SoyaCincau’s best smartphones under RM1,000

UPDATE: We have a new comparison for smartphones under RM600. Check it out here.

Getting a smartphone is usually a big decision. Unless money isn’t an object to you, this process will likely take a lot of notepad-pros-and-cons, weighing the features you need, the features you want and what you’re willing to spend on a smartphone before deciding.

That can be a lot of hard work, so we thought we’d do most of the hard work for you and list down some of the best smartphones under RM1,000 that you can buy officially in Malaysia.

Why RM1,000? It’s a sweet spot if you think about it. With how good cheap phones are getting and how cheap good phones have become, smartphones that hover around this price range can be absolutely great value for money. Plus, keeping your device expenditure within three figures is easier to justify to your bank account in the long run.

We took a look at several notable manufacturers who create some reasonably priced value-for-money handsets and picked their best with two important criteria:

1. It must have 4G LTE support

2. It must have at least 16GB of internal storage

Why these two? Well, it’s 2016 and if you’re going to be spending almost four figures on your device, it better be able to at least get you connected to the 4G LTE network your telcos are boasting about in all of their advertisements. For 16GB of internal storage, well, that’s pretty self-explanatory don’t you think?

Keeping that in mind, here are some of the best devices you can get for RM1,000 and be sure to head to the last page for our top 3 picks of what we would pick up ourselves if we had to spend RM1,000 on a smartphone.

We’ve also included a comparison table at the end of the post to help with comparing spec sheets.

[nextpage title=”Xiaomi Redmi Note series”]

Since their inception, Xiaomi‘s brand name has basically been synonymous with a good value device. Of course, they’ve had some hiccups along the way, but they’ve found their footing with two of the Chinese company’s most attractive smartphones under RM1,000.

First up is the smartphone that almost needs no introduction — the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2. This smartphone dons a 5.5-inch full HD display on the front, packing a MediaTek Helio X10 octa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal storage on the inside. Photos are taken care of by a 13MP rear-facing f/2.2 main snapper with PDAF and a front-facing 5MP camera. Keeping the lights on is a 3,060 mAh removable battery.

If plastic isn’t your thing, Xiaomi just launched an updated, metal-clad Redmi Note 3 — basically a Redmi Note 2 on crack.

The higher-spec variant is powered by a brand new Snapdragon 650 processor mated with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The more entry level variant drops it down a notch to a still reasonable 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Both variants will feature a 5.5-inch full HD display and a 16MP/5MP camera combo, a 4,050 mAh battery and a fingerprint sensor.

Redmi Note 2 – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM649
Redmi Note 3 – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM749
Redmi Note 3 – 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage – RM849

Where to buy: 

Online: Xiaomi

[nextpage title=”Samsung Galaxy J7″]

Samsung is well known for their flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Note smartphone lines but did you know that the Galaxy J series is one of the Korean giant’s best-selling smartphone lines?

With the Galaxy J at the helm, Samsung shored up its falling high-end smartphone sales by selling way more low-to-midrange smartphones (up 38% from 30% in Q3 2015) and sitting at the top of the Galaxy J series is the Galaxy J7. Unfortunately, the cheaper J5 doesn’t make the cut as it only comes with a measly 8GB of internal storage.

On the other hand, the Galaxy J7 packs reasonable specs, but the main reason this smartphone is in this list is that 13-megapixel f/1.9 camera mounted on the back. It’s a generous snapper on a low-to-midrange device, and with that fast f/1.9 aperture, it edges out even some of the better performing cameras on this list.

Spec-wise, it’s nothing to shout about as the device has a 5.5-inch 720p Super AMOLED panel on the front and a Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor mated with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal storage inside. Decent, but couldn’t Sammy have bundled it with 2GB of RAM instead? At least you get a large-ish 3,000 mAh battery to keep it running.

Samsung Galaxy J7 – 1.5GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM999

Where to buy:

Store: Authorised Samsung retailers

[nextpage title=”Lenovo Vibe K4 Note”]

Lenovo came into the Virtual Reality market swinging, trying to bring VR to the masses with their affordable Vibe K4 Note and ANTVR headset. Even if we set aside the VR aspect of the Vibe K4 Note, it’s a solid device. Its biggest selling point? A pair of fantastic Dolby Atmos enabled front-facing stereo speakers.

