For the last few years Samsung’s Galaxy flagship has been the must have Android device. But with prices rising, splurging on the new Galaxy S9 might not be an option, in fact some critics like Brandon Ackroyd in his review for TigerMobiles.com called it ‘The Best Smartphone That You Shouldn’t Buy’ due to the price tag. Fortunately, there are tons of great Android phones out there, meaning coming up with a suitable alternative shouldn’t be a problem. We’re taking a look at the best affordable alternatives to the S8, so if you’re looking for top class Android mobiles, then read on!
The Original…
Before we get into options, let’s just take a brief look at the Galaxy S8 so we know what we’re competing against. The original gets octo core processing power (with a quad core 2.3 GHz and a quad core 1.7 GHz processor running simultaneously) and 4 GB of RAM, so it’s pretty darn fast. There’s a big 5.8 inch full HD screen, a 12 MP rear cam and an 8 MP front cam. You get 64 GB of internal memory standard. Not bad.
Obviously, getting a cheaper phone is going to mean compromising a little on these specs, but a decent competitor is going to need great performance. More, we need a stylish looking phone too, since the S8 is slim, sleek and sexy. The S8 is going to cost you an eye watering Rs. 57,000, so we’re going to want to go cheaper than that. Ready for some options?
Saving a Little
If you’re looking to get something similar to the S9 at a slightly lower price, then we’ve got two options for you. The first, rather obviously, is S8, which is going to cost you a little over Rs. 36,000. Though it’s a year old, the S7 is still getting octo core processing (a quad core 2.3 GHz and a quad core 1.6 GHz) and 4 GB of RAM. The screen is smaller at 5.1 inches, but it’s still that Super AMOLED high definition display. There’s a 12 MP rear cam and a 5 MP front cam, and 32 GB of internal storage rounding out the package. And, of course, looks wise the S7 is almost indistinguishable from the S8.
If the big screen on the S8 was the big draw for you, then you might want to consider the Huawei Mate 9. Performance is excellent here, with octo core processing (quad core 2.4 GHz and quad core 1.8 GHz) and 4 GB of RAM. But you’re also getting a large 5.9 inch display, though resolution isn’t quite as good as on the S8. You get dual cameras at the rear (a 20 MP and a 12 MP cam), and an 8 MP front camera, and 64 GB of internal storage. All that for around Rs. 4,499, sounds like a good deal to us…
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For Mid Range Buyers
We’ve got another couple of options if you’re more into the middle range of the market. And these models are probably the best compromise between price and performance that you’re going to get. Our first option is the ZTE Axon 7. Here you’re get quad core processing power with a dual core 2.2 GHz and a dual core 1.6 GHz processor, as well as the 4 GB of RAM. There’s a solid 5.5 inch AMOLED display, so viewing is excellent. Throw in a huge 20 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front cam, as well as 64 GB of internal storage, and you’ve got a winner. Plus, it’s only going to set you back around Rs. 29,990. Not a bad deal at all.
Our second option is maybe a surprising one. Alcatel are better known these days for their low end phones, but the Alcatel Idol 4S is actually a pretty worthy mid range competitor to the Galaxy S8. You still get octo core processing power (quad core 1.8 GHz and quad core 1.4 GHz), running alongside 3 GB of RAM. There’s a 5.5 inch AMOLED display, so picture quality is excellent. At the rear there’s a 16 MP camera, along with an 8 MP cam at the front, and 32 GB of internal storage as standard.
Budget Mobile Shopping
If you’re looking to get the best phone you can for the minimum amount of money, then you are going to be compromising on specs. But there are some very, very good buys around even if you don’t have a fortune to spend. Our top budget buy has to be the Motorola G5. You get an octo core 1.4 GHz processor and 3 GB of RAM. There’s an HD 5.1 inch display. You get a 13 MP rear cam and a 5 MP front cam, and then 16 GB of internal memory (though there’s an SD card slot so you can add more space). And the best part? The G5 costs only around Rs. 10,999. How’s that for a steal?
If you can spend just a little more, than we recommend the G5’s big brother: the Moto G5 Plus. This time you get octo core 2.0 GHz processing and 4 GB of RAM. And that screen’s a little bigger at 5.2 inches, and also high definition. Add in a 12 MP rear cam and a 5 MP front cam, and 32 GB of internal storage as standard, and you’ve got a great little phone. Plus, it comes in at just around £250, so it’s not going to break the bank.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a fantastic phone. But that price tag means that you’re going to be spending a fair amount of cash. If you need to save your pennies, then any of the above make great, affordable alternatives to the S9. With solid performance, plenty of power, and beautiful design, you can rest assured that just because you saved some money doesn’t mean that you didn’t get a brilliant new new phone!
