The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget

Forget the spendy flagship smartphone. Every year, I test a dozen or more devices to find the best cheap phones that perform where it counts and aren’t annoyingly slow. Wireless carriers in the US go out of their way to make expensive smartphones seem affordable. AT&T will advertise a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for just $36 a month, but don't let that fool you. With over 36 monthly installments, you still spend over a thousand bucks 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.

Get a seriously great, affordable smartphone instead. That's especially important in today's tariff-rich environment. Our top pick, the Google Pixel 9a, costs $499 and is as good as almost any flagship device, and our other recommendations strike a great balance between price and luxury. There's even a folding phone in this guide!

Check out our many other mobile guides, including Best Android Phones, Best Samsung Phones, Best Phones With a Headphone Jack, Best Google Pixel, Best Moto Phones, and Best iPhones.

Updated April 2025: We've added the Google Pixel 9a, Nuu N20, and Samsung Galaxy A16, and mentioned the upcoming CMF Phone 2 Pro.

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Google Pixel 9a

$499 at Amazon

$499 at Google Store

The Google Pixel 9a (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best smartphone you can buy for the money. At $499—half the price of an iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus—you get a little of everything, from Qi wireless charging to top-of-the-line performance. It's powered by Google's Tensor G4 processor, the same one that's inside the flagship Pixel 9 series, and that means this midrange phone gets seven years of software support—a rarity at this price.

The 6.3-inch OLED screen is bigger and brighter than before, with a 120-Hz refresh rate so that all the animations on the screen look buttery smooth. The bezels are a bit thick around the screen, but it's hardly a problem. On the back, you'll notice Google has introduced a new, simpler design. Gone is the iconic Pixel camera bar in favor of a floating dual-camera module that sits completely flush with the back of the phone. It doesn't have as much character, but at least the phone still looks good in the iris or peony color options.

I've had zero problems with performance in my testing, even when I live-posted for an hour on Bluesky during the Nintendo Direct announcing the Switch 2. The only thing to know is that because the Pixel 9a comes with only 8 GB of RAM, it omits two features from the flagship Pixel 9 series: Call Notes and the Pixel Screenshots app. Those are handy features, but it's no huge loss.

Battery life is finally better than before. The massive, 5,100-mAh cell inside comfortably lasts a full day with average use—I usually ended a day with 30 to 40 percent in the tank. Heavier days will drain the phone quickly, though, so you may need a power bank to be safe if your screen-time numbers are north of six to seven hours.

The cameras are the highlight of the Pixel series, and the Pixel 9a lives up to this legacy—it's easily the best camera system at the sub-$500 level. It has a 48-megapixel main camera that snaps detailed, colorful, sharp photos in any lighting condition. Joining it is a capable 13-MP ultrawide, and the 13-MP selfie camera is solid. Even the few videoclips I shot in dim conditions at 4K 60 frames per second looked pretty good.

The top reason why I heartily recommend Pixel phones is because of the smart software features you won't find on many other sub-$500 smartphones. I've detailed many of them here, but you can use Add Me to make sure everyone is in the group photo, including the photographer. Audio Magic Eraser lets you strip out unwanted sounds from your videos, like sirens. And Google's Call Screen technology nips spam calls in the bud.

Other perks include secure face unlock and fingerprint unlock—both work with sensitive apps that require biometric authentication, so you have multiple unlocking options. Secure face unlock is virtually nonexistent for every other Android phone at this price. There's also NFC for contactless payments and an improved IP68 rating that protects it from the elements.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Apple iPhone 16e

$599 at Apple

$600 at Best Buy

The new iPhone 16e is Apple’s cheapest iPhone and, well, it's not really cheap (7/10, WIRED Review). At $599, it's $170 more than the iPhone SE it replaced. I try to focus on sub-$500 smartphones in this guide, but unfortunately, if you want to buy a new iPhone from Apple and spend the least amount of money, this is your only choice.

