The Infinix Note 12 is a promising budget smartphone with great features for its price.

To begin, it is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 CPU and has 8GB of RAM, which is only common in more expensive phones. 

The Note 12’s top-tier CPU makes it a superb gadget for casual gamers. It’s capable of smoothly running popular games, like Mobile Legends, and PUBG Mobile.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that its screen only runs at 60Hz, so it won’t be able to run certain games at more than 60FPS.  

You can still enjoy the display though as it uses AMOLED. It’s also a plus that it has 1080 x 2400 pixels, offering a good viewing experience.

We also liked that the Note 12 is perfect outdoors because the display can reach up to 1000 nits. Aside from that, the materials are lightweight and robust which is great for people who are always on the go.

It’s also equipped with a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 16-megapixel selfie camera. This is perfect for those who want bright and crisp photos. 

If you’re into ultrawide shots, however, this phone may not be for you. The reason is that it lacks that kind of camera to shoot ultrawide photos.

Another drawback is that when using night mode, sometimes the automatic brightness feature of the phone makes the photos look unnaturally lit.

We also didn’t like that this phone comes with a lot of pre-installed bloatware, which takes up a lot of storage space.

Nevertheless, we think its large storage capacity makes up for it. Depending on your storage preferences, it may take some time before you need to purchase an extra SD card.

Overall, despite certain flaws, this is worth it for people who appreciate good gaming performance and superb display without paying a lot of money.

Realme C35 is another powerful entry-level smartphone in 2022. This is due to new specifications that it has, like the Unisoc Tiger 616 (T616) processor.

Its processor is an entry-level octa-core CPU. It features 2 ARM Cortex A75 Cores at 2.0 GHz and 6 ARM Cortex A55 Cores at 1.8 GHz. 

These cores make the phone faster and more energy-efficient. This makes it perfect for mobile games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and others that run smoothly for up to 60 fps. 

With this, we recommend Realme C35 for casual gamers looking for an entry-level phone that prioritizes gaming above all else.

A drawback for avid watchers, however, is that it only has Widevine L3 certification. This means that some streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ are only available in 480p.

In terms of design, it has a boxy shape that is reminiscent of certain Apple gadgets. We liked that it has a thin design which is good for everyday usage.

The C35 also has a 6.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080. It also comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. 

This means that for this phone, Realme chose a higher resolution above a quicker refresh rate.

As for its camera, we also appreciate that it is equipped with a 50 MP main camera. This is enough to capture photos and videos in well-lit situations. 

It’s a huge plus for us because Realme has improved their camera specs from previous phones they have released.

If you want an entry-level gaming phone that has a new and unique processor, we believe that the Realme C35 is a good pick.

The Oppo A57 is affordable considering the specs that it offers. We like that it has a scratch-resistant casing and it’s water and dust-resistant as well. 

These features make it easy for its users to use it on a daily basis without high maintenance care.

In terms of design, it features boxy sides like the Apple iPhone 13. This is opposed to the prior curved and rounded appearance that Oppo’s phones usually have.

It has a plastic frame and back which makes it sturdy and easy to grasp. So we recommend this for active and on-the-go individuals. 

We also recommend this for people who love watching with their phones. This is because it offers a good viewing experience for its users thanks to its 6.56″ color-rich display.

For gamers though, this may not be the best choice because it only has a 60Hz refresh rate. The chipset was also developed in late 2020, making it an out-of-date model.

We didn’t like that the phone lags sometimes when loading high-resolution games because of its 4 GB RAM. 

Nonetheless, the camera compensates. The colors are natural and acceptable without obvious enhancements to sharpness and color.

Though it has a dual camera, we’re surprised that the 13MP primary lens can produce good images. The details appear crisp especially when the photos are shot in daylight.

Overall, despite a few drawbacks, Oppo A57 is a good purchase for anybody looking for a cheap, shock-proof phone that offers a good viewing experience.

Vivo is widely established in the smartphone camera arena, particularly with its flagship phones. And even at the entry-level range, they didn’t disappoint.

The slim Y16 weighs 183g and feels premium, thanks to its 2.5D curved flat frame. This frame makes it comfortable to grip.

Also, it allows you to use it for a long time without straining your hands.

We like that Vivo made their phone slim instead of opting to make their screen smaller. This allows individuals to watch and stream videos without having to hold a bulky phone.

Also, we appreciate that this phone is not a fingerprint magnet, which keeps the luxury feel.

However, in terms of processors, Y16 is equipped with a 3-year-old CPU, Helio P35. It is not the greatest processor available for this price, but it does a good job of optimizing its 5000mAh capacity.

Compared to competitors with more powerful CPUs, like Helio G88 and Tiger T612, the Helio P35 lagged behind. This is more evident when you use it to play high-graphic games.

Anyhow, to minimize that drawback, Vivo included a Multi-Turbo 5.5 performance gaming mode. This optimizes the phone to reduce stuttering. 

It also allows users to play more smoothly. Furthermore, it has an Ultra Game Mode where users may enjoy 4D Game Vibration, mute and prevent incoming calls, and conceal notifications. 

Overall, these features make the gameplay more engaging and concentrated.

For its camera, we’re also impressed that they concentrated more on software optimization. This way, it can maximize the capabilities of its limited and budget-friendly hardware.

Regardless of having an out-of-date set of dual cameras, it was able to capture high-quality images.

Although the colors are more neutral, we noted that they had good detail even in low-light settings. This is surprising since it only has a 13MP main camera. 

Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 is one of the most budget-friendly entry-level phones this 2022.

It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 CPU which is also used with expensive Realme phones. The phone is also equipped with MediaTek HyperEngine 2.0 light generation technology that improves the speed performance of the phone. 

It features an FHD LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. We’re impressed because this is usually offered in more expensive flagship smartphones.

We must say, in terms of display and durability, Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 is the best among the phones on this list.

The screen’s low auto-brightness also helps to reduce power consumption. It’s even surprising that it can last for more than a day for normal usage.

Good news for keen watchers: the LCD also boasts a substantially crisper screen than competing flagship phones. You will definitely like the 1080p resolution as everything looks clear at this size.

In terms of camera, we noticed that the specs are good, boasting a 50MP primary camera. But despite having a quad camera, we only find the main camera to be useful.

Based on our assessment, the pictures are sometimes hazy and inconsistent. This is most evident when the camera is used in low light. 

We also noticed that it produces unstabilized video footage. So, if you’re into posting stories on Instagram or Facebook, this may not be for you. 

Nonetheless, bright lighting can always make your photos look crisp and high quality. Extra accessories like gimbals can also cover some of this phone’s deficiencies.

Overall, with its affordable price, this phone is a good choice for those who want a long lasting-budget phone.