AI Overview: The best cheap phones for Clash Royale do not need flagship chips. The game runs on modest hardware, so a smooth screen, a solid battery and enough storage matter more than speed. The 2016 list is kept below. Today’s examples come from 2026 budget lists, so you can trust each pick and skip the guesswork.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Clash Royale is lighter than the games used to test gaming phones, so a mid-range chip should be enough.
- The Poco X5 Pro pairs a Snapdragon 778G with a 120Hz AMOLED screen and a 5000mAh battery.
- The Galaxy A54 5G is named in one list as a budget pick under $300, but it is an older model.
- Prices differ by country, and several sources were weak, so confirm the price in the store.
- The original 2016 list, led by the OnePlus X, is out of date.
How to Pick a Cheap Phone
The big idea. Match the phone to the game. Clash Royale is short and light, so buy the screen and battery, not the chip.
Worth knowing. For new players, the starter guide covers the first arenas.
Budget plan. Set a limit first, then choose the best screen inside it. The rule: screen, battery, storage, then chip.
| Check | Example named in 2026 lists | Note |
| Under about $300 | Galaxy A54 5G | Older model. Check the current price. |
| Smooth screen | Poco X5 Pro | 120Hz AMOLED, Snapdragon 778G, 5000mAh battery. |
| Gaming extras | Infinix GT 30 Pro | Up to 144Hz and triggers. Price quoted in ringgit only. |
| Just over budget | Poco M8 Pro | Priced at $305 in one list. |
The table lists budget models that 2026 lists name, plus what to check on each. A smooth screen helps card drops feel precise. A big battery lasts through a day of matches. The chip matters less.
Zoom out. Budget phones keep getting better screens and chargers. If that trend holds, today’s cheap picks will look old in two years, and buyers who chase one model will miss cheaper new options. A phone bought on a flash sale can also lose update support sooner than expected.
What Changed Since the Original
The short version. The 2016 picks are gone from the shelves. The OnePlus X and Sony Xperia M4 Aqua belong to another era. Phones under a small budget now have 120Hz screens and big batteries.
Short on time? Read the table, check the screen speed, and buy.
Final word. Spend on the screen, not the badge.
Plain talk. This is a short checklist. It works at the store.
One more way to see it. A cheap phone for Clash Royale is a good pair of running shoes. You do not need a sports car.
In plain English. Cheap phones got much better. You no longer trade a smooth screen for a low price.
Claims, rechecked. The write-up praises phones under 200 pounds and calls the OnePlus X hard to buy because of invites. Both belong to 2016. Treat every figure as a starting point, not a rule.
The fine print. One list prices the Poco M8 Pro at $305, just over the line. Another names the Infinix GT 30 Pro with a 144Hz screen, but only gives a price in ringgit. Weak sources mean prices are left out here.
If the game stutters, see the getting stuck guide. On a bigger screen, try the tablet guide.
Zoom in. The original filters by price under 200 pounds and praises design. Today, the rules are simpler: screen speed, battery size and storage space come first.
What to Check Before You Buy
Screen speed. A 90Hz or 120Hz screen feels smoother than the old 60Hz panels. Card drops feel more exact.
Extra tip. A phone case with a grip helps long sessions.
Last tip. Close other apps before you play. It keeps the phone cooler.
Quick recap. Smooth screen, big battery, 128GB.
Reality check. Weak sources mean prices are not quoted. Check the store.
Bottom line. Pay for the screen and the battery. Skip the chip. For picking your first deck, see the card tier list.
Charger. A fast charger saves time between matches.
Tips. Read the return policy. Test the touch response in the first week. A bigger screen helps too, so compare the PC and Mac setup guide if you want a larger view. Check the live price and the store page before you buy, since both move often.
Battery size. A 5000mAh battery is common now. Fast charging is a bonus.
Storage and updates. Pick at least 128GB if you can. Check how long the maker promises updates.
Zoom out again. If cheap phones lose software support early, the savings vanish. The risk is a bargain that stops getting updates just as the game needs them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cheap phone for Clash Royale?
A mid-range model with a smooth screen and a big battery, such as the Poco X5 Pro. Use it as a guide, and check the linked pages for the current details.
Does Clash Royale need a gaming phone?
No. It is lighter than the games used to test gaming phones. A mid-range chip should handle it.
How much storage do you need?
128GB gives room for the game, updates and photos. Less works, but you will clear space often.
Is an old phone fine?
Often yes, as long as it still gets app updates and runs the game smoothly.
Are the 2016 phones worth buying?
No. The OnePlus X and Sony Xperia M4 Aqua from the original list are far out of date.