Dual front speakers are a rare sight not only on budget devices, but you’d be hard pressed to find a pair even on flagship devices upwards of RM3,000. The fact that Lenovo included them on a device under RM1,000, paired with a 5.5-inch full-HD 1080p display makes it worth considering. What’s more, it’s got a fingerprint scanner on the back for added security too.

The Vibe K4 Note’s specs aren’t too bad either. It’s powered by a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage while photos are handled by a 13MP/5MP combo. It’s even got a decent 3,300 mAh battery to boot.

Lenovo Vibe K4 Note – 3GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM999

Where to buy:

Store: Authorised Lenovo retailers

[nextpage title=”honor 5X”]

If security and convenience are a priority for you, then the honor 5X is definitely a good pick. The 5X sports a fantastic Huawei-made fingerprint sensor on the back of its all metal shell that will unlock the 5.5-inch full-HD display in a single tap. If you’ve ever used a high-end Huawei device before you would know that their fingerprint sensors are top notch and we’re happy to say that this trend carries over to the honor 5X as well.

What’s more, it does more than just unlock your phone too. It has additional functionality like letting you take a selfie, pull down your notifications and view recent applications among others. It’s also worth noting that this device has a dedicated dual SIM (one nano, one micro) and microSD tray, so you won’t have to pick between two SIMs or one SIM and one microSD card.

On paper, the Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage should perform reasonably well, but we found it choking and stuttering more often than we’d like. It’s in no way a bad experience, it just isn’t the smoothest device on this list. Camera performance from the 13MP/5MP imaging combo is also acceptable but nothing extraordinary.

honor 5X (Grey and Silver) – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage –  RM899
honor 5X (Gold) – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM939

Where to buy:
Online: Vmall.my (every Tuesday)

[nextpage title=”Huawei P8 Lite”]

Huawei‘s P8 is a pretty handsome looking device, but many can’t afford the premium price tag it comes with. The good news is that there is a budget-friendly version in the P8 Lite — where you get all the good looks but with some watered down specs.

The P8 Lite looks almost identical to the P8 except for the fact that the back panel is made out of plastic instead of the premium metal piece found on the P8. It’s still pretty and feels pretty good in the hand thanks to that metal frame.

On paper, the P8 Lite is an average performer sporting a Kirin 620 octa-core processor mated with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage powering a 5-inch HD display. Photography is handled by a 13MP rear-facing camera with a front-mounted 5MP shooter for selfies.

Huawei P8 Lite – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM899

Where to buy:

Online: Vmall.my

Store: Authorised Huawei retailers

[nextpage title=”LEAGOO Elite 1″]

LEAGOO isn’t a particularly well-known brand, but they do make some decent hardware. One of which is the “budget flagship” Elite 1. The Elite 1 sports some respectable hardware specifications. First up, it’s got a 5-inch full-HD IPS display which ramps the pixel density up to a massive 441ppi tucked under toughened Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

At its heart is a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. Encasing the internals is a premium metal frame sandwiched between glass panels. The fit could be a little better, but for this price, we don’t have much to complain.

The Elite 1 has another trick up its sleeve and that’s a 16MP f/2.0 primary camera on the back. It has a Sony sensor with a dual-LED flash to help out in low light. On the front, it has a massive 13-megapixel selfie shooter also with a flash.

LEAGOO Elite 1 – 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage – RM999

Where to buy:

Store: Authorised LEAGOO retailers

[nextpage title=”Meizu M2 Note”]

If there was ever a phone that challenges the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 in terms of sheer value-for-money, it would be the Meizu M2 Note. If we had one gripe about it, it would be FlymeOS — Meizu’s Android skin — but an OS’s skin really depends on the individual so preference will vary.

In any case, the Meizu M2 Note sports good specifications like a 5.5-inch full-HD display on a front with a physical home button, which can differentiate soft and hard presses, sitting just under it. Inside, it’s got a MediaTek octa-core MT6753 1.3GHz processor mated with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. It also has dual-SIM LTE support but operates on a hybrid SIM system.

