There has never been a better time to buy a smartphone in South Africa, regardless of what budget you’re working with. The mid-range phones space in particular is brimming with a number of noteworthy options to deliver experiences comparable to some flagship phones out there. Long may this trend continue, as the cost of technology is always on the up.

With this in mind, we’ve highlighted five phones below (Android of course) that cost less than R6 000 and deliver great experiences.

Scroll further down to see the five we have picked.

Oppo A72

We start with a device that launched in South Africa last year – Oppo. The Chinese outfit may be a newcomer to many South Africans, but the brand has been making strides across the globe of late and its lineup of devices available locally offer great value for money. The brand has also been careful to stress that it is fully Android, aiming to capitalise on the ground that Huawei has lost.

With Samsung still leading in SA in terms of Android devices, Oppo is trying to stake a claim and the A72 is one device we believe needs meriting.

It serves up a big beautiful display, large battery and great all-around camera performance to tick the necessary boxes at R5 999, depending on the retailer.

Samsung Galaxy A32

Next is a mainstay in the smartphone space – Samsung. While its Note, S and Foldable devices often grab the headlines, the Galaxy A series is where the South Korean company has been focusing of late.

The result has seen a number of great value for money devices that again focus on three primary areas – screen, camera and battery life.

Sure, we’re tired of hearing the word “awesome” in the company’s marketing, but it is spot on in terms of the value on offer with the Galaxy A32. There’s a 5G flavour, but it is more expensive and comes at the expense of a slightly less well specced display. Add to that the fact that 5G connectivity is limited in SA, so having a phone that supports it is not a must yet.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

Our third pick (no particular order) is another phone from a Chinese firm – Xiaomi. The company has been in SA for a few years now, but up until now has not made the same kinds of splashes that Huawei and Oppo have.

That said, sleep on this brand at your peril as it is serves up powerful devices that are aggressively priced and delivers a clean OS.

Case in point the Redmi Note 10 Pro, which was launched in SA recently. Of the mid-range devices we have reviewed this year, the Note 10 Pro has left the longest lasting impression and might be the best one we’ve encountered in 2021 to date, factoring in price of course.

Nokia 5.4

Next is a brand that has carved out a name for itself in affordable phones in recent years. You could go with almost any of the devices that the company has released under the guidance of HMD Global at the helm and you’re left with the same feeling – that’s a pretty good phone.

For this list we have highlighted the Nokia 5.4 as an option, which is also the least expensive phone listed here.

In terms of specifications, it keep things modest and performs as advertised. The big selling point of the brand, however, is support and operating system. The former ensures that Android system and security updates are ensured for a couple of years at least and the latter is a pure version of Android that delivers an undiluted Google mobile experience.

Huawei P40 lite

Rounding up our five devices is a risky option – the Huawei P40 lite. Where once Huawei was a brand on par with the likes of Samsung and Apple, it has slipped down the rankings as a result of not supporting Google Play Services.

You can work around these issues or try your luck with HMS and the App Gallery, but only if you don’t rely solely on Google apps to get things done. If you are willing to take the risk, the P40 lite is well appointed from a specs perspective and also comes in a very handsome Crush Green colour option.

While offering great value for money, like all of the phones on this list, the Huawei P40 lite is the only one that carries a disclaimer.