Looking for a new mobile phone? We have selected the 10 best budget smartphones!
High-end phones can cost $1,000 or more, but cheaper models can still offer almost all the features you could want. As the more expensive models get better and better, so do the cheaper phones.
Our team at BestBudgetMobile regularly reviews budget phones up to $500 and publishes a top 10 selection.
We pay extra attention to factors such as performance, camera quality, battery life and software updates as these are important review components for budget phones.
So if you are on a budget and want to know what’s the best phone for you? Then you are here on the right place!
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In the spotlight
Top
10
Best Budget Phones
The best budget smartphones of 2024 in the USA can be found here on our website. We regularly select a top 10 list of the best budget mobile phones under $500.
Our recommendations and reviews are on an independent basis and third parties have no influence on our top 10 selection.
Samsung, iPhone, Xiaomi, Motorola, Google Pixel, OnePlus and Nokia are the well-known brands and offer good quality phones for every budget. In addition, there are also a number of small, somewhat unknown brands that offer good specifications for little money, such as TCL. These brands should therefore not be missing from our site.
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Motorola razr 2023
Our Rating: 4.7/5
- Android: 13
- Screen: 6,9'' | FHD+ | 144 Hz | Internal display 1.5” | OLED External display
- Camera: 64MP Main | OIS 13MP Ultra-wide + Macro | Front 32MP
- Storage: 128 GB
- Ram: 8 GB
- CPU: SnapdragonTM 7 Gen 1
- Battery: 4200mAh | 30W TurboPowerTM charging | 5W Wireless charging
- On the market since: 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
Affordable foldable phone with good specifications for this price.
Are you a fan of a foldable phone and don’t have too many demands? Consider this Motorola razr as it fits well within everyone’s budget.
What we like:
- Compact screen size with 6.1 inches
- Wireless charging
- Good camera
- Available in different colours
Cons:
- Battery life could be better
- No headphone jack or microSD slot
- Only 90Hz display
- Phone gets warm when playing demanding games
Motorola Think Phone 2023
Our Rating: 4.8/5
- Android: 13
- Screen: 6,6'' | P-OLED | FHD+ | 144 Hz
- Camera: 50MP Main | OIS | 13MP Ultra-wide | Front 32MP | 2MP depth sensor
- Storage: 256 GB
- Ram: 8 GB
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1-processor
- Battery: 5000mAh | Fast Charging Support | Wireless Charging
- On the market since: 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
A perfect midrange phone now competitively priced
A great midrange phone that you will enjoy for a long time. With 256GB of storage, you will never run out of space.
What we like:
- Fast charging 68W
- Wireless charging
- Great build quality with IP68 rating
Cons:
- There are better cameras in the same price range
- Carbon fiber finish feels a little dated
- Motorola's software support could be better
Google Pixel 7a
Our Rating: 4.7/5
- Android: 13
- Screen: 6.1" | FHD+ | 90Hz
- Camera: 64 MP wide | 13 MP ultrawide | 13 MP front camera
- Storage: 128 GB
- Ram: 8 GB
- CPU: Google Tensor G2 processor
- Battery: 4385mAh | Wireless Charging Support
- On the market since: 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
A speedy phone powered by Google's proprietary processor.
A compact midrange phone that takes good photos for every occasion.
What we like:
- Wireless charging
- Google's update support
- Google's own processor
- Photo quality is excellent
Cons:
- Screen is 6.1 inches
- Design is not our favorite
- Only 128 GB storage
- Video quality is not te best in this pricerange
Motorola Edge 2023
Our Rating: 4.5/5
- Android: 13
- Screen: 6.6” | FHD+ | 144Hz
- Camera: 50MP Main | OIS 13MP Ultra-wide + Macro | Front 32MP
- Storage: 256 GB
- Ram: 8 GB
- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 7030
- Battery: 4400mAh | 68W TurboPowerTM charging | 15W Wireless charging | 5W Wireless power share
- On the market since: 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
Stylish and thin design.
This is a midrange phone. While we are satisfied with the specifications, there are better cameras on the market. For this price, it’s a great phone!
What we like:
- TurboPower charging
- Wireless charging
- 256 GB storage
- Loud speakers
Cons:
- Relatively short battery life
- Camera is average
- Not a performer
Samsung Galaxy A54
Our Rating: 4.5/5
- Android: 13
- Screen: 6.4” | FHD+ | AMOLED
- Camera: 50MP | Ultra-Wide: 12MP | Front 32MP | OIS
- Storage: 128 GB
- Ram: 6 GB
- CPU: Exynos 1380
- Battery: 5000 mAh | 25W Fast Charging
- On the market since: 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
Samsung Galaxy A54: popular smartphone.
The Samsung A54 is an impressive midrange phone with standout features: a spacious 6.4-inch display, excellent battery longevity, robust construction resistant to water and dust, and a commitment to providing security updates for up to five years.
What we like:
- Excellent screen
- IP67 rating
- Great software support policy
- Loud speakers
Cons:
- No wirelesss charging
- Only 6 GB ram
- You need a case to protect the back
- Camera doesn’t quite keep up in low light
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Our Rating: 4.1/5
- Android: OxygenOS | Based on Android 13
- Screen: 6.7" | LCD | 120hz | FHD+
- Camera: Main 108MP | Depth-assist Camera 2MP | Macro Lens 2MP | Front 16MP
- Storage: 128 GB
- Ram: 8 GB
- CPU: 8-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Adreno 619
- Battery: 5000 mAh | 50W Fast Charging
- Available since: June, 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G proves to be a commendable budget device.
The N30 boasts a generous 128GB of internal storage, expandable via MicroSD. It is equipped with a Snapdragon 695 5G chipset paired with 8GB of RAM, delivering substantial processing power for a budget-friendly device.
What we like:
- Fast charging
- Bright display
- Good battery life
Cons:
- Screen lacks contrast, can be hard to see in direct sunlight
- Only scheduled for one OS upgrade
- Can be hard to see in direct sunlight
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2023
Our Rating: 4.3/5
- Android: Android 13
- Screen: 6.6" | FHD+ | 120Hz
- Camera: Rear Camera 50MP | Ultra Pixel Technology 8MP | Ultrawide + Macro Vision + Depth | Front Camera 16MP - Quad Pixel Technology
- Storage: 256 GB
- Ram: 6 GB
- CPU: Snapdragon® 6 Gen 1 processor
- Battery: 5000mAh | Up to 20W charging capable
- Available since: 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
Average performance for a midrange phone
The Stylus 5G comes with a relatively clean version of Android 13 without too many add-ons or other modifications, though there are some annoying preinstalled apps and prompts to add ones from major shopping brands.
What we like:
- Good battery life
- Likable stylus features
- Good cameras
- Headphone jack
Cons:
- Many bloatware
- Night photos are blