Android has always been the better option. Unlike Apple iPhones that get pricier with every new generation, you can find Android devices in all manner of shapes, sizes, and capabilities at every price range.
A vast majority of the world’s smartphones run on Android. There are cheap Android 10 phones under RM1000 like the Oppo A53 or foldable smartphone options like the Samsung Z Fold that is equally as expensive as the newly released Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.
No matter what features you are searching for or how much you plan to spend, chances are you can find an Android device that fits your expectations and budget perfectly. However, deciding what Android phone to purchase is no easy task.
Image Source: Medium
Besides the simple fact that there are just too many available options out there, picking the right Android phone can get overwhelming if you don’t understand their specifications and performance. At the same time, you might face privacy issues when buying an Android phone. There is a seperate guide on how to fix privacy issues on Android which you can read here.
What is the Best Android Phone 2021 Malaysia?
These are the 2021 best Apple iPhone alternatives in Malaysia you can buy right now, hand-picked by Smartphone Deck editors.
We’ve shortlisted these Android phones considering what Malaysians would need from a mobile phone and comparing their price to value.
For our rankings, we take into consideration the pricing of each phone in Malaysia and their performance in terms of:
- Processor and RAM
- User interface
- Screen size
- Battery longevity
- Front and back camera quality
- Miscellaneous others such as IP rating, wireless charging, and more
Whether your priority is a mobile phone with the best camera, the most powerful CPU, or the longest battery, you will definitely find your dream phone here on this list of best Android phones in Malaysia.
We will give you a quick pro and con list, as well as a brief overview that will help make your buying decision more easily. Now let’s get into our top picks and see which smartphone catches your eyes.
1. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Today’s Best Deals
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G price starts at RM 4,899.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Useful S Pen feature
- Solid and beautiful design
- Excellent photo quality at up to 100x zoom
- Support Wi-fi 6E connectivity and next-gen C-band
Reasons to Avoid
- Slightly large and heavy
- No charger in the box
- No microSD card slot
Quick Overview: The Best Android Phone in 2021
Our top pick when it comes to the best Android smartphone in Malaysia for 2021, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is a heavyweight champion.
With a smooth Gorilla Glass back that has a matte finish, the S21 Ultra looks extremely elegant, especially in its Phantom Violet option that is more vibrant and warm compared to the Silver or Black.
It also has what Samsung calls its most intelligent screen with a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display that is capable of 120Hz refresh rates, QHD+ resolution, and 1500 nits of high peak brightness.
Powered by Qualcomm’s best mobile processor, the Snapdragon 888 CPU, and running on Android 11 based One UI, the device will give you a seamless user experience no matter if you are streaming videos or gaming.
Still, the hallmark feature of the device is its super-fast 5G connectivity and its 108MP high-resolution camera that produces beautiful photography at 100x zoom.
As a bonus, the S21 Ultra supports Samsung’s signature Stylus Pen, a feature before this that has been unique to the Galaxy Note series. But keep in mind that you would have to purchase the Stylus and a case to hold it separately.
Overall, unless you’re looking for a more compact or cheaper device, Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the best Android phones you can get, with pretty amazing features at a price tag that goes for much lesser than a high-spec Apple iPhone.
2. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Today’s Best Deals
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G price starts at RM 1,999.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Solid performance at an affordable price
- Colorful smartphone with 6 options
- Decent camera for great pictures
- AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rates
Reasons to Avoid
- Average battery life
- Don’t prefer a plastic phone
- Extra cost for fast charger
Quick Overview: A Complete Package
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a fine phone for casual users, offering solid performance at a reasonable price under RM2500. The device refines rather than innovates and retains only the important features that you would need and nothing else.
This includes 6.5 inches of AMOLED screen that offers gorgeous colors and a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as 5G connectivity support and a powerful 32MP f/2.0 selfie camera with an ultra-wide lens that will let you take some pretty good solo and group selfies.
On the back, the triple camera setup consists of a 12MP f/1.8 main, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, and 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens. While it lacks a high-resolution sensor most Galaxy S20 phones have on their telephoto lens, the photo quality is pretty decent with bright and bold colors.
Besides, the Samsung Galaxy S20 doesn’t cut corners. Under the hood, it is equipped with the Snapdragon 865 SoC and 6GB RAM which gives a satisfactory experience. When it comes to durability, it has an official IP68 rating, which makes it both water and dust-resistant.