It's a perfectly functional handset with great performance thanks to the A18 chipset, meaning it's now the cheapest iPhone with Apple Intelligence. Note that it lacks one graphics core compared to the A18 found in the iPhone 16, meaning slightly lesser gaming performance, but I didn't run into too many issues playing demanding titles like Genshin Impact.

The best feature of this phone is its battery life. Despite the relatively small 6.1-inch screen, it delivers a longer run time than the same-sized iPhone 16, even coming close to matching the longevity of Apple's larger iPhones. On one intensive day, I hit nine hours of screen-on time, and the iPhone 16e had 15 percent left by bedtime. It's excellent. This is thanks to the new C1 chip, Apple's first custom modem in an iPhone that maintains good (sub-6) 5G cellular performance but is more power-efficient than modems in older devices.

That's just about all this iPhone brings to the table. The 48-megapixel camera is capable and can produce pleasing images even in low light, but it's the only camera on the phone. There's no Dynamic Island; instead, the notch is back. Apple chose to cut MagSafe from this device, so you cannot attach magnetic accessories without using a MagSafe case, and even then, you won't be privy to faster wireless charging speeds. There's no ultra-wideband chip, so you can't precisely track AirTags—this iPhone will only give you the general vicinity of the tag's location.

Even if you don't care for these omissions, the iPhone 16e doesn't feel like it should cost $599—other phones in this guide around that price offer more capabilities and features. It'll do the job, but it's not the best bang for your buck. I suggest picking up a used iPhone 15 Pro instead, usually available for around $650 in good condition on sites like Swappa, Gazelle, or Back Market. It supports Apple Intelligence and packs way more features.

If you must buy new, consider the iPhone 15, available directly from Apple for $699. It has all of those missing features but doesn't support Apple Intelligence. That might not be a big deal, considering Apple's AI features aren't that useful right now.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

$650 $500 at Amazon

$650 at Samsung

$650 at Best Buy

Samsung's Galaxy S24 FE technically has an MSRP of $650, but it's frequently on sale for $500, which makes it worthy of this guide. This is Samsung's “lite” version of the Galaxy S24 series. I used it for several weeks with no performance issues with the Exynos 2400e chipset, and battery life with the 4,700-mAh cell was decent, lasting a full day with average use.

It still supports Samsung's Galaxy AI features, and you even get a triple-camera experience with a 50-MP primary shooter, a 12-MP ultrawide, and an 8-MP telephoto with 3X zoom. It's uncommon to find the full trio of cameras at this price—more cameras make the phone more versatile, giving you options on how you want to frame your shot. Like the two phones above, this Android phone will get some of the longest software support compared to competitors in this bracket.

It maintains all the other flagship perks you'd want, from Qi wireless charging and IP68 water resistance to a 120-Hz AMOLED screen. It may look a little plain, but it's a great all-rounder—just make sure you catch it on sale.

It's worth noting that Samsung recently announced the 2025 Galaxy A-series, which includes the Galaxy A36, A26, and A56. If you're after a cheaper Samsung, it's worth waiting for those to arrive and seeing what they're like. We'll be testing them soon.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro

$379 at Nothing

$459 at Nothing (Pro)

$499 at Amazon (Pro)

Nothing’s Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are some of the best cheap phones you can buy (8/10, WIRED Recommends). They're stylish, unique, and have all the things most people need.

The devices are identical in all areas except cameras. The 50-megapixel main sensor on the Pro has slightly larger pixels than the one in the Phone (3a), meaning it can capture a little more light for better nighttime photos. It also has a 3X periscope telephoto sensor that lets it zoom in closer, whereas the cheaper 3a makes do with a 2X optical camera. If you use the cameras on your phone a lot, get the (3a) Pro, which commands a slightly higher price, though the phone's bulky camera module causes a design imbalance that makes it a bit unwieldy. The Phone (3a) looks better, and the cameras get reasonably close in image quality.

Performance, driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, is speedy, the 5,000-mAh battery cell can last a full day of heavy use (two days with lighter activities), and the display is smooth, sharp, and bright. The phones are IP64-rated, so just be careful around the pool.

