How Much Money Should You Spend On A Smartphone?

Smartphones have different price points. There is something for everyone from under AED 300 to over AED 3000. The big question is, how much should you spend on a new smartphone? How much is too much? What features can you expect from different price points? The golden question is, how much money should you spend on smartphones?

Below AED 300

Buying a smartphone under AED 300 is not the most reasonable budget. The best you can get with this budget is a phone that can barely get you through the day. Expect mediocre performance, camera, battery and storage. Instead of buying a new phone at this price, buy a second-hand or refurbished phone which will be from a different price point and is somewhat reliable.

Expected features:

• 5MP primary and front camera
• 2GB RAM, 16 GB ROM with microSD card slot
• HD LCD screen
• 2000mAh battery
• All plastic body
• Headphone jack
• Micro-USB charging port

Between AED 300 – 600

This budget is better compared to the below AED 300 budget. People looking to buy at this price expect basic functionalities, especially a decent battery life and better storage. However, the camera, build quality, and performance are not great. This price point is for people who are okay with limited web browsing, light gaming (Candy Crush) and simple photography.

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Expected features:

• 12 MP primary camera and 8MP front camera
• 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM with microSD card slot
• HD LCD screen
• 5000mAh battery
• All plastic body
• Headphone jack
• Fingerprint sensor
• Micro-USB charging port

Between AED 600 – 900

This price range is where you have a great chance of finding a smartphone with the best value. You can find deals from brands such as Apple, Samsung or Huawei. They have a better build and are packed with essential features.

Expected features:

• 48MP primary camera and 16MP front camera
• 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM with microSD card slot
• FHD AMOLED screen
• 5000mAh battery
• Plastic body or aluminium body
• Fingerprint sensor
• USB-C 2.0 charging port

Between AED 900 – 1500

This price range can get you a flagship phone, dependent on the brand. Smartphones in this price range are targeted towards a more tech-savvy audience that understands specs a bit more. They can run most high-end mobile games like Call of Duty well.

Expected Features:

• 48MP primary camera and 16MP front camera
• 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM with microSD card slot
• FHD AMOLED screen
• 5000mAH
• Plastic body or aluminium body
• Fingerprint sensor
• USB-C 2.0 charging port

Between AED 1500 – 2100

This price range assures you of a premium product – you are paying a premium price. This is where manufacturers tend to focus more on the core specs and less on the features that aren’t shown in spec sheets. Expect amazing performance, build quality, great sound, cameras, and better software optimization.

Expected Features:

• 64MP main camera and 32MP front camera
• 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM, no microSD card slot
• FHD AMOLED screen
• 4500mAh, 25W fast wired charging
• Wireless charging
• Plastic body and aluminium body
• No headphone jack
• Fingerprint sensor
• USB-C 2.0 charging port

Between AED 2100 – 3000

This price range has the most modern flagships. This is where you will get high-end Android phones and iPhones. Here, people are paying for amazing specs and hardware, special features like 8K video support, LTPO display and more cutting-edge technology. Phoned in this price range are very reliable and come with premium features.

Expected Features:

• 64MP main camera and 32MP front camera
• 12GB RAM, 256GB ROM, no microSD card slot
• LTPO QHD AMOLED screen
• 4500mAh battery, 65W fast wired charging
• Wireless charging
• Glass and aluminium body
• No headphone jack
• Fingerprint sensor or Face unlock
• USB-C 3.2 charging port

Above AED 3000

This range assures you’re getting the best of the best. For this price, you get features that no other price point can replicate. This means an amazing camera, unique designs, maxed-out performance, tighter integration with the ecosystem and specialized features.

Expected Features:

• 108MP main camera and 32MP front camera
• 12GB RAM, 1TB ROM, no microSD card slot
• LTPO 2.0 QHD AMOLED screen
• 4500mAh battery, 65W fast wired charging
• Wireless charging
• Glass and aluminium body
• No headphone jack
• Fingerprint sensor
• USB-C 3.2 charging port

What is the right price point for you?

No matter the budget, you can always find a good deal when buying a smartphone. With the development of modern smartphones, there is no need to spend too much money to have a good experience. For the average consumer, it’s best to get a smartphone between AED 600 to 2100.

Cover photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash