Huawei nova 11i

Huawei nova 11i price in Malaysia starts from RM1299, and for that you get a Snapdragon 680 4G chipset paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, enough room for apps and photos without worrying about a microSD card. The 6.8-inch IPS LCD runs at 90Hz, which helps scrolling feel smoother than the usual 60Hz budget panel, and at 1080 x 2388 resolution text stays sharp.

Battery life is where this phone leans in. A 5000mAh cell with 40W wired charging means you can hit 60% in half an hour, useful if you're always rushing out the door. The 48MP main camera with PDAF handles daylight shots well, backed by a 2MP depth sensor for portrait blur, while the 16MP front camera covers selfies and video calls.

There's no NFC here, so contactless payments or transit cards are out. EMUI 13 runs the show, and the side-mounted fingerprint sensor doubles as a power button. At 193g and 8.6mm thick, it's not the lightest phone around, but the splash and dust resistance adds a bit of peace of mind for everyday use.