The main caveats are the same as its predecessor. Nothing is selling these phones through a beta program in the US, meaning you need to sign up first to buy them. That's not a huge deal, just an extra step, but connectivity isn't a strong suit. The Phone (3a) series works best on T-Mobile. 4G will work on AT&T and Verizon; however, you'll need to contact the two carriers to whitelist your device for 5G access, which can be an annoying process (and may not even work).

Barring those flaws, it's hard to find much better at these prices. Nothing's software layer over Android is slick and looks unique, and the new Essential Key offers up a more thoughtful approach to artificial intelligence. This physical button lets you store notes via voice or text and have them summarized by AI—it'll even automatically generate tasks on your behalf. It's just too bad you can't buy the Phone (3a) in blue. Sadly, this color is not coming to the US.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola Moto G Power (2025)

$300 at Amazon

$300 at Best Buy

$300 at Motorola

Last year’s Moto G Power 2024 was a surprise favorite. It brought the convenience of wireless charging to sub-$300 phones in the US and was overall a relatively smooth-performing budget handset that also looked smart. The new Moto G Power 2025 mostly continues that trend (7/10, WIRED Recommends).

The gorgeous green color, combined with the textured fake leather back, makes for a visually distinct budget smartphone. The 6.8-inch LCD screen is large and sharp and has a 120-Hz screen refresh rate, and I didn't find its peak brightness lacking on sunny days. This slim phone has a 5,000-mAh cell, and with average use, I managed to keep it going for two full days, though heavy users will only make that last a day. Wireless charging support is still present and remains a rare feature at this price. I like the convenience of not having to fish for a cable.

There's NFC support so you can make contactless payments, not to mention a headphone jack, microSD card slot, and an upgraded IP68/69 water resistance rating, another rarity at this price. That means you can feel safe using this phone in light rain, and you won't have to worry about an accidental drop in the pool.

Unfortunately, performance regressed a bit. Inside is MediaTek's Dimensity 6300 chipset with 8 GB of RAM, and it's a little slower than its predecessor. Not by much—performance was generally fine, but with more visible stutters. It never got to the point where I was annoyed or frustrated, but it's weird knowing that the 2024 device was a little more fluid.

The primary camera delivers adequate results, even in low light, though the usual failings apply: Skin tones aren't great, you need to be very still for nighttime shots, and colors can look off. Thankfully, this phone makes up for these failings with a slightly better software update policy. For the first time on a Moto G device, Motorola is promising two Android OS upgrades (it launched with Android 15), alongside three years of security updates. It's not much compared to its peers above, but this is a big step for a company that has offered lackluster software support for years.

The key thing is that Motorola phones go on sale all the time. Wait a couple of weeks or months, and this Moto G Power 2025 will likely be sitting at $250 or maybe even lower. It's a solid budget phone at its MSRP, but it's even more sensible when it goes on sale.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

CMF Phone 1

$239 at Nothing

$289 $260 at Amazon (256 GB)

I very nearly gave the CMF Phone 1 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) the top spot in this guide, because it has almost everything you'd need in a phone for a shockingly low price of $239 (originally launched at $199). Unfortunately, there are two barriers to accessibility. First, this phone is only available in the US via a beta, like the Nothing Phone (2a)—CMF is a sub-brand of Nothing. That means you have to sign up for the beta, and once you've been accepted, you can purchase the device.

The second barrier is that network coverage isn't rosy. It works best on T-Mobile, but you may have some spotty 5G coverage here and there. AT&T works, and while CMF says 5G isn't supported on the carrier, I had no trouble accessing 4G and 5G here in New York City. The company doesn't recommend using it on Verizon at all.

