The Top Budget Phones of 2024: Affordable Choices for Every Need Leave a comment
You need not break your price range to search out a fantastic on a regular basis cellphone.
It could be modern to spend $1,000 on the most recent flagship smartphone after they first get launched, however it’s not vital. You do not even must spend $500 at present to get an honest handset as there are many choices as little as $160 that would suit your wants.
However navigating the price range cellphone market may be difficult; choices that look good on paper might not be in follow, 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 quite a few the most recent budget-friendly telephones in the marketplace to see which are literally value your cash.
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What to search for in an inexpensive cellphone
For this information, our prime picks price 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 reasonably priced than flagship telephones and even midrange handsets, price range smartphones contain compromises; the cheaper a tool, the decrease your expectations round efficiency and expertise must be. For that cause, the perfect recommendation I may give is to spend as a lot as you may afford. On this worth vary, even $50 or $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product.
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Second, you need to know what you need most from a cellphone. When shopping for a price range smartphone, it’s possible you’ll must sacrifice an honest 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 understanding your priorities will make it simpler to search out the fitting cellphone.
It’s additionally value noting some options may be onerous to search out on low-cost handsets. As an example, you received’t want to look far for a tool with all-day battery life — however in order for you a fantastic digicam, 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 worth vary and neglect a few quick processor. On the brilliant 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 possibility. Fortunately, in 2024, there’s little to complain about Google’s OS – and it’s possible you’ll even favor it to iOS. Lastly, take into accout most Android producers usually supply far much less strong software program help for his or her price range units. In some circumstances, 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 checklist.
In case you’d prefer to hold your cellphone for so long as potential, Samsung has the perfect software program coverage of any Android producer within the price range area, providing four years of security updates on all of its units. That stated, if software program help (or gadget longevity general) is your fundamental 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 means of mid-2026.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
The best cheap phone overall
Display screen dimension: 6.72 inches | Storage capability: 128GB + microSD | SIM card sort: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 16MP | Rear digicam decision: 108MP fundamental, 2MP macro | Weight: 6.8 oz
The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G presents the perfect worth of any of the smartphones on our checklist. No different cellphone within the worth bracket encompasses 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, that means you most likely received’t must price range for a microSD card or cloud storage. It additionally comes with a 120Hz IPS show, a characteristic 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 could be nearly excellent if it had waterproofing and OnePlus had dedicated to pushing a couple of main Android replace to the cellphone. — Igor Bonifacic, Contributing Reporter
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Best cheap phone under $300
Display screen dimension: 6.5 inches | Storage capability: 128GB/256GB + microSD | SIM card sort: Nano-SIM | Entrance digicam decision: 13MP | Rear digicam decision: 50MP fundamental, 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 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 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
Moto G Play (2024)
Best cheap phone under $200
Display screen dimension: 6.5 inches | Storage capability: 64GB + microSD | SIM card sort: 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 may appear small, the cellphone has a microSD card slot so you may add extra space if and while 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, however it’s adequate to guard towards an errant splash or two. Certain, the G Play is primary, however it’s primary in a great way. — S.R.
Motorola Moto G Stylus
Honorable mention
Display screen dimension: 6.5-inch | Storage capability: 64GB | SIM card sort: 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 checklist do: a built-in stylus. In case 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 obtainable in two beautiful colours: midnight blue and glam pink.
As with different choices on this worth vary, it will 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: avoid Moto G Stylus 5G. It doesn’t supply sufficient of an improve to justify costing $400. — I.B.