You don’t have to spend a lot of money on the newest iPhone 14 or Galaxy S23 to get access to your favorite apps and games, as well as multiple cameras and useful shooting tools. I can say from personal experience that budget-friendly Android phones can offer a wide range of features while being much less expensive than their high-end rivals.
The cheapest phones offer effective cameras, sufficiently large displays for watching videos and playing games, and enough battery life to last most of the day. These features are ideal for people on a tight budget. And inexpensive phones now come standard with 5G connectivity. And that’s before we had a chance to check out some recently released budget phones like the Motorola Edge 2022 for $498 and the OnePlus Nord N300 for $228. Below we have named some of the best cheap Android phones.
Best Cheap Android Phones
Google Pixel 6a
At its regular $450 price point, Google’s Pixel 6a checks a lot of boxes, and some early discounts have made it an even better deal. It is undoubtedly the quickest phone on this list with to its six gigabytes of RAM and Tensor processor, which also drives the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The 6a uses the same sensor as the Pixel 5 and 5a, therefore it lacks the large 50-megapixel primary camera sensor found in the Pixel 6, but it still produces excellent images. Overall, this is one of the best Cheap Android Phones that you can buy right now.
It is clear that Google has extensive experience with this camera gear. It includes Google’s own version of Android as well, and security upgrades will be provided for five years. The Pixel 6a is not without its challenges; if you reside in a location with poor wireless reception, the 6a’s worse-than-average reception should cause you some concern. Additionally, there is no headphone port and no wireless charging, which is a first for Pixel A phones.
Samsung Galaxy A53
In many aspects, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a fantastic follow-up to the Galaxy A52 5G, which we really enjoyed. While it removes the 3.5 mm headphone port and switches to an Exynos chipset from the mid-range Snapdragon 750G of the previous year’s phone, everything else remains the same. Additionally, there is a respectable camera array with a 64-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera.
As well as a 120Hz OLED display with an under-display fingerprint reader (plus a couple of crappy depth and macro cameras). You would be justified in thinking that the A53, which is taking the place of the A52 5G on this list, is a bit uninteresting considering it is our Premium Pick. It’s noteworthy to note that the A53 is $50 less expensive than the A52 5G, which costs $500. Overall, it is one of the best Cheap Android Phones that you can buy.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G
The Moto G Stylus 5G might be right for you if you’ve always wanted to try super-premium devices with a stylus like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but didn’t have enough money in your pocket. Although it costs significantly less than the S22 Ultra, it is one of our best alternatives on the market. The phone’s casing, which was quite large in our test with a 6.8-inch display, perfectly matches the stylus that bears its name. Still, it is one of the best cheap Android phones you can consider.
The FHD+ LCD display itself did not strike us as particularly spectacular, but the 120 Hz refresh rate ensured that scrolling felt smooth in everyday use. Battery life is one area where the Moto G Stylus 5G excels. It has a 5,000 mAh battery that regularly lasted a day and a half in our tests. During our test time, the Snapdragon 695 5G offered smooth performance and consistent frame rates in demanding titles like Asphalt 9 or Genshin Impact.
OnePlus Nord N20 5G
Easily one of the best Cheap Android Phones available on the market, the Nord N20’s unusual $282 price is just the start of OnePlus’ newest low-cost phone that defies expectations. The Motorola G Stylus 5G (2022), which costs almost twice as much, uses the same Snapdragon 695 5G processor inside. There is also 6GB of RAM and even 128GB of quick UFS 2.2 storage. In our study of the OnePlus Nord N20 5G(opens in new tab), we found that the device routinely outperformed devices costing twice as much.
Additionally, it has an AMOLED front display, which is uncommon in phones in this price category. The colours are amazing, the dark levels are perfect, and everything appears fantastic, as you would expect from an AMOLED panel. Even though it “only” has a 60Hz refresh rate and could be a little brighter, it’s difficult to disagree with AMOLED quality when the majority of phones in this price bracket just come with a plain LCD.
Asus Zenfone 9
The Zenfone 9, Asus comes to the rescue (7/10, WIRED Recommends). With a 5.9-inch AMOLED screen, it has to be one of the smallest Android phones I’ve seen in recent memory. Its delightfully textured back makes it a delight to grip as well. Additionally, it has a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, allowing the Zenfone to easily handle any game. In my tests, the 4,300-mAh battery easily lasted far into the next day on a single charge and the display supports a 120-Hz panel. It is completed by dual stereo speakers and, yes, a headphone port. The lack of a MicroSD card slot is unfortunate, but hey, you can’t have everything. Thus, this product is one of the best Cheap Android Phones available right now.
Asus ROG Phone 6
The majority of phones are fully capable of running the newest games, but only the Asus ROG Phone 6 truly elevates mobile gaming. With a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen and a 165-Hz refresh rate, it is a large phone. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU and a staggering 12 gigabytes of RAM make it formidable. (In many ways, it’s completely unnecessary.) Currently, this is one of the best Cheap Android Phones that you can buy right now.
But you also get some of the smoothest gaming performance on a phone thanks to those top-tier specifications, and multitasking and regular tasks are a snap. The speakers get louder, the screen pops, and there are amazing haptic vibrations. You ought to definitely link it with Asus’ ROG Kunai 3 controller so you may use the phone as a sort of Nintendo Switch (or as a regular controller). Any mobile game will play much better if you use Asus’ in-game software to link virtual buttons to physical keyboard.
Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
Many inexpensive unlocked phones in the US don’t function flawlessly on all major carriers. Some might not be employed by Verizon, while others would not have access to AT&T’s 5G network. This problem is completely the fault of the carriers. Fortunately, compatibility issues won’t arise with Samsung’s Galaxy A13 5G (7/10, WIRED Recommends). I tested it on AT&T and had complete access to the carrier’s sub-6 5G network, but Samsung has also confirmed that it will function flawlessly on Verizon and T-Mobile.
I almost ever noticed this device’s Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor stuttering or slowing down, and the 5,000 mAh battery gave me at least a day and a half of use. It has a headphone connection, a MicroSD card slot, a capacitive fingerprint scanner built into the edge of the power button, and support for contactless payments like Samsung Pay and Google Pay. So, if you want one of the best Cheap Android Phones, we highly recommend this product.
Final Words
Finding one that will meet all of your needs is difficult. However, there is probably a smartphone out there that is somewhat similar to what you’re looking for. These are our favourite Android phones from the limitless sea of options, with the Google Pixel 6A being our top selection. All of the phones we’ve chosen have their unique benefits, which we’ve listed as clearly as we can based on our thorough testing.
