If you’re shopping for a smartphone under N250,000 in Nigeria circa October 2025, it’s important to focus on the models that give practical value, not just relying on attractive marketing.
The N200,000 to N250,000 band has become attractive for buyers seeking strong midrange devices that ensures a balance of premium design touches, dependable performance, and reasonable longevity without breaking the bank.
The process of looking for a solid smartphone at an affordable price in Nigeria can be both exciting and tricky. It’s exciting because the market is full of choices, from itel to Realme to Infinix, but tricky when you try to pick the best device without overspending.
With foreign exchange variance, import duties, and supply chain shifts and specs, prices change too often.
Below is a checklist of what’s essential in this context, followed by four smartphone picks whose specs and local pricing align well with the market today.
Always confirm the specific variant’s features (network bands, memory, update policy) before you buy.
What to Look for
When recommending a phone in Nigeria, these criteria are highly important:
1. Battery & Efficiency (not just capacity)
While 5,000 mAh is the benchmark for many midrange devices, the more important factor is how efficiently the chipset, display, and software manage power.
A 5,000 mAh battery with a power-hungry screen or unoptimised software can underperform. Also consider how the battery ages; heat, charge cycles, and charging style (fast charging, bypass charging) can degrade health.
2. Connectivity & Network Support
Given Nigeria’s patchy coverage, the more LTE/5G bands a phone supports, the better your experience in fringe or rural areas. Also, look for features like WiFi 6, dual-SIM with good switching behavior, and solid antenna design.
3. Software Support & Updates
In this price band, many brands provide only modest OS support (1–2 major updates). Where a manufacturer promises 3+ years (security patches) or 2 major Android version upgrades, highlight that. But always double-check their official roadmap campaign; don’t rely solely on marketing assertions.
4. Storage & RAM (with realistic “usable” expectations)
128 GB storage is a good baseline; 256 GB is preferred if your usage is heavy (videos, games). Be cautious with “extended RAM” or “virtual RAM” claims, those are software tricks, not physical memory, and serve only limited purposes.
5. Display & Build Quality (trade-off lens)
Look for at least 90 Hz refresh rate (120 Hz when possible), good brightness for outdoor use, and durable materials (e.g. Gorilla Glass or reinforced alternatives).
Water/dust resistance is a strong plus, even basic IP54 or IP53 ratings help with daily life in dusty, humid conditions. Also, thermal design matters (how well a phone dissipates heat during gaming or charging).
6. Real-world Use, After Sales & Local Parts
Even the best specs are moot if replacement parts (screens, batteries) are unavailable locally, or service support is weak. Brand reputation and existing presence in Nigeria influence longevity.
Top Smartphones Under N250,000
Below are four phones that are currently (or recently) available in Nigeria in this price band, with verified specs and realistic expectations.
Some may slightly exceed N250k depending on variant, but are included because they give great value and sometimes dip below the upper bound on sale.
Note: Always check the Nigerian variant (network bands, memory, update commitment) before purchase.
1. itel S25 Ultra
Itel’s S25 Ultra is one of the more polished entries in this bracket, with a curved AMOLED display and competitive specs for its class. In local listings, it’s often priced around N210,000–N215,000.
Verified Specs & Notes
- Display: ~6.78-inch AMOLED, curved, 1080×2436.
- Chipset: Unisoc T620 (12 nm) octa-core.
- Memory/Storage: 8 GB RAM, options of 128/256/512 GB storage.
- Camera: 50 MP rear + 32 MP front.
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, 18 W wired charging.
- Software: Ships with Android 14 (itel OS 14.5), and itel promises up to 2 major Android updates.
- Ensure the model supports the LTE/5G bands your area needs.
2. Infinix Hot 50 Pro Plus
Infinix frequently offers aggressive specs-to-price ratios. The Hot 50 Pro+ is often marketed with premium touches (curved AMOLED, AI cameras, etc.). It features in local smartphone comparison articles as a standout option.
Verified Specs & Notes
- Display: ~6.78-inch AMOLED (curved) with premium design elements.
- Memory/Storage: 8 GB RAM, with 128/256 GB storage.
- Camera: 50MP main, 2MP secondary sensor, 80MP selfie camera.
- Battery: 5,000 mAh with 33W fast charging.
- Software (OS): Ships with Android 14 / XOS 14.5.
- Durability: IP54 dust/splash resistance, dual speakers and Dynamic Bar UI overlay.
- Pricing: Nigerian listings show N189,500 for 128GB/8GB and N210,000 for 256GB/8GB.
3. Realme C75
Realme has built the C75 as a rugged/durable option with competitive specs. It often appears in Nigerian tech reviews under N250k and is praised for its features for the price.
Verified Specs & Notes
- Display: 6.72-inch IPS LCD, 90 Hz refresh.
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio G92 Max.
- Memory/Storage: Up to 8 GB + dynamic (virtual) RAM, 128/256 GB storage.
- Camera: 50 MP main + 8 MP front.
- Battery: 6,000 mAh, 45 W fast charging.
- Software: Runs Android 14 / Realme UI 5.0.
- Pricing: N210,000 to N289,000
4. Samsung Galaxy A07
This model is one of Samsung’s latest A-series releases in 2025. It was officially announced on September 1, 2025.
Samsung’s brand reputation, combined with a solid mid-range specification set, makes the Galaxy A07 a practical choice for buyers seeking durability and value within the ~₦250,000 price band.
Features
- Display: 6.7″ PLS/IPS LCD, 720×1600 resolution (20:9 ratio), 90 Hz refresh rate.
- Processor & RAM: MediaTek Helio G99 (6 nm), octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 + 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); RAM variants from 4 GB to 8 GB.
- Storage: 64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB variants; expandable via dedicated microSD slot.
- Rear Camera: 50 MP main (f/1.8) + 2 MP depth sensor.
- Front Camera: 8 MP.
- Battery & Charging: 5,000 mAh battery; 15 W wired charging support.
- Durability/Extras: IP54 dust & splash resistance; up to 6 major Android updates + 6 years of security updates.
- Approximate Price (Nigeria): N134,800 – ~N146,500 (depending on variant & retailer) – many listings show base variants around N134,800.
Choosing the best smartphones under N250,000 is not just about comparing prices. It majorly involves identifying the devices that best align with your usage behaviour and expectations.
Each of the models listed in this simple guide comes with unique advantages, from battery size to performance and affordability.
When making your final decision, it’s important to balance features with reliability. A smartphone with good hardware but poor software may not age well, therefore, consider your most frequent activities which may include streaming, photography, gaming or surfing the internet.
Afterwards, choose a smartphone that fits those needs comfortably.
