Are there any Options for Phones other than Apple and Samsung Worth Considering?

We won't go deep into why people would want to buy a new phone as this is out of question. What we are more interested in is the present alternatives for the budget buyer. The overwhelming majority of recommendations constantly favor some product of Apple or Samsung. While definitely high-end products, their retail prices are often not on friendly terms with budget shoppers, especially for premium models with high quality cameras and ample storage space. So how can a budget shopper get their hands on such features? Luckily, Gadkits got you covered.

What to look for?

The most obvious feature is the camera quality. Having good front and back cameras is a must in our digital age. Additionally good and smooth display is crucial for watching content. This should also be complimented by an efficient processor to prevent lags and enable data-intensive applications like games or trading. Efficient processors normally come with a suitable RAM - like 8 GB - for task storage. Permanent storage, on the other hand, should ideally be at least 256 GB to provide sufficient space for numerous photos and applications. Having the right software enables users to extract the most value of their phone's feature through supporting processor efficiency, general ease-of-use and compatibility with other apps.

From a hardware standpoint, long battery life is very much desirable, especially at a time when constant linkage is needed while most phones don't have a battery life that stretches beyond a day. Constant linkage also recalls the need for durability, given pro-longed usage and the habit pf pulling your phone out in every environment no matter how dusty or wet. The latter point is something for you to consider if you intend on becoming a travel blogger! Most notably, durable phones do not deteriorate in performance as fast, maintaining convenience over a prolonged period.

Our Product Recommendation

Having all what we mentioned in one phone for a budget price, might sound like an overstatement. In reality, we have a recommendation that sells at a starting price of around 300 Euros, although this varies slightly per location. The OPPO Reno 13F 5G is our go-to for budget buyers. Having a 50 MP back camera with ultra-wide-angle and macro lenses alongside a 32 MP front camera ensures high quality AI-enhanced photos from any angle. Display-wise, the phone boats a 6.67- FHD top-tier AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh-rate. This renders is suitable for watching any content while ensuring that the resulting glare does not cause any visual irritation.

Having a fast and efficient processor backed by between 8 to 12 GB RAM allows a number of apps to run simultaneously while easily loading phone content such as images and other files. This is supported by the latest android version 15 for seamless software sync. Storage capacity starts at 128GB, and can go up to 512 GB which is quiet similar to what you would get from the latest iPhone 16.

The most remarkable feature of Oppo phones is their extended battery life. The 13F's battery charges fully in less than 80 minutes and lasts for approximately two full days! With an expected life-span of 4 years, it is definitely recommended for heavy users. The phone's durability is also fortified by its resistance to water and dust. And to round-up all of these, its AI Linkboost 2.0 guarantees a good connection even in crowded environments. At 300 Euros, we would go so far as to say that 13F has mastered the "value-for-money" label to an unmatched level.

Comparison with other Brands

We resort to our standard comparative graph where we compare our recommended phone to other phones i the market in terms of both estimated quality rating and price. In this comparison, we consider several phones from renowned brands with similar specs in terms of memory and display size.

We particularly considered the iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S25, Google Pixel 9 and Huawei Nova 13. For the first three, we considered the version with 128 GB storage whose starting prices are quiet high compared to the recommended oppo with similar storage. As for the Huawei, its storage capacity starts from 256 GB. Additionally, the first 3 phones have screen sizes of 6.3 inches or less, while the Huawei and the Oppo stand at slightly larger 6.7 inches. All other factors aside, the Huawei and Oppo have very similar characteristics - and a similar quality rating, although the Oppo has a more durable build. The key difference is that the Huawei is some 70 euros more expensive than Oppo which allows users to extract the most value out of its price.

Interested? Check out the Oppo through the button below.

For the sake of our credibility, here is a video from another Youtuber reviewing the Oppo Reno 13F.