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Julian Chokkattu
Gear
There’s little reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone. These iPhones and Android devices—ranging from $150 to $500—stood up to WIRED’s testing.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Wireless carriers in the US go out of their way to make expensive smartphones seem affordable. AT&T will advertise a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for just $36 a month, but don't let them fool you. Over 36 monthly installments, you’re still spending more than a thousand dollars on a phone. Your pricey device may also keep you locked into the network, unable to switch wireless carriers until the phone is paid off.
Forget the spendy option and get a seriously great affordable smartphone instead. I’ve tested dozens to find the best cheap phones that perform where it counts and aren’t annoyingly slow. Our top pick, the Google Pixel 7A, is as good as almost any device, and our other choices strike a great balance between price and luxury.
Check out our many other guides, including the Best Android Phones, Best Phones With a Headphone Jack, Best Google Pixel, Best Motorola Phones, and Best iPhones.
Updated March 2024: We've added the Nothing Phone (2a), OnePlus 12R, Moto G Play 2024, iPhone 13, and Samsung Galaxy A15 5G.
Table of Contents
- Best Overall: Google Pixel 7A
- Best Cheap iPhone: iPhone SE (3rd Gen.)
- Runner-Up: OnePlus 12R
- Best Under $400: Nothing Phone (2a)
- Best Under $300: Google Pixel 6A
- Best Under $200: Motorola Moto G Play 2024
- Honorable Mentions
- Avoid These Phones
- Should You Buy Now?
- Consider Last Year's Flagship Phones
- Do You Need a 5G Phone?
- Check Network Compatibility
- A Word of Caution
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Best Overall
Google's Pixel 7A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a little bit of everything, and it's the best phone you can buy for the money. It's powered by the Tensor G2, which is the same chip inside the flagship Google Pixel 7 Pro from 2022. That makes it one of the more powerful Android phones under $500 (at least in the US), but it also enables the smart software features found on the Google flagships. That includes Photo Unblur, which uses machine learning to sharpen the faces of people in your photos, and Assistant Voice Typing, which lets you ditch the keyboard for a speedier and more accurate voice typing mode that's better than anything that came before.
These software smarts are why we like Pixel phones so much. They're chock full of genuinely useful features that make everyday life a little easier. I use Now Playing all the time—it auto-detects the music playing in my surroundings so I don't have to search for it. Call Screen is another lifesaver because I rarely get spam calls when using a Pixel. Another perk? You'll get five years of security updates, so this phone is supported and secure for a good while. Unfortunately, Google only promises three Android OS upgrades, which is less than Samsung offers for its devices.
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Hate large phones? This is the handset for you. The 6.1-inch OLED display isn't the tiniest around, but it's still pretty compact. The front is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, so you'll want to install a screen protector, as it's not as scratch-resistant as the glass on pricier phones. The rear is made of plastic, so you have one less area to worry about if you drop it. (It doesn't feel cheap!)
The screen gets decently bright in direct sunlight, and Google has added a 90-Hz screen refresh rate, meaning interactions look and feel more fluid than on the Pixel 6A that came before. Another new addition to the A-series lineup is wireless charging, so you can top up the battery without plugging in a cable. There's also NFC for contactless payments and an IP67 rating that protects it from the elements.
We can't talk about a Pixel without talking about the camera, and that's where the Pixel 7A shines. Google has upgraded all the sensors on the A series so you now get a 64-megapixel primary sensor that produces sharp photos in nearly any lighting condition, along with a 13-megapixel ultrawide to bring some versatility. The selfie camera is solid, though the results aren't the sharpest. This is easily the best camera phone you'll find for less than $500.
Downsides? There's no charging brick in the box and no headphone jack, and you're stuck with the 128 GB of internal storage, as there's no way to expand it. The battery is also so-so; with heavy use, you'll probably need to recharge it before the day's end, but it can usually manage a full day. Lastly, there's the in-display fingerprint sensor. It's fine, just slow and at times a little unreliable. If you can live with those negatives, you'll be more than satisfied with this phone.
