When it comes to technology, some people just don’t find it reasonable to spend crazy amounts of money on a gadget that gets old in just a couple of years. Yet, those same people still want the full smartphone experience, the camera, the apps, and the speed. Are there any budget phones that fulfil these criteria?
The good news is that with recent launches the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. We now have phones that are cheap without being downright ruined by terrible issues those budget phones do not lag terribly, they have decent cameras, and some of them even come with a very likeable design. But separating the best budget phones from the fluff could be difficult, and even worse time consuming. That’s why we’ve cherry-picked the very best budget phones you could get right now depending on a set of simple criteria.
But which ones are they? We’ve picked the best affordable phones, where affordable does not mean ‘cheap’ in any embarrassing way.
What to look for in a budget phone
In their essence, budget phones are all based around premium features that trickle down from the upper echelons. As flagship phones become more and more advanced, features and functionalities that were previously reserved for only the best devices can now be found in phones that cost merely a fraction of the price. That’s exactly the case with our top three picks here: the iPhone SE 2022 still has a top-performing A15 chipset, the Pixel 7a has the exceptional camera performance of Google phones, while the Galaxy A54 5G is the closest you’d get to a Galaxy flagship for less than $500. And that’s a characteristic of almost all the best cheap and affordable phones.
When it comes to budget phones, price is naturally the most important aspect, whereas the rest is compromises you’re willing to make. You can’t get a good battery, display, and camera all in the same package, you normally have to pick two of these and learn to live with the third. Premium build materials and design aren’t really a thing with budget phones, which often are made of plastic, but then again, you shouldn’t be expecting much.
Budget phone nice-to-haves
First things first, you will have to settle on what type of budget phone you want. Nine out of ten budget phones are running Android, but an iPhone, be it a new iPhone SE or a used former flagship, will easily be a better device for many, many people. But finding the best budget phone is a hard task.
The display and overall performance should be evaluated thoroughly. Don’t get fooled by the number of cameras at the back of the phone and don’t go for the absolute highest number of lenses you see: often, a single good camera easily beats any triple or quad-camera system. A high refresh rate display is also something that’s beginning to appear on more and more affordable devices.
Our 3 top picks for budget phones in 2023
What is the best cheap phone to buy? We’ve generally narrowed our recommendations to three devices: the Google Pixel 7a, the iPhone SE 2022, and the new Galaxy A54 5G, which can often be found on the cheap.
Best budget phones under $500
Google Pixel 7a
Pros
- Good value for money
- Stock Android with tons of AI/ML-powered software features
- Display finally has a 90Hz refresh rate
- Compact and user-friendly size
- Face Unlock on board
- Wireless charging
- Capable camera with lots of features
Cons
- More expensive than its predecessor
- Some slight build quality issues
- Only a single 128GB storage option
- Uninspiring digital zoom
- Charges slowly
The Google Pixel 7a is the tech giant’s latest budget smartphone. It comes with a Tensor G2 chipset on board, which is the same silicon that powers the more expensive Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Thanks to its high-end processor, the Pixel 7a delivers incredible performance despite its budget-friendly price tag. Additionally, the phone packs a 64 MP main camera, which takes incredible photos and can shoot videos in up to 4K at 60fps.
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Who would guess that an iPhone is one of the best budget phones you could buy. The iPhone SE (2022) is not only an excellent phone, but also one of the few truly compact phones you could get right now. With its Apple A15 Bionic chipset, it’s also quite a capable device that’s leaps and bounds ahead of the similarly-priced Android competition. Yes, it is $30 more than the price tag in this category, but it’s worth it. Surely it also looks a bit dated thanks to its iPhone 8-esque looks, but the whole package is definitely worth it. As far as iPhones are concerned, the iPhone SE (2022) is still the best budget phone.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Light, thin and compact
- iPhone with a button classic vibe
- 5G connectivity with C-band support
- Super fast processor
- Camera is great for day shots, video
Cons
- Feels dated
- LCD screen instead of AMOLED
- Screen feels too small for a modern phone
- Battery life is improved, but still below average
- Camera lacks night mode, has no ultra-wide lens
- Only 64GB base storage
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
The Galaxy A54 is Samsung’s latest mid-ranger, and we could say it has a lot to offer for its budget-friendly price tag. The phone has good performance thanks to its Exynos 1380 chipset and takes pretty awesome photos with its 50 MP main camera. In addition to that, it can shoot videos at up to 4K at 30fps. As for battery life, the Galaxy A54 can easily get you through a more intense day and even last you around a day and a half with regular usage.
Pros
- Nice and clean design styling
- Improved image quality
- Solid battery life
- Has a microSD card slot
- Improved haptics
Cons
- Performance occasionally feels stuttery
- Video stabilization could be improved
- No wireless charging
In the realm of budget smartphones, the Google Pixel 7a, iPhone SE (2022), and Samsung Galaxy A54 5G emerge as top picks under $500. These devices showcase that affordability no longer means compromising essential features, offering a balance of performance, camera capabilities, and design. As technology progresses, budget phones deliver a comprehensive smartphone experience without hefty price tags, catering to users seeking a smart investment without sacrificing functionality.
Source: phonearena