Various Smartphone Manufacturers · Reviewed by BABLOO LAHORI · Published 2026-06-14
Based on a review by BABLOO LAHORI (accessed 2026-06-14).
Based on this review alone: skip it — new box-packed phones often feature 'trash specifications' (dubbed 'dead bodies') at inflated prices, unless used phones from 1-2 years ago offer significantly better features at lower prices is your only priority.
The reviewer concludes that new box-packed phones launched in 2026 are 'dead bodies' due to being extremely overpriced and under-specced. He strongly advises against buying them, recommending users to either continue using their current good phones, opt for 1-2 year old used phones, or consider imported, officially PTA-approved models for better value.
This video by BABLOO LAHORI reviews the state of the smartphone market in 2026, focusing on the poor value offered by newly launched box-packed phones. The reviewer discusses the reasons behind increasing prices and declining specifications, offering alternative purchasing strategies including buying used phones and imported models.
The current market for new 'box-packed' smartphones offers extremely poor value, making it nearly impossible for consumers to find genuinely 'paisa wasool' (value-for-money) devices. Brands are launching phones with outdated specifications like 4GB RAM/64GB storage at prices (38,000-40,000 PKR) that were previously for much better phones, and offering 720p IPS displays at 80,000-85,000 PKR. This price hike is attributed to internal brand monopolies and an international RAM crisis driven by the AI boom, which diverts RAM supply from smartphone manufacturers. If you are looking for a new smartphone in this challenging market, avoid new box-packed options and instead consider well-maintained used phones from 1-2 years ago or officially imported, PTA-approved phones for superior features per price. If you already own a good phone, continue using it.
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Phones with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, now costing around 38-40,000 PKR, were available for 18-20,000 PKR just five to six months prior. This shows a significant price hike for basic specifications.
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Brands are offering IPS 720p displays in phones priced at 80-85,000 PKR, which is considered very poor value for money.
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A variant of Samsung's A-series has now crossed 200,000 PKR, indicating extreme overpricing.
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The main reason for the current price hikes is an international RAM crisis, driven by the AI boom where major tech brands are purchasing large quantities of RAM for data centers, reducing supply for smartphones.
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For the past 2-3 years, brands have consistently used outdated hardware like Helio G100/G200 and Snapdragon 680/685 across various price ranges in Pakistan.
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The Vivo Y31D, priced at 80-85,000 PKR, offers a dated 720p display and weak features.
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The Oppo A6S also comes with a 720p display and poor features, similar to other overpriced box-packed phones.
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The Tecno Spark 50, available under 50,000 PKR, is equipped with a Helio G81 processor and slow eMMC storage, offering poor features for its price.
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Instead of the Tecno Spark 50, one can find a used Realme 12 Plus or Oppo Reno 11F for around 50-55,000 PKR, offering significantly better features.
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Instead of the Vivo Y31D or Oppo A6S, a used Realme 13 Plus (70-75,000 PKR), Vivo V40E, or Reno 13F are recommended for a better user experience.
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The officially PTA-approved imported Pixel 6a is available under 50,000 PKR, offering good cameras, compact size, and performance, significantly better than box-packed alternatives.
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The imported Realme GT 6, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, provides strong gaming performance and decent cameras, offering an enjoyable experience.
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Network-locked imported phones like the Motorola Stylus 2025 and 2024 offer excellent multimedia, display quality, and performance, even if SIM functionality is compromised.
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The network-locked imported Samsung A54 is highly preferred by users who prioritize a good display and decent day-to-day use over primary SIM requirements.
The reviewer describes the box-packed smartphone market as being filled with 'dead bodies' – phones that are launched with high prices but trash specifications. He notes that phones which cost 18-20k PKR a few months ago now cost 38-40k PKR, and phones priced at 80-85k PKR offer only 720p IPS displays, indicating a severe decline in value.
The reviewer explains that the primary driver is a global RAM crisis, where the booming AI industry is buying up vast quantities of RAM, making it scarce and expensive for smartphone manufacturers. Additionally, he suggests that brands in the local market have formed a monopoly, eliminating competition and enabling them to collectively raise prices without improving quality.
The reviewer offers several solutions: first, if your current phone meets your needs, keep using it. Second, he strongly recommends buying 1-2 year old used phones, as they offer much better features and value than new box-packed options. Third, imported, officially PTA-approved phones are presented as a strong alternative, providing top-notch features for their price.
The reviewer explicitly states that used phones from one or two years prior, which offered good features at their original price, are now even cheaper and represent a much better deal than the 'dead bodies' being launched new. He provides examples like used Realme 12 Plus or Oppo Reno 11F being superior to a new Tecno Spark 50, and used Realme 13 Plus or Vivo V40E being better than a new Vivo Y31D.
The reviewer suggests several imported, officially PTA-approved phones. The Pixel 6 series (6a, 6, 6 Pro) and Pixel 7 series (7a, 7, 7 Pro) are highlighted for their good cameras, performance, and software experience, with the Pixel 6a being available under 50,000 PKR. For gaming, he recommends the Realme GT 6 (with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), iQOO Z10/C10 Turbo, and Redmi Turbo 4 Pro.
The reviewer notes a trend where users are opting for network-locked imported phones, prioritizing excellent display quality, performance, and camera features over primary SIM card functionality. He mentions models like Motorola Stylus 2025/2024 and even network-locked Samsung A54 as popular choices for their multimedia capabilities and overall user experience.
40/100 source quality
Babloo Lahori critiques the 2026 smartphone market, highlighting that new box-packed phones are significantly over-priced with sub-par specifications. He attributes this to factors like an international RAM crisis, AI boom, and alleged collusion among brands. The video suggests solutions, advising consumers to avoid new box-packed phones and instead consider purchasing 1-2 year old used phones or exploring imported, officially PTA-approved models like the Pixel series or Realme GT 6, which offer superior features for the price.
Full transcript is not redistributed here to respect the original creator’s rights.
This page converts BABLOO LAHORI's review of the Various Smartphone Manufacturers Paisa Wasool Phones (Value-for-Money Smartphones) into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.
Brand relationship disclosed as: affiliate