Works on all three major US carriers.
Best Cheap iPhone
![The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (5) The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (5)](https://i0.wp.com/media.wired.com/photos/6227a0d3ae2a56ae147566e4/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/Gear-Apple-iPhone-SE-2022-colors.jpg)
Photograph: Apple
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Want a cheap iPhone? The third-generation iPhone SE 2022 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the way to go. It doesn’t change much externally from its predecessor—you still get a 4.7-inch LCD screen that feels cramped to type on, with thick bezels on the top and bottom. It looks old, but maybe you like that; it’s the only iPhone Apple sells with a home button and Touch ID.
Apple stuffed the same chip that powers the iPhone 13 range from 2021, the A15 Bionic, into the iPhone SE 2022, meaning this is the most powerful sub-$500 smartphone around. It can handle anything you throw at it. This chip also improves battery life, but the tiny phone will still last only about a day, maybe less if you use it a lot. There’s 5G support, and it remains one of the few smartphones at this price with wireless charging (like the Pixel 7A). (It does not have MagSafe support.)
The lone camera on the back takes great photos during the day and handles high-contrast scenes well, but unfortunately, Apple still didn’t include Night mode, which is available on its pricier iPhones. That means in low light you can expect muddy, grainy, and blurry shots that don’t hold a candle to what you’ll capture on our top pick.
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At the very least, this iPhone will last a long time, as Apple supports its devices for years. I’d recommend slapping a case on the glass back and a screen protector on the front to keep it looking fresh—our favorite iPhone SE accessories can help.
Works on all three major US carriers.
★ An alternative: iPhone 13 ($599)
iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) will serve you well for several years if you can justify the price. It’s Apple’s flagship from 2021 and it has the MagSafe magnetic accessory system. It starts with 128 GB of storage, has a superior OLED display, and a night mode for better nighttime photos. It has slimmer bezels, plus Face ID instead of Touch ID. However, you should consider looking at used iPhones, as you’ll probably find a newer model at lower prices in good condition.
Runner-Up
The Pixel 7A is the more well-rounded midrange smartphone, but there are several reasons why you might prefer the OnePlus 12R. It sports a larger 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a 120-Hz screen resolution, meaning interactions with the display look and feel more fluid. This is also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is the flagship processor of 2023—it'll crush any demanding game with ease.
The software isn't as smart as what you'll find on the Pixel, but it looks slick without much bloatware, and the company is promising three Android OS upgrades with four years of security updates; that's close to what Google offers. It does trounce the Pixel on battery life thanks to its 5,500-mAh cell capacity, which I was able to rely on for almost two full days on a single charge. If it's running out of juice, you can use the included cable and charging adapter to bring it from zero to 100 percent in just 30 minutes. It's a shame there's no wireless charging support.
The 12R cuts corners in a few areas. It's rated for only IP64 water resistance, so it'll be OK in the rain but not if you drop it in the pool. The primary camera is solid and goes toe-to-toe with the Pixel 7A's camera; however, I found the ultrawide and macro cameras useless. It'd be better if OnePlus cut those and dropped the price of the phone instead.
If you're not a shutterbug and just want a phone with a powerful processor and a battery that lasts more than a day, the OnePlus 12R is a no-brainer.
Works on all three major US carriers.
★ An alternative: Xiaomi Poco X6 and X6 Pro (£319 and £369)
Poco X6 and X6 Pro
Not in the US? You generally have more options to choose from when it comes to cheap phones. Consider the Poco line from Xiaomi. The new X6 and X6 Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) have excellent screens, decent battery life, and good performance. The X6 even has a headphone jack! Unfortunately, the software interface isn't great, and the cameras are lackluster in low light.