For optics, it gets a 13MP/5MP camera combo that will be kept running by a 3,100 mAh battery. If you pick one up from the online store, Meizu will throw in a free tempered glass screen protector and casing as well.

Meizu M2 Note – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM699

Where to buy:

Online: Meizu Malaysia

[nextpage title=”ZTE Blade S6″]

ZTE has made quite a few budget-friendly midrange devices in recent years but the one that stands out to us in terms of value-for-money is the Blade S6. For under RM700, you get a 5-inch HD display, a Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz mated to 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

Camera-wise, the device packs a 13-megapixel Sony IMX214 sensor on the back while selfies are taken care of by a 5MP front-facing snapper.

ZTE Blade S6 – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM639

Where to buy:

Store: Authorised ZTE retailers

[nextpage title=”Flash 2″]

The recently rebranded Flash 2 has been on top of many top value-for-money device lists since its launch and it isn’t hard to see why. For just a touch under RM550, the Flash 2 brings good value for money. It’s got a 5-inch HD IPS panel on the front and a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM on the inside. For storage, it gets 16GB built-in with the option to expand via a microSD card of up to 128GB.

For camera optics, it gets a 13-megapixel ISOCELL rear sensor with Phase Detection AF and a fast f/2.0 aperture lens. To help out in low-light conditions, it’s got a dual-tone LED flash. On the front is where you’ll find the Flash 2’s party piece. For selfies, the smartphone packs a 5MP 1/4″ sensor f/2.2 camera with autofocus and a front-mounted LED flash for those crucial low-light selfies.

Keeping everything running is a large 3,000 mAh replaceable battery.

Flash 2 – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM549

Where to buy:

Online: Lazada

[nextpage title=”HTC Desire 728″]

HTC aren’t really known for making good value devices. In fact, many of their smartphones are teetering on the edge of being overpriced. However, they recently brought a crop of new devices and one of them did pique our interest. The Desire 728 is a fairly average smartphone for its price, packing a 5.5-inch HD Super LCD2 display on the front. Inside it’s powered by a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

For photos, the Desire 728 has a 13-megapixel f/2.2 snapper mounted on the back while selfies are taken care of by a 5MP front-facing camera. What makes it special is that it comes with a pair of front-facing BoomSound stereo speakers that will definitely sound better than most phones at this price range.

HTC Desire 728 – 2GB RAM/16GB internal storage – RM899

Where to buy:

Store: Authorised HTC retailers

[nextpage title=”Acer Liquid Z630s”]

Acer launched a trio of smartphones late last year, but they were rather underwhelming. Early this month, though, they refreshed the higher-spec Liquid Z630 by adding an “s” badge to the end of it. The resulting device, the Liquid Z630s, turned out to be a capable device. It keeps many of the features we liked on the old model including the 4,000 mAh battery but upgraded the internals.

Now, you get a 5.5-inch HD IPS LCD panel on the front, plus a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor mated to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage on the inside. Unfortunately, it also retains the Z630’s lackluster 8MP primary camera. However, that means you still get the 8-megapixel front-facing camera which is a nice touch for selfie enthusiasts.

Acer Liquid Z630s – 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage – RM799

Where to buy:

Store: Authorised Acer retailers

[nextpage title=”Wiko Fever”]

A phone that glows in the dark.

Well, sort of. It emits a relatively faint glow around the frame of the device, but you likely won’t be able to notice it unless you’re in a pitch-black room. The good thing is that glowing isn’t the only thing the Wiko Fever does because it’s a pretty decent smartphone too.

It’s got a 5.2-inch full-HD IPS display on the front tucked under the protective arm of Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. Inside, the smartphone is powered by a MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable internal storage.

For photos, the device gets a 13-megapixel primary camera mounted on the back, with a 5-megapixel sensor (that has a front-facing LED flash) for selfies. Keeping the lights on is a 2,900 mAh battery plus the phone will support dual-SIM 4G LTE connectivity.

