Best cheap phones in 2023 and prices in Nigeria (Updated)

New phones are released every week by various smartphone brands, both flagship and budget phones. This makes it a big challenge to get the best of the best, whether flagship or budget. Many people make the mistake of just comparing prices, and they believe a phone with a higher price provides more value.

This isn’t true at all. Of course, price is one thing to check when shopping for the best cheap phones, but what a brand calls ‘cheap’ isn’t another brand’s ‘cheap.’ Two phones released in the same year might have the same price, but when compared together, they look like phones from different decades, let alone years.

If you are just after a phone that can do the basics, the best cheap camera phones, cheapest iPhones, cheap phones with huge battery capacity, best cheap phones between 30K-100K naira, or you are just concerned with the amount of memory you get, we got you covered.

In 2023, the cost of phones has gone really crazy because of the devaluation of the Nigerian currency (Naira). Most phones considered to be cheap are now in the 70K to 120K range, these are phones with the same features you will get in a 40K to 60K phone back in 2020.

This list consists of the best cheap phones you could get right now in the market ranging from mid-range (between 100K – 200K), budget phones with meager prices, to the best cheap gaming phones. These value phones are available from various local stores and even online stores.

Read also– Best Android phones | iPhone prices | best camera phones | best battery life phone

1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12

Released date: March, 2023 | Display: 6.67 inches, AMOLED display, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 120Hz | CPU: Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) | GPU: Adreno 610 | RAM: 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Rear Camera: Triple 50Mp + 8Mp + 2Mp | Front Camera: 13Mp | OS: Android 13, MIUI 14 | Battery: 5000mAh, 33W fast Charging | Dimension: 165.7 x 76 x 7.9 mm | Weight: 183.5 g

The best cheap and mid-range phone you can buy right now is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12. The 4GB/128GB variant of this device cost about NGN 120,000, and you are getting a phone with the best features at this price.

The phone sports a 50MP camera that takes decent pictures and the photos taken from them are clean and crisp. The remaining two cameras are not that great, but still usable. You’ve got an 8MP wide-angle camera and a 2MP microlens. The main camera is what most people will only use since most people don’t even know what scenario the wide-angle and micro cameras are used in.

The phone plays most high graphics games like Call of Duty at the highest settings very well, and the phone does not get too hot thanks to the snapdragon 685 processor. You cannot go wrong with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 when it comes to the best cheap phones you can buy right now.

2. Samsung Galaxy A23- Best Cheap Samsung phone

Specifications

Released date: March, 2022 | Display: 6.6 inches PLS LCD display, 1080 x 2408 pixels, 90Hz | CPU: Octa-core | GPU: Mali-G52 | RAM: 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Rear Camera: Quad 50Mp + 5Mp + 2Mp +  2Mp | Front Camera: 8Mp | OS: Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Battery: 5000mAh | Dimension: 164.5 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm | Weight: 195 g

Priced at less than ₦130,000 for the 4GB/128GB variant, the Samsung Galaxy A23 comes with a 6.6 inches PLS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels, an octa-core processor, 50Mp quad-camera set-up, 4GB RAM, and 128GB internal storage.

The price of this device might seem a bit high for some people, but looking at the specs sheet of this device, you won’t want to skip it when selecting the best cheap phones in Nigeria. Although a bit expensive, it is a powerful phone at this price.

The 50Mp primary camera is capable of capturing high-quality pictures. Dynamic range is impressive, Good HDR, and also you get a couple of other features like dark mode, screen optimizer, grid lines, pro mode, location data, and a lot more. If you are a Samsung fan and want the best cheap phones from Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy A23 is the right choice.

3. Umidigi A13 Pro

Specifications

Released date: May, 2022 | Display: 6.7-inch IPS LCD display, 1650 x 720 pixels | CPU: Unisoc T610 | GPU: ARM Mali-G52 MC2 | RAM: 4GB, 6GB RAM | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Rear Camera: Triple 48Mp + 8Mp + 5Mp | Front Camera: 16Mp | OS: Android 11 | Battery: 5150mAh | Dimension: 168 x 75.6 x 8.7 mm | Weight: 207g

Umidigi phones are getting a lot better than before. The Umidigi A13 Pro spots a lot of unique features well above its price. We included this phone in our list of the best Umidigi phones in 2021. It comes with a triple-camera set-up, 4GB RAM, 128GB internal memory, a 5150mAh battery, and an Helio G80 processor, sold at around ₦75,000.

