Samsung ST65

This is a point-and-shoot camera through and through, not a phone. Samsung ST65 price in Malaysia starts from RM320, putting it in budget compact camera territory. The 14.20 megapixel CCD sensor tops out at 4608 x 3456 resolution, and the ultracompact body measures just 92 x 53 x 17 mm, easy to slip into a pocket or small bag.

There's no manual exposure control, no shutter priority, and no manual focus here; this is built for scene modes and automatic shooting rather than fiddling with settings. Metering covers multi, center-weighted, and spot options, which gives some flexibility in tricky lighting even without manual controls. The fixed LCD means no viewfinder to compose through, and there's no GPS for geotagging shots.

Audio recording relies on a mono microphone, and it runs on a battery pack rather than disposable batteries. For anyone comparing basic compacts against smartphone cameras, this one's strictly a simple point-and-shoot at a low price point.