Best Under $400
![The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (7) The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (7)](https://i0.wp.com/media.wired.com/photos/65e6d6c3aa7fa7eb2658fc9f/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/DSC_9425.jpg)
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Nothing Phone (2a)
I deeply wish you could walk into any major retailer or carrier in the US and buy Nothing's new Phone (2a) (9/10, WIRED Recommends) because this stylish budget phone deserves to be in your pocket. Alas, while it's easy to purchase globally, you'll need to sign up for Nothing's developer program if you're in the US—once you're accepted (even if you're not a developer), you'll be sent a purchase link to buy the phone.
This is by and large the most attractive phone you'll find under $400, aided by the fun Glyph LED light system on the back. These lights flash when notifications come in, or you can set a timer and visualize it winding down—you can customize how it works. The attention to design detail translates into the software, which looks unique and is just plain fun to use—rare qualities in a cheapo device.
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Barring design, the Phone (2a) has a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate; it's wonderfully smooth, sharp, and bright. The 5,000-mAh battery cell is big enough to last a little more than a full day of use with average use too. Performance has been completely problem-free for me. The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset rarely stuttered, even when I juggled multiple apps. I used this phone while covering a large trade show in another country and it gave me zero trouble. The primary camera is more than adequate. It does a great job with white balance, though it can lose out on some details, especially in nighttime environments. Some low-light photos can look flat, and its HDR capabilities aren't amazing. But hey, it's $349.
Nothing promises three Android OS upgrades and four security upgrades, just like OnePlus. Sadly, there's no wireless charging, no headphone jack, and water resistance is limited at IP54 (it will be OK in the rain). Oh, you also might not have a great network experience. Nothing says the handset works perfectly on T-Mobile, but the Phone (2a) doesn't support Verizon and AT&T's 5G bands. That said, I used it on AT&T and had no issues connecting to 5G, so this may depend on your area.
Works on T-Mobile. 5G bands are officially not supported on Verizon and AT&T.
★ An alternative: Samsung Galaxy A54 5G ($375)
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
The Galaxy A54 5G (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is often discounted to $375 or $400, so try to catch it on sale. It has a bright 120-Hz AMOLED screen, day-long battery life, and a microSD card slot to upgrade storage space as needed. This phone gets better software support, but it falls short in performance. It's capable of running most day-to-day apps and games, but you will notice some slowdowns and stutters here and there. The camera system is, thankfully, pretty darn good.
Best Under $300
![The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (8) The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (8)](https://i0.wp.com/media.wired.com/photos/627af5ce194f8820f344ac62/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/Pixel-6a-SOURCE-Google-Gear.jpg)
Photograph: Google
Google Pixel 6A
Google's Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) debuted in 2022 but it's still a great buy, especially since the official retail price has dropped to $349 (it usually sells for $299 at Amazon). Powered by the first Tensor processor (found in the Pixel 6), you'll have no trouble running any app or game you throw at it, and you'll still be able to enjoy many of the smart features that make Google phones our favorite phones, including Magic Eraser, which can delete unwanted objects in the background of your photos.
There's a 6.1-inch AMOLED screen so you can enjoy richer colors and deeper blacks, and it's a nice compact size. The 4,410-mAh battery can last roughly a full day, but not much more, and it maintains an IP67 water resistance rating to keep it safe from the elements. There isn't any wireless charging here, and the screen is stuck to 60 Hz.
The dual-camera system is similar to what we've seen since the Pixel 3. It might feel dated, but the main camera and ultrawide still capture better photos than its peers. Put the phone on a tripod and point it at the sky and you can turn into a burgeoning astrophotographer too. It'll get one more Android update (Android 15) but will receive security updates through July 2027. That means it'll still be supported for a longer period than most of its competition.
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Works on all three major US carriers.
★ An alternative: OnePlus Nord N30 5G ($300)
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
If battery life is more important to you than cameras, you'll be happy with the OnePlus Nord N30 5G (6/10, WIRED Review). It easily lasted two full days in my testing. Performance is great, too, and the 120-Hz LCD screen is a nice touch. It hits all the right notes, but it already received its one and only Android OS update (Android 14), and the cameras are lackluster.
