Ranking of the best smartphones before 126 $

Smartphones up to 126 $ Is one of the most demanded categories of phones. Several years ago, for such a sum, one could purchase very simple and mediocre devices, but today for such a price you can buy a fairly high-quality and reliable gadget. It is these smartphones that we will consider today in our ranking of the best models.

Best smartphones before 126 $ - rating 2025

In the considered price category, models with good consumer characteristics are presented. The owner of a quality smartphone with a budget 126 $ can count on the following parameters:

• large screen - more than 6 inches diagonally;
• high pixel density;
• several main cameras to improve shooting parameters, reproduce the background blur effect (bokeh);
• processor performance sufficient to run heavy games;
• the presence of NFC and other blocks that expand the functionality of the device;
• capacious battery and fast charging.

Which is the best smartphone, you can clarify using the information below. The rating was formed taking into account customer reviews and estimates of independent experts.

Read also:

• Best smartphones before 112 $
• Best Huawei smartphones
• Best low-cost smartphones

1.HUAWEI P Smart (2019) 3 / 32GB

To exclude the visibility of individual pixels, the number of elements per inch must be at least 300 PPI. According to this indicator, the parameters of HUAWEI P Smart are much better than the marked threshold - 415 PPI. The 6.21 ”diagonal screen is made using IPS technology, which is distinguished by natural color reproduction and no PWM. In night mode, for better quality, a photo is formed from several images that are automatically created using different shutter speeds.

A detailed study of the smartphone confirms the manufacturer's attention to important technical details. So, the read / write speed of RAM is 6400 MB / s, which is one of the best indicators for mobile devices of the corresponding price category.

Pros:

• first place in the ranking of the best smartphones before 126 $;
• smart processor;
• good sound in headphones;
• shooting videos at speeds up to 60 fps;
• 16 MP front camera (only for the Russian market);
• perfect combination of price and characteristics;
• good screen;
• NFC, Wi-Fi Direct.

Minuses:

• soiled surface of the plastic back cover.

2.Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T 3 / 32GB

This smartphone has a basic set of four matrices. The main camera (48MP) provides good conditions for shooting with minimal noise. The wide-angle lens can be used for Full HD recording. To create slow motion video, the shooting speed is increased to 240 fps.

The sound path is designed for reproduction in a wide frequency range (100-15000 Hz). Experts note the acceptable quality even when working with the built-in speaker. When headphones are connected, music lovers can improve the quality using automated tuning or a 7-band equalizer. To assess the computing power of the smartphone, we should note the smooth operation of Call Of Duty and other heavy games at medium settings.

Pros:

• AnTuTu performance over 174,000 points;
• main unit of four cameras;
• large battery;
• great design;
• the ability to record 4K videos;
• high-quality sound;
• the presence of the NFC module.

Minuses:

• no event LED.

3. Highscreen Power Five Max 2 3 / 32GB

A really good smartphone is distinguished by the thoughtfulness of "small" details. The rough surface of the back cover is pleasant to the touch. In addition to increasing the reliability of fixation in the hand, it is necessary to note the effective masking of fingerprints and scratches. If necessary, the owner of the smartphone can record a telephone conversation using standard means. 3 GB of RAM makes it easy to work with heavy applications.

The increased battery capacity of the smartphone (5000 mAh) provides good battery life. When you turn on the maximum brightness level, you can watch video without interruption for more than 10.5 hours. For charging, it is permissible to use accelerated technology with currents from 1.5 to 2A.

Pros:

• pure Android;
• quality parts and assembly;
• capacious battery;
• fast charging;
• large and bright screen;
• NFC chip.

Minuses:

• thickness - 9.5 mm and significant weight;
• low-light image quality.

4. Samsung Galaxy A10

The ability to purchase a smartphone from a well-known brand at an affordable price explains the popularity of this model. Statistics for 2025 the year confirms the monthly sales of more than 100 thousand pieces.

