As high-end smartphones get more costly, the already excellent affordable Android phones become even more excellent. We’ve investigated and evaluated all of the top low-cost Android smartphones available on the market today.
Our buyer’s guide will help you narrow down your choices to the phone that is right for you. Here are some of our top picks for the most affordable phones currently available on the market.
Last year was a fantastic year for Android phones in the affordable segment, and thankfully, this trend is expected to continue far into the year 2022. In the last few years, you’ve seen features like more cameras, faster CPUs, and 5G become available at prices that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
That means there is an abundance of high-quality alternatives in the $200–$450 price range that won’t make you feel like you are sacrificing anything.
Google Pixel 5a
No, this is not the expensive pixel with 120hz displays. This is one of the best budget phones, more specifically budget android phones on the market with a 1080p display. With awesome rear cameras and constant software updates from Google, this phone has earned a place on our list. It’s similar to last year’s Pixel 4a, but with a few crucial improvements in critical areas.
First and foremost, there’s the processor to consider. The Snapdragon 765G is upgraded in the Pixel 5a, allowing for improved performance and a 5G connection. Of course, 5G still has a lot of bugs to iron out, but if you intend on keeping your phone for the next several years and want to take advantage of the higher network speeds when they become more generally accessible, it’s worth thinking about.
The 5a’s increased size allows for a larger display and battery, allowing it to be better prepared for viewing movies and playing games while not worrying about how much petrol is left in the tank.
The Pixel 4a has the same top-notch 12.2MP camera as the standard Pixel 4a, but it also has a 16MP ultra-wide camera for even more shooting options. In fact, even after two days of heavy use, our colleague was unable to kill the battery during our study of the 5a.
That’s a lot of money, particularly for a phone that doesn’t have wireless charging. The 5a is also the first Pixel in the a-series to have an official IP67 water resistance grade.
TCl 20se
This phone has one of the best cameras for a budget phone. There aren’t many outstanding phones under $200, but the $190 TCL 20SE is a rare find in this category. It boasts a 5,000 mAh battery, plenty of internal storage, and a lovely “nano-photoetched” back that makes this low-cost phone seem more premium.
The TCL 20SE, being the cheapest model in the TCL 20 series, boasts a massive 6.82-inch display with a 720p resolution that is brighter and more colorful than other phones in its class, owing to TCL’s television screen experience.
The 20SE’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 CPU is backed up by 4GB of RAM, and the two work together well enough to make Pokémon Unite fairly playable, although with some latency. Unlike most inexpensive phones in its category, the 20SE has a large 128GB internal storage capacity, as well as a microSD card slot for additional storage.
Furthermore, using simply Wi-Fi to connect to the internet, its 5,000mAh battery lasted a stunning 32 hours on a single charge. While the 48-megapixel primary camera on the 20SE is capable of taking fantastic photos in normal light, it isn’t designed for a night or macro shooting.
Overall, the TCL 20SE is a good pick for a sub-$200 4G phone, particularly if you’re not planning on using Verizon. If you get it with 128GB of storage, you will have yourself a good phone for a couple of years.
Moto G Stylus
If you do not want to spend much money in the coming year, this is the phone for you. It’s difficult to keep track of all of Motorola’s bargain phones, but one that stands out is the Moto G Stylus (2021).
The new moto g power has passed every test, from the battery test to the looks test. It’s not just one of the few Android phones with a built-in pen, but it’s also the right blend of specifications, features, and price.
A great screen size with OLED panel and software smarts controls the Motorola Moto G Stylus is a great option. There is also much storage to use, however unfortunately less ram. You’ll receive a huge 6.8-inch display to hold all of your media, and everything will look great owing to the Full HD+ quality.
The Snapdragon 678 CPU, combined with 128GB of built-in storage and a huge 4,000 mAh battery, provides enough performance. Given the G Stylus’ cheap price, these are all impressive features. The Moto G Stylus (2021)’s a key selling point is its built-in stylus experience, as the name indicates. It’s not the most expensive stylus we’ve ever used, but it’s enough for sketching, note-taking, and other tasks.