Best Under $200
![The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (9) The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget (9)](https://i0.wp.com/media.wired.com/photos/65eb9b4121bb2a7529d3ee7f/master/w_1280%2Cc_limit/Gear-Motorola-Moto-G-Play-2024-SOURCE-Julian-Chokkattu.jpg)
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Motorola Moto G Play 2024
This might be a controversial choice because there are some glaring flaws with Motorola's Moto G Play 2024. First of all, this phone will just get one OS upgrade (Android 14), and then three years of bimonthly security updates. It doesn't support 5G networks (just 4G LTE), and it doesn't have a near-field communication (NFC) sensor to make contactless payments. However, it's just $150!
My previous recommendation, Samsung's Galaxy A14 5G, is no longer available. That excellent handset has been replaced by the $200 Galaxy A15 5G, which sadly performs worse and is tougher to recommend. Meanwhile, I didn't have many performance issues with the Moto G Play 2024. (It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset.) Yes, apps open a bit slowly, and switching between them induces a few stutters, but it wasn't frustrating like the Galaxy A15.
The 6.5-inch LCD screen gets bright enough to see on sunny days (though there can be quite a glare), and it feels somewhat responsive thanks to the 90-Hz screen refresh rate. The 5,000-mAh battery easily went into day two on a single charge with average use. Oh, and there's a headphone jack and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor! All to say, I spent two weeks using this phone and had a perfectly adequate experience. Load speeds when browsing on 4G LTE were a little slower but not drastically so, and I made calls and texts on AT&T's network just fine.
My gripe is I couldn't use it to make tap-to-pay payments anywhere. Also, the camera is not great, whether you're snapping a photo during the day or at night, and the phone is just “water-repellent,” so you probably should keep it in your pocket if it's raining. Still, if you just need a handset to access your favorite apps without spending a fortune and getting frustrated by lag spikes, this Moto G Play does the job.
Works on all three major US carriers.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
★ An alternative: Samsung Galaxy A15 5G ($200)
I was impressed with last year's Galaxy A14, which made this year's Galaxy A15 all the more disappointing. Its number one drawback is performance—everything was just super slow and laggy; far more noticeable than the cheaper Moto G Play. If you have more patience than me, this is a better value than the Motorola phone because there's longer software support, and NFC, so you can make contactless payments, plus the camera produces photos you'd want to share.
Honorable Mentions
Moto G Power 5G
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 ($250): The 2023 edition of the Moto G Stylus 5G (6/10, WIRED Review) already received its one and only Android OS update to Android 14 (though it will get two more years of security updates). If you can live with that, you'll be happy with the good performance, two-day battery life, 5G support, and even the included stylus, if that's your thing. There's a headphone jack and a microSD card slot, not to mention NFC for contactless payments.
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Motorola Moto G Power 5G 2023 for $200: My main problem with Motorola phones is that there's no NFC (6/10, WIRED Review), which means you can't use them to pay your ticket fare on the off chance you left your wallet at home. Motorola also only promises one OS upgrade (with three years of security updates). You can get a much better deal with the devices above. However, there is a headphone jack, a microSD card to expand the 256 GB of storage, and a charger in the box.
Avoid These Phones
I tested Samsung’s Galaxy A23 5G and found its performance annoyingly slow, which shouldn’t be the case for a $300 smartphone these days. I also don’t recommend Motorola’s Moto G Play 2023, Moto G Stylus 2023, Moto G Power 2022, and Moto G Pure 2022 because the above phones trounce them in every way and don't cost much more.
The Nokia G400 5G (6/10, WIRED Review) is a fine phone, but its software policy just isn't as good as our top recommended devices above and its performance can be stuttery when you juggle multiple apps. The Nokia G100 was OK until the display started locking up and wouldn't accept touch input. I tried a second unit and ran into the same issue. I have also tested the Doogee S89 Pro, a rugged smartphone. While I didn't run into any glaring flaws, it's a pain in the butt to carry around and uncomfortable in the hand, too. Sure, there's a massive 12,000-mAh battery, but it didn't last as long as I expected. The company has a spotty record with software updates, too.
