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Published Sep 22, 2023 4:00 PM
With foldable designs, wi-fi charging, and high-resolution shows, the attract of proudly owning the most recent Android cellphone is simple. However, it’s necessary to comprehend that you simply don’t want the most recent mannequin to play video games, make video calls, or obtain the best apps—budget-friendly choices can be found for a fraction of the value. You can discover a wonderful mid-range Android cellphone that provides related efficiency, long-lasting battery life, and software program help to premium fashions for as little as $200. Our information will help you kind by means of all of the best cheap Android phones that supply a flagship-level expertise.
How we selected the best cheap Android phones
For over a decade, I’ve written about smartphones for websites like Popular Science, Best Products, and Reviewed. During that point, I’ve reviewed dozens of Android units, from reasonably priced mid-range phones to high-end premium fashions. To choose our picks, I drew on my expertise utilizing Android phones, consulted trusted sources {and professional} reviewers, and researched the preferred fashions accessible. While I get pleasure from utilizing the most recent smartphones accessible, I’ve come to favor finances units as a result of they provide the options I need at a way more reasonably priced value.
What is taken into account reasonably priced?
The Android cellphone market is flooded with choices, making it troublesome to pinpoint how a lot you’ll want to spend on a high quality machine. While it’s attainable to discover a serviceable Android machine for $100 or much less, the candy spot for hanging a stability between affordability, efficiency, and options tends to be within the $200 to $350 value vary. Our fastidiously chosen picks provide the proper mix of cost-effectiveness, guaranteeing you get probably the most out of your funding with out compromising on the efficiency and options that matter most within the ever-evolving world of smartphones.
The best cheap Android phones: Reviews & Recommendations
While extra reasonably priced Android phones could lack premium options like excessive refresh charge shows and wi-fi charging, they nonetheless provide wonderful efficiency and years of software program help. But balancing price with important options could be difficult, so we’ll show you how to suss out what’s price testing and what isn’t. Our checklist of the best cheap Android phones will show you how to discover the mannequin that delivers a flagship-level expertise in a extra reasonably priced package deal.
Best general: Google Pixel 6a
Specs
- Display: 6.1-inch, 1080 x 2400, OLED, 60Hz, 429 ppi
- Processor: Google Tensor Titan M2
- RAM: 6GB
- Camera: 12MP f/1.7, OIS; 12MP f/2.2
- Support: Five years of safety updates. Google hasn’t stated what number of OS updates it should obtain, however the Pixel 6 has been promised three.
Pros
- Fantastic show
- Flagship-level digital camera
- Excellent software program help
Cons
- Fingerprint sensor could be gradual
Despite its age, the Google Pixel 6a supplies the best stability between efficiency and affordability. The machine incorporates a highly effective Tensor chip, a {custom} piece of silicon designed by Google. The processor allows superior AI and machine studying options, offering customers with an unmatched digital camera expertise on this value vary. The machine incorporates a twin digital camera setup with a 12MP main digital camera and a 12MP ultra-wide digital camera. The Pixel 6a additionally incorporates a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED show, 6GB of RAM, and a 4,410mAh battery that Google estimates can final all day, relying in your utilization.
Best finances: Samsung Galaxy A03s
Specs
- Display: 6.5-inch, 720 x 1600, LCD, 270 ppi
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P35
- RAM: 3GB
- Camera: 13MP f/2.2 (broad), 2MP f/2.4 (macro), 2MP f/2.4 (depth)
- Support: Security updates into 2026
Pros
- Very reasonably priced
- Excellent software program help
- Fantastic battery life
Cons
The Samsung Galaxy A03s supplies a mixture of mid-range and low-end options, leading to a tool that completely suits within the class of “best budget.” It delivers first rate sufficient efficiency, good software program, and wonderful help from Samsung, making it the best Android machine if you’ll want to get monetary savings. It incorporates a 6.5-inch 720p LCD show, a MediaTek Helio G35 processor, and 3GB of RAM—sufficient to observe movies and play less-intensive video games. The machine additionally provides a fingerprint sensor within the energy button and a 13MP digital camera that we might describe as fantastic.
Best worth: Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Specs
- Display: 6.6-inch, 1080 x 2048, LCD, 400 ppi
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 700
- RAM: 4GB
- Camera: 50MP f/1.8 (broad), 2MP f/2.4 (macro), 2MP f/2.4 (depth)
- Support: Security updates into 2027
Pros
- Big, high-resolution show
- Expandable storage
- Works on all U.S. carriers
Cons
With a 6.6-inch 1080p show, MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip, and 5,000mAh battery, Samsung’s A14 5G is a stable possibility for round $200. The machine incorporates a sturdy design that appears prefer it belongs within the Galaxy S23 household. Meanwhile, it provides 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage with a microSD card slot for enlargement—one thing that’s turning into uncommon nowadays. It has a 50MP main digital camera, which takes first rate photos and might work on all U.S. carriers, together with Verizon. Samsung can be promising safety patches till early 2027, guaranteeing the machine stays shielded from malware for a number of extra years.