Its trade-off, however, is a plastic body and a fairly average 4,500 mAh main battery that can be a struggle to last a full day.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Today’s Best Deals
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra price starts at RM 3,999.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Window PC tie-in
- Smoother S pen performance
- Top-quality hardware and specs
- Powerful 108MP camera with laser autofocus
Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive price
- Large with bulky camera bump
- Average battery life and slow charging
Quick Overview: A Productivity Powerhouse
For power users looking for the best workstation who are not afraid of a higher price tag, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra may just be the viable option for you.
As well as having a big, dynamic 6.9-inch high-quality screen with a 120Hz display, the device comes with evolved S pen performance delivering a better pen-to-paper feel. Scribbling notes on your device feels very natural that you forget you’re writing on a screen.
Its triple rear camera setup is also very versatile, consisting of a sharp 108MP lens that has auto laser focus and a 12MP telephoto lens that delivers 5x optical zoom and up to 50x super-resolution zoom.
On top of all that, the Note 20 Ultra is optimally designed for productivity. Through a wireless DeX mode, you can multitask across different platforms and even run your Android apps on desktop.
Then again, all this high-end tech does mean the Note 20 Ultra is more expensive. One caveat is that it has a rather large screen size at 6.9 inches, and bigger isn’t always better.
Another physical aspect that stands out is the main cameras at the back. Even though it gives some excellent photography quality, the hardware protrudes and forms a rather large bump. Its 4500 mAh battery cell and 25W charging support is also just average, which definitely disappoints us all.
4. OnePlus 8T 5G
Today’s Best Deals
OnePlus 8T 5G price starts at RM 2,999.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Bright and smooth 120Hz display
- Super-fast charging
- Modern and unobtrusive operating system
Reasons to Avoid
- No telephoto camera
- No wireless and reverse charging
Quick Overview: Faster Charging for Less
Though the OnePlus 8T 5G is a lesser model than the OnePlus 9 Series in several ways, it provides some of the more desirable features that OnePlus has to offer while being significantly cheaper, which lands it on the list.
Overall, the Snapdragon 865 chipset-powered phone is decent and offers some pretty premium features at a mid-range budget, including a 6.55-inch screen at 120Hz refresh rate, decent battery life, as well as slick and unobtrusive software.
Out of the box, users will be getting Android 11 with Oxygen OS that gives a streamlined and clean look compared to other Android skins that can be full of bloatware.
The custom software also offers extra capabilities such as scrolling screenshots and password-protected folders to hide photos and videos.
Introducing ZenMode, an app that will limit the phone functionality when you want to focus, the mobile phone also adds a thoughtful touch with your wellbeing in mind.
Besides that, the OnePlus 8T continues to improve its charging features, ramping up the Warp Charge speed from its previous 30W to 65W, which will let you charge the smartphone from zero to 93% in just 30 minutes.
A downside of the phone is that it is missing a few features compared to other OnePlus smartphones. It does not support wireless charging and also lacks an official IP rating for water resistance.
Additionally, avoid the OnePlus 8T if you’re looking for a camera phone. Though its camera does get better with the Hasselblad partnership in its OnePlus 9 models, the OnePlus cameras just don’t measure up to other leading brands like Samsung or the Apple iPhone.
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
Today’s Best Deals
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro price starts at RM 1,199.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- 120Hz AMOLED screen
- Great stereo speakers
- IP53 splash resistance
- Long battery life and speedy charging
Reasons to Avoid
- No 5G connectivity
- Lacks stabilization for 4K video
Quick Overview: Solid Specs At Low Price
Xiaomi phones have a loyal following and with good reasons. The smartphone is packed with great specs while retailing at under RM1000, making it a real bargain.
For only RM999, you are getting a 120Hz AMOLED screen, the better Snapdragon 723G SoC CPU, which is among the better 4G chipsets out there, 33W fast charging support, and even an AR blaster that will allow you to use it as a remote control.
Another plus point is its large 5,020 mAh battery that can survive a full day of moderately heavy usage. The device also boasts a primary lens of 108MP and is capable of recording 4K videos.
Of course, the budget phone isn’t necessarily excellent all-around given its asking price. You should not expect 5G connectivity and you will need to buy an extra stabilizer if you are planning to use the mobile phone for shooting videos.
