight figure.

If I were to choose a phone mainly for watching videos and browsing the web, the combination of a large screen and a big battery in the REDMI Note 17 is indeed attractive. However, if you prefer a lighter phone with more comprehensive camera and performance capabilities, I think it’s not worth making too many compromises just for this nearly 7-inch screen.

5. iPhone 17e: On a budget, it’s the better choice.

I think the iPhone 17e is much more complete than the 16e. The most obvious change isn’t the A19 chip, but the return of MagSafe, and the base storage has directly increased to 256GB. When using magnetic chargers, cases, or MagSafe wallets, you no longer have to make compromises like you did with the 16e.

But the gap between it and the iPhone 17 is still quite clear. The 6.1-inch OLED lacks ProMotion, the front still retains the notch, and the back features only a single 48-megapixel main camera without an ultra-wide lens. Fortunately, this main camera can provide 2x optical-quality zoom, which is actually sufficient for casual everyday shots.

The front has been upgraded to Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims is up to 3 times more scratch-resistant than the iPhone 16e, and it also features a new anti-reflective coating. This change might not be flashy, but you’ll likely notice the benefits more after using the phone for a longer period.

Currently, the 256GB version on Apple’s official website is 5,299 yuan, while the iPhone 17 is 6,799 yuan, a difference of 1,500 yuan. So, if you are still using an iPhone 14 or an older SE model and are on a tight budget, I think the 17e is more than enough. However, if you care deeply about the 120Hz refresh rate, ultra-wide camera, and Dynamic Island, I would actually suggest adding that 1,500 yuan directly to get the iPhone 17.

6. Samsung Galaxy A57: Better suited for Samsung users looking for long-term use

For the Galaxy A57, I think the most interesting part isn’t the performance, but rather that Samsung has kept many more practical features this time. It features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED+ screen on the front with a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. The body is only 6.9mm thick and weighs 179g, while still retaining the IP68 rating. Within Samsung’s A series, I quite like this combination of a large screen and a slim, lightweight design.

The camera features a 50MP OIS main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. I still feel the macro lens isn’t very useful, but since the ultra-wide lens hasn’t been removed, it’s still handy for everyday landscape, architecture, or group photos.

With a 5000mAh battery and 45W charging, Samsung’s data shows it reaches about 60% in 30 minutes. Compared to current domestic Chinese smartphones priced around 3,000 yuan, this speed is indeed not very fast, which can be quite inconvenient when you need a quick charge.

However, there is one aspect of the A57 that I actually value more: up to 6 system upgrades plus 6 years of security updates. When buying a phone for over 3,000 yuan, if you plan to use it for several years, this advantage is more practical than slightly higher benchmark scores.

Its retail price starts at 3,299 yuan. At this price point, neither performance nor charging is the most powerful, but if you are already accustomed to Samsung’s One UI and want a large screen, a slim design, and long-term system support, the A57 is actually a more hassle-free choice.

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