Should You Buy Now?
Sort of. Any of our top picks are excellent choices, but if you can wait until May or June, we'll have a broader lineup to choose from. Motorola will likely unveil more of its budget Moto G lineup soon. TCL will release its 50-series this summer, HMD Global might have some budget devices in tow by July, and we will likely see a Pixel 8A at Google I/O in May.
Consider Last Year’s Flagship Phones
If none of these phones have the features you want or they aren’t as powerful as you’d like, your best option is to look for last year’s flagship smartphones, which might be steeply discounted. Sometimes they’re easy to find, but manufacturers may stop selling them altogether. Keep in mind that you’ll lose a year of software support, but that’s often still better than the software support available on cheap phones anyway. The OnePlus 11, for example, has dipped as low as $499. Samsung's Galaxy S23 has started to creep down toward $600.
Do You Need a 5G Phone?
5G is the latest cellular network and it's widespread enough that you should try to stick to phones that support it. It's not completely replacing 4G LTE, so you'll see this in your status bar as you roam around the country. You can read more about it here, but in short, 5G comes in two major types: sub-6 and millimeter wave (mmWave). The latter is usually only available in flagship phones and allows you to access superfast speeds, but you’ll rarely encounter mmWave (think select areas in major cities and certain venues, like stadiums and airports). Sub-6 isn’t much faster than 4G LTE, but it has a broader range and is more widely accessible these days. Most of the smartphones we recommend here support sub-6 5G, even ones as low as $200.
Check Network Compatibility
If you buy an unlocked phone on this list and try to take it to one of your wireless carrier’s retail stores, they may tell you it isn’t compatible with the network. It likely is. Just use a paper clip or SIM ejection tool to pop the SIM card out of your current phone, then slide that SIM into your new phone. If it doesn’t work at first, reboot the phone or wait a couple of hours.
If you need a new SIM, try ordering one online from your carrier or see if they’ll give you a SIM when you activate a line in the store (if you’re starting coverage). Tell them you have a phone. Many times, reps will want to sell you a phone; that’s one potential reason they might hassle you into buying a different device in the store. Having said that, please make sure whatever phone you buy will work on your wireless network. Listings on retailers like Amazon should state clearly which networks a device will be compatible with. Also, make sure the listing says the phone is being sold “unlocked.”
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In this guide, we’ve listed whether a phone works with a major US carrier. But what if you’re ? If we note that a phone works on T-Mobile, for example, that means it’ll likely work on smaller carriers like Metro By T-Mobile and Mint Mobile, both of which utilize T-Mobile’s cellular network. If you’re nervous about compatibility, look up the specifications of the exact model you’re considering. Make sure it has the LTE or 5G bands it needs to run on your carrier.
Warning for Verizon users: There’s a higher chance an unlocked phone will not work on your network. Make sure it is labeled to work on Verizon, or that it says the phone is CDMA-capable. If something strange is going on, like you don’t get any texts, you may also need to contact customer service and ask them to enable CDMA-less roaming. AT&T and T-Mobile are GSM carriers, which is the standard for most of the world; most unlocked phones are compatible with them.
A Word of Caution
If a phone isn’t listed here, or if it’s refurbished, be careful. It’s easy to waste money or time when you’re shopping for affordable phones. It’s hard to get a sense of how a cheaper phone will act in the long term from using it in a store for five minutes, and retail employees may not be much help. Make sure you read reviews online. A good rule of thumb is to avoid most devices that came out before 2022. They probably won’t continue to get software and security updates for long, if they’re even being supported now.
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Julian Chokkattu is the reviews editor at WIRED, covering personal technology and reviewing consumer products. Previously he was the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, steering coverage and reviews of smartphones and smartwatches, and an intern at TechCrunch. He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in English... Read more
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