It could be modern to spend $1,000 on the most recent flagship smartphone after they first get launched, however it’s not needed. You do not even must spend $500 as we speak to get a good handset, whether or not it’s a refurbished iPhone or an reasonably priced Android cellphone, as there are many choices as little as $160 that might suit your wants.
However navigating the funds cellphone market will be difficult; choices that look good on paper is probably not in observe, and a few handsets will find yourself costing you extra when you think about many include restrictive storage. Whereas we at Engadget spend most of our time testing and reviewing mid- to high-end handsets, we have examined numerous the most recent budget-friendly telephones in the marketplace to see which are literally price your cash.
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 effectively go purchase a dumb cellphone or high-end calculator as an alternative. Since they’re meant to be extra reasonably priced than flagship telephones and even midrange handsets, funds smartphones contain compromises; the cheaper a tool, the decrease your expectations round specs, efficiency and expertise ought to be. For that motive, the most effective recommendation I may give is to spend as a lot as you may afford. On this worth vary, even $50 or $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product.
Second, you must know what you need most from a cellphone. When shopping for a funds smartphone, you could must sacrifice a good primary digicam for lengthy battery life, or commerce a high-resolution show for a quicker CPU. That’s simply what comes with the territory, however understanding your priorities will make it simpler to search out the suitable cellphone.
It’s additionally price noting some options will be arduous to search out on low cost handsets. As an example, you gained’t want to look far for a tool with all-day battery life — however if you’d like an excellent digicam cellphone with glorious digicam high quality, you’re higher off shelling out for one of many suggestions in our midrange smartphone information, which all are available at $600 or much less. Wi-fi charging and waterproofing additionally aren’t straightforward to search out on this worth vary and overlook in regards to the quickest chipset. On the brilliant aspect, all our suggestions include headphone jacks, so that you gained’t must get wi-fi headphones.
iOS can also be off the desk, for the reason that $400 Apple iPhone SE is essentially the most reasonably priced iPhone within the lineup. That leaves Android OS as the one choice. Fortunately as we speak, there’s little to complain about Google’s OS – and you could even favor it to iOS. Lastly, consider most Android producers sometimes provide far much less strong software program options and assist for his or her funds units. In some circumstances, your new cellphone could solely obtain one main software program replace and a 12 months or two of safety patches past that. That applies to the OnePlus and Motorola suggestions on our record.
In case you’d wish to preserve your cellphone for so long as doable, Samsung has the most effective software program coverage of any Android producer within the funds house, providing 4 years of safety updates on all of its units. That stated, if software program assist (or gadget longevity total) is your primary focus, think about spending a bit extra the $500 Google Pixel 7a, which is our favourite midrange smartphone and has deliberate software program updates via mid-2026.
Greatest low cost telephones
Display dimension: 6.72 inches | Storage capability: 128GB + microSD | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 16MP | Rear digicam decision: 108MP primary, 2MP macro | Weight: 6.8 oz | Battery life: 12 hours, half-hour
The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G gives the most effective worth of any of the smartphones on our record. No different cellphone within the worth bracket contains a processor as quick because the N30’s Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. Furthermore, OnePlus has specced the N30 with 5G connectivity along with a beneficiant 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, that means you most likely gained’t must funds for a microSD card or cloud storage. It additionally comes with a 120Hz IPS show, a function that’s nice for each gaming and on a regular basis use. Better of all, the N30 ships with a 50W energy adapter for quick charging, letting you get a full day of battery life in half-hour. The N30 could be virtually excellent if it had waterproofing and OnePlus had dedicated to pushing a couple of main Android OS replace to the cellphone. — Igor Bonifacic, Contributing Reporter
SAMSUNG
Display dimension: 6.5 inches | Storage capability: 128GB/256GB + microSD | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 13MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro | Weight: 7.05 oz | Battery life: 2 days
For simply $200, the Galaxy A15 5G is a reasonably exceptional gadget. It has a 6.5-inch show with a barely slower 90Hz refresh price the Nord N30. Nevertheless, as a result of it options an AMOLED panel as an alternative of an LCD show, it boasts higher brightness and richer colours than principally all of its rivals. It can be configured with as much as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and its 5,000 mAh battery delivers lengthy battery life. Its digicam system is stable for its worth, providing a primary digicam that handles on a regular basis pictures effectively and a selfie digicam for video calls. And whereas its design isn’t too thrilling, the polycarbonate Samsung makes use of on the again has a pleasant matte end that feels extra like glass than low cost plastic. Lastly, the A15 comes with 4 years of safety updates and three years of OS upgrades, which is longer than most handsets on this worth vary. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
Motorola
Display dimension: 6.5 inches | Storage capability: 64GB + microSD | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 8MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP | Weight: 6.53 oz | Battery life: 46 hours
For these on a extremely tight funds, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all of the bases effectively. It has a speedy Snapdragon 680 processor together with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. And whereas that final quantity may appear small, the cellphone has a microSD card slot so you may add extra space if and once you want it. Its 6.5-inch LCD display can also be surprisingly sharp with a 90Hz refresh price. The Moto G Play even has an IP52 ranking for mud and water resistance. That isn’t a lot, however it’s ok to guard in opposition to an errant splash or two. Certain, the G Play is fundamental, however it’s fundamental in a great way. — S.R.
Motorola
Display dimension: 6.5-inch | Storage capability: 64GB | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 8MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP | Weight: 6.9 oz | Battery life: 20 hours
The $200 Motorola Moto G Stylus gives one thing not one of the different picks on this record do: a built-in stylus. In case you love doodling and jotting down notes, then that is a budget cellphone to purchase. Fortunately, it has a couple of different issues going for it too. The Moto G Stylus sports activities a giant and responsive 6.5-inch show and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery. Plus, it’s out there in two beautiful colours: midnight blue and glam pink.
As with different choices on this worth vary, it will be good if the Moto G Stylus got here with a extra succesful digicam, a quick charger and higher safety in opposition to water. One phrase of recommendation: avoid Moto G Stylus 5G. It doesn’t provide sufficient of an improve to justify costing $400. — I.B.
