Best budget phones under €150: Moto G vs Lumia 640

Why the €139 Moto G beat the Lumia in budget buying

A phone dies and you need to solve it that same afternoon. The budget is strict: not a euro over €150. The candidate list fills itself: Motorola Moto G, Moto E, Lumia 640, BQ Aquarius, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung Core Prime. All compete for the same wallet.

The core question isn't which is the best phone in the world, but which meets minimum requirements—fast performance, battery lasting until the next day, app support—without forcing a repeat purchase within a year. On this basis, the most repeated recommendation has one name: Moto G.

What buyers look for in phones under €150

Conditions were clear: fast operation, app compatibility, reliable battery life, decent camera, and at least four-inch screen. Nothing extraordinary. No buyer sought a flagship; they just wanted to avoid mistakes.

Many candidates emerged. A second-gen Moto E for €116. A Samsung Core Prime for €120 or less. A Maxon for €99. A Lumia 532 for €98 and a Lumia 535 for €119. An Alcatel C7 for €90. And the inevitable "just a bit more": a Sony Xperia M4 at €173 cash, with smartband and sunglasses included.

Price acted as the first filter. The new, unlocked Sony Xperia M4 cost nearly €300 in stores; tied to a carrier, the bill dropped sharply. The Moto G appeared at €3 per month for 24 months, totaling €72, with contract commitment required. A bargain, provided coverage is good.

Windows Phone vs Android: the app problem

Initial doubt was whether a Windows device—the Lumia—would face compatibility issues. The answer was nuanced: the system runs efficiently because it's better optimized than Android, and basic functions work well. Power isn't the issue. It's the apps: Google barely publishes apps for Windows Phone, so the selection relies on few official ones and third-party alternatives.

Some defend the Lumia 640 as the clear Windows option, with double-tap wake, good outdoor visibility, and up to two days of moderate use battery. Others warn against it after experiencing a Lumia 620: failures before two years, loose USB connector, and wobbly 3.5mm jack. Historical brand reliability no longer guarantees what it once did. In short, the cheap Windows phone is good or bad depending on what you need to install.

Is buying a Chinese phone a bad idea?

Huawei, Xiaomi, and Lenovo entered the conversation strongly. The Huawei G Play Mini cost slightly over €125, with five inches, physical buttons, 2GB RAM, octa-core, good camera, and solid battery. The Huawei P8 Lite appeared at €155 from a carrier without contract lock-in, antiestéticaturing an octa-core processor and 2GB RAM. The Xiaomi Redmi 2 gained support, though its 2GB/16GB version was rarely seen in Spain.

Against this, skepticism exists. Some refuse them entirely, arguing technical service for certain brands becomes a second home. Similar complaints arose about the BQ Aquarius, while others praised Lenovo's quality and price, citing an A806 working perfectly almost a year later. The pattern repeats: every brand has defenders and detractors.

Is the Moto E worth it, or stretch for the Moto G?

The Moto E remains a constant dilemma. It shares the previous generation Moto G's processor, has 4G, and notable autonomy, so it handles basic tasks fine. Its Achilles heel is the camera, lacking flash. Comparisons clarify: among €100 phones, it's a Ferrari, but that doesn't make it a Moto G. Most conclude to stretch the budget only if multitasking demands arise.

The search ends

The choice proved predictable. The second-gen Moto G—five inches, eight megapixels, 8GB storage, 1GB RAM—dropped to €139 in a limited offer, including a premium service invite. A device that cost €160 months ago. The "just a bit more" pushing toward €200 lost its argument.

And here's the uncomfortable truth for those stretching budgets thoughtlessly: a terminal with 512MB RAM forces buying twice. The cheapest option rarely saves money.