Top budget cell phones

We round up the best inexpensive phones we've reviewed from Apple, Samsung and Google Pixel.

The list in brief 2. Best cheap Samsung 3. Best cheap iPhone 4. Best cheap Pixel 5. Best cheap camera phone 6. Best cheap phone for durablity 7.

Top budget cell phones

It also comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader and Verizon 5G support. The Samsung Galaxy A03s has better performance and update support than other ultra-budget phones, and it works on all cellular networks. Unlike many budget phones, its 6. It will support Android 14 when it rolls out, and it will get security updates through June Most budget phones are lucky to get half that. The A03s is fast enough to browse the web, send messages, and play simple games. Wirecutter staff writer Roderick Scott has been reviewing consumer tech, including Android phones, for more than a decade. Previous testing for this guide was done by Ryan Whitwam, who has reviewed Android phones for Wirecutter since The best smartphones have never been more expensive, but you can still find a phone with high-end features for a fraction of the price of a flagship phone. Budget phones are excellent first smartphones, especially for kids and teenagers, or the terminally clumsy. More importantly, you can use an unlocked phone on a prepaid mobile virtual network operator MVNO ; these low-cost carriers operate on national networks but tend to impose more data-usage restrictions or calling limits. Here are the things we look for in a phone before recommending it:. OnePlus has guaranteed one software update to Android 14 along with three years of security updates. The N30 has a larger display with a higher refresh rate.

Mobile Accessories. Foldable Phones. Excellent note taker.

It's an exciting time for smartphones. Thanks to increasingly powerful new chips, we're long past the days when you had to choose between spending a bundle on a premium phone or settling for sluggish performance on a budget model. As the most expensive flagship smartphones strive to deliver console-quality gaming and advanced computational photography experiences, more affordable phones have benefited from a healthy range of powerful mid-range processors that can now easily handle all the daily tasks that most smartphone owners need and won't need to be left behind when the next Android update comes along. Some of these even cross over onto our list of the best Android phones. Of course, you'll still have to make some compromises to get a phone in this price range, but the good news is that we know where those lines are drawn, and we've applied our years of experience reviewing Android phones of all shapes and sizes to round up some of the best picks to get you started. Google's Pixel 7a is the most expensive A-series device yet, but that price bump comes with all sorts of big improvements.

The Quick List 2. Best overall 3. Runner up 4. Longest-lasting phone 5. Best design 6. Bigger Pixel savings 7. Best cheap iPhone 8. Best for note-takers What to look for How we test.

Top budget cell phones

It also comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader and Verizon 5G support. The Samsung Galaxy A03s has better performance and update support than other ultra-budget phones, and it works on all cellular networks. Unlike many budget phones, its 6. It will support Android 14 when it rolls out, and it will get security updates through June Most budget phones are lucky to get half that.

Titanium ore ffxiv

Most budget phones are lucky to get half that. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G Reasons to avoid - Inconsistent camera performance. There are a lot of smartphones to choose from nowadays and as the price point comes down, typically, so does the quality. Weight: 5. In head-to-head shots, the Galaxy A54 holds its own, even surpassing the output of the Pixel 6a in some cases, particularly when it comes to low-light shots. Our Experts. Shorter security update support than Pixel 7a. Add to that great long-term support and a low price and there's really no greater tough smartphone worth considering. If you are looking for a new device at a midrange price, the Google Pixel 7a checks off all the boxes. Brightness and contrast are beautifully balanced to deliver gorgeous depth and dynamic range, which is something even some premium phones struggle with.

However, picking the right one can be a bit tricky, as reducing the price of a phone can sometimes result in too many trade-offs. So to give you a hand, we tested a bunch of the most popular options and put together a list of our favorite cheap Android phones.

It also features decent battery life and great software support, just like most other Samsung phones. Beauty Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Solid main shooter: The 50MP main shooter takes very nice photos in good light. Best cheap Pixel. It has an all-plastic build, which might sound unappealing, but it keeps the weight down. Samsung's Galaxy A03s comes with a fingerprint reader and updated base RAM and storage compared to its predecessor, which gives it a little bit of extra punch. Sure, it launched in but the hardware it brings to the table is remarkably similar to its successor, while the price has continued to drop since its debut, delivering some top-tier performance, even now in We lag; big time. Reasons to avoid - Inconsistent focus with camera. That said, some of its improvements come with caveats of their own. Our Experts.