Best for gaming: OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Specs
- Display: 6.7-inch, 1080 x 2048, LCD, 120Hz, 391 ppi
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
- RAM: 8GB
- Camera: 108MP f/1.7 (broad), 2MP f/2.4 (macro), 2MP f/2.4 (depth)
- Support: One Android model improve and three years of safety updates
Pros
- 120Hz show
- Excellent efficiency
- 50W wired charging
Cons
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a brand new addition to the market and a tool that provides high-end specs in an reasonably priced package deal. The machine incorporates a 6.7-inch 1080p LCD show, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. You additionally get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip and a beefy 5,000mAh battery that helps 50W wired charging, making it attainable to replenish an empty battery in lower than an hour. We just like the OnePlus Nord N30 for gaming as a result of of its bigger measurement and highly effective efficiency. Games may also look nice on the big show, which incorporates a refresh charge of 120Hz. Other specs embody a 108MP digital camera, twin stereo audio system, and a Game Focus Mode to optimize the machine for improved gaming efficiency.
Best digital camera: Google Pixel 7a
Specs
- Display: 6.1-inch, 1080 x 2400, OLED, 120Hz, 429 ppi
- Processor: Google Tensor G2
- RAM: 8GB
- Camera: 64MP f/1.9 (broad), 13MP f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
- Support: Three years of OS upgrades and 5 years of safety updates
Pros
- Flagship-level efficiency
- Fantastic digital camera
- Beautiful OLED show
Cons
- Finicky fingerprint scanner
An improve to the Pixel 6a, Google’s Pixel 7a is basically a flagship machine with out the premium value. The design is almost an identical to the costlier Pixel 7, and it comes geared up with Google’s highly effective Tensor G2 processor and 8GB of RAM, so it may deal with no matter you throw at it. The 6.1-inch show incorporates a decision of 1080p and a refresh charge of 90Hz. Meanwhile, you get a twin digital camera setup with a 64MP main digital camera succesful of producing unbelievable outcomes, as exhibited in our full overview. The secondary 13MP ultra-wide digital camera is a superb possibility for taking panorama photographs. The machine additionally incorporates a fingerprint scanner, facial recognition, and wi-fi charging. While the Pixel 7a isn’t precisely a finances cellphone, we extremely advocate it for those who can swing the upper price.
What to contemplate when on the lookout for the best cheap Android phones
Cheap Android phones could solely boast some of the bells and whistles of costlier alternate options. Still, they provide super worth for budget-conscious shoppers. These fashions are excellent for first-time patrons, offering dependable efficiency, first rate digital camera setups, and all-day battery life. And regardless that they don’t embody each new characteristic, mid-range phones have been steadily enhancing, providing extra capabilities every year. Here’s what to contemplate when selecting the best cheap Android cellphone.
Performance
More reasonably priced phones typically provide a mixture of excessive and mid-range specs; one of crucial is the processor. The processor is important to run purposes and carry out numerous duties, from looking the net to taking part in video games. While firms like Qualcomm and MediaTek make most mid-range processors, firms like Google and Samsung produce custom-made silicon for his or her units.
The quantity of random entry reminiscence, or RAM, can be important to your machine’s efficiency and supplies purposes with a spot to retailer knowledge and rapidly reaccess it briefly. Cheaper units usually have 6GB of RAM, sufficient to comfortably transfer between completely different duties, together with messaging, looking social media, and watching movies.
Software help
Software help is important to your machine’s long-term efficiency and ensures you get new options and safety updates. The downside is help for cheaper units has traditionally been abysmal. Thankfully, firms have executed significantly better to help these units with new (and well timed) software program updates in recent times. We advocate looking for a tool that, at minimal, provides two years of main software program updates and three years of safety updates. Often, an organization will proceed to supply safety help even after ceasing software program help.
Display
It’s necessary to contemplate your cellphone’s show because you’ll be watching it rather a lot. The majority of fashionable smartphones characteristic screens between 5 and 6 inches, however the decision and pixel density will differ. Typically, cheaper units characteristic decrease decision—Full HD (1080p) or HD (720p)—liquid crystal shows (LCD). However, there are some choices that characteristic OLED shows, a know-how the place a light-emitting diode (LED) independently backlights every pixel. Devices with OLED shows could also be just a little costlier, so preserve that in thoughts.