6. Xiaomi 11T
Today’s Best Deals
Xiaomi 11T price starts at RM 1,699.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Great screen and display
- Powerful camera array
- Fast charging speeds
Reasons to Avoid
- Overheating issues
- Fingerprint scanner is hard to reach
- Software bugs
Quick Overview: Great Reasonable All-Rounder
A mid-range smartphone with a competitive price, the Xiaomi 11T comes with a few premium features only found in higher flagship phones.
This includes a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rates, a 108MP primary camera lens, and a 5,000mAh battery cell. Though it swaps out a Snapdragon processor for the Mediatek Dimensity 1200 CPU, the phone still delivers smooth performance with great power efficiency.
In terms of Xiaomi’s iconic lightning-fast charging capabilities, the 11T model supports up to 67W using the charger provided. While not as fast as its Pro model at 120W, this mid-range phone is still slightly faster than the Mi 11 at 55W and zooms past the Apple iPhone 12 which only supports 15W.
Ideally, you can charge from zero to 100% in less than 35 minutes. Some setbacks, however, are its awkward fingerprint scanner positioning and also we noticed a quick overheating issue when we use the mobile phone for heavy gameplay or streaming videos.
7. Xiaomi Mi 11
Today’s Best Deals
Xiaomi Mi 11 price starts at RM 2,799.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Official Site Price: RM3999 (12GB.RAM + 256GB internal storage)
Reasons to Buy
- Affordable pricing with great value
- Some top photography modes
- Excellent display and performance
- Display color accuracy is unmatched
Reasons to Avoid
- Weak battery life
- No IP rating for water resistance
Quick Overview: A Flagship Killer With Cheaper Top-Specs
If you fancy something premium but slightly more affordable under RM3000, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is the best-priced Android phone to get.
It is a compelling phone with a gorgeous 6.81-inch screen, great sound, and fast processing powered by the Snapdragon 888.
Its camera setup consists of a 108MP f/1.9 primary snapper that gives great telemacro pictures, further supported by some fun photography and cinematic modes that are not found in the competition.
Built into a native camera app, you can take photos or videos with this special cloning effect and more fun tricks!
Naturally, we recommend getting the larger configuration between Xiaomi Mi 11 two internal storage options 128GB/ 256GB that only cost a couple of hundred extra.
However, part of the reason to avoid this phone is that its battery life can be sub-par and sadly, the IP rating is only available for its pricier siblings in both the Mi 11 Ultra and the Mi 11 Pro model.
8. Oppo Find X3 Pro 5G
Today’s Best Deals
Oppo Find X3 Pro 5G price starts at RM 4,299.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Great telemacro photography
- Good looking 120Hz display
- 65W fast charging with SuperVOOC
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- Modern interface with simplicity
Reasons to Avoid
- Design downgrade from predecessor
- Expensive compared to alternatives
Quick Overview: The Only Phone with Microscopic Cameras
The Oppo Find X3 Pro has what you would expect from a top-end handset, and that includes a big, high-resolution 120Hz screen, a top-end CPU, a large battery that charges fast at 65W wired, as well as a slightly higher price tag.
Don’t get me wrong, the Oppo Find X3 Pro is an impressive piece of technology and extremely pleasant to use with Oppo Android overlay, Color OS based on Android 11, that gives a suite of customization options.
But the main problem is it lacks a deciding factor for its price. Unless you count its macro camera designed for taking incredible microscopic, close-up photos which is one unique feature of the device.
Though overall, the Oppo Find X3 Pro is definitely a recommendation with the best display around, great charging speeds, and battery life, and we really love the modern Color OS skin which is easy on the eyes compared to many other operating systems.
9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G
Today’s Best Deals
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G price starts at RM 6,498.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Stylus pen support
- Dual 120Hz displays
- Innovative design with durability
- Improved multitasking features
- More optimized foldable apps
- Water-resistant
Reasons to Avoid
- Bulky when closed
- Camera hardware not upgraded
- Lower than average battery life
- Still expensive though slightly cheaper than Z Fold 2
Quick Overview: The Unrivalled Folding Smartphone
An innovative design evolution that no other phones can match, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is in a range of its own as the best foldable phone yet.
