The Best Budget Smartphones of 2022
The budget smartphones of 2022 continued to push the envelope of specifications and features, and brought unprecedented value to this segment. From AMOLED displays sporting 90Hz refresh rates to massive 6000 mAh batteries with 33-watt quick charging—the phones launched this year gave even mid-range phones a run for their money.
Every single nominee here has an interesting feature set catering to every type of smartphone user, so it will be especially difficult to choose a winner from this collection of competent contenders.
And Here Are the Winners...
Gold Award: Infinix Note 12
The Infinix Note 12 trumps its rivals by delivering solid value, thanks to a feature list that embarrasses more expensive smartphones. A crisp AMOLED display, with FHD+ resolution and 1000 nits brightness are some standout features. The phone packs in a highly capable Helios G88 SoC, and the icing on the cake is the 33-watt fast charger bundled in the box. In a segment where value reigns supreme, the Infinix Note 12 was bound to emerge as the winner.
Silver Award: Infinix Hot 20 Play
Infinix continues its one-two punch in the budget smartphone segment with the Hot 20 Play. It boasts a massive 6,000mAh battery and supports fast charging via a USB Type-C port, which many budget smartphones lack. You can "Play" around with its massive 6.82 inches display, which is the largest in this category. It flaunts a modern hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. Not to mention the face unlock feature for enhanced biometrics. Not surprisingly, this means Infinix clinches the top two positions in the budget segment.
Bronze Award: Moto E22s
Motorola has established itself as a key player in the budget segment with the launch of the Moto E22s. It gets a contemporary design with a hole-punch camera cutout on the display, which is rare at this price point. What is even rarer in the sub 10k category, is its 90Hz display. The smartphone gets an ergonomically placed fingerprint scanner. In addition to the bronze award, the Moto E22s has also won our hearts with its intuitive and clean user experience.
Meet Our Nominees
Motorola E22s
Motorola has made its mark in the budget segment with the release of its new smartphone, which boasts a clean, stock Android-like feel thanks to its MeUI operating system. One of the standout features of this device is its 90Hz refresh rate, which is a refreshing addition to the sub 10k segment. In terms of design, the smartphone has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and a great ergonomic design. This earns our nomination for being a solid option for those looking for a budget smartphone with a smooth, clean user experience.
Infinix Note 12
There's a significant difference between a phone that is cheap and one that offers great value. The Infinix Note 12 strikes a fine balance between the two by offering great specifications for not a lot of money, thereby making it a strong contender. The brightness of its dazzling 1000-nits FHD+ AMOLED display is only surpassed by the 33-watt fast charger bundled in the box. If that sounds disruptive, the phone also packs in a highly capable Helios G88 SoC.
Realme C33
The Realme C33 is a solid budget option for a daily driver, thanks to its fairly well-optimized UniSoc Tiger 612 processor. In terms of design, it stands out from other phones in its segment with its unique reflective back and flat-edged, modern look. The camera module is clean and sleek, housing a massive 50MP camera with an AI sensor. Budget-friendly phones delivering reliable performance and impressive camera capabilities are hard to come by, which makes the C33 an easy recommendation.
Infinix Hot 20 Play
Yet another Infinix nominee this year, the Hot 20 Play has a massive 6,000 mAh battery with a type-C charging port, and it even supports 18W fast charging. And the display? It's an impressive 6.82 inches, making it the largest in its segment. It has a modern punch hole cut out for the front camera, as well as an old-school fingerprint scanner on the back. And if that wasn't enough, it also has a surprisingly responsive face unlock feature. This phone truly has it all!
Realme C30s
This entry-level smartphone from Realme is sure to please battery lovers with its impressive performance. On moderate usage, this device can deliver up to two days of runtime. The design stands out with a modern, flat-edged, boxy aesthetics complemented by a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The back of the phone boasts a unique, ice-cream candy-like design that is sure to turn heads. While it only has a single rear shooter, it packs in a powerful 50MP camera with an eye-catching, aesthetically pleasing finish. It's hard to find stylish (and simultaneously capable) phones in this segment, so the Realme C30s is an easy phone to nominate.