4. Apple iPhone SE (2020) – Best cheap iPhone

Specifications

Released date: April, 2020 | Display: 4.7-inch retina IPS LCD display, 750 x 1334 pixels | CPU: Apple A13 Bionic | GPU: Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | RAM: 3GB RAM | Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB | Rear Camera: 12Mp| Front Camera: 7Mp | OS: iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 14.2 | Battery: 1821mAh | Dimension: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | Weight: 148g

Yes, an iPhone is also on our list of the best cheap phones in Nigeria. Although the price is still a little bit high for some people, if you are an iPhone lover and your budget does not permit you to buy the latest iPhone 13, the iPhone SE is for you.

The iPhone SE was released on April 15, 2020, and its spots a lot of features you also get from the iPhone 11 pro-Max. It comes with the same A13 Bionic processor and GPU that powers the iPhone 11 pro max. This device can also be upgraded to the latest iOS 14. The only difference from the regular iPhone series is the minor camera feature, less RAM, and less optimization.

When you compare the features of the Apple iPhone SE to other phones on this list, you will find out they have more specs than the iPhone SE. Don’t be confused by this; iPhone is well-optimized to perform better than almost all the phones on this list.

In terms of camera, the iPhone SE is the best cheap camera phone available right now. This device is for those that want the latest affordable iPhone device, but your bank will not permit you to get the iPhone 12.

5. Oppo A77s

Released date: October, 2022 | Display: 6.56-inch IPS LCD display, 90Hz, 720 x 1612 pixels | CPU: Octa-core Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G processor | GPU: Adreno 610 | RAM: 8GB RAM | Storage: 128GB ROM | Rear camera: Dual 50Mp + 2Mp | Front camera: Single 8Mp | OS: Android 12, ColorOS 12.1 | Battery: 5100mAh | Dimension: 163.8 x 75 x 8 mm | Weight: 190g

If you are looking for the best cheap phones in Nigeria, you need to check out the Oppo A77s. This smartphone comes with a lot of features that rival the best phones out there.

The phone sports a 6.56 inches IPS LCD with a 720 x 1612 pixels resolution, 8GB RAM, and 128GB internal storage. This is a phone you should check out.

Check out our full Gionee M12 Review

6. Infinix Hot 12 – Cheapest gaming phones

Specifications

Released date: April, 2022 | Display: 6.82 inches IPS LCD display, 90Hz, 720 x 1612 pixels | CPU: Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 | GPU: Mali-G52 | RAM: 4GB/6GB RAM | Storage: 128GB | Rear Camera: Triple 13Mp +2MP + QVGA | Front Camera: 8Mp | OS: Android 12, XOS 10.6 | Battery: 5000mAh, 18W charging | Dimension: 170.5 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm | Weight: 195g

Can I get a phone of less than 100,000 that will play all my favorite games just fine? Yes, the Infinix Hot 12 will play most of the massively monstrous power-consuming games just fine. It was made primarily for gaming. Therefore, if you are looking for the best cheap gaming phones that will play all your favorite games very fine, then the Infinix Hot 12 is for you.

The Infinix hot 12 is powered by the MediaTek G70 processor and a Mali-G52 graphics processing unit that makes all the graphics fine and smooth. If you don’t know what the processor’s ‘G’ stands for, it means gaming. It also sports 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 128GB internal memory, and a 5000mAh battery that allows you to play games for long hours.

If you don’t love games that much and want a powerful performing smartphone, the Infinix Hot 12 is also for you. The Infinix Hot 12 is well-optimized to perform well, including multitasking. The only problem with this phone is that it does not support fast charging, even when you use a fast charger and the selfie cameras are not that great.