With this new form factor, you can expect an entirely different user experience when it comes to this mobile phone-tablet hybrid. Opening up to a 7.6-inch square tablet, the device brings a new multitasking experience to mobile phones.
Running on a Snapdragon 888 chip and 12GB of RAM, Samsung’s One UI 3 based on Android 11 takes advantage of the larger tablet screen and allows you to resize and stack apps vertically or side-by-side. At most, you can split the screen to accommodate 3 apps at a time.
When folded, the mobile phone can be slightly bulky. Either way, the Z Fold 3 is still heavy at 271g and you would fit really snugly in your pocket if it does fit at all.
Then again, Fold’s cameras aren’t exceptional and it can take a while before you can type comfortably on the 5-inch wide keyboard on the device. Besides, its battery life also pales in comparison to the S21 Ultra or other standard phones.
10. Realme GT
Today’s Best Deals
Realme GT price starts at RM 2,149.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Distinctive sporty design
- 120Hz Super AMOLED screen
- Vegan leather option
- 65W fast charging
Reasons to Avoid
- Overheating issue
- Realme UI bloatware
- Cameras are only okay
Quick Overview: Stylish Mid-Range Powerhouse
One of the most high-end offerings in a series of mid-range smartphones, the Realme GT has few bells and whistles but provides many flagship premium features for less.
The device features a top processor, the Snapdragon 888 SoC, 65W fast charging, and a 120Hz super AMOLED display. The smartphone design is also distinctive, sporting a vibrant yellow faux leather with a black stripe.
The smartphone model runs on Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11, similar to the Color OS interface. It gives users freedom for personalization and customizable UI elements such as font-weight and the always-on display panel.
We, however, did find quite a bit of bloatware when first starting the device, which is a mix of Realme’s own apps and pre-installed third-party apps. This can make it quite heavy, so make sure to do a thorough clean beforehand if you’re planning to make the Realme GT yours.
Another downside is that the phone camera is only mediocre at best, and taken photographs end up over-sharpened. The battery cell is also average but minus that, this is still a great alternative for an Apple iPhone or super-powerful Android phones at an RM1500 budget.
11. Asus ROG Phone 5
Today’s Best Deals
Asus ROG Phone 5 price starts at RM 2,988.00 | -> View at Shopee Malaysia
Reasons to Buy
- Large 6,000 mAh battery cell
- Remarkable gameplay performance
- Excellent display and speaker quality
- 144Hz refresh rate for superb performance
Reasons to Avoid
- No telephoto camera
- Large and heavy device
- Gamer aesthetic is not for everyone
Quick Overview: Extraordinary Gaming Power
The #1 mobile game performer in the list, Asus ROG Phone 5 is powered by the best specs consisting of a Snapdragon 888 CPU core and up to 18GB RAM.
While the smartphone offers a well-rounded performance for everyday use, where it truly shines is in gaming. The device can push up to 144Hz refresh rate and has a touch sampling rate of 300Hz, making it highly responsive and perfect for fast-paced games.
Paired with a large screen size measuring 6.78 inches, two front-facing speakers, and specially designed shoulder buttons, the mobile device delivers the ultimate atmospheric experience when you’re playing games.
Besides, you won’t need to worry about the heavy power usage during high-quality gameplay as the device is powered by a large 6,000 mAh battery and 65W fast charging speed, which is enough to last you an entire day of intense gaming. Overheating is also not an issue if you get the cooler accessory.
Apart from its standard model, you can further unleash its gaming excellence through two upgraded RAM and 256GB/ 512GB internal storage options.
- Asus ROG Phone 5 (16GB RAM + 256GB ROM) – RM3799
- Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate (18GB RAM + 512GB ROM) – RM4999
However, as a gaming phone, there are certain features to the mobile device that are an afterthought like its camera features. It is also a large and heavy device weighing 239g, which might not be the top pick for everyone when it comes to day-to-day use.
Choose the best Android phone for your needs
If you are an Apple iPhone user, It is time for you to make the switch! With the Google-powered Android ecosystem being more robust than ever before, there is an Android for everyone.
Whether you’re looking for an entry-level or flagship model or a special device for your needs, you will definitely find these 11 Android Phones in Malaysia packing the best value and performance.
Ultimately, the best Android phone is not the latest release or the most expensive, but rather your choice should depend on your priorities and what you value the most. Be it the screen size, connectivity, battery, camera, storage, or customizability.
