Cheap and cheerful

Don’t fancy shelling out a bucket for the latest iPhone? Kenny McGilvary, from WhistleOut, picks out the top low-cost alternatives that should keep your kids happy in the playground.

MOTO E4 $249

“The Moto E4 pushes the boundaries of what you’d expect from a $249 smartphone,” says McGilvary. “With the exception of poor low-light photography and a comparatively small amount of storage (which can be addressed with a micro SD card) the E4 doesn’t raise any red flags. Easy to recommend.”

Specifications: 5in 720p display; MediaTek 6737 quadcore processor; 2GB RAM; 16GB expandable storage; 8MP rear-facing camera; front-facing fingerprint reader; 2800mAh battery.

NOKIA 5 $329

“An affordable smartphone that nails the essentials,” says McGilvary. “Occasional performance hitches aside, this device could really command a higher price tag. Nokia’s commitment to rolling out monthly security updates makes the Nokia 5 a standout from the crowd.”

Specifications: 5.2in 720p display; Snapdragon 430 processor; 2GB RAM; 16GB expandable storage; 13MP rear-facing camera; 3000mAh battery.

OPPO A73 $359

“A $359 handset with an extra-tall 18:9 display and facial recognition, the Oppo A73 succeeds at bringing a taste of flagship features to budget price points,” says McGilvary. “Camera quality and software quirks are your two main trade-offs but reliable performance, a lovely display, zippy facial recognition, plenty of storage and a two-day battery life all make the A73 a great phone for that price.”

Specifications: 6in full HD+ display; MediaTek MT6763T eight-core processor; 3GB RAM; 32GB expandable storage; rear-mounted fingerprint reader; 13MP rearfacing camera; 3200mAh battery.