Sony Xperia E

Budget hardware defines this one. A single-core 1 GHz Cortex-A5 chip paired with 512 MB RAM handles basic tasks, and out of the 4 GB onboard storage you only get 2 GB free to use, so a microSD card (up to 32 GB) is close to mandatory. The 3.5-inch TFT screen runs at 320 x 480 pixels, which is low density even by 2013 standards, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean sits on top.

Camera-wise there's a 3.15 MP rear sensor and no front camera at all, so selfies and video calls aren't part of the deal. The 1530 mAh battery is modest too, matching the phone's compact 115.7g build. Sony Xperia E price in Malaysia starts from RM295.

It does cover the basics that matter for everyday connectivity: Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 3.5mm jack are all present, and it comes in Black, Pink or White if colour matters to you.