AnTuTu’s latest best-value phones under $150 list has a familiar shape: Qualcomm’s new midrange chips are pushing older budget silicon out of the frame. The Oppo K12s 5G tops the chart, the Redmi Note 15 follows, and the iQOO Z10x rounds out the top three – a clean sweep that says more about the current budget phone market than any single handset.
The ranking is based on average AnTuTu scores versus street pricing on JD.com, with one catch: only models with enough test runs make the cut, and the prices reflect the Chinese market without state subsidies. That makes this a snapshot of real-world value, not a glossy launch brochure.
Oppo K12s 5G leads the pack
The winner runs on Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 and pairs it with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display at 120 Hz, a 7000 mAh battery, and 80-watt charging. That combo is exactly the kind of spec sheet budget buyers have been waiting for: a large battery, fast charging, and a newer chip that doesn’t feel like a compromise from the moment you unbox it.
Oppo’s advantage is simple. In this price band, endurance and performance tend to trade blows, but the K12s 5G tries to do both without asking for flagship money. That’s a sharper proposition than the old ”cheap phone, cheap experience” routine.
Redmi Note 15 and iQOO Z10x follow close behind
Redmi Note 15 lands second with Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a 6.77-inch IPS panel at 120 Hz, a 5800 mAh battery, and 45-watt charging. iQOO Z10x takes third place with Dimensity 7300-Ultra, a 6.72-inch IPS display at 120 Hz, a 6500 mAh battery, and 44-watt charging.
- Oppo K12s 5G: Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, 6.67-inch AMOLED, 120 Hz, 7000 mAh, 80 W
- Redmi Note 15: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, 6.77-inch IPS, 120 Hz, 5800 mAh, 45 W
- iQOO Z10x: Dimensity 7300-Ultra, 6.72-inch IPS, 120 Hz, 6500 mAh, 44 W
The interesting bit is the chip shift. AnTuTu says the segment has changed sharply from the previous month as budget phones move away from Snapdragon 695 and Dimensity 7025-Ultra toward Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 and Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. That upgrade cycle is exactly what usually pulls the whole entry tier upward: better benchmarks first, then better everyday phones, then higher expectations from buyers who no longer want excuses at the low end.
Budget phones are getting harder to fake
That’s bad news for manufacturers still leaning on last-generation chips and generic specs, because AnTuTu’s value ranking now rewards balance, not just a low sticker price. If this trend holds, the next fight in the under-$150 class won’t be about who is cheapest. It will be about who can ship the fastest chip, the biggest battery, and the least annoying charging setup without blowing the budget.