When you’re not using it, it can be stashed invisibly at the bottom of the phone, which is a great touch that connects the entire experience together. The Moto G Stylus, like the Moto G Power (2020), lacks NFC and has to put up with Motorola’s unsatisfactory software upgrades.
If they aren’t deal breakers for you, though, there’s a lot to appreciate here. The good news is it features android 12 also. Generally, one of the best low-price budget options out there, whether you are a stylus devotee or just stylus-curious.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
Some say it has a better value than the Samsung Galaxy s21. There have been a lot of Android phones introduced this year, with the OnePlus Nord 2 being one of the most notable.
The Nord series is OnePlus’s return to really inexpensive smartphones, and it’s a home run in almost every way. But, however, that low-cost flagship never made it to many regions of the globe, including North America.
OnePlus has thankfully increased the Nord collection by introducing two Nord phones to the United States, including our personal favorite, the Nord N10 5G. Despite its low pricing, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G delivers a powerful punch in terms of hardware.
The 90Hz AMOLED display is stunning, with vibrant colors and fluid movements. The Snapdragon 690 processor provides for quick 5G performance, long battery life, and OnePlus’ 30W wired charging remains one of the finest on the market.
The phone comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, as well as high-end features including a quad-camera array and twin stereo speakers. We really like the new Midnight Ice hue, which is just stunning. In terms of software, the OnePlus Nord comes preloaded with OxygenOS, which is based on Android 10.
It was just recently updated to Android 11/ OxygenOS 11 and will not be upgraded to version 12. Nonetheless, OxygenOS remains one of the greatest Android user interfaces available. Or it was, until it was reabsorbed by OPPO and merged with ColorOS.
So, in this scenario, not receiving Android 12 isn’t such a big deal. The Nord 10 hits a near-perfect mix between a wealth of additional capabilities and a simple user interface, and we can’t get enough of it.
iPhone SE
On a list of the greatest Android phones, there’s an iPhone? Yes, we are aware. But listen up, since many people who purchase iPhones use Google services, and we’re confident in declaring that the iPhone SE is one of the finest budget phones for running applications like Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and other Google services.
Customers who want to be a part of the Apple ecosystem and can afford the iPhone 12 mini should do so. Still, if you’re on a tighter budget, the iPhone SE is a fantastic deal that allows more people than ever before to finally join the Apple bandwagon. An oversaturated look is not the case.
This phone provides capable cameras, additionally powerful processors, and many more advanced features. Let’s start with the bad news: the iPhone SE’s design is a little old by 2021 standards. When contrasted to everything else on our list, its massive bezels appear like they’re from another planet, and depending on who you are, that’ll either be a deal-breaker or a minor design feature you don’t mind.
The remainder of the iPhone SE experience, if you’re okay with some thick bezels, is sort of wonderful. The issue with the iPhone SE is that no Android phone comes close to matching it in terms of performance for the money.
The Apple A13 Bionic processor is the starting point. This is the same technology that powers the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro in 2019, thus the iPhone SE is a powerhouse.
Whatever apps/games you throw at it, it will devour them with ease and never break a sweat. Nothing comes close to the sheer power of the iPhone SE when it comes to smartphones in the $400 price bracket. If your budget is a bit more lost, and you are an iPhone fan, go for the newer 5g iPhone SE new flagship.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
Samsung’s mid-tier Android phone range has improved significantly in recent years, with the Galaxy A32 5G being one of the most recent instances.
This phone is in the middle of Samsung’s more cheap Galaxy phone lineup, and it should be on your shortlist. If you’re looking for an inexpensive Android phone with a camera, this is the one to grab. The Galaxy A32 5G’s 48MP main camera is at its core, and photographs shot with it look fantastic. There’s a lot of detail here, as well as a wide dynamic range and brilliant colors.
The A32 5G has an 8MP wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 5MP portrait camera, all of which contribute to increasing the sorts of photos you may capture. The Galaxy A32 5G is just as outstanding outside of the photography area.
It has a 6.4-inch TFT display with 720p resolution, respectable performance in day-to-day work owing to the MediaTek MT6853 Dimensity 720 5G processor, and a large 5,000 mAh battery for extended battery life. When you combine all of that with USB-C charging and a headphone jack, you’ve got yourself a really impressive bundle.
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