Best Budget Smartphones And Rebates Of Up To RM360 To Make The Most Of The Jaringan Prihatin Campaign

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With social distancing in full force, staying connected is more important than ever. But the cost of staying connected can burn a big hole in your monthly budget. That’s why the government recently launched the Jaringan Prihatin programme, an initiative to help B40 families and individuals get better access to broadband and telco services.

If you are eligible, you can claim these benefits through your telco:

• RM15 per month rebate for 12 months on mobile Internet plans OR RM180 (for individuals without children) or RM300 (for households with children) rebates when purchasing a phone
• Free 2GB Internet for one hour every day for 12 months

So if you need to replace an aging phone, or if you just want to get a new one, it’s never been a more affordable time to do so. We’ve compiled some of the best budget phones that offer good value for money, so you can take advantage of Jaringan Prihatin to stay connected – without breaking the bank.

1. Samsung A02

If you’re looking for an affordable media consumption device, the Samsung A02 fits the bill. This smartphone stands out with its large 6.5″ bezel-less screen – perfect for watching videos or browsing the web at home or on the go.

Bigger screens tend to mean more frequent charging due to its battery consumption, but you don’t have to worry about that with the A02. It sports a 5000mAh battery, which Samsung claims has a video playback time of up to 16 hours.

Besides that, it has a dual rear camera – a 13MP main camera and a 2MP macro camera for close-up shots. And of course, it comes with 5MP front camera for selfie shots.

The only downside of the Samsung A02 is that it sports the entry-level MediaTek MT6739 processor. While the device should run well with basic web browsing and media consumption, it might struggle with multi-tasking or running demanding apps. But given its affordable price, generous screen size and battery, it’s a worthwhile trade-off for those who don’t need the extra power.

2. Xiaomi Redmi 9T

The Xiaomi Redmi 9T is a good all-around device that punches above its entry-level category. It has a large 6.53″ screen, which is just a nudge bigger than the Samsung A02’s, but comes with a higher display resolution of 1080 x 2340px.

Heavy mobile users will appreciate the huge 6000mAh battery, which supposedly has a video playback time of 17 hours.

If want to populate your social media feeds with great-looking photos, the Redmi 9T is a device worth considering. In addition to an 8MP front camera, it has – not a single, or even dual – but a quad rear camera­ setup. This includes an 8MP ultra-wide angle camera, a 48MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro camera. This setup makes it useful to capture all sorts of images, such as selfies, landscapes or close-up shots.

The Redmi 9T also comes with a water-repellent coating. That doesn’t mean it’s waterproof, so you can’t take it into the shower or for a swim. But it should be able to withstand accidental splashes, which is a nice touch at this price point.

3. Oppo A15

If you’re looking for a capable no-frills phone, consider the Oppo A15. Like the other phones on this list, it has a large screen size of 6.52″ for an immersive video experience.

It does have a slightly smaller battery size of 4230mAh, but you’ll still get plenty of juice out of it. Oppo claims that it has a video runtime of up to 16 hours, on par with the Samsung A02.

Besides that, you’ll get a 8MP front camera, and a triple rear camera setup. There’s a 13MP main lens, while the 2MP macro lens is useful for close shots and the 2MP depth lens provides depth effects on portrait shots.

You’ll also get a fingerprint sensor and a face unlock feature (uncommon features in entry-level phones), so you can unlock your phone with just a touch or a glance.

4. realme C11

If you prize a long-lasting battery over all else, go for the realme C11. It has a large 5000mAh that – while not as big as Xiaomi Redmi 9T’s 6000mAh – still manages to last longer. It supposedly has a video runtime of up to 21.6 hours, and a standby time of up to 40 days. This means being able to watch movies, tv shows or YouTube on its large 6.5″ screen without having to grab your charger every now and then.

You’ll also get a dual rear camera that includes a 13MP main camera and a 2MP depth camera. Selfie enthusiasts will enjoy the 5MP front camera that comes with a portrait mode to add depth effects to your photos.

The only drawback is that it only comes with 2GB RAM, so multitasking might be slow. But if you need a phone that can last a long time without a charge – instead of one that can handle many apps at once – the realme C11 is a worthy contender.

Get these phones (and more) for FREE with Celcom and Jaringan Prihatin

The best part of this campaign that you can get the phones above – and other models, too – for free with Celcom.

Depending on the type of plan you sign up for, and whether you are applying as an individual or a household, you can get one of these models for free. So far, this is the widest range of free phones offered among all the telcos under Jaringan Prihatin:

Model	Retail price
Nokia C2	RM299
Samsung A02	RM399
Vivo Y1s	RM459
Oppo A15	RM499
realme C11	RM399
Xiaomi Redmi 9T	RM599
Oppo A54	RM599
Vivo Y20	RM599

This makes staying connected a lot more affordable, as you’ll get a free device and mobile Internet connectivity starting at only RM28 a month.

Highest rebates of up to RM360

Besides that, Celcom also offers an extra RM5 a month for 12 months (up to RM60) with Xpax Truly Unlimited or XP Lite™.

These are on top of Jaringan Prihatin’s rebates of up to RM300, which means you could get rebates of up to RM360 with Celcom. At the time of writing, that’s the highest rebates in the market.

How to claim your rebates

Getting your rebates is easy. Any Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) recipient who’s a Celcom or non-Celcom customer can apply for these rebates. To check if you are eligible, head to the  BPR portal, by click “Log Masuk” and enter your IC number.

Then, sign up for your Celcom package through:

• The Celcom Online Shop
• The Celcom Life app (for existing Celcom customers)
• Celcom bluecube
• Celcom Certified Partners

Registration for the Jaringan Prihatin programme closes on 31^st August 2021, so don’t delay! With these rebates, it’s never been more affordable to stay connected. Find out more about how to claim your rebates on Celcom.