Smartphones to buy under 50,000 Naira in Nigeria (1st quarter 2021)

You want to get a new smartphone in Nigeria and your budget is around 50,000 Naira? Trust me, that budget is much enough already, even though it can’t get you some of the higher end smartphones out there, but it should still be able to give you an all rounded decent smartphone for day to day use. The problem at this budget point is the fact that there are a bunch of smartphones out there, offered within this price point, and sometimes, it could be difficult picking the best out of them, exactly the problem this article aim to address.

In this post, I’ll be listing well over 15 to 20 budget smartphone you can buy under 50,000 Naira in Nigeria, phones from OEMs ranging from Xiaomi, Samsung, OPPO, Tecno, Infinix, iTel, Cubot and many more.

This article is updated on a quarterly basis, and it is last updated in Quarter 1 of 2021.

The list will be sorted from the best CPU; phones with same CPU will be resorted using their RAM size; if these two criterion are equal, OS will be consider, if still equal, display size will be used.

Xiaomi Redmi 9C (50,500)

The Redmi 9C from Xiaomi is an all rounded smartphone under 50K, sold in Nigeria. This is the only device on the list that offers the latest Helio G35 gaming CPU from Mediatek, paired with Xiaomi’s own MIUI v12, based on Google Android 10 out of the box. I did a full review of this device, and the only issue I had with it was the fuzzy camera and the below par display brightness. Aside this, the Redmi 9C is a great option under 50k.

Key features of Xiaomi Redmi 9C

• Display: 6.53-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Triple: 13 MP + 5 MP + 2 Main/ 5 MP front
• Storage: 32/64 GB
• RAM: 2/3 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 2.3GHz Helio G35
• OS: Android 10 with MIUI 12
• Battery: 5000mAh
• Xiaomi Redmi 9C full specifications HERE

You can read our full review about the Redmi 9C here, and if you want to try another Xiaomi phone sold under 50000 Naira in Nigeria, the older Redmi A2 Lite with stock Android OS is a good option.

Samsung Galaxy A02s (51,000)

The Galaxy A02s is one of the newest entry-level smartphone from Samsung, and if you are looking for a Samsung phone under 50,000, then look no further. Aside having an octer-core Snapdragon 450 CPU, the A02s also offer three capable cameras on the rear, come with a larger 6.52-inches display and offer 5000mAh battery with Google Android 10 out of the box.

Key specs of Samsung Galaxy A02s

• Display: 6.52-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Triple: 13MP + 2MP + 2MP Main/ 5 MP front
• Storage: 32/64 GB
• RAM: 3/4 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 1.8GHz, Snapdragon 450
• OS: Android 10, One UI 2.0
• Battery: 5000mAh with 15W fast charging
• Samsung Galaxy A02s full specifications HERE

Another great Samsung phone under 50k mark is the Galaxy A11 launched back in 2020. The model has good battery with decent screen and decent camera as well.

Nokia 2.4 (50,500)

The Nokia 2.4 is the direct successor to the Nokia 2.3, and it is among the best smartphone you can buy under 50,000. Some pronounced features of the phone includes a 6.5-inches HD+ display, dual 13MP + 2MP rear camera, the presence of an octa-core Mediatek CPU, 2/3GB RAM and up to 64GB internal storage.

Key features of Nokia 2.4

• Display: 6.5-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Dual: 13 MP + 2 MP Main/ 5 MP front
• Storage: 32/64 GB
• RAM: 2/3 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 2.0GHz Helio P22
• OS: Android 10
• Battery: 4500mAh
• Nokia 2.4 full specifications HERE

If old school is not a challenge with you, you can also try Nokia x5, and the Nokia 6.1 Plus, also sold below 50K.

Infinix Hot 10 Play (54,000)

The list formerly include Infinix Hot 10 Lite, but I have now replaced it with our new favorite, the Infinix Hot 10 Play. In fact these are probably the best Infinix smartphone you can buy around 50,000 Naira currently. It is powered by Helio G25 CPU, and come in a larger 6.82-inches display with a mammoth 6000mAh battery.

