Smartphones have become a necessary component of modern life, yet their price can be prohibitive. Thankfully, budget handsets have improved dramatically in recent years and now provide similar experiences as flagship flagship phones while being hundreds of dollars less costly.
Our choice for the best budget phone offers an attractive display, reliable performance, and long battery life. Furthermore, it features an excellent primary camera as well as four years of software updates.
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
The Galaxy A25 5G from Samsung is an affordable mid-range budget phone featuring an updated chipset and software updates that keep it current and secure. Perfect for those who know and trust Samsung while still needing fast charging technology.
This mid-range phone features an AMOLED display with vibrant and well-calibrated colours, an 8MP primary camera and fast wired and wireless charging speeds. Compatible with LTE and 5G networks and supporting 17 different global frequencies – along with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and optional memory/storage options of 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB (depending on region/carrier). Furthermore, its microSD card slot enables storage expansion as needed.
Our tests demonstrated that the A25 5G excels at performing most tasks efficiently and should easily handle even demanding ones. On Geekbench 6, it achieved high single-core and multi-core scores – surpassing even Motorola G Power with its MediaTek Dimensity 7020 processor but falling below the OnePlus Nord N30, which uses Snapdragon 625 chip technology.
Though it performs admirably, the A25 could benefit from some upgrades. Notably absent is its fingerprint sensor found on the 2023 version and its IP67 protection against water resistance. Meanwhile, Motorola Moto G Power 5G, priced similarly and offering colour options such as those found on vegan leather Moto Gs, is significantly better designed. In contrast, CMF by Nothing offers interchangeable backs for customization – these features help make competing smartphones seem more exciting at this price point.
Google Pixel 6a
The Pixel 6a proves that great smartphones don’t need to cost close to $1,000. For $449, you can own one with premium design features, solid camera specs and outstanding battery life – one of the top Android phones under $500 that still holds up today!
While some features are lacking in more expensive Pixel phones, like wireless charging and 90Hz displays, Google uses its powerful processor in their budget phone as well. Furthermore, its aluminium frame feels solid and upscale. At the same time, the plastic back doesn’t look cheap in any way – something not available with other budget phones from competitors like Motorola or HTC.
Our tests showed that the Pixel 6A’s display was bright enough for use outdoors in direct sunlight and offered an impressive range of colours. Furthermore, its response rate was exceptional – making it well-suited to fast-paced games and movies.
The 6A camera is one of its most vital assets and delivered impressive performance in our tests. Capturing high-resolution photos even under low lighting conditions was easy; video recording went smoothly, too – the only drawback being its lack of a zoom lens, which may annoy some users.
For most people, the Pixel 6A is an exceptional midrange phone choice. Boasting a premium design that stands out among budget phones, its support for 5G technology makes it unique in this price range and includes Android O – our Editors’ Pick for the best smartphone under $500.
iPhone SE (2022)
The iPhone SE (2022) is a dinky, classic-looking Apple phone that offers surprising value. Powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chipset found in their flagship devices, it boasts excellent camera performance and battery life for such a small device – although its dated 4.7-inch display may become cramped as apps and websites become optimized for larger displays.
Its key drawbacks, including wireless charging or Apple Pay support for mobile payments, make the SE an excellent choice for anyone prioritizing blistering performance, convenient iOS features and portability over everything else.
One area in which cheap phones can falter is in the quality of their materials. Budget models often feature plastic cases instead of metal or glass casing, with reduced screen resolution or OLED displays compared to higher-end phones. Our picks above feature excellent build quality to help compensate for such compromises.
As a final point, it’s essential to remember that lower-cost Android phones typically receive fewer software updates than more expensive models. Therefore, it is a good idea to check with each manufacturer as to when your device can expect updates such as security patches or improvements; we advise selecting only devices from manufacturers with an excellent track record in terms of updating schedules; an example would be Motorola Moto G Power (2024), an exceptional value phone but filled with bloatware which we would advise against entirely; instead, we suggest the Samsung Galaxy A52 instead – similarly affordable but offering much superior user experience!
Moto G 5G (2024)
Motorola’s Moto G lineup of phones is an excellent value if you can afford one, offering sleek designs with vegan leather backings, fast and fluid performance, long battery life and the option to add NFC for mobile payments. Motorola also includes additional software features like Moto Gestures that add value.
However, it does come with its share of downsides. The Moto G 5G’s camera doesn’t match those found in similar phones in this price range, and its LCD panel results in darker colours and lower contrast levels than OLED screens would allow. Furthermore, battery life is about average and 18W chargers charge slowly when compared with alternatives.
Another area for improvement with the Moto G’s Android OS is its limited updates; it ships with Android 14 and will only receive one major version update after that, far less than both its rivals – Pixel 6a gets seven years’ worth and Pixel 3A only receives three!
Budget phones should be durable enough to withstand accidental drops, include an unlocked lock that doesn’t require passwords and come equipped with a headphone jack. Manufacturers with strong US presence and retail operations tend to be aware of security vulnerabilities more quickly, offering patches accordingly. Budget smartphones should have waterproof capabilities as well as fingerprint sensors that unlock quickly without being bent by hands when held. If these options don’t exist in their budget category of interest, it might be wiser to upgrade to midrange phones instead.
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Samsung budget phones are among the finest on the market, and this model stands out as being especially impressive. Boasting an expansive 6.6-inch display and 90Hz refresh rate that makes swiping and scrolling significantly smoother than phones using lesser LCD panels, as well as fingerprint sensor support, NFC support for mobile payments via NFC as well as 5G connectivity, the Galaxy A14 5G is also one of few budget smartphones with this much power at such a great price point.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 features an octa-core chip and triple-lens camera on the rear for an excellent experience, perfect for people starting or upgrading from older smartphones. Furthermore, its 5,000mAh battery should easily last two days under moderate use – plus, it supports up to 1TB microSD storage, which lets you access all your files anytime, anywhere!
Design-wise, the A14 features a minimalist aesthetic with some bright splashes of colour. Though lacking glass back protection, its plastic body looks good and feels comfortable in your hand – while its textured surface helps prevent fingerprint smudges.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G doesn’t boast the longest OS update guarantee among this list of phones, but it still boasts four years of security updates and five years of software upgrades – better than what would typically be offered by phones at this price point. This is particularly remarkable given that manufacturers often discontinue OS updates for older devices – it makes this phone an attractive option for anyone wanting to keep up with all the latest features and apps!