It could be trendy to spend $1,000 on the most recent flagship smartphone after they first get launched, but it surely’s not essential. You do not even need to spend $500 right now to get a good handset as there are many choices as little as $160 that would suit your wants. However navigating the price range cellphone market might 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 Techpion 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 value your cash.
What to search for in an inexpensive cellphone
For this information, our prime picks value between $100 and $300. Something much less and also you would possibly as nicely go purchase a dumb cellphone or high-end calculator as a substitute. Since they’re meant to be extra inexpensive than flagship telephones and even midrange handsets, price range smartphones contain compromises; the cheaper a tool, the decrease your expectations round efficiency and expertise needs to be. For that purpose, the very 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’s best to know what you need most from a cellphone. When shopping for a price range smartphone, it’s possible you’ll must sacrifice a good digicam 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 seek out the precise cellphone.
It’s additionally value noting some options might be arduous to seek out on low cost handsets. As an example, you received’t want to go looking far for a tool with all-day battery life — however if you’d like an ideal digicam, you’re higher off shelling out for one of many suggestions in our midrange smartphone information, which all are available in at $600 or much less. Wi-fi charging and waterproofing additionally aren’t straightforward to seek out on this worth vary and overlook a couple of quick processor. On the intense aspect, all our suggestions include headphone jacks, so that you received’t must get wi-fi headphones.
iOS can be off the desk, because the $400 Apple iPhone SE is essentially the most inexpensive iPhone within the lineup. That leaves Android as the one possibility. Fortunately, in 2024, there’s little to complain about Google’s OS – and it’s possible you’ll even want it to iOS. Lastly, have in mind most Android producers sometimes supply far much less sturdy software program assist for his or her price range units. In some instances, your new cellphone might 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.
When you’d wish to maintain your cellphone for so long as doable, Samsung has the very best software program coverage of any Android producer within the price range area, providing 4 years of safety updates on all of its units. That mentioned, if software program assist (or gadget longevity total) is your primary focus, contemplate 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 digicam decision: 16MP | Rear digicam decision: 108MP primary, 2MP macro | Weight: 6.8 oz
The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G presents the very best worth of any of the smartphones on our record. No different cellphone within the worth bracket incorporates 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 in all probability received’t must price range 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 need to use to get a full day of battery life in half-hour. The N30 can be virtually good if it had waterproofing and OnePlus had dedicated to pushing a couple of main Android replace to the cellphone. — Igor Bonifacic, Contributing Reporter
$250 at Amazon
SAMSUNG
Display measurement: 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
For simply $200, the Galaxy A15 5G is a fairly outstanding gadget. It has a 6.5-inch show with a barely slower 90Hz refresh charge the Nord N30. Nevertheless, as a result of it options an OLED panel as a substitute of an LCD show, it boasts higher brightness and richer colours than principally all of its rivals. It may 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 worth vary. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter
$200 at Amazon
Motorola
Display measurement: 6.5 inches | Storage capability: 64GB + microSD | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 8MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP | Weight: 6.53 oz
For these on a extremely tight price range, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all of the bases nicely. It has a speedy 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 more room if and once you want it. Its 6.5-inch LCD display screen can be surprisingly sharp with a 90Hz refresh charge. The Moto G Play even has an IP52 score for mud and water resistance. That isn’t a lot, but it surely’s ok to guard towards an errant splash or two. Certain, the G Play is fundamental, but it surely’s fundamental in a great way. — S.R.
$150 at Amazon
Motorola
Display measurement: 6.5-inch | Storage capability: 64GB | SIM card kind: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 8MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP | Weight: 6.9 oz
The $200 Motorola Moto G Stylus presents one thing not one of the different picks on this record do: a built-in stylus. When 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 obtainable in two beautiful colours: midnight blue and glam pink.
As with different choices on this worth vary, it might be good if the Moto G Stylus got here with a extra succesful digicam, 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.
$130 at Amazon