Smartphone Buyers Guide: Best Value For Money Phones Under 100$ (August Edition)

Buying a daily cheap phone is not that easy anymore as it was a couple years ago. We just had a couple of alternatives, but today, as more Chinese makers come to market and because of the high competition in the smartphone market, there are many more phones to choose from. Today, we will try to help you with the purchase of a super cheap phone. Remember, these are phones under $100 class, and hence you should not expect a lot from them, but again, some might also surprise you in this price range.

There are more than 50 alternatives under 100$ range so I decided to narrow down this list as choosing minimum 2GB of RAM and Quad-core CPU’s. We have 1 exception with 1GB RAM phone, because of its price. All the phones in this list are based on Quad-core MediaTek CPU’s, divided to MTK6580 and MTK6735. Both are capable of serving you as a daily smartphone processor. We have two exceptions in the list when it comes to CPU type, two 64-bit octa-core phones with MTK6592 and MTK6753, Pepsi P1s (yes it’s a smartphone) and Vernee Thor.

So, here are the models which we think are best under $100 price range.

Vernee Thor 4G

$99.99

Display: 5″ HD On-cell Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen
CPU: MTK6753 64-bit Octa-Core 1.3GHz
GPU: ARM Mali-T720 MP3 450MHz
System: Android 6.0
RAM + ROM: 3GB RAM + 16GB ROM
Camera: 13.0MP Rear Camera , Front camera 5.0MP
Sensor: Gravity Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Fingerprint
Bluetooth: 4.0
OTG: Yes
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, dual micro SIM cards
Network:
2G: GSM 900/1900/2100MHz
3G: WCDMA 900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz

Starting with highest price in the list our first phone is Thor from Vernee. High price brings some unique features in this price range with it. First is, this model has the 64 bit octa-core MTK6753 CPU and again the only model with 3GB Ram onboard. Just these two features make Vernee Thor the most powerfull phone on our list. If you are a light gamer and are used to handling multiple apps at the same time, i.e. if you multitasking a lot, with 3GB Ram this model is for you. It has Android 6.0 as operating system, is a 4G LTE capable phone of course. Plus a very attractive design with 80% screen-to-body ratio, very good screen quality with 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3 on top, titanium alloy 7.9mm thick body, 140g weight, decent cameras both rear and front. There is also a very quick responsive finger print scanner on the back side. What else could you want from a 99$ phone ? So if 5″ is enough for your daily use, and you have $99 to spend, Vernee Thor should be on top of your list. This phone costs 119$ normaly, but you can get it for 99.99$ with a coupon, for a full detailed review and about the coupon please follow this link : Vernee Thor Review – Simple But Fast. With this specs and price Thor deserves to be Editor’s Choice in 5″ screen class under 100$ list.

+ MTK6753 Octa Core Cpu
+ 3GB Ram
+ Fingerprint 
+ Metal frame
+ Android 6.0
+ 4G LTE

Pepsi P1S

$93.99

Display: 5.5″ 1080P Full HD
CPU: MTK6592 64-bit Octa-Core 1.7GHz
GPU: ARM Mali-Mali-450 MP4 450MHz
System: Android 5.1
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM
Camera: 13.0MP Rear Camera , Front camera 5.0MP
Sensor: Gravity Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Fingerprint
Bluetooth: 4.0
OTG: Yes
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, dual micro SIM cards

Network:
2G: GSM 900/1900/2100MHz
3G: WCDMA 900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz

Pepsi P1S is a 5.5″ size smartphone and the only one that has Full HD 1080p screen resolution in our list. Body is all metal with a fingerprint scanner located at the back. Our second phone with a octa-core CPU and its MTK6592 with 1.7GHz, this makes Pepsi the most powerfull model under $100 too. That chip is last years flagship grade model from MediaTek, better then Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 we can say. Phone supports 4G LTE as connectivity and definitely has a good look/design for this class. For this price and what you get for it, the Pepsi P1S is the Editor’s Choice for 5.5″ size. For a full review please visit : Pepsi Smartphone Review.

