Best Phone Under RM1000: Top 10 Budget Phones with Good Specs in Malaysia 2023

Finding the perfect smartphone that strikes the right balance between price and performance can be a real challenge. Killing 2 birds with one stone is often easier said than done.

But don’t worry, I’ve got your back! I have collected reviews from real buyers on my social forum and asked them to rank the best phone under RM1000, along with their comments.

10 Best Phones Under RM1000 in Malaysia For Your Value Purchase (2023)

1. Realme 10 (RM999)

Talking about the best phone under RM1000, let me introduce you to Realme 10.

What’s so cool about it? Well, this phone boasts the A76 processor, which delivers laptop-class performance while still being smart to conserve power and avoid overheating. No more worrying about your battery draining fast like water or your phone turning into a mini oven.

This is also the best gaming phone under RM1000. The Helio G99 gaming chip and up to 2.2 GHz clock speed help turn every millisecond into an advantage. The 6nm (nanometer) size also helps lower power consumption to prevent framerate spikes and lagging.

With a whopping 256GB of storage, you’ve got plenty of room for everything. Your apps, work files, adorable family photos, and hilarious cat videos can all fit in there.

Another reason this might be the best phone under RM1000 is its high-end display. This phone comes with a Super AMOLED display What does that mean? It means you’ll experience stunning visuals of a 1080p resolution, making your Netflix binge-watching and gaming adventures more satisfying than ever before.

Moreover, the 33W SuperVOOC charging can charge your battery 50% in just 28 minutes!

2. Honor X8a (RM999)

Honor X8a is the best camera phone under RM1000.

Equipped with a 100MP camera, every one of your shots will turn into a masterpiece. The camera can capture vivid, vibrant colours and precisely catch every light and shadow, making even your ordinary photo extraordinary.

Taking photos at night? No problem! The improved night scene can capture every detail of your image clearly.

The 16MP front camera will also automatically portray your perfect skin tone and texture. So now, you can post your selfies more confidently.

Need a quick power-up? The 22.5W HONOR SuperCharge is here to save your day. Your battery can go from almost empty to 50% safely and efficiently in just 30 minutes.

3. Honor X8 5G (RM999)

Honor X8 5G is the latest star in my best phone below RM1000 lineup.

This X8 5G isn’t playing around when it comes to speed. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 5G chip allows you to enjoy lightning-fast communication and entertainment.

Impressively, you can download a whopping 1GB file in just 10 seconds! Yes, you read that right.

The X8 5G also packs a mighty 5000 mAh battery that lets you do what you love for hours.

• Love browsing the web? You’ll get 23 hours of Internet adventure before the battery dies.
• Are you a champion binge-watcher? Get comfy because you’ll get 16 hours of marathon.
• Music is your soul? 26 hours of music will more than fill up your soul.

4. Infinix Note 12 2023 (RM899)

Another best gaming phone under RM1000 is the Infinix Note 12 2023.

This phone packs a punch with the MediaTek Helio G99 gaming chip! It is 16% faster than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 and boasts a blazing 2.2GHz clock speed. That means your gaming experience is smoother, giving you a massive advantage during those intense rank-up games.

Thanks to the 6nm chipset, overheating for this best phone under RM1000 is a thing of the past as it keeps your phone cool to prevent unwanted lagging that can ruin your fun.

The screen, which comes with the FHD+ True Color AMOLED display, gives you a visual experience that is easy on the eye yet still bright and clear.

5. Infinix Hot 30 (RM599)

Infinix Hot 30 is the best gaming phone under RM1000 if you’re on a tight budget. Don’t be fooled by the friendly price tag. This phone is a beast when it comes to gaming.

It has a powerful Helio G88 gaming chip that can run up to 2.0GHz speed. That means it will still provide you with a faster and smoother performance to dominate your opponents.

There’s more! The HOT 30 brings along the highly optimised Dar-Link 3.0 gaming engine. It’s like having a personal technician by your side. The Dar-Link will intelligently detect load scenarios and tailor cooling strategies to guarantee stable gaming adventures.

The Link-Booming network optimisation technology is underrated. It will combine your WiFi and mobile data to increase the data transmission speed on weak networks. Thus, helping you stay in-game during critical moments without laggy connections.

6. Samsung Galaxy A24 (RM999)

Samsung Galaxy A24 is another best phone below RM1000.

The star feature is the Full HD+ Super AMOLED display. This display allows every colour and detail to come alive right before your eyes so you can watch your favourite shows and streams with clear visibility.

Plus, Galaxy A24 comes with improved blue light protection. So, go ahead. Binge-watch from dusk till dawn. Your eyes will thank you for not straining them.

With the fantastic trio of rear cameras, you can fit the whole world with the Ultra Wide camera, get closer to the tiniest detail with the Macro camera, reduce blurry photos with the OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) equipped main camera and take true-to-life selfies with the front camera.

Running out of storage? Not on Samsung’s watch!

All your memories will have a comfy home with the 128GB storage space. Better yet, you can expand it to 1TB with a microSD card. So, rest easy. There’s no more worrying about where to stash your stuff.

Other than great specs, the Galaxy A24 is also a fashion statement. The simple yet stylish design with a glossy finish is absolutely an eye-catcher.