Please read our full review of the Infinix Hot 10.

7. Xiaomi Poco M5 – Great specs

Specifications

Released date: February, 2022 | Display: 6.43 inches AMOLED display, 90Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels | CPU: Mediatek Helio G96 | GPU: Mali-G57 MC2 | RAM: 6GB, 8GB RAM | Storage: 128GB, 256GB | Rear Camera: Triple 64Mp + 8Mp + 2MP | Front Camera: 16Mp | OS: Android 11, MIUI 13 for POCO | Battery: 5000mAh, 33W Fast Charging | Dimension: 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm | Weight: 179g

The Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro is an excellent phone when shopping for the best cheap phones in 2022. It comes with NFC, allowing users to make secure transactions. The Helio G96 processor powers this device with a Mali-G57 GPU and a 5000mAh battery with a 33W charger that charges the phone up to 100% in 58 minutes. This kind of processor, combined with the long-lasting battery, makes this phone perform well.

The Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro is packed with more RAM and Storage. You get 6/8GB RAM and 128/256GB internal memory. Multitasking and playing high graphics demanding games is a piece of cake for this device. This is the device I personally used right now.

The display you get isn’t the best, but it is pretty much okay for a phone at this price. It sports a massive 6.43 inches AMOLED display, 1080 x 2400 resolution, 86% screen-to-body ratio, 393ppi density, and uses corning Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection.

8. Xiaomi Redmi 10C – Great features

Specifications

Released date: March, 2022 | Display: 6.71 inches PLS IPS display, 720 x 1650 pixels | CPU: Snapdragon 680 | GPU: Adreno 610 | RAM: 4GB RAM | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Rear Camera: Duad 50Mp+ 2Mp | Front Camera: 5Mp | OS: Android 11, MIUI 13 | Battery: 5000mAh | Dimension: 169.6 x 76.6 x 8.3 mm | Weight: 190g

Another Xiaomi Phone with a lot of cool features. The Xiaomi Redmi 10C sports a Snapdragon 680 processor, up to 4GB RAM, 64GB/128GB internal memory, a 5000mAh battery, and NFC. This phone is just a great choice for anyone looking for the best cheap phone in 2021.

9. Tecno Spark 8P

Specifications

Released date: December, 2021 | Display: 6.6 inches IPS LCD display, 1080 x 1408 pixels | CPU: Mediatek MT6769V Helio G70/Mediatek MT6762D Helio P22 | GPU: Mali-G52 2EEMC2/PowerVR GE8320 | RAM: 4GB RAM | Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | Rear Camera: Triple 50MP + 2MP+ VGA | Front Camera: 8Mp | OS: Android 11, HIOS 7.6 | Battery: 5000mAh | Dimension: 164.5 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm

The Tecno Spark 8p sells at 62,000 nairas in Nigeria, and its sports the Helio G70 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory, and a 5000mAh battery.

The Camera of the Tecno Spark 8p is a Triple set-up with a 50MP main camera capable of capturing high-quality pictures. The selfie camera captures portrait pictures quite well with the help of autofocus, and the dynamic range is also quite good.

The Tecno Spark 8p could be one of the best cheap phones you need right now, especially if you don’t have a huge budget but want a cheap battery phone.

10. Samsung Galaxy A04s

Specifications

Released date: August 2022 | Display: 6.5-inch PLS IPS display, 90Hz, 720 x 1600 pixels | CPU: Exynos 850 | GPU: Adreno G52 | RAM: 3GB, 4GB RAM | Storage: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB | Rear Camera: Triple 50Mp + 2Mp + 2MP | Front Camera: 5Mp | OS: Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI Core 5 | Battery: 5000mAh, 15W fast Charging | Dimension: 164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm | Weight: 195g

The Samsung Galaxy A04s is a great cheap phone under 70,000 naira. It comes with a lot of cool features you will want in a phone. This is a fundamental phone that will do most of your daily tasks. It would help if you considered this phone when selecting the best budget phones in Nigeria.

