It might be trendy to spend $1,000 on the most recent flagship smartphone once they first get launched, nevertheless it’s not mandatory. You do not even should spend $500 at this time to get a good handset as there are many choices as little as $160 that might suit your wants. However navigating the funds cellphone market may be difficult; choices that look good on paper is probably not in apply, 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 plenty of 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 prime picks value between $100 and $300. Something much less and also you would possibly as properly go purchase a dumb cellphone or high-end calculator as a substitute. 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 efficiency and expertise ought to be. For that cause, the very best recommendation I can provide is to spend as a lot as you may afford. On this value vary, even $50 or $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product.
Second, you need to know what you need most from a cellphone. When shopping for a funds smartphone, you might must sacrifice a good digital camera for a long-lasting battery or commerce a high-resolution show for a quicker processor. That’s simply what comes with the territory, however figuring out your priorities will make it simpler to search out the proper cellphone.
It’s additionally price noting some options may be onerous to search out on low-cost handsets. For example, you received’t want to go looking far for a tool with all-day battery life — however if you need an amazing digital camera, you’re higher off shelling out for one of many suggestions in our midrange smartphone guide, which all are available in at $600 or much less. Wi-fi charging and waterproofing additionally aren’t straightforward to search out on this value vary and overlook a few quick processor. On the intense aspect, all our suggestions include headphone jacks, so that you received’t must get wireless headphones.
iOS can 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 as the one choice. Fortunately, in 2024, there’s little to complain about Google’s OS – and you might even want it to iOS. Lastly, bear in mind most Android producers usually supply far much less sturdy software program help for his or her funds gadgets. 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 checklist.
Should you’d prefer to preserve your cellphone for so long as attainable, Samsung has the very best software program coverage of any Android producer within the funds house, providing four years of security updates on all of its gadgets. That mentioned, if software program help (or system 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 by mid-2026.
OnePlus
Display measurement: 6.72 inches | Storage capability: 128GB + microSD | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digital camera decision: 16MP | Rear digital camera decision: 108MP primary, 2MP macro | Weight: 6.8 oz
The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G gives the very best worth of any of the smartphones on our checklist. No different cellphone within the value bracket includes a processor as quick because the N30’s Snapdragon 695 5G. Furthermore, OnePlus has specced the N30 with 5G connectivity along with a beneficiant 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which means you most likely received’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 that you should utilize to get a full day of battery life in half-hour. The N30 could be nearly excellent if it had waterproofing and OnePlus had dedicated to pushing multiple main Android replace to the cellphone. — Igor Bonifacic, Contributing Reporter
SAMSUNG
Display measurement: 6.5 inches | Storage capability: 128GB/256GB + microSD | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digital camera decision: 13MP | Rear digital camera decision: 50MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro | Weight: 7.05 oz
For simply $200, the Galaxy A15 5G is a reasonably exceptional system. It has a 6.5-inch show with a barely slower 90Hz refresh fee the Nord N30. Nonetheless, as a result of it options an OLED panel as a substitute of an LCD show, it boasts higher brightness and richer colours than mainly all of its rivals. It will also be configured with as much as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and its 5,000 mAh battery delivers a ton of longevity. 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 value vary. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
Motorola
Display measurement: 6.5 inches | Storage capability: 64GB + microSD | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digital camera decision: 8MP | Rear digital camera decision: 50MP | Weight: 6.53 oz
For these on a very tight funds, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all of the bases properly. 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 more room if and once 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 ranking for mud and water resistance. That isn’t a lot, nevertheless it’s adequate to guard towards an errant splash or two. Positive, the G Play is primary, nevertheless it’s primary in a great way. — S.R.
Motorola
Display measurement: 6.5-inch | Storage capability: 64GB | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digital camera decision: 8MP | Rear digital camera decision: 50MP | Weight: 6.9 oz
The $200 Motorola Moto G Stylus gives one thing not one of the different picks on this checklist do: a built-in stylus. Should 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 an enormous and responsive 6.5-inch show and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery. Plus, it’s out there in two pretty colours: midnight blue and glam pink.
As with different choices on this value vary, it might be good if the Moto G Stylus got here with a extra succesful digital camera, a quick charger and higher safety towards water. One phrase of recommendation: keep away from Moto G Stylus 5G. It doesn’t supply sufficient of an improve to justify costing $400. — I.B.