If you don't mind the beta process and are on T-Mobile or AT&T, I highly recommend you give the CMF Phone 1 a shot. This is the prettiest phone you'll find for around $200, and there's a fun system that lets you attach various accessories via the Accessory Point (the circular screw on the bottom edge), like a kickstand, lanyard, or wallet. This system is fun, but hardly the main thing that makes this handset so good. That'd be the performance. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset with 8 gigabytes of RAM delivers ultra-smooth performance—I rarely saw any slowdowns or lag in my testing. It's the best-performing phone for the money and even outperforms slightly pricier devices.

Battery life is also impressive, with a 5,000-mAh cell that often got me to two days of average use, and heavy users should still manage to end a day with around 30 percent left in the tank. And the display! It's a Full HD 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate, and while it could stand to get a smidge brighter on super sunny days, it was more than fine most of the time. The camera system is hard to beat at this price, and CMF promises two OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

I wish it had NFC to make contactless payments. I use tap-to-pay a lot here in New York City, but it's not a huge deal, as I also carry my wallet everywhere. It's rated at IP52 water resistance, so don't let it get submerged in water (rain is OK!). If these flaws won't bug you and your budget is tight, this is a remarkable smartphone at a remarkable price.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

OnePlus 13R

$600 at OnePlus

$600 at Best Buy

The OnePlus 13R (8/10, WIRED Recommends) got a small price bump from its excellent predecessor, so it's not as good value as before, but this is still a nice phone. (It might be a good idea to wait for a sale.)

The 6.78-inch AMOLED screen is near perfection, with a sharp resolution that gets plenty bright, plus a 120-Hz refresh rate. And it's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the flagship chip inside all the top phones of 2024. That means you won't have trouble running the latest games, even demanding titles.

What makes this device special is its 6,000-mAh silicon-carbon battery cell—a relatively new technology that lets companies stuff higher-density batteries without making them thicker. This phone is a smidge thinner than the prior model despite a 500-mAh increase in battery capacity, an impressive feat. In general, I hit an average of two days on a single charge. On more taxing days, I comfortably reached the day's end with 25 percent remaining. 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 roughly 54 minutes. It's a shame there's no wireless charging support.

The 13R cuts corners in a few areas. It's rated for only IP65 water resistance, so it'll be OK in the rain but not if you drop it in the pool. Its triple-camera setup is solid but doesn't deliver as good results as its peers. OnePlus doesn't issue as many software updates as well, though things have improved on this front—the company promises four Android OS upgrades with six years of security updates.

If you want a snappy phone with relatively top-end specs—from the display to performance to battery life—and can make do with an OK camera system, the OnePlus 13R is worth a look.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Motorola Razr (2024)

$700 $600 at Amazon

$700 $600 at Best Buy

$700 $600 at Motorola

Motorola’s next Razr phone may arrive sometime in April, but if you want to try a folding flip phone without spending close to $1,000, the 2024 Razr is the way to go (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It's frequently on sale for $500.

The external screen of the Razr+ is slightly smaller than that of the flagship Razr, but it's still big enough to see some apps, glance at notifications, and access a few widgets. In this state, it's super pocketable and can fit in tiny purses. (It's very cute!) When you open the Razr, you see an OLED 6.9-inch screen that largely feels the same as using a normal smartphone.

The camera system is solid—since the “rear” cameras are on the front, you can snap some sharp selfies and use the external screen as a viewfinder. Where it falls short over the pricier Razr+ is performance. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset inside is slightly more sluggish, though not frustratingly so. Battery life on these folding phones is also nothing to write home about. It can get through a day, but heavy users may need a portable power bank.

Barring those snags, at this price, the Razr 2024 is a good way to test the folding-phone waters without breaking the bank. It's massively different from any other smartphone in this guide, and sometimes that's all you need—a change of pace.

We highly recommend you stick with the phones above, but here are some alternatives worth considering.

Google's Pixel 8a for $487: Last year's Pixel 8a (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is still available, but you should only buy it if it dips below $399. It'll still get several years of software updates, has a top-end chip for smooth performance, and has a nice camera system. Battery life isn't as good as the new Pixel 9a, but it's got plenty of software smarts in an appealing design.

