By Nadia Hussien, Translation by Dina amir.

Don’t know which smartphone to buy? Too many options to choose from? You need specific features, and you don’t know which smartphone will meet your requirements? Prices matter too. Yaoota prepared this list for you to gather most of the trustworthy smartphones that vary from EGP500 to EGP2500; this list includes most of the popular smartphone brands in the market.

Low budget Phones

Lenovo A319

Price: Starts from EGP500. To check the price comparison in different stores, click here 

Features:

• Sound: Dolby digital plus, which is available in costly smartphones.
• Perfect for listening to music, very high sound performance.
• Battery survives for 10 hours during average usage
• Affordable price, along with costly smartphones’ features.
• Suitable for playing games -not too advanced or heavy ones- surfing the internet, daily usage, taking photos, and playing videos with a medium resolution.
• Front camera: 2 megapixels, it’s good for an affordable mobile.
• Dual SIM

Disadvantages:

• Low life battery when you connect to 3G for 4 hours only, which means you have to recharge every 4 hours if you want to surf the internet or forget about the internet, unless you have an electric plug beside you.
• Low internal storage, only 4G, but you can add external memory card up to 32G
• The screen is only 4 inches, and the resolution is 480*800 pixels. Not suitable for displaying HD videos.

Operating system: Android 4.4 KitKat.

Designed for average performance smartphones that has 512 megabytes processors and more. That’s why android KitKat works best with these devices. It’s also the fastest when it comes to these devices, to give the best performance with these smartphones.

For more information check here

Nokia Lumia 530

Price: starts from EGP700. For price comparison in different stores, check here 

Features:

• Dual SIM
• Surprisingly, you can play any game you want, and that’s what’s awesome about this mobile. You can play average games as Angry birds, and advanced ones as Subway Surfers.
• Internal storage: 4G, you can add external memory card for up to 128GB.
• You can listen to the radio, which is beneficial if you don’t have a Wi-Fi or you don’t want to use your cellular data.
• The device is very convenient for low budgets, with high performance, except for watching HD movies in a big screen. You can use it for your daily routine, surfing the internet, checking your mail, playing games, recording videos, and taking photos.

Disadvantages:

• Screen: 4 inches, which makes it difficult to watch videos or movies.
• You only have 1 loudspeaker in the back, so remember that so you can hear well. Don’t cover this area, even if you will leave the mobile on a table, or in your bag.
• Game like Asphalt 8 requires 988 megabytes as a free space, which is difficult for this mobile, because the operating system uses about 2.06G from the 4G internal storage.
• No front camera, or flash with the rear camera.
• Battery life is low.

Operating system: Windows 8.1

It’s different from iOS and Android. It’s easy to use, with big icons, which is convenient for older people. As soon as you start using the mobile, it shows you a collection of boxes designed to make it easier for you to recognize all the signs and the events in a one quick look. Microsoft worked on this version, and it has many features. The system is easy and fast. It’s still a disadvantage that the google play doesn’t have enough applications; but it’s getting developed with time, and now you can find more apps and games for windows smartphone users on google play.

 Infinix Hot Note X551

Price: starts from EGP 900. For price comparison from different stores, check here 

Features:

• Dual SIM
• Screen: 5.5 inches, IPS display, Resolution: 720*1280 pixels. Font is big and clear to read, and surf the Internet.
• External memory card up to 32GB.
• Processors: 1.4GHz octa-core. RAM: 1GB, which makes the performance fast, with no interruptions while playing, or using more than one application.
• You can watch HD movies, play 3D games, surf the Internet, and read without a serious need to recharge, as battery survives for quite a long time. High performance even while using multiple apps and doing several things at the same time.
• Battery survives for a day and a half. You can also use power saving mode, to make the battery work even more, before having to recharge it.
• It recharges fast. It takes 2 hours to recharge the battery from 3% to 100%.
• You can use this mobile as a charger for your other devices, by using USB OTG to connect the mobile to your other device.

Disadvantages:

• When the mobile brightness is low, you can’t use it in a dim place, because you won’t be able to see anything.
• 16GB internal storage, you can only use 11GB.
• Front camera is 2GB, which is good for video calls, and taking selfies. What’s disappointing about it is that it doesn’t cover a wide angle while shooting.
• Doesn’t connect to 4G
• No screen protector.

