The cheapest smartphones to buy in SA

[Bradley Prior]

The cheapest smartphones to buy in SA

While smartphones have a reputation for being expensive, there are many more affordable options available to South Africans.

 

[joshuatree]

Alcatel 1 , R649, Pep Stores - Vodacom network locked.

https://www.pepstores.com/product/cell/vodacom/alcatel-1-sku-dew65

 

[markings]

8 Gb, even 4 Gb storage. Where do these people live? IMO 16 Gb is the absolute minimum anyone, 32 Gb if one wants to use the phone reasonably well.

 

[w1z4rd]

Alcatel 1 , R649, Pep Stores - Vodacom network locked.

https://www.pepstores.com/product/cell/vodacom/alcatel-1-sku-dew65

I thought network locking was banned?

 

[WaxLyrical]

32gb or gtfo. Most can live with a less than awesome display and camera but storage and battery is now top of the list.

Page not found :( | Shop Now

www.cashcrusaders.co.za

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

ram size is all less than 1GB, isnt that so slow?
wpnt they barely open anything these cheapy phones?

 

[ArmatageShanks]

8 Gb, even 4 Gb storage. Where do these people live? IMO 16 Gb is the absolute minimum anyone, 32 Gb if one wants to use the phone reasonably well.

Just install everything to the SD.

 

[ld13]

I thought network locking was banned?

TL;DR
The regulator made waves/started looking into it, with the plan to 'ban' it. The networks stop doing it, so the regulator did not see the need to follow through.

Welcome to South Africa.

 

[w1z4rd]

TL;DR
The regulator made waves/started looking into it, with the plan to 'ban' it. The networks stop doing it, so the regulator did not see the need to 'ban' it anymore.

Welcome to South Africa.

Worst mistake I ever made was buying a Vodacom network locked phone. They make it impossible to update, so it becomes a huge security hole.

 

[konfab]

Do these phones run Android or Android-Go?

 

[Gordon_R]

8 Gb, even 4 Gb storage. Where do these people live? IMO 16 Gb is the absolute minimum anyone, 32 Gb if one wants to use the phone reasonably well.

See below, the amount of storage is matched to the Android version, and user expectations.

Just install everything to the SD.

Apps won't run properly from the SD on Android 6 and earlier, and these cheap phones won't run the latest Android.

Do these phones run Android or Android-Go?

Mostly Android 5 on 1GB RAM, many of these phones are 2017 era.

IMO the best 'cheap' phone is a used one.

 

[Aghori]

The cheapest "useable" phone in my opinion is this 'ere for R1 999.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Redmi 9A features the fast and smooth MediaTek Helio G25, an octa-core gaming chipset optimized to provide uninterrupted gaming, fluid daily use, and longer battery life. Featuring a massive 6.53” Dot Drop display, Redmi 9A is large and immersive,

mia.africa.com

 

[konfab]

Mostly Android 5 on 1GB RAM, many of these phones are 2017 era.

IMO the best 'cheap' phone is a used one.

Disagree there.
I bought my mom a Nokia 1 for R999 when it came out. It still gets regular updates and is on Android 10.

Smartphones age like milk without software updates.

 

[gottagoon]

Nokia 1 should be on the list. Upgradeable to Android 10 Go.

 

[Gordon_R]

The cheapest "useable" phone in my opinion is this 'ere for R1 999.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Redmi 9A features the fast and smooth MediaTek Helio G25, an octa-core gaming chipset optimized to provide uninterrupted gaming, fluid daily use, and longer battery life. Featuring a massive 6.53” Dot Drop display, Redmi 9A is large and immersive,

mia.africa.com

Almost usable:

Nokia 1 Plus launched in South Africa – MyBroadband

Disagree there.
I bought my mom a Nokia 1 for R999 when it came out. It still gets regular updates and is on Android 10.

Smartphones age like milk without software updates.

I posted simultaneously. The Nokia 1 is not listed in the OP article.

I had a choice between a new cheap phone, and a used one with a 13MP camera. Not a difficult decision...

BTW, I use Windows 98 and XP on my two desktop PCs, so I have a very different approach to software updates.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Almost usable:

Nokia 1 Plus launched in South Africa – MyBroadband

I posted simultaneously. The Nokia 1 is not listed in the OP article.

I had a choice between a new cheap phone, and a used one with a 13MP camera. Not a difficult decision...

BTW, I use Windows 98 and XP on my two desktop PCs, so I have a very different approach to software updates.

As long as they are offline.

 

[konfab]

Almost usable:

Nokia 1 Plus launched in South Africa – MyBroadband

I posted simultaneously. The Nokia 1 is not listed in the OP article.

I had a choice between a new cheap phone, and a used one with a 13MP camera. Not a difficult decision...

BTW, I use Windows 98 and XP on my two desktop PCs, so I have a very different approach to software updates.

You can do that with those operating systems because they actually shipped in a working condition.

 

[backstreetboy]

8 Gb, even 4 Gb storage. Where do these people live? IMO 16 Gb is the absolute minimum anyone, 32 Gb if one wants to use the phone reasonably well.

Just buy a 16gig sd card and format as internal storage. Works great on my U40 Lite. Got 500 songs saved offline and still have 12gig left over. This phone only has Android 8 go so you'll get even more storage with 10 Go.

 

[Gordon_R]

Just buy a 16gig sd card and format as internal storage. Works great on my U40 Lite. Got 500 songs saved offline and still have 12gig left over. This phone only has Android 8 go so you'll get even more storage with 10 Go.

Sounds like a sweet-spot, with just a little effort. Not the cheapest, and not the most featured, but the most flexible setup.