Short answer: if you want a cheap phone for PUBG Mobile in 2026, the Redmi Note 14 5G is the lowest-cost model I would comfortably target for a new purchase. If you can spend more, the CMF Phone 2 Pro gives you a stronger gaming chipset, while the POCO X7 Pro is the clear performance-value upgrade.
Do not shop by RAM or CPU core count alone. PUBG Mobile performance depends on the whole platform: chipset, GPU, cooling, game optimization, screen, battery and the frame-rate modes PUBG actually enables for that device.
Also remember that a 120Hz display does not guarantee 120 FPS in PUBG Mobile. The game exposes higher frame-rate modes only on supported devices and software versions.
Cheapest phones for PUBG Mobile: quick picks
| Phone | Chipset | Display | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 14 5G | Dimensity 7025-Ultra | 6.67-inch AMOLED, up to 120Hz | Best low-cost new-phone starting point |
| CMF Phone 2 Pro | Dimensity 7300 Pro | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 120Hz | Better gaming headroom without flagship pricing |
| POCO X7 Pro | Dimensity 8400-Ultra | 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED, 120Hz | Best performance value if your budget stretches higher |
Prices vary too much by country and sale cycle for one phone to be universally “the cheapest.” The useful question is: what is the cheapest phone that still gives PUBG enough performance headroom to remain enjoyable?
Best cheap option: Redmi Note 14 5G
The Redmi Note 14 5G is where I would start if budget is the priority but you still want a new phone with modern hardware.
Xiaomi’s current specifications list a MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in the Australian model, plus a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display. It also has a 5,110mAh battery and 45W charging.
See the current Redmi Note 14 5G specifications.
This is not a high-end gaming phone, but it is a much more sensible 2026 baseline than buying a very old flagship or one of the ancient models that used to dominate “cheap PUBG phone” lists.
Why it works for PUBG Mobile
- Modern 6nm chipset rather than a five- or six-year-old platform.
- 8GB RAM gives the game and Android enough breathing room.
- 120Hz AMOLED display makes the phone feel responsive outside the game too.
- 5,110mAh battery is large enough for extended sessions.
- Expandable storage is useful if PUBG and other games consume a large chunk of internal space.
The main limitation is graphics performance. The Dimensity 7025-Ultra is a mid-range chip, so do not buy it expecting maximum graphics settings and the highest available frame-rate mode simultaneously.
Best step-up value: CMF Phone 2 Pro
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is a stronger gaming choice if the price difference from the Redmi is reasonable in your region.
Nothing lists a Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G, a 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and a 5,000mAh battery. The company also claims around 10 hours of BGMI gaming in its own battery testing, which is useful context because BGMI is based on the same underlying game technology as PUBG Mobile.
See the current CMF Phone 2 Pro specifications.
The Dimensity 7300 Pro is significantly stronger than entry-level and lower-midrange gaming chipsets, so this is the phone I would choose if you want more consistent performance without jumping into flagship prices.
Best performance value: POCO X7 Pro
If gaming is the priority, the POCO X7 Pro is in another performance class.
It uses MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400-Ultra with a Mali-G720 GPU, LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.0 storage. POCO also gives it a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel running up to 120Hz, plus a 6,000mAh battery with 90W charging.
POCO specifically markets its WildBoost Optimization system around gaming stability, frame rate and power use. You can see the full specifications on the POCO X7 Pro product page.
This is not the “cheapest possible phone that launches PUBG,” but it is often the better buy if you want a phone that will still feel fast after several game updates.
What about the Redmi Note 14 4G?
The non-5G Redmi Note 14 is cheaper in many markets and uses a Helio G99-Ultra with 8GB RAM and a 120Hz AMOLED display.
It can run PUBG Mobile, but the chipset is clearly weaker than the Dimensity 7025-Ultra, 7300 Pro and 8400-Ultra options above. I would only choose it when the price gap is substantial and your expectations are modest.
For casual PUBG at lower settings, it can be adequate. For long-term gaming value, the Note 14 5G is the stronger floor.
What are PUBG Mobile’s minimum requirements?
PUBG Mobile has historically supported surprisingly modest Android hardware. PUBG’s own published requirement states Android 5.1.1 or later and at least 2GB RAM.
That is a compatibility minimum, not a recommendation for a good experience in 2026. The game has grown enormously since those requirements were first published.
