Need help? Five recommended smartphones under NIS 2,000

After a long period without smartphone recommendations, we decided that this shopping month—when shelves fill with new releases and promotional prices—is the right time to suggest some options. Instead of a full review of every model, we focused on devices whose specifications justify the price, at least on paper, and are backed by proven experience from manufacturers in both international and Israeli markets.

Among the many options under NIS 2,000, we selected five released in the past year, notable for their balanced combination of performance, build quality, and competitive pricing. These are the models worth examining closely before making a decision—especially for those looking for a current and reliable phone within a reasonable budget without unnecessary expenses.

The iPhone 16e (also reviewed here on Walla) is the most affordable and accessible model in Apple’s iPhone series, aimed at users who want a large part of the Apple experience without paying the high price of premium models. This model maintains Apple’s familiar design philosophy: A high-quality body, solid feel in hand, and a 6.1-inch screen that delivers accurate colors and high brightness, even if it isn’t meant to compete with the highest-end Pro models. It’s suitable for anyone looking for a device that feels like an “iPhone” in every aspect of use and flow, but at a much more reasonable budget.

Under the hood, it features the Apple A18 chip, which ensures smooth performance, fast response times, and the ability to handle most daily tasks—from social media to mid-level games. The main camera, with an improved sensor, delivers impressive daytime photo quality and good noise handling at night, alongside a fast, intuitive shooting interface leveraging Apple’s image processing power. The battery provides a full day of use and more, thanks in part to the efficiency of the new chip.

Although the official launch price of the model is higher, in recent months it has appeared in the Israeli free market at a price close to NIS 2,000—making it one of the most interesting choices in the more accessible segment. For those who want to stay in Apple’s ecosystem but are unwilling to pay a premium, the iPhone 16e is certainly a worthy option.

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is one of the most intriguing devices in the upper-midrange category today, mainly due to its unique design and specifications very close to those of significantly more expensive models. Like other Nothing devices, it features a transparent back with the Glyph lighting system—a set of LED lights enabling smart interactions for notifications, timers, and various effects—making the phone instantly recognizable when held.

It comes with a large, high-quality 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, high brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth usage, fast scrolling, and comfortable viewing even in sunlight. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor delivers very stable performance for both average and advanced users. The camera system includes a 50MP main camera with optical stabilization, an additional wide sensor, and a dedicated zoom camera—a generous setup for this price—delivering good daytime shots and fairly accurate night photography.

The 5,000mAh battery lasts a full day or more, and fast charging allows a quick return to use. All this runs on Nothing OS, one of the cleanest, most stable, and user-friendly Android versions. In Israel, the phone is sold through the Bug network for NIS 1,599.

The Xiaomi 15T 5G is one of the most impressive devices recently added to the sub-NIS 2,000 price category, officially selling for NIS 1,999. It offers an unusual combination of advanced specifications and high build quality, making it a strong option for those seeking a modern, fast, and durable device on a reasonable budget. The phone has a high-quality 6.83-inch AMOLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate, and impressive peak brightness of 3,200 nits—an exceptional figure in this price range.

At its core is the 4nm Mediatek Dimensity 8400 Ultra chip, providing fast and efficient performance even under heavy load. The camera system includes three sensors: A 50MP main camera with optical stabilization, a 50MP telephoto sensor offering true 2x optical zoom, and a 12MP wide sensor. This combination allows for very good photography in various situations, including high-frame-rate 4K video.

The 15T also offers IP68 water and dust resistance, a 5,500mAh battery with 67W fast charging, and full NFC support. With 12GB RAM and generous storage options, it’s an especially rich specification for the price.

The Galaxy A56 is the new model in Samsung’s popular midrange series, continuing the line’s long-standing combination of high build quality, balanced specifications, and brand reliability—at a price far below premium models. It features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and impressive brightness up to 1,900 nits.

Inside, it has a 4nm Exynos 1580 chip with up to 12GB RAM, delivering very smooth daily performance and efficient power consumption. The camera system includes a 50MP main camera with optical stabilization, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 5MP macro lens. It produces very good daytime photos, and thanks to advanced stabilization, video is also smooth and pleasant to watch.

The 5,000mAh battery provides a full day of use, and 45W charging reaches 65% in half an hour. The phone offers IP67 water resistance, stereo speakers, and One UI 7 with up to 6 years of Android updates—a significant advantage over competitors. At around NIS 1,700 in Israel, the Galaxy A56 is one of the safest choices for anyone seeking a reliable device with solid midrange specifications.

The OnePlus Nord 5 is one of the most significant smartphones in the sub-NIS 2,000 category, officially sold through CellNow for NIS 1,999. This model continues OnePlus’s tradition of high performance, fast user experience, and a clean, lightweight OS—at a relatively accessible price. It features a large 6.83-inch Swift AMOLED screen with 1.5K resolution and Ultra HDR support, offering excellent brightness, accurate colors, and an impressive viewing experience.

At its core is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, one of the strongest in the upper-midrange category, providing very fast performance and handling heavy tasks, gaming, and multitasking with ease. The main camera uses a Sony LYT-700 sensor, delivering very good photo quality, especially in daylight, with wide dynamic range.

The battery supports 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging for rapid return to use, while OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15 provides a light, fast interface with 4 years of software updates and 6 years of security updates—a clear advantage over competitors at a similar price.