Original Guide, Kept in Full
The text below is the original page, kept in full. It was written between 2016 and 2024, so some details are out of date. The tips and numbers above use 2026 sources.
Are you looking for a cheap phone for playing Clash Royale? While Samsung Galaxy S7, iPhone 6S, LG G6 and HTC 10 are handsets which stealing headlines around the world, there are lots of intriguing and cheap stuff going on in the world budget phones.
Besides the smartphone innovation is not cheap and most of them are reserved for high-end contract handsets. However it likes such a good cheap smartphone and so gently all those amazing features from the flagship devices are slowly trickling down to the budget phones.
The selection for favorite budget phones is having cost under £200. There are the top cheap phones which you can purchase even on a budget.
Top Cheap Phones for playing Clash Royale
OnePlus X
OnePlus X makes you pay attention with its first phone last year, this new addition is even more jaw dropping as it has managed to under the £200 mark. It maybe is difficult to get your hand on the OnePlus X because of the invite system, but once you own you will not be disappointed. OnePlus X is not an impressive spec either. It has created a gorgeous design for new budget range and greatly for holding. If you can go through all the pain of getting a phone from OnePlus, go for this one.
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
The latest mid-ranger of Sony is a big improvement on the M2 Aqua but it has lots of competition which has jumped in and knocked it down to third place. If you are finding a little more check out the newer Sony Xperia M5, it does not fall into our low-cost bracket. It is said that this is still a cracking phone. It is the only one phone you can take in the bath as it has IP68 waterproof technology that mean it won’t frazzle the internals.
If you like Sony phones, Sony Xperia M4 Aqua is the best choice for you with cost under £200 and a great 720p 5-inch screen and some of the best battery life we have ever seen on a mid-range phone for quite some time.
Moto G (2015)
Moto G is not at the top of our budget “best of” list? Your eyes do not deceive you, the almighty Moto G has been knocked back to fourth although it is still a great phone. With the 5-inch display is high quality despite being only 720p, the quad-core processor is adept at handling most tasks and can be upgrade to the latest version of Google’s Android. Moto G comes with 4G packed inside as well but there is still no sign of NFC yet, a big shame. Otherwise, it is a top notch smartphone. It can be seen Moto jump back up the list as rumors continue to circulate regarding the next generation G.
Acer Liquid Jade S
The Liquid S will offer some of the best performance and build quality of any affordable dual-SIM smartphone if you can see its flaws. With the octa-core processor and Acer’s minimal software tweaks, the Liquid Jade S’s performance is simply stellar. The design is also another major high point with the lightweight, curvaceous build resulting in a solid and comfortable while handing.
It is said that there are still a few main areas where suffering in comparison to other mid-range offerings. As a result, Liquid Jade S cannot be at the top of wish list.
Sony Xperia T3
Maybe Xperia T3 does not attract people as much as Xperia M4 Aqua but it is still a good phone and more suitable for some people than the M rang does. With bigger screen as well as a slim body, this mobile will show off some of the best Sony can do. Although the spec cannot be as high as others on this list, the Sony Xperia T3 is still one of the best all round packages you can purchase right now.
Motorola Moto E (2015)
Moto E – the second generation – shows that Motorola is not messing around when coming to budget smartphones, it continues the legacy of predecessor as one of the best affordable handsets you can purchase. Motorola Moto E (2015) is added some new features as 4G LTE connectivity and a decent – though not exactly premium design. And it also ships Android 5.0 Lollipop which makes it is the one of the cheapest smartphones to come with Google’s latest mobile operating system straight out of box.
Motorola Moto E (2015) is not quietly as good as the slightly more expensive Motorola Moto G (2014) which spoiler alert, appears later on this list, however with the low price you will be hard pressed to find a better smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy J3
Galaxy J3 gets styling tips from the flagship Galaxy S7 and distills them down into a much more affordable package. Maybe, it does not have the best power, cameras, display, however the J3 is a solid performer at its price point. With a micro SD card and the ability to remove the battery will be highlight for some within bright and colorful screen.
Okay guys hopefully you have found a great device after reading this small review. Do you have any great cheap phone to recommend? Please comment!
The Clash Royale Deck Builder turns the advice above into a deck you can copy straight into the game, with meters for elixir, win conditions and recent balance changes.
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- BGR and Pocket Gamer budget-phone lists (2026), read through search summaries; several sources were weak, so prices are not quoted
- Supercell official Clash Royale API, card list (elixir cost, rarity, unlock arena)
- The original clash.world page (2016 to 2024), kept in full below