Operating system: Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

Designed for average performance smartphones that has 512 megabytes processors and more. That’s why android KitKat works best with these devices. It’s also the fastest when it comes to these devices, to give the best performance with these smartphones.

For more information, check 

Huawei Honor 3C lite

Price: Starts from EGP1100. For price comparison from different stores, check here 

Features:

• Dual SIM
• Screen: 5 inches, IPS. The high resolution, and the size of the screen, makes it easier for you to read, watch movies, and surf the Internet.
• You can play simple games smoothly.
• Internal storage: 16GB. You can add external memory card up to 32GB
• Battery lasts for 9 hours under heavy usage, and watching mp4 720p videos.

Disadvantages:

• Sound is low, with no stereo.
• 4.4.2 Android operating system is outdated in comparison to android 5.
• Advanced games will cause some problems, and needs you to readjust your settings. Dead Trigger never worked. Asphalt 8 works, but with low resolution; you also need to readjust the settings so it can work.
• Average performance camera.
• Traditional design. The back looks like it’s made of glass, while it’s made of shiny plastic, which can show signs of scratches, and so on.
• The mobile has 1 loudspeaker, which is on the back; you need to watch out, whenever you put it on a table or any surface, so you can hear it.
• Doesn’t connect to 4G.

Operating system: Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system

Designed for average performance smartphones that has 512 megabytes processors and more. That’s why android KitKat works best with these devices. It’s also the fastest when it comes to these devices, to give the best performance with these smartphones.

For more information, check here 

Average budget phones

Acer Liquid Jade S

Price: Starts from EGP1400. For price comparison from different stores, check here 

 Features:

• It’s suitable for average budgets, as it’s an android mobile from a trustworthy company with a high performance.
• Dual SIM
• Screen: 5 inches, IPS. It’s suitable for reading, playing games, watching videos with 720p. The colors are clear and bright. An overall acceptable/ average performance.
• Gorilla 3 screen protector, it’s not the most updated gorilla glass, but it will protect the screen from scratches.
• You can us it to play simple games as Corssy Road
• Internal storage: 8GB. Ability to add external memory card up to 32GB
• Battery survives for a day and a half
• Rear camera: 13 megapixels, which is amazing in comparison to the price.

Disadvantages:

• It sometimes slows down, when you use multiple apps as Facebook and Instagram. The pictures might be blurry, when it comes to animation. To avoid this, don’t use too many apps at the same time.
• It doesn’t display well any game that requires an advanced graphic card.
• If you put the mobile on a flat surface, you might not hear well using the loudspeakers.
• The mobile temperature goes up during long calls, so if you’re planning to have a long call, you’d better prepare your headphones.
• Doesn’t connect to 4G.

Operating system: Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Designed for average performance smartphones that has 512 megabytes processors and more. That’s why android KitKat works best with these devices. It’s also the fastest when it comes to these devices, to give the best performance with these smartphones.

For more information, check here

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2

Price: Starts from EGP1400. For price comparison from different stores, check here 

Features:

• Dual SIM
• Internal Storage: 8GB. External memory slot up to 64 GB
• Screen: 5.2 inches. Average performance.
• Battery: survives for 10 hours during average usage, 7 hours under heavy usage.
• CPU: Quad-core 1.2 GHz. RAM: 1.5GB, which allows you to use multiple apps at the same time, without any slowing down or sudden shut downs.

Disadvantages:

• It weighs 163 grams, and it’s relatively big, so it’s difficult to type using one hand.
• HD videos are not that clear.
• Unattractive design.
• Zooming in while taking a picture, or a video, results in a pixelated quality.
• With the same price you can get a better performance (screen and processor) as Samsung galaxy s4, or another mobile that has a better processor.

Operating system: Android 4.3 Jelly bean

It’s not so different from 4.2. Of course, it’s fast; you can use the voice search service, and Google Now. Bluetooth consumes less energy. You can create more than one account on the same mobile, to avoid any hacking, or so. You can play 3D games with a better display performance.

