When it comes to the less familiar in tech, where do we even start to find an affordable smartphone? They’re our planner, calendar, camera, alarms, notepad, posting board, communicator (duh), and even our wallets!
For the new secondary school or university student, it’s an essential part of taking the hassle out of work.
There’s no use in buying some cheap product that will need to be replaced and end up costing more than buying a quality one in the first place.
Here are a bunch of phones with prices we’ve narrowed down to below RM1000. These will be sturdy enough to assist you through all your classes, while also not breaking the piggy bank.
1. Poco M7
Part of the Xiaomi brand, the Poco M7 offers an affordable start with its 7000mAh (typ) battery and 6.9” FHD+ display. The long battery life will guarantee you a full day of videos and texting, while you have your Spotify in the back too!
It also has a reverse charging support, so it can double as a powerbank for other devices. Just what you need for those late night cram sessions.
However, there may be a dealbreaker for the more photogenic of us, as the camera has only a 50MP sensor.
But for taking pictures of class notes or assignments, then it can do a decent enough job.
For those truly strapped for cash, at RM469, this makes a decent value choice to start with.
2. Samsung Galaxy A06 5G
Samsung is up there as the premier technology brand, so it might be a surprise it’s here on this list.
The Samsung Advantage Program released a line including the Galaxy A06 5G to optimise user experience.
At RM699, it offers everything users love, with Wi-Fi 5 and 5G connectivity for that smooth Internet surfing . Perfect for dealing with sketchy campus Wi-Fi!
It comes with four OS updates and security patches, which makes it a good investment piece.
The battery is more standard than Poco’s, however, at only 5,000mAh.
And while the 50 MP camera is decent in good lighting, it may struggle in low-light conditions so make sure.
Nevertheless, if high speed networking is your priority, you ought to have a go at this one.
Special: Samsung Student Offers
Now, here’s quite a treat!
Samsung is offering insane discounts with its Student Offer Program through its Education Store. With prices slashed up to RM2000 and more, all you have to do is just sign up and validate your student email, then you’re good to go. They even provide further discounts for first-time purchases and friend referrals, so this is an absolute steal!
3. CMF Phone 1
CMF by Nothing is one of the newer brands on the market, but it’s making a name for itself with its unique phone designs.
For the multitasking student, the CMF Phone 1’s 16 GB RAM keeps it highly efficient when you have multiple tabs on at once.
The removable back panel just adds to the convenience if you ever need to make repairs or replace the battery. They’re swappable too so you can customise it however you want.
This phone may not have as much durability or longevity for the long term, as CMF is a budget brand.
But if you want something practical, stylish, and are willing to invest in a good phone case, this phone at RM799 is a solid one for you.
4. Oppo A5 Pro
Priced at RM799, OPPO certainly doesn’t cheap out on military grade durability for its products, even for the budget line.
The A5 Pro’s 6,000 mAh battery with 80 W fast charging definitely makes it a need for those all day classes. And it will have enough power left to spare for a vlog or two.
At an added price, it also offers several protection plans depending on what you need.
However, the major trade off for this durability are the screen and camera, with a simpler 750p resolution.
But it seems fair considering the rest of the features this phone comes with.
Perfect for those who are prone to dropping their phones, and this one isn’t going to break on you!
Find the Right Phone for You Today
And these are just a few of the ones we found right under RM1000.
There will be time to get the latest iPhone model eventually, but getting the job done is our priority right now.
So, make sure you consider all your options and go with the one that fits your needs best. Happy phone shopping!