In addition to decision, your cellphone’s pixel density is one other key spec. Measured in pixels per inch (PPI), the next pixel density ends in a sharper picture, making it harder to differentiate particular person pixels. A show with the next decision and pixel density will in the end make on-screen content material extra vivid and lifelike, with elevated readability significantly noticeable when viewing high-definition movies or studying textual content.
Meanwhile, your cellphone’s refresh charge, measured in Hertz (Hz), is one other spec that impacts the general person expertise. The next refresh charge, reminiscent of 90Hz or 120Hz, ends in smoother and extra fluid on-screen movement, making interactions, scrolling, and animations seem extremely responsive. Displays with the next refresh charge are typically reserved for flagship units. Still, there are some uncommon exceptions within the mid-range market. Android units on the decrease finish of the market usually characteristic a refresh charge of 60Hz.
Camera
These days, finances smartphones can present passable digital camera efficiency, with images and movies that look fantastic for on a regular basis use, together with sharing on social media. If a very good digital camera is your main concern, contemplate investing in a flagship machine that may provide extra superior digital camera know-how, bigger sensors, superior picture processing, and extra options. Flagship units additionally typically incorporate a number of lenses, reminiscent of ultra-wide and telephoto, providing you with extra flexibility to discover inventive potentialities.
That stated, high quality can differ considerably by producer, with Google and Samsung typically forward of the pack, whether or not it’s a high-end cellphone or one thing extra reasonably priced. In specific, Google’s Pixel line is broadly praised throughout the trade for cell images. The best approach to decide a smartphone’s digital camera high quality is to check the cellphone your self, like at a retailer or a good friend’s home. If that’s not a risk, learn and watch evaluations that present a deep dive into that cellphone’s digital camera high quality.
FAQs
Q: Which Android mannequin is the best?
If we’re speaking concerning the best Android mannequin from our checklist, the Pixel 7a is the best. It doesn’t precisely match our definition of “cheap.” Still, it provides the best design, specs, and digital camera at an affordable value. You additionally get options like a 90Hz show and wi-fi charging—options which are typically reserved for extra high-end units. If cash isn’t any possibility and also you need the best of the best, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 is up there. Google additionally provides a folding cellphone, named Pixel Fold, with the most recent in cutting-edge design and options.
Q: Do flagship phones last more?
Generally, flagship smartphones characteristic superior high quality parts that are inclined to have an extended lifespan than these in additional reasonably priced fashions. Additionally, flagship smartphones characteristic highly effective processors and ample RAM, permitting them to deal with software program updates and new apps for longer with out noticeable efficiency degradation. Manufacturers of flagship phones additionally are usually extra dedicated to offering common software program updates and safety patches, additional extending the machine’s usability. That stated, the units on our checklist ought to final for 2 or three years, a regular lifespan of cell units.
Q: Are there Android phones accessible for beneath $100?
Yes, there are Android phones accessible for beneath $100. In most instances, although, we don’t advocate them. These units are sometimes made with cheap parts and supplies and supply primary performance, like making calls, sending messages, and operating much less demanding apps. So, whilst you may get monetary savings within the quick time period, a low-end smartphone will unlikely final for very lengthy, requiring you to spend extra for an additional new machine. Of course, it depends upon your finances and priorities, so contemplate the trade-offs before you purchase the most cost effective Android machine accessible.
Final ideas on selecting the best cheap Android phones
Advancements in know-how have considerably narrowed the divide between mid-range Android units and their pricier flagship counterparts. This convergence has made it attainable to discover a high-quality smartphone with out breaking the financial institution. While it’s possible you’ll not get top-tier options like excessive refresh charge shows or cutting-edge digital camera programs, you’ll uncover that some of the best cheap Android phones ship distinctive efficiency, a wealthy array of options, and sturdy software program help.
Why belief us
Popular Science began writing about know-how greater than 150 years in the past. There was no such factor as “gadget writing” after we revealed our first difficulty in 1872, but when there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for on a regular basis readers means we might have been throughout it. Here within the current, PopSci is absolutely dedicated to serving to readers navigate the more and more intimidating array of units available on the market proper now.
Our writers and editors have mixed many years of expertise masking and reviewing shopper electronics. We every have our personal obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video video games to cameras and past—however after we’re reviewing units outdoors of our quick wheelhouses, we do our best to hunt out reliable voices and opinions to assist information folks to the very best suggestions. We know we don’t know every thing, however we’re excited to dwell by means of the evaluation paralysis that web procuring can spur so readers don’t must.