Microsoft Lumia 535

Microsoft Lumia 535 price in Malaysia starts from RM299, putting it firmly in entry-level territory. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 200 chipset paired with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor and 1GB RAM, enough for basic apps and calls but not much multitasking. Storage sits at 8GB, though a microSD card gets you up to 128GB more if you need it. The 5-inch IPS LCD screen runs at 540 x 960 pixels, around 220 ppi, which is modest but workable for everyday use.

Camera-wise, it's got a 5MP shooter on both the front and back, a rare symmetric setup for a phone this cheap, and video tops out at 480p. A 1905 mAh battery keeps things running, and it ships with Windows Phone 8.1 instead of Android, which is worth noting if you're used to the Google ecosystem. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi, GPS with GLONASS, Bluetooth 4.0, and HSPA data, plus a microUSB port and 3.5mm jack for the basics.