They are less expensive.

EDIT:

Sorry, I misread the parent comment.

You would use them for literally anything you typically or potentially could use a phone for.

If you are not playing video games on your phone... there is basically no common reason to have a top spec brand new phone.

What do I want my phone to do?

Make calls, send messages, run a web browser, check emails, take a picture or video every once in a while, act as a notepad, check a weather forecast, have some map explorer, use some entirely 2D proprietary apps for things like... groceries or hailing a ride or checking my bank balance.

Pretty sure that right there is about 80% of people's phone use case.

You do not need top spec hardware to do any of that.

You have the gaming thing to do the gaming stuff.