Motorola Edge for $330: The Motorola Edge frequently goes on sale for $300, and it's seriously worth a look at that price. The glass that curves into the edges made using the phone annoying, as my hand holding the phone interfered with my touch interactions. But if you can get past that, it has a 144-Hz refresh rate, speedy performance, one-day battery life, and an OK camera. It'll only get two OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

Moto G 2025 for $200: The new Moto G is a capable phone, but its performance can be annoyingly slow. The cameras are lackluster, though the battery can last close to two days with average use. There's NFC, so you can use it as a digital wallet, and it'll even get two OS updates and three years of security updates. But I prefer the CMF Phone 1.

Samsung Galaxy A16 for $200: Samsung's Galaxy A16 still doesn't reach the highs of the Galaxy A14, and that's largely due to sluggish performance. Sure, Samsung is promising six years of software updates, but that remarkable update window doesn't matter when the phone is frustratingly slow, and you want to throw it out the window. If you barely plan on using this device but want something from a reliable brand that will stay secure, the Galaxy A16 is OK. Its performance just isn't competitive with other similarly priced phones.

Nuu N20 for $117: Right after I tested the Galaxy A16, I moved on to the cheaper Nuu N20. Color me surprised. Yes, it can still be sluggish, but performance on this nearly $100 phone is far better and manageable. I used it for a week with no major problems. Well, except one: GPS on this device isn't great. The few times I used it for car navigation, it struggled to find my location, and it was slow to update the map. The other big problem? The N20 currently runs Android 14, so it's already out of date, and the company tells me there is no “exact schedule for software updates.”

HMD Skyline for $500: The HMD Skyline (6/10, WIRED Review) is the first Android phone with Qi2 support, meaning magnets are embedded in the back of the device just like Apple's MagSafe iPhones. Sadly, the implementation isn't great as it did not attach well to a few magnetic accessories I had on hand. This phone has solid performance and good battery life, and the best part is that it's user-repairable, so you can replace components like the display and battery yourself, even if you don't have any technical know-how. It's a shame the software update policy is short.

OnePlus Nord 4 for £389: With a metal unibody, the Nord 4 stands out among the dull phone designs in this price bracket. You get an excellent screen, enough processing power for most folks, impressive battery life, and fast charging (but no charger in the box). The main camera is OK but is paired with a weak ultrawide sensor. There’s no wireless charging, but that’s a minor compromise. Only available in the UK, EU, and India, this is a very good phone for the money.

If you're eyeing a cheap phone, I generally recommend avoiding the previous generation (unless otherwise mentioned above). It may not get updates for much longer (if any), and prices aren't usually that different. That's why I don’t recommend Motorola’s Moto G series phones from 2023 or older—you may want to skip some of the 2024 models too, since their successors are already out or are about to be announced. Here are a few other devices to skip.

HMD Vibe for $103: The HMD Vibe (5/10, WIRED Review) has OK performance, but everything else is lackluster, and it will not get any Android OS upgrades.

Motorola Moto G Play 2024 for $108: The Moto G Play 2024 was an OK budget phone when it launched in early 2024—it performs decently, has a sharp 6.5-inch screen, and has a 5,000-mAh battery that can reach two days on a single charge—but I wouldn't buy it in 2025. It doesn't support 5G (just 4G LTE), and there's no NFC sensor to make contactless payments.

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G for $400: The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is an adequate sub-$400 smartphone with a bright 120-Hz AMOLED screen, day-long battery life, and a microSD card slot to upgrade storage space. Software support is a standout—four OS upgrades and five years of security updates. However, the performance is more stuttery than I'd have liked. At least the cameras are solid. Samsung's new Galaxy A36 is also arriving soon.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G for $170: I was impressed with 2023's Galaxy A14, which made the Galaxy A15 all the more disappointing. Its number one drawback is performance—everything was just super slow and laggy. There's longer software support and NFC for contactless payments, but those perks may not be worth the sluggish performance.