Working in the mobile phone industry means that a significant part of my family, friends and other close circle ask me for advice to change cell phone too often. While I try to reaffirm mine based on my experience testing mobile phones over the years, especially in the entry range, I always encourage you to value other opinions.

Because yes, recommending a high-end cell phone is relatively simple. Almost every option is valid. However, I see the decision as more vital when it comes to a budget range mobile phone. and here I have three very clear things yes or yes, they must have the cell phones you recommend.

Android Go should thankfully be a fulfilled necessity

We start from the basics that the person looking for a cheap cell phone has already given up on having the best. Sometimes it’s due to a budget and other times not wanting or believing you need something else. and to know that Android Go brings Google services and updates them frequentlyHaving the latest version of the system is not the most important thing.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Android 11, Android 12 or Android 13. As long as it’s the ‘Go’ version it’s fine. Actually, there are not many changes in these versions and there is a common truth: They are very light layers and adapted to basic hardware in basic use..

Android Go is the native replacement for Android One, a simplified version of Android. equally lightweight applications. Look for versions that provide the most important of these apps, eliminating some unnecessary functions or those that require more powerful hardware, such as Google Go, Google Maps Go or YouTube Go.

Fortunately, More and more manufacturers are betting on this system in their economic range. Xiaomi, Realme or Nokia are some examples. Of course, not all mobiles or mobiles from other brands offer Android Go, so yes, it’s something I always recommend looking at anyway.

I’ve come to test very limited cell phones in hardware with manufacturer-specific layers, and although I’ve tried to mitigate them, turn the experience into complete chaos. I won’t deny that more customization options may be missing in Android Go, but everything runs smoothly and having a more robust version with bare hardware translates into a user experience where slowness is the clear protagonist.

4GB of RAM is the minimum nowadays

You’ll think it’s a bit contradictory to want Android Go and then 4GB of RAM, but nothing is further from the truth. 4 GB is already standard for many mobile phones, but I agree in my experience that they are insufficient to manage software resources with solvency. Like this, Combination of 4GB and Android Go this is ideal.

There is no phone with Android Go and higher RAM memory capacity. And if they exist, I’ve never come across them. The problem is yes, there are a lot of smartphones with Android Go and less RAM. And the difference is significant, although I agree that with 3 GB the problem is not bad.

Many still depend on 2GB of RAM and here the software may be very lightweight in the ‘Go’ version, but I can assure you that using it on a daily basis is a real hell in many cases. And no longer compared to a mid-range or high-end range where there will always be vast differences, but even with another model that is similar in hardware, but with 3 or 4 GB.

With USB-C port (almost mandatory) and over 10W charging

in 2024 New law in Europe mandating all smartphones (and other devices) to carry USB-C. It’s easy to remember Apple and its iPhone given this rule, but the truth is it affects Android manufacturers as well. Because no, USB-C isn’t as standard on Android as we think, and its affordable range is good proof of that.

It’s true that it’s almost impossible to see a mid-range or high-end Android with anything but USB-C anyway, but many manufacturers continue to choose to include Micro USB in their cheap mobile phones. And not only is this an outdated and less universal standard, it also loses in versatility, transfer speed and… yes, upload speed.

But beware, there are those that implement USB-C, but in a deprecated standard it prevents more than 10W of charging. They have a capacity of 5,000 mAh, charging is extremely slow. Guaranteed at least 2 hours. And it’s no big drama if you get used to charging at night, but what about emergencies? You need to go out and get some battery, but after 15 minutes your mobile phone will be charged at most 10%.

In addition, it is no longer a question of savings for the manufacturer. Fast charging is already at an average power of 67, 120 and even 200 W and more. And another song would be in these capacities, but in lower ones the price was democratized long ago and doesn’t represent such a huge savings. Offer at least 25 or 33 W This is something I think I’m willing to ask for, and even more so when there are manufacturers who already offer it.

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