Redmi A2 Plus

This is a budget phone in the truest sense, built around Mediatek's Helio G36 chip paired with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage. That combo runs Android 12 Go edition rather than the full OS, which keeps things lighter on a phone this affordable but also caps what you can multitask on. There's a microSDXC slot if 64GB feels tight, and the 6.52-inch IPS LCD gives you a decent-sized screen for media and browsing, even if the 720p resolution and 400 nits brightness are basic by 2023 standards.

Battery life is the strong point here: 5000mAh should get most users through a full day and then some, though the 10W wired charging means top-ups take a while. Camera duties fall to an 8MP main sensor with a 0.08MP depth helper, fine for casual shots in good light but not much beyond that, and the 5MP front camera handles selfies and video calls adequately.

Redmi A2 Plus price in Malaysia starts from RM389. You get a rear fingerprint sensor, dual SIM, FM radio and a headphone jack, but there's no NFC and it still uses the older microUSB port instead of USB-C.