11. Xiaomi Poco C40

Specifications

Released date: June, 2022 | Display: 6.71-inch IPS LCD display, 720 x 1650 pixels | CPU: JLQ JR510 | GPU: Mali-G57 MC1 | RAM: 3/4GB RAM | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Rear Camera: Dual 13Mp + 2MP | Front Camera: 5Mp | OS: Android 10, MIUI 12 | Battery: 5000mAh | Dimension: 169.6 x 76.6 x 9.2 mm | Weight: 204g

The Xiaomi Poco C40 is one of the best cheap phones under 50,000 naira in Nigeria.

The POCO C40 is a budget smartphone produced by POCO, a sub-brand of Xiaomi. It features a 6.71-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1650 pixels. The device is powered by a JLQ JR510 octa-core processor and comes with 3/4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSD card.

In terms of camera, the POCO C40 Pro features a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 13-megapixel main sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. On the front, it has an 8-megapixel selfie shooter.

The POCO C40 Pro runs on the Android 11 operating system with POCO’s custom MIUI 13 for the POCO user interface. It is equipped with a large 6,000mAh battery and supports 18W fast charging. Other features include a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, face unlock, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The device is available in three color options: Power Black, Coral Green, and Poco Yellow. The POCO C40 PRO is an affordable smartphone with good specs and features that make it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.

12. Umidigi F3S

Specifications

Released date: November, 2022 | Display: 6.71-inch PLS LCD display, 720 x 1650 pixels | CPU: Unisoc T610 Octa-Core Processor | GPU: Mali-G52 | RAM: 6GB RAM | Storage: 128GB | Rear Camera: Triple 48Mp + 8Mp + 5Mp | Front Camera: 16Mp | OS: Android 11 | Battery: 5150mAh, 10W Charging | Dimension: 168 x 76 x 8.7 mm | Weight: 195g

Umidigi phones are getting a lot better than before. The Umidigi F3S spots a lot of unique features well above its price. We actually included this phone in our list of the best Umidigi phones in 2023. It comes with a quad-camera, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory, 5000mAh battery, and Helio P65 processor, sold at around ₦65,000.

13. Tecno Spark 5 Pro

Specifications

Released date: July, 2020 | Display: 6.6-inch IPS LCD display, 720 x 1600 pixels | CPU: MediaTek Helio A25 | GPU: PoweVR GE8320 | RAM: 3GB/4GB RAM | Storage: 64GB | Rear Camera: Quad 16Mp + 2Mp + 2Mp + QVGA | Front Camera: 8Mp | OS: Android 10, HIOS 6.1 | Battery: 5000mAh | Dimension: 164.7 x 76.3 x 8.8 mm | Weight: 192g

The Tecno Spark 5 is a very cheap android phone. It ships with 4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory, and a quad camera. This is a good choice if you are intent on finding the best affordable phones in Nigeria.

14. Infinix Smart 5 – very affordable

Specifications

Released date: August, 2020 | Display: 6.6-inch IPS LCD display | CPU: MediaTek MT6761D Helio A20 | GPU: PowerVR GE8320 | RAM: 2/3GB RAM | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Rear Camera: Triple 13Mp + QVGA + QVGA | Front Camera: 8Mp | OS: Android 10 (Go Edition) | Battery: 5000mAh | Dimension: 165.4 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm | Weight: 183g

15. Itel A58

Specifications

Released date: May, 2022 | Display: 6.6-inch IPS LCD display, 720 x 1600 pixels | CPU: Quad-core spreadtrum UNISOC SC9863A | GPU: PowerVR GE8322 | RAM: 2GB RAM | Storage: 32GB | Rear Camera: Dual 5Mp + QVGA | Front Camera: 5Mp | OS: Android 11 (Go Edition) | Battery: 4000mAh | Dimension: Unknown | Weight: unknown

The Itel A58 Pro is a straightforward phone with a 6.6 inches IPS display, 720 x 1600 pixels resolution, 2GB RAM, and 32GB internal storage. The smartphone may be a primary phone, but it is a good phone at its price. It would help if you considered this phone when searching for the cheapest phone in Nigeria.