Wiko Fever – 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage – RM799

Where to buy:

Store: Authorised Wiko retailers

[nextpage title=”ASUS ZenFone Selfie”]

ASUS’ ZenFone Selfie is a device we quite like. The massive 13-megapixel front-facing camera with autofocus and a fast f/2.2 aperture lens plus dual-tone LED flash really gives the smartphone its name. The primary camera isn’t too shabby either, packing a 13-megapixel f/2.0 unit with laser autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash on the back.

ASUS didn’t skimp on internals either as it features a Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor on the inside mated to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage tucked under a 5.5-inch full-HD display. Keeping everything going is a replaceable 3,000 mAh battery. It also has support for dual-SIM and a dedicated microSD card slot.

The only thing that kept it out of our initial list was the RM1,049 price tag. However, ASUS has informed us that they’ve revised the price of the ZenFone Selfie to RM999 and while that still isn’t reflected on their official website, you can pick up an original set from DirectD at the new revised price.

Zenfone Selfie – 3GB RAM/32GB internal storage – RM999

Where to buy:

Online: ASUS store, DirectD

[nextpage title=”Comparison”]

Here’s a table comparing each device side by side. Click on the table to view an enlarged version.

When you’re looking for a budget smartphone, it’s important to think about what you want in a device. Is it security? Is it a good display? Or perhaps a solid set of stereo speakers? Often, when it comes to this price range, you will have to sacrifice some specifications in favour of others. For example, the honor 5X has an excellent fingerprint scanner that will give you more security and unlock a device quicker. But, it suffers a little when it comes to performance and daily usage as it is more sluggish that some of its competition.

In contrast, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 has excellent performance with a flagship-level MediaTek Helio X10 processor but doesn’t have biometric security. Battery life is also an important factor as you would want your device to last you at least one day. However, when it comes to battery life, you can’t judge that solely on the size of the battery. The display and type of processor factors into how long your device can keep running as well — a higher resolution screen will consume more power, some processors are less frugal than others, etc.

Think about what you want your device to be able to do. If you’re still stuck and can’t decide, continue to the next page as we lay out what we think are the three best phones under RM1,000.

[nextpage title=”Top 3 editor’s choice”]

We gave you several great options for a smartphone under RM1,000. But, we know that some of you still might not be able to make a decision, so we thought we’d have a little Editor’s Choice to help you out. Here are the three best devices you can get under RM1,000. Keep in mind that we will update this section when a new device comes in.

1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 — The ultimate all-rounder

The previous king has been dethroned. Meet the new king of smartphones under RM1,000 — the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. It’s a beast of a device at this price point. A fast new processor with a better camera and biometric security all bundled up in a nice full-metal package. For only RM100 more than the Redmi Note 2 for the base Redmi Note 3, this device is just absolute value.

2. Lenovo Vibe K4 Note – Binge content all day

The Vibe K4 Note ticks many of the key features you’d want in a media-consumption device. Front-facing speakers, a large full-HD display and a pretty nice build you won’t mind holding onto for long periods of time. Plus, it has Lenovo’s Theatre Max VR software that converts any content into virtual reality that you can consume with a pair of VR goggles.

3. honor 5X – The best build under a thousand ringgit

The honor 5X isn’t the best smartphone under RM1,000 if we’re talking about performance. It lags behind several of the other devices on this list but there is one thing the 5X gets absolutely right — its build. The metal finish on the back of the 5X is phenomenal and the smartphone feels much more premium than its price tag would lead you to believe. Plus, it has a Huawei made fingerprint scanner and that by itself is pretty awesome.

You could argue that the glass and metal finish on the LEAGOO Elite 1 is a worthy contender for the best build — and you’d be right — which is why we’re giving it an honourable mention. However, it falls just short in terms of feel-in-the-hand as it’s much more squared off than the rounded 5X. Still, this device packs a solid set of specs (3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 16MP/13MP camera combo) so if you don’t mind it being slightly older than the 5X, the Elite 1 can be a pretty good pick.

UPDATE: We have a new comparison for smartphones under RM600. Check it out here.