According to customer reviews, the Galaxy A10 smartphone has good autonomy with a relatively small supply of electricity (battery - 3 400 mAh). The screen creates a bright enough picture for comfortable work on a sunny day. The RAM cannot be called a record one (2GB). However, there are no complaints about the smoothness of applications, which confirms the qualitative balance of the technical and software parameters of the smartphone.

Pros:

• high-quality assembly;
• reliable components;
• clear screen;
• face unlocking;
• clear sound;
• compactness;
• lightness of construction - 168g.

5.HUAWEI Y7 (2019)

If you choose a smartphone with a price of up to 126 $, one cannot count on the use of expensive new technologies. However, a solid IPS screen is capable of displaying a natural color gamut without distortion at various viewing angles. The Snapdragon 450 operates at a clock speed of 1.8 GHz or less. But complete with three GB of RAM, the performance of the smartphone is quite enough for comfortable surfing the Internet and running games with medium settings. The side of the two cameras is suitable for creating a photo with a blurred background effect. The phase focusing system performs its function quickly and accurately.

The capacity of the built-in battery is enough for 1.5-2 days of use with medium intensity. If there is not enough standard memory (32 GB), the deficiency is corrected by a microSD card with a capacity of up to 512 GB.

The corresponding upgrade to increase storage capacity is performed without degrading functionality using a separate slot. With this equipment, it remains possible to use two SIMs simultaneously.

Pros:

• harmonious balance of price and quality;
• autonomy;
• good characteristics;
• natural color reproduction.

Minuses:

• no NFC.

6.Xiaomi Redmi 7 3 / 64GB

If you need to buy a smartphone before 126 $ with a large screen and extended battery life, you should pay attention to this model. The Xiaomi Redmi 7 has a 6.25 ”IPS sensor matrix with a resolution of 1520 x 720. The economical Snapdragon 632 processor performs its functions complete with 3 GB of RAM. The battery capacity is 4000 mAh.

With this equipment, when watching HD video, you can count on 14.5-15 hours of continuous work. When the sleep mode is turned on, the discharge will not exceed 7-8% per day. By activating a special function (disabling applications and limiting performance), you can extend the operating time of your smartphone by 1.5-2 hours.

Pros:

• high-quality mobile communication;
• loud sound without distortion through a standard speaker;
• long battery life;
• good camera;
• fast charging.

Minuses:

• one working Wi-Fi band;
• lack of NFC.

7.vivo Y11 3 / 32GB

Modern production technologies make it possible to provide a high level of smartphone quality at an affordable price.The appearance of vivo Y11 corresponds to the more expensive price category. Fingerprints are almost invisible on the iridescent gradient surface. Thickened silicone cover protects against strong mechanical stress. A special plug prevents dust and moisture from entering through the charging socket inside the structure. A separate slot is provided to expand the smartphone's memory using microSD, so the owner can install two SIM cards at the same time. When the speakerphone is turned on, high-quality sound creates a user-friendly effect of the interlocutor's presence.

For an objective assessment of the phone, it should be noted a modest resolution (1544 × 720) with a fairly large screen diagonal (6.35 "). However, this is quite enough for working with standard applications and surfing the Internet. This also reduces the load on the battery. With a capacity of 5000 mA / h, operability remains for more than two days in an average operating mode.

Pros:

• cheap smartphone with good consumer parameters;
• large battery;
• aesthetic appearance;
• accurate color reproduction;
• correct display of details during macro photography;
• realistic image when shooting with the front camera.

Minuses:

• no support for fast charging.

8. OPPO A5s

This smartphone has excellent performance at an affordable cost. In order to evaluate the real capabilities of the mobile phone, it is recommended to set the appropriate settings. Turning off power saving mode increases the brightness. After activating the Real Sound function, the sound quality does not cause any complaints, even from experienced experts.

Face (fingerprint) unlocking is accurate and fast. Many users like the proprietary colorOS shell.

It's nice when you don't have to pay separately for the bumper and protective film. Useful accessories are included as standard on the OPPO A5s.

Pros:

• beautiful smartphone with good cameras;
• loud conversational speaker;
• user-friendly interface;
• excellent battery life;
• bright display.

