Nokia Asha 500

This is a basic feature phone built for calls, texts and simple browsing rather than heavy apps or gaming. The 2.8-inch TFT touchscreen runs at 240 x 320 resolution, which is fine for menus and messaging but won't impress anyone used to modern displays. With just 64 MB of RAM, don't expect multitasking; a microSD slot supporting up to 32 GB (with a 4 GB card bundled in) helps make up for the limited internal storage.

The 2 MP rear camera handles casual snapshots at 1600 x 1200 pixels, and there's no front camera for selfies. Nokia Asha 500 price in Malaysia starts from RM169, making it one of the cheapest options around if you just need a reliable backup phone or something for basic tasks.

Battery life is where this phone holds its own: the 1200 mAh Li-Ion cell, paired with the lightweight Asha software platform, should get you through days of light use rather than hours. At 101g and 12.8mm thick, it's easy to carry, and it comes in six colours including Bright Red and Cyan if you want something that stands out from typical black slabs.