6 of best cheaper phones

HANDSETS: TAKE A LOOK AT THESE SMART BUYS FOR UNDER R1 000

- Arthur Goldstuck

Flagship smartphones may cost as much as a second-hand car, but at the other end of the scale it is possible to find reliable handsets costing less than R1 000.

The main feature many South Africans want in a phone is affordability, as Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi has acknowledged in his call for cheaper handsets.

In the 2025 Budget speech, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana responded by cutting the 9% luxury tax — formally known as ad valorem excise duties — on smartphones costing less than R2 500.

That may make a small difference, but the biggest difference will be made by devices that are already affordable. It so happens that there are options that balance functionality and cost. We've decided to go in at under half the Ministers' threshold for luxury, and look at features, performance, and overall value of five smartphones available for under R1 000.

These are not phones for gamers, and they're not built for binge-watching or high-res photography. But they do something more vital: they keep people connected, allow access to essential apps, and open a digital gateway to those for whom affordability is the biggest barrier.

Samsung Galaxy A03 Core Blue DS LTE
► Price: R799 (discounted from R999, at Edgars).

► RAM: 2GB
► Storage: 32GB, expandable via microSD
► Rear camera: 8MP
► Front camera: 5MP
► Battery: 5 000mAh
► Operating system: Android Go
► 2-year warranty