Minuses:

• focusing with a slight delay in macro photography.

9. Honor 8A

In the lineup of a famous brand, this smartphone is one of the most affordable. To optimize the cost price, only one main camera (13 MP) is installed. However, typical shots are good in good daylight. Selfie lovers note the efficient operation of the front-facing sensor, accurate white balance and fast autofocus.
The Helio P35 processor is not distinguished by outstanding performance (about 80 thousand points on AnTuTu). But for solving typical work tasks, its computing power is sufficient. Taking into account the relatively small resolution (1560 x 720) and the size (6.09 ”) of the screen, good battery life is explainable. The 3020 mAh battery maintains an operational state for more than 11 (5.5 and 8) hours when playing videos (in games and surfing the Internet), respectively.

Pros:

• inexpensive smartphone with high-quality IPS matrix;
• excellent front camera;
• an excellent choice for a student;
• separate slot (for a memory card and two SIM);
• built-in NFC chip;
• good indicators of autonomy.

Minuses:

• small RAM - 2 GB.

10. Alcatel 3L 5039D (2019)

Taking into account the lowest price in the review, the functionality of the smartphone is particularly positive. In addition to face recognition, Alcatel 3L 5039D is capable of creating realistic "bokeh" using the main and front cameras. At maximum brightness, the picture is clearly visible on a sunny day. The speaker volume has to be reduced by 20-30% so as not to disturb others during a conversation. One charge is enough for 1.5-2 days of smartphone operation, despite the relatively small battery capacity (3500 mAh). Stable communication is maintained at a considerable distance from the towers of mobile operators and in conditions of strong electromagnetic interference.

Pros:

• a good phone at a reasonable price;
• high-quality speaker;
• catches communication and satellites well;
• pleasant appearance;
• responsible assembly.

Minuses:

• little built-in and RAM;
• The Snapdragon 429 is not capable of smooth running heavy applications.

11. Honor 7A Pro

Fans of smartphones with large displays will love this model. The screen diagonal here is 5.7 inches. To make working with it as comfortable as possible, the display resolution is 1440x720 pixels.

Cameras will not disappoint either - 8 and 13 megapixels at the front and rear. Yes, it's hard to compare with flagships. But in its price category - a pretty good indicator, allowing you to get very beautiful photos. In addition, this smartphone model has autofocus, LED flash and macro mode, which is not found in all phones, even more expensive ones. The ability to record video clips with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels will delight many users.

High power can also be called a plus. Still, an eight-core processor is very good even by modern standards. 2 GB of RAM allows you to work with most applications. If the built-in memory (16 GB) is not enough, use a memory card up to 256 GB. A separate slot is specially designed for this in the smartphone. The face unlock function will also delight the experienced user.

Advantages:

• Fast face recognition.
• Separate slot for large memory cards.
• Large display.
• Nice build.

Disadvantages:

• Small viewing angle of the screen.

12. Meizu M6s 32GB

For connoisseurs of high power who want to choose a smartphone with a price up to 126 $, it will be useful to study this model more closely.

The volume of its RAM is 3 gigabytes. Quite enough to work with almost any modern program. Add a six-core processor to that and the picture becomes even more enjoyable. The stock of built-in memory is quite large - 32 gigabytes. But this figure can be increased by another 128 gigabytes - just use memory cards.

The diagonal of the display is as much as 5.7 inches. But the resolution let us down a little - 1440x720 pixels. With this size, this indicator should be larger. The cameras are pretty standard, but not bad at all - 8 megapixels front and 16 rear. You can also record high-quality videos - up to 1080p. A flashlight, gyroscope and a number of important sensors add to the functionality.

Advantages:

• Aluminium case.
• Good color rendering.
• Cameras allow you to take good pictures even at dusk.
• Sleek design.

Disadvantages:

• Video recording quality drops in low light conditions.

Which phone to choose for 126 $

This concludes our article. We tried to include inexpensive models in the review of smartphones that can interest even rather picky users. Surely in it you will find a phone that will suit your taste and will last more than one year.