For more information, check here 

High performance and relatively average price smartphones

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

Price: Starts from EGP2400. For more price comparison, check here

Features:

• Average speed. Water, and dust proof.
• Dual SIM
• Screen:  5 inches, Resolution: 720*1280 pixels (294 ppi pixel density). Though the resolution is not that high, Sony was able to keep the color clear and bright. IPS LCD touchscreen.
• High responsive touchscreen, up to 4 fingers. Protected screen (to prevent scratches)
• Processor: 1.5GHz. RAM: 2GB
• User friendly, you can use multiple apps at the same time, and you will have high guaranteed performance. It can display advanced games.
• You can invite PlayStation users to play with you. You can connect Sony Xperia M4 Aqua with PS4. You can only play if you’re connected.
• You can use a power saving mode, with less brightness and resolution. Under average daily usage, battery survives for a whole day, and it will survive less if you increase your usage.
• Internal storage: 16GB. External memory slot up to 128 GB.
• Connects to 4G.

Disadvantages:

• Both the front and the rear camera will give you high quality photos, but due to the delay in taking the shot, you might miss some precious moments. If you’re into taking several quick shots, then this phone isn’t for you.
• Low screen resolution.

Operating system: Android 5 lollipop

 Lollipop 5.0 was advanced using Material Design. It’s a very fast operating system  (ART system), which provides high performance. Android watches and other digital devices use this update of Android. It has high security and data protection. This update saves more energy, which means a longer battery life.

For more information, check here

Samsung Galaxy S4

Price:  Starts from EGP2300. For price comparison from different stores, check here 

Features:

• Screen: 5 inches, resolution 1920* 1080 (Super AMOLED), which gives sharp, clear, and bright colors, with a high resolution of 441 ppi pixel density. You will notice the sharp clear details, while reading and surfing the Internet.
• Gorilla 3 glass (screen protection).
• Processor: 1.6 GHz Cortex-A15&quad core 1.2 GHZ cortex-A7
• RAM:  2GB
• Internal storage: 16/32/64GB. External memory slot up to 64GB
• You can use multiple apps, while surfing the Internet, and still get a high performance.
• Battery survives for 14hrs under heavy usage, and a whole day under average usage.
• Video stops if you looked away from the screen, and it works again as soon as you look back on the screen. You can use multiple apps and the screen would split into two, so you can use them at the same time.
• S Health app to monitor your diet, workout and your health in general. It shows graphs, which makes it easier for you to understand the data.
• High sound performance, but less than HTC One.
• Thinner than most of the other Samsung devices (7.9*136.6*69.8 mm)
• Weighs 130 grams, which makes it user-friendly.

Disadvantages:

• The screen is clear usually, except under strong sunlight.
• Low camera resolution in dim places and at night.
• Cheap design.
• Not enough internal storage.

Operating system: 4.2.2 Jelly Bean Android system can be updated to 5.0 lollipop.

This system allows the phone to operate faster, along with a faster and more responsive touchscreen. Better Google Now service and ability to connect it to your personal Gmail. You can shoot a 360 degrees picture. You can also manage your shortcuts easily.

For more information, check here

IPhone 4S 8GB

Price: starts from EGP2500. For more price comparison, check here

Features:

• Siri is one of the major features, as you can manage your mobile using your English voice commands. You can ask Siri about the temperature, weather, etc. You can also ask Siri to send an email or a text. Siri can also help you surf the Internet.
• Retina 3.5 inches screen. 640*960 pixels screen. 326-ppi pixel density. Corning gorilla glass, which is super strong.
• Dual core 1GHz processor, 512 MB RAM. High graphic card.
• Performs the tasks quickly, you can play heavy games and watch HD videos.
• Internal storage: 8/16/32/64GB
• Single SIM card.

Disadvantages:

• Front camera: 0.3 megapixels, low resolution for taking selfies or making video calls.
• Battery: survives for 8hrs under average usage, 4hrs only under heavy usage.
• Small screen
• No external memory slot.

Operating system: iOS 5, you can update to iOS 9

It’s very secure and safe. No ability to use any external memory. It operates quickly while doing the daily tasks, and surfing the Internet. There is infinity of apps that you can download from the app store and of course you can use iTunes, which is a Google Play competitor.

For more information, check here 

Here is an easier way for you to choose between all the smartphones in this list