+ MTK6592 Octa Core CPU
+ All Metal Body
+ Fingerprint Scanner
+ 4G LTE

OUKITEL K4000 Pro 4G

$84.99

Display: 5″ 1280×720 HD 2.5D Arc Screen
CPU: MTK6735 64bit Quad Core 1.0GHz
GPU: Mali-T720
System: Android 5.1
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM
Camera: Front 2.0MP (SW5.0MP) + Rear 8.0MP (SW13.0MP) AF with LED flashlight
Bluetooth: V4.1
Features: GPS / OTA / OTG
Card Slot: Dual SIM dual standby. Dual Micro SIM cards
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz

You need a tough phone that lasts 6 days on a single charge with regular use ? That’s what Oukitel says, on paper, but with the 4600mAh battery and 5″ HD screen you surely can expect long use. Plus 9H hardness 2.5D tough screen surrounded with a CNC worked metal body. Rest is 2GB RAM powered by Quad-core CPU, decent GPU, so capable of every daily needs including being a 4G LTE world phone. If you are a hard worker outdoors or like to camp without an energy source around, OUKITEL K4000 Pro is definitely for you. Not bad looking either.

+ 4600mAh Battery (6 days)
+ Metal frame
+ 9H hardness 2.5D tough screen
+ 4G LTE

Doogee X6 Pro 4G

$84.67 

Display: 5.5″ 1280 x 720 HD Screen
CPU: MTK6735 64bit Quad Core 1.0GHz
GPU: Mali-T720
System: Android 5.1
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM，TF card up to 32GB
Camera: Back camera 5.0MP (SW 8.0MP) with flashlight and auto focus + front camera 2.0MP (SW 5.0MP)
Sensor: Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Features: GPS, A-GPS, WiFi, OTA, FM
Bluetooth: 4.0
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, one is standard SIM, the other is Micro SIM
Network:
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz

5″ is not enough for you and you want a 5.5″ screen size phone with minimum 2GB of Ram and Quad-core ? Then Doogee X6 Pro is one of few alternatives for you, under 100$ of course. Not expect much from back and front cameras, but being a 4G LTE world phone you can be sure of to be connected anywhere around the world. Screen resolution is 720P remember, not full HD. Having hardware keys rather than on screen touch keys you get full 5.5″ to use, light gamers, e-readers, online-media lovers, this phone might be for you.

+ 5.5″ Screen
+ 4G LTE

HOMTOM HT3 Pro 4G

$79.79

Display: 5″ 1280 x 720 HD Screen
CPU: MTK6735 64bit Quad Core
GPU: Mali-T720
System: Android 5.1
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM. TF card up to 64GB
Camera: Back camera 8.0MP ( SW 13.0MP ) with flashlight and auto focus + front camera 2.0MP ( SW 5.0MP )
Features: OTA, GPS
Bluetooth: 4.0
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, dual Micro SIM cards

Network:
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE: 800/1800/2100/2600MHz

2.5D Screen, this curved glass type looks good on any phone its for sure, makes handling on the edges more ergonomic and  pleasant. 4G LTE phone with compact body and nice screen. Has 3000mAh battery which is good value in this class, HOMTOM says 3 days on a single charge, for $79.79, that’s good.

+ 3000mAh Battery (3 Days)
+ 4G LTE

Bluboo Picasso 3G

$74.46 

Display: 5″ 1280 x 720 HD
CPU: MTK6580 Quad Core 1.3GHz
GPU: Mali-400MP
System: Android 5.1
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM
Camera: Front and rear 8.0MP camera
Sensor: Gravity sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Bluetooth: 4.0
Features: GPS, AGPS
SIM Card: Dual SIM dual standby, dual micro SIM
Network:
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/2100MHz

So, this was our Smartphone Buyers Guide: Under $100 For the month of August. Which one’s your favorite?

Maybe we missed some models to include here. If you think there is phone model with unique features in this price range, please let us know in the comments section.