7. iQoo Z7x 5G (RM999)

Meet the iQoo Z7x 5G, designed with GenZ in mind. Why? Since GenZ is always on their phone, the battery performance is where this phone truly shines in this best phone under RM1000 list.

With a 6000 mAh Large Battery, Z7x 5G offers an ultra-long battery life that even the heaviest smartphone users can rely on. The 80W FlashCharge allows you to quickly charge to 50% in just over 25 minutes. This lets you keep up with your favourite streamer every second without missing a beat.

Now, these features take the ‘smart’ in smartphones to a new level. They will impress you!

Z7x 5G has numerous battery health strategies and algorithms that will double your battery lifespan, so you can charge up to a jaw-dropping 1600 times.

Here’s the cherry on top! Z7x 5G is super smart about managing resources. It knows how to allocate power efficiently in software management, during daily standby, and more. That is the secret sauce that keeps your device going for hours on end.

8. Realme C53 (RM599)

I’ve got a hidden gem for you non-gamers and light users alike. The Realme C53 is the best phone below RM1000 that will get you a lot of bang for your buck.

With the very affordable price, you should expect some specs to be behind others. However, the battery isn’t one of them. The large 5000 mAh battery can keep up with your day’s adventures like other phones on this list.

You’re not missing anything in the camera department, either. The 50MP AI Camera with a built-in Night Mode lets you capture every beautiful moment at any hour of the day.

There are filters exclusive to C53 only, and this, I believe, is a great reason to be on the best camera phone under RM1000 list.

The City Street Filter adds extra emotion and soul to your street shots. The Secret Garden Filter makes your flowers and plants photos more special and dramatic. On a holiday? The Sunny Holiday Filter gives your photos a bright and lively mood.

Oh, don’t worry about the storage. The 128GB will make sure every memory has its own home.

C53 is a bargain!

9. Oppo A78 4G (RM999)

The next one is the Oppo A78 4G. Trust me, there’s a lot to love about this phone, and it’s definitely a strong contender for the best phone under RM1000.

The trio of amazing cameras on this beauty are picture-perfect. Snapping an ultra-clear image and flawless selfie has never been easier.

There’s more! Now, you can simultaneously shoot from the front and back cameras to create awesome dual-view videos.

The 67W SUPERVOOC charging is extraordinarily fast! In just 15 minutes, you’ll be at 43%; in just 45.5 minutes, you’ll hit 100%. That’s faster than a coffee break.

We have speed. We have smartness too! The Optimised All-Day Charging feature will help you learn your charging habits to protect your battery health. It will charge to 80% and then pause, only finishing up to full power just in time when you’re ready to roll.

Plus, A78 4G has gone through Oppo’s rigorous lab test and is proven to stay like new for 2 years before you notice any performance dip.

10. Xiaomi Redmi 12 (RM599)

Want to rock an elegant and expensive look without breaking the bank? The Redmi 12 is your answer for the best phone under RM1000.

The premium glass back design reflects a sophisticated look. It’s like having a phone that’s worth RM1000+.

You might be thinking, “Isn’t glass fragile?” Well, not this one. This one is a tough cookie.

And with IP53 protection, the Redmi 12 will just laugh against splash and dust like they are nothing. Don’t sweat it. Your Redmi 12 can handle it all!

2 Important Criteria for Best Phone Under RM1000

While doing the research, I have come across 2 recurring elements in most of the reviews. These 2 elements are the 2 most important criteria for selecting the best phone under RM1000 for critical buyers.

RAM

RAM, or random access memory, is where your phone temporarily stores data for the processor to grab whenever needed.

Imagine you’re in a library, RAM would be the size of the table you have. A larger table means you can open more books simultaneously, right?

It’s the same idea with RAM. More RAM means more apps and tabs open in the background without lagging.

Processor

The processor is known as the brain of your phone. It’s the one giving out instructions to tell other components what to do.

Inside the processor, there are cores. You can think of them as smaller brains inside the larger brain. So, 2 cores mean 2 smaller brains. 4 cores means 4 smaller brains.

This processor delegates tasks to these cores so your phone can run like a well-oiled machine.

Oh, and there’s something called clock speed, too. It is measured in gigahertz (GHz) and tells you how fast these smaller brains can process information.

So, if you see something like “Octa-core, 2*A76 @2.2 GHz, 6*A55 @2.0 GHz,” it means you have a total of 8 cores split into 2. The first 2 cores in the A76 processor model run at 2.2GHz speed, while the other 6 in the A55 processor model run at 2.0GHz speed.

Conclusion

The Apple frenzy is very much a real thing. People are willing to spend their monthly savings just for the new tiny, sleek-looking iPhone. But what value does it actually offer aside from the ability to humble brag when you hold it in your hand in public?

Budget phones do not translate to cheap phones. They don’t just provide the basic functions such as calling, messaging, and Internet browsing. As you have read, the best phone under RM1000 offers powerful performance, rapid charging speed, long battery life, and stellar graphics.

If you don’t care about the brand as much as I do, select your best phone under RM1000 from the list instead of always chasing after the brand-new iPhone with eye-bulging price.

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