Best 5G smartphones for under RM1,000 (OCT 2022) | SoyaCincau’s Best Budget Buys

5G is something everyone apparently wants in their smartphone. As a result, we get a bunch of questions from people about what the best 5G phone is to buy for a certain price point. Well, we’re tired of saying the same thing so we’re going to be publishing a series of videos covering the best 5G devices in several different price brackets. Today, we’re tackling the best 5G phones under RM1,000.

At this price point, there aren’t a whole lot of options because 5G is still considered a new feature so it hasn’t fully trickled down yet. But, there are a couple of good options considering the price.

Poco M4 5G

The Poco M4 5G has the benefit of being literally the cheapest 5G smartphone you can buy brand new right now. It is priced at RM699 for the base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. If you want more, there is a 6GB + 128GB variant for RM899. At its core the phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700. This is an entry-level processor, but considering the price, it’s not unexpected.

Up front, you get a 6.58” Full HD+ LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, which is nice. For photos, there’s a 13MP camera at the back that gets assistance from a 2MP depth camera. In front, there’s a 5MP shooter for your selfies. While it only supports 18W fast-charging, it does get a 5,000 mAh battery and a 22.5W charging brick in the box.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 11S is the cheapest Redmi Note device with 5G that you can buy. At RM999, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. That makes it one of the more powerful phones on the list, and paired with those internals you also get a 6.6” Full HD+ LCD display also sporting a 90Hz refresh rate.

If you want high resolution photos, this phone does come with a 50MP main camera plus an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro camera. Just keep in mind that more megapixels don’t always translate into better photos. Other notable bits include a 13MP selfie shooter up front, a pair of stereo speakers and a 5,000 mAh battery with 33W fast charging.

Honor X8 5G

Alternatively, if you don’t want a Xiaomi device, you can pick up the Honor X8 5G. Priced at RM999, the phone isn’t the most powerful device with a Snapdragon 480+ processor at its core. But you do get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

Probably the most disappointing thing about this device is the screen. You’ll find a 6.5” display up front, which is a nice size, but it only packs a 720p HD resolution which in 2022 I find unacceptable for nearly RM1,000. At least the other suspects stay competitive, with a 5,000 mAh battery, 22.5W fast-charging and a 48MP main camera flanked by two 2MP depth sensors. For selfies, you’re looking at an 8MP selfie shooter.

Honourable Mention: Realme 9 Pro 5G

Now if I’m being honest, there really aren’t many devices from 2022 that you can buy for under RM1,000 with 5G support. That’s kind of why the Honor X8 sneaked through. But if you’re willing to spend just a tiny bit more, we have an honourable mention in the form of the Realme 9 Pro 5G.

For that extra cash, you’re looking at a more capable Snapdragon 695 processor which makes it the most powerful phone on this list. It also features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. If you need more memory, there’s a variant that bumps RAM up to 8GB for RM1,199.

Up front, the phone features a 6.6” Full HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Though, personally I think an OLED panel would have rounded this phone out really nicely. Other goodies include a 64MP camera system with an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro sensor for versatility. In front, there’s a 16MP selfie shooter.
Keeping the lights on, you’ll find a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 33W fast wired charging via USB C. Unfortunately, it only comes with a single speaker, but there is a 3.5mm headphone jack.