Buying a cheap mobile phone

[Puja]

Question for the Hivemind - what should I be looking for in a first smartphone for Eldest when she goes to secondary in September. Will need to be Android, under £100 by preference, and as robust as possible. Have been looking at the Samsung A06, which is supposed to be okay, but very slow, but Amazon are pushing this Xiaomi at present, which looks to have very decent specs, but has the downside of Xiaomi bloatware.

Do people have opinions?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

I've had a Ulefone Armor and a Doogee Rugged (both around the £100 mark, depending on how up-to-date you want it) and both have been really good. Both have survived drops onto concrete; and the Ulefone survived a drop into a full bath when I fell asleep reading.
Both are officially waterproof, the Ulefone proved it.

FTR: The Ulefone lasted me 4.5 years (died as the battery simply went through too many cycles, and wouldn't last a day anymore); the Doogee is 18 months and counting.