The two best budget smartphones of 2025: experts named models under UAH 12,000.

A budget smartphone can be either a reliable tool or a disappointment. Experts have identified the two best phone models for August 2025.

This is reported in the article by Wirecutter.

Why look at budget models

Premium smartphones are expensive, but you can still have a pleasant experience for less money. For everyday use, such as email, web browsing, music, and messaging, simpler models are sufficient. Experts highlighted two models — Moto G Power (2025) and Samsung Galaxy A16 5G.

Moto G Power (2025)

Moto G Power (2025) stands out for its good performance at an affordable price (up to UAH 12,000) and can handle daily tasks without a hitch.

The Moto G Power (2025) smartphone. Photo: ek.ua

The phone has 8GB of RAM, a 6.8-inch LCD screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a large 5000mAh battery that lasted almost two days in tests, and a 'eco-leather' back panel that feels comfortable to hold without a case. It features stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, a 3.5mm audio jack, and 128GB of built-in memory expandable up to 1TB via microSD. The Motorola interface is clean, with useful features like document scanning with the camera and FM radio with wired headphones. Notably, it has high IP69 protection against dust and water.

The downside is only one year of major software updates and three years of security updates — until February 2028, and the 30W charging takes over two hours.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G

The Galaxy A16 5G attracts with its price (up to UAH 6,700) and long-term support: Samsung promises software and security updates until 2030.

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G smartphone. Photo: ek.ua

The model is equipped with a 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 5000mAh battery supporting wired charging up to 25W (there is no wireless charging), NFC for contactless payments, eSIM, a fingerprint scanner, expandable memory, and IP54 protection. This is enough for everyday tasks and as a 'backup' phone.

However, in tests, there were instances of lag — opening some apps could take several seconds, and under heavy workloads, the device sometimes 'slowed down'. The presence of 4GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in memory limits multitasking capabilities, the speaker is not stereo, and there is no 3.5mm jack, so one has to use a Bluetooth headset.

The article presents the two best budget smartphone models for 2025: Moto G Power (2025) and Samsung Galaxy A16 5G. Both devices stand out for their good performance and affordable pricing but have some differences in functionality and features that should be considered when choosing a smartphone for everyday use.