Key specs of Infinix Hot 10 Play

• Display: 6.82-inch 720 x 1640 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Dual: 13 MP + 0.3 MP Main/ 8 MP front
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 2.0GHz, Mediatek Helio G25
• OS: Android 10, XOS 7.1
• Battery: 6000mAh
• Infinix Hot 10 Play full specifications HERE

If the price is out of your budget, then check Hot 10 Lite. You can also check the Hot 9 or Hot 9 Play of last year.

OPPO A1K

When it come to OPPO Mobile, you don’t have much options for phones under 50k. So, except you are  willing to look some generation backward, your only option for an OPPO phone under 50,000 Naira might be the OPPO A1K. This April 2019 smartphone sports a 6.1-inches HD+ display, but benefits from the power of Mediatek Helio P22 CPU, which some popular names on the list did not even offer.

Key features of OPPO A1K

• Display: 6.1-inch 720 x 1560 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: 8 MP Main/ 5 MP front
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 2.0GHz Helio P22
• OS: Android 9.0 (Pie) with ColorOS 6.0
• Battery: 4000mAh
• OPPO A1K full specifications HERE

Ulefone Note 9P

The Ulefone Note 9P is yet another great option of smartphones under 50k in Nigeria. The compelling specs on this guy includes a 6.52-inches HD+ display, Helio A25 CPU from Mediatek, 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. The device also have a respectably large battery on the inside, sport triple cameras on the back and run Google Android 10 out of the box.

Key features of Xiaomi Redmi 9C

• Display: 6.52-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Triple: 16 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP Main/ 8 MP front
• Storage: 64 GB
• RAM: 4 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 1.8GHz Helio A25
• OS: Android 10
• Battery: 4500mAh
• Ulefone Note 9P full specifications HERE

Gionee S12 Lite (N49,950)

The S12 Lite is the smaller version of Gionee’s S12. The strength of this device comes from an octa-core Mediatek Helio A25 CPU clocked at 1.8GHz. It is also backed with 3GB RAM, and it has a 32GB built-in storage. Three camera modules are used at the back which includes a 13-megapixel main snapper, 5-megapixel wide and 2-megapixel depth. It also has a single 8-megapixel lens upfront, and offer Google Android 10 out of the box.

Key specs of Gionee S12 Lite

• Display: 6.52-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Triple: 13 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP Main/ 8 MP front
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 3 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 1.8GHz, Mediatek Helio A25
• OS: Android 10
• Battery: 4000mAh
• Gionee S12 Lite full specifications HERE

Other Gionee phones you can buy includes the Gionee’s K3, M11, Gionee S10 or even the aged trusted Gionee M7 Power.

iTel S16 Pro 4G (50,000)

In the last update of Q4 2020, iTel S16 Pro LTE was not available for purchase, but it is now available in offline and online stores, hence has replaced the older P36 Pro LTE, which is now under 45K, and might fall to the list of best phones under 40,000 when we’ll update it the next quarter.

Key features of iTel S16 Pro 4G

• Display: 6.6-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Dual: 13MP + 2MP + 0.3MP Main/ 8 MP front
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 1.6GHz, UNISOC SC9863A
• OS: Android 10 (Go Edition)
• Battery: 5000mAh
• iTel S16 Pro 4G full specifications HERE

There are a handful of other iTel phones under 50000; this includes P36 Pro LTE, Vision 1 Pro, Vision 1 Pro and even the vanilla iTel Vision 1.

Oukitel C18 Pro

Oukitel is one of the early pioneers of large battery smartphones, and actually released the first smartphone with a mammoth 10,000mAh battery dubbed K10000. But the company also make phones for those not living in the desert, and one of such phone you can get around 50,000 mark, is the Oukitel C18 Pro. The device sports a 6.55-inches HD+ display, comes with four camera modules at the back, and boast 4000mAh battery with Google Android 9 out of the box.

Key features of Oukitel C18 Pro

• Display: 6.55-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Quad: 16 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP Main/ 16 MP front
• Storage: 64 GB
• RAM: 4 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 2.3GHz Helio P25
• OS: Android 9 (Pie)
• Battery: 4000mAh
• Oukitel C18 Pro full specifications HERE

Oukitel still have other great smartphones sold around 50k in Nigeria. One of them is the Oukitel C21 which offer better processing power than the C18 Pro. It is also the only device on this list with Mediatek Helio P60, sold around 50,000 Naira.