A phone that technically launches PUBG Mobile can still suffer from:
- frame drops during fights;
- thermal throttling;
- slow loading and texture streaming;
- poor touch response;
- short battery life;
- limited high-FPS options.
For a new purchase today, I would target at least 6GB RAM, preferably 8GB, and a recent mid-range chipset.
Does a 120Hz screen mean PUBG will run at 120 FPS?
No.
The display refresh rate is only the maximum rate at which the screen can update. PUBG Mobile must also offer a matching frame-rate mode for that specific device and software combination.
PUBG has expanded 90 FPS support to additional devices over time through game updates. That illustrates why you should not assume every 90Hz or 120Hz phone will expose every high-frame-rate option.
If high-FPS PUBG is your priority, check current player reports for the exact phone model and game version before buying.
What actually matters in a cheap PUBG phone?
1. The chipset and GPU
This matters more than raw CPU core count.
Modern phone chips combine CPU cores, GPU, memory controllers and other components into one SoC. Two eight-core phones can have dramatically different gaming performance.
For the phones above, the rough performance hierarchy is straightforward:
Dimensity 8400-Ultra > Dimensity 7300 Pro > Dimensity 7025-Ultra > Helio G99-Ultra.
2. Sustained performance
Peak benchmark scores are less useful if the phone slows down after ten minutes because of heat.
PUBG sessions are often long, so cooling and efficiency matter. A newer efficient chipset can outperform an older high-end chip over time even if their short benchmark runs look similar.
3. RAM
For a new Android gaming phone in 2026, 8GB is a comfortable target.
More RAM does not automatically create more FPS, but it helps Android keep background processes from constantly reloading and gives large games more memory headroom.
4. Display refresh rate
A 90Hz or 120Hz display is worthwhile even if PUBG does not always run at the panel’s full refresh rate. Menus, scrolling and supported games still feel smoother.
For PUBG itself, the game-side FPS limit remains the important part.
5. Touch response
Competitive mobile gaming depends heavily on touch latency and consistency. High touch-sampling numbers can help, but manufacturer marketing figures are not directly comparable because brands measure them differently.
Treat touch sampling as supporting information, not the deciding specification.
6. Battery and charging
PUBG is a sustained CPU/GPU workload. A large battery matters, as does fast charging if you play frequently.
Among the three main recommendations here, the POCO X7 Pro stands out with a 6,000mAh battery and 90W charging.
Should you buy an old flagship instead?
Sometimes, but it carries more risk.
A used flagship can offer a stronger GPU than a brand-new budget phone. But by 2026, older phones may have:
- heavily degraded batteries;
- limited software/security support;
- replacement screens or batteries of uncertain quality;
- thermal problems caused by aging hardware;
- no warranty.
For a dedicated gaming device, a cheap used flagship can still make sense. For your main phone, a current mid-range model is usually safer.
How much RAM do you need for PUBG Mobile?
PUBG’s old published minimum is 2GB, but I would not buy a 2GB or 3GB Android phone for PUBG today.
6GB is workable. 8GB is the sensible target. Anything beyond that is useful for multitasking but does not automatically improve PUBG frame rates.
Best phone for PUBG under a tight budget
If your budget is extremely limited, compare the Redmi Note 14 4G and Redmi Note 14 5G in your market.
If the 5G model costs only a little more, choose it. The Dimensity 7025-Ultra gives you substantially more gaming headroom than the Helio G99-Ultra.
Best cheap PUBG phone for serious gaming
If you play PUBG heavily and care more about performance than simply spending the least possible amount, the POCO X7 Pro is the strongest recommendation on this list.
Its Dimensity 8400-Ultra, fast memory/storage, 120Hz AMOLED display and large battery make it much closer to a performance phone than a basic budget handset.
Final recommendation
For most budget buyers, I would start with the Redmi Note 14 5G. It is modern enough to avoid the biggest compromises of ultra-cheap hardware and still sits well below flagship territory.
Move to the CMF Phone 2 Pro if you want more gaming performance while staying firmly mid-range.
Choose the POCO X7 Pro if PUBG Mobile is one of your main uses and you would rather pay a little more now than upgrade again quickly.
And whatever phone you choose, remember the most important caveat: screen refresh rate and raw specs do not guarantee a particular PUBG FPS mode. Game support for the exact device still matters.
