Do budget smartphones involve many compromises?

Back in the dial-up days of the new millennium, a mobile phone was something you phoned and texted people from. If you owned a Nokia, you also got to play Snake.

That was about as far as it went, and most consumers accepted the limitations of their phones. Yet today, mobile phones have become almost as smart as tablets and laptops.

They’re internet portals, games consoles, streaming media interfaces and many other things besides. Some people even manage their businesses through their smartphones.

However, the technology required to process and display this level of information doesn’t come cheap.

In fact, some high-end smartphones now cost over £1,000, including the Samsung Galaxy 10 SG and the iPhone 11 Pro.

At the other end of the scale, there are budget smartphones – cut-price models offering basic communications and connectivity.

Their low purchase price makes these devices tempting for youngsters, people on a budget, and anyone unconcerned by advances like biometric recognition or wireless charging.

The question is, how many compromises do budget smartphones impose on their owners?

Cheap and cheerful?

After Nokia, Motorola was one of the most ubiquitous Millennial phone brands.

Today, they provide an affordable range of Android-powered smartphones, with prices starting at just £180 for the Motorola One Macro.

And on paper, you aren’t having to sacrifice much to save yourself £919 compared to the aforementioned Samsung Galaxy S10 5G.

Okay, you don’t get 5G. But then nobody does at the moment, unless you live in a favourable postcode in a major city.

What you do get with the One Macro is 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, three rear cameras offering laser autofocus, and biometric security.

In some respects, it actually outperforms Samsung’s (current) flagship smartphone.

The One Macro’s 6.2-inch screen is larger than the Galaxy S10’s, while you also get superior battery life because there’s less hardware and software draining the battery.

Even cheaper, but not as cheerful

It’s worth noting that the One Macro isn’t unique in today’s market. Other budget smartphones include the Sainsbury’s-owned Alba 4, the Doro 1370, and the Alcatel 1.

All cost less than £100, while Nokia’s iconic 3310 was relaunched to positive reviews three years ago and could be yours SIM-free for a mere £49.99.

However, once you drop below the £100 threshold, you start to notice significant differences between these handsets and conventional smartphones.

Android is often missing, meaning its proliferation of apps and plugins can’t expand the device’s functionality.

Budget phones rarely sport touchscreens, with dialling and texting handled by traditional numeric pads (occupying more of the handset’s facia than the standard resolution screens).

These devices aren’t designed for streaming or gaming. There’s no 5G, and some don’t even offer 4G, making them impractical for anything beyond basic web surfing.

And while the Alcatel 1 incorporates a selfie camera, you’re unlikely to upload images from any of these devices to Instagram or Unsplash.

The limited design and functionality of these devices is cruelly exposed by placing them next to high-end Android and iOS phones.

Yet that’s unfair, since they’re not really intended as competitors.

Phones from brands like Alba and Doro are targeting people who want a robust and cheap handset to make calls while they’re on the move, ideally with plentiful battery life.

And you don’t need to spend more than £100 to do that.

Conversely, if you’d miss app stores, push notifications and high-resolution photography, it’s best to look elsewhere.