Just a few years in the past, it could have been modern to spend $1,000 on the most recent flagship smartphone, however for most individuals, that’s neither sensible nor needed. You do not even should spend $500 at present to get a good handset, whether or not it’s a refurbished iPhone or an reasonably priced Android phone, as there are many respectable choices as little as $160.
Nonetheless, navigating the price range cellphone market may be tough; choices that look good on paper is probably not in follow, and a few gadgets will find yourself costing you extra when you think about many include restrictive storage. Whereas we spend most of our time reviewing mid- to high-end handsets at Engadget, we have examined numerous the most recent budget-friendly telephones in the marketplace to see minimize it as one of the best low-cost telephones you may get proper now.
Finest low-cost telephones
SAMSUNG
Display screen measurement: 6.7 inches | Refresh fee: 90Hz | Storage capability: As much as 256GB + microSD | SIM card sort: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 13MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP fundamental, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro | Weight: 7.05 ounces | Battery: 5,000mAh
For $200, the Galaxy A16 5G affords super worth. I haven’t had an opportunity to check it, however really feel assured recommending it since Samsung took an already nice cellphone within the A15 5G and made it even higher. In comparison with its predecessor, the A16 encompasses a thinner design, slimmer bezels and an excellent bigger 6.7-inch display screen. It additionally features a new, sooner and extra environment friendly Exynos 1330, alongside an unbelievable six years of promised software program assist.
The one disappointing factor in regards to the A16 is that Samsung didn’t replace the cellphone’s digicam package deal, however contemplating how a lot cellphone you’re getting for $200, it’s exhausting to fault the corporate. Oh, and the A16 doesn’t include a headphone jack, so price range for wi-fi earbuds. — Igor Bonifacic, Senior Reporter
OnePlus
Display screen measurement: 6.72 inches | Refresh fee: 120Hz | Storage capability: 128GB + microSD | SIM card sort: Twin Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 16MP | Rear digicam decision: 108MP fundamental, 2MP macro | Weight: 6.88 ounces | Battery: 5,000mAh
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G was our earlier high decide. At $300, it’s usually $100 costlier than the A16 5G. Nonetheless, if you will discover it on sale for much less, it’s nonetheless price contemplating over the A16. For one, the N30 encompasses a sooner 120Hz show and its Snapdragon 695 chip, whereas older than the A16’s Exynos 1330, nonetheless outperforms it in some areas.
Another excuse to contemplate the N30 over the A16 is that it ships with a 50W energy adapter, letting you get a full day of battery life in half-hour. If you happen to hope to make use of your new cellphone for so long as potential, the A16 is the higher selection, however the N30 could be a compelling various. — I.B.
Motorola
Display screen measurement: 6.5 inches | Refresh fee: 90Hz | Storage capability: 64GB + microSD | SIM card sort: Nano SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 8MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP | Weight: 6.53 ounces | Battery: 5,000mAh
For these on a very tight price range, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all of the bases nicely. It has a decently quick Snapdragon 680 processor together with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. And whereas that final quantity might sound small, the cellphone has a microSD card slot so you possibly can add extra space if and whenever you want it.
Its 6.5-inch LCD display screen can be surprisingly sharp with a 90Hz refresh fee. The Moto G Play even has an IP52 score for mud and water resistance. That isn’t a lot, however it’s ok to guard towards an errant splash or two. Positive, the G Play is fundamental, however it’s fundamental in a great way. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
Motorola
Display screen measurement: 6.7 inches | Refresh Price: 120Hz | Storage capability: 128GB | SIM card sort: Nano-SIM, eSIM | Entrance digicam decision: 32MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP fundamental, 13MP ultrawide | Weight: 6.7 ounces | Battery: 5,000mAh
The $400 Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G affords one thing not one of the different picks on this checklist do: a built-in stylus. If you happen to love doodling and jotting down notes, then that is a budget cellphone to purchase. Fortunately, it has just a few different issues going for it too. The Moto G Stylus 5G sports activities an enormous and responsive 6.7-inch show and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery. Plus, it doesn’t look half dangerous.
As with different choices on this worth vary, it will be good if the Moto G Stylus 5G got here with a extra succesful digicam, sooner charging and safety towards water. With this suggestion, you’ll want to keep away from paying full worth for the Moto G Stylus 5G. Fortunately, that’s not exhausting to do with the cellphone often on sale. — I.B.
What to search for in an affordable cellphone
For this information, our high picks price between $100 and $300. Something much less and also you would possibly as nicely go purchase a dumb cellphone as a substitute. Since they’re meant to be extra reasonably priced than flagship telephones and even midrange handsets, price range smartphones contain compromises; the cheaper a tool, the decrease your expectations round specs, efficiency and expertise must be. For that cause, one of the best recommendation I may give is to spend as a lot as you possibly can afford. On this worth vary, even $50 or $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product.
Second, it is best to know what you need most from a cellphone. When shopping for a price range smartphone, you might have to sacrifice a good fundamental digicam for lengthy battery life, or commerce a high-resolution show for a sooner CPU. That’s simply what comes with the territory, however figuring out your priorities will make it simpler to seek out the suitable cellphone.
It’s additionally price noting some options may be exhausting to seek out on cheaper handsets. For example, you gained’t want to go looking far for a tool with all-day battery life — however if you would like a cellphone with glorious digicam high quality, you’re higher off shelling out for one of many suggestions in our midrange smartphone guide, which all are available at $600 or much less.
Wi-fi charging and waterproofing additionally aren’t straightforward to seek out on this worth vary and overlook in regards to the quickest chipset. On the intense facet, most of our suggestions include headphone jacks, so that you gained’t want to purchase wireless headphones.
iOS can be off the desk, since, following the discontinuation of the iPhone SE, the $599 iPhone 16e is now essentially the most reasonably priced providing from Apple. That leaves Android as the one possibility within the under-$300 worth vary. Fortunately at present, there’s little to complain about Google’s working system – and you might even choose it to iOS.
Lastly, remember most Android producers usually provide far much less sturdy software program options and assist for his or her price range gadgets. In some circumstances, your new cellphone might solely obtain one main software program replace and a yr or two of safety patches past that. That applies to the OnePlus and Motorola suggestions on our checklist.
If you happen to’d prefer to maintain your cellphone for so long as potential, Samsung has one of the best software program coverage of any Android producer within the price range house, providing not less than four years of security updates on all of its gadgets. Not too long ago, it even started providing six years of assist on the $200 A16 5G, which we advocate beneath. That stated, if software program assist (or gadget longevity general) is your fundamental focus, contemplate spending a bit extra on the $500 Google Pixel 9a, and even the previous-gen Pixel 8a, which has deliberate software program updates via mid-2031.