UMIDIGI A7 Pro

UMIDIGI A7 was listed as one of the best phone you can buy under 40000 Naira in our earlier post. Now, if your budget is 50k, and you want an UMIDIGI phone, the A7 Pro is the way to go. The phone’s processing power comes from Helio P23 CPU, backed with 4GB RAM and up to 128GB internal storage. This is probably the best camera phone under 50,000. It has 16-megapixel main camera along with three other auxiliary lenses at the back, while another 16-megapixel selfie snapper is housed in the notch at a 6.3-inches Full HD+ screen.

Key specs of UMIDIGI A7 Pro

• Display: 6.3-inch 1080 x 2340 pixels FHD+ display
• Camera: Quad: 16MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP Main/ 16 MP front
• Storage: 64/128 GB built-in
• RAM: 4 GB
• CPU: Octa-core 2.0GHz, Mediatek Helio P23
• OS: Android 10
• Battery: 4150mAh
• UMIDIGI A7 Pro full specifications HERE

Cubot P40

If a 6.5+ screen feels too large for your hands, then try Cubot P40. The P40 comes in a more compact 6.2-inches display with HD+ resolution. Like many other phones on the list, the P40 is based on a quad-core CPU from Mediatek, but offers 4GB RAM and a larger 64GB internal storage. So many camera interpolations on the device, but if numbers are important to you, then you have four snappers at the back, and a single selfie lens upfront.

Cubot P40 Key specs and features

• Display: 6.2-inch 720 x 1520 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Quad: 12 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP + 0.3 MP Main/ 20 MP front (not confirmed)
• Storage: 64 GB
• RAM: 4 GB
• CPU: Quad-core 2.0GHz, Mediatek Helio A22
• OS: Android 10
• Battery: 4200mAh
• Cubot P40 full specifications HERE

There are other Cubot smartphones sold around 50,000 mark as well. This includes Cubot Note 20, Cubot X20 and more.

Tecno Spark 5

As at writing, the Spark 5-series is one of the best selling Tecno smartphone, partly due to it design and partly due to the camera prowess. The device comes in 6.6-inches display with 720 x 1600 pixels, and source strength from a quad-core CPU from Mediatek, bundling in 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, along with a relatively large 5000mAh battery.

Key specs of Tecno Spark 5

• Display: 6.6-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Quad: 13 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP + Ai-depth Main/ 8 MP front
• Storage: 32 GB
• RAM: 2 GB
• CPU: Quad-core 2.0GHz, Mediatek Helio A22
• OS: Android 10, HiOS 6.2
• Battery: 5000mAh
• Tecno Spark 5 full specifications HERE

There are a handful of other Tecno smartphones you can buy under or around 50,000 Nigerian Naira. This includes Tecno Spark 5 Air, Spark Go 2020; even the Spark 5 Pro is not too far from the 50,000 mark.

Afrione Cygnus X

The last on our list for this fourth quarter of 2020 is Afrione Cygnus X. This device should not be included on the list as we are not still able to confirm the CPU on the inside, but it is here anyway, because of the recent growing popularity of the company in Nigeria, beside it is one and the only home made smartphone on the list.

Key features of Afrione Cygnus X

• Display: 6.53-inch 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ display
• Camera: Dual: 20 MP + 2 MP Main/ 20 MP front – Not confirmed!
• Storage: 64 GB
• RAM: 4 GB
• CPU: Quad-core 2.0GHz Helio A22 – Not confirmed!
• OS: Android 9 (Pie)
• Battery: 4000mAh
• Afrione Cygnus X full specifications HERE

Conclusions

Except you are buying a 50,000 Naira phone, expecting the performance of Samsung Galaxy S20, or the Mi 10T-series, the smartphones on this list should offer you the best value for your money, given the price point. On the other hand, you can name your best under 50k smartphone in the comment section below. This post is updated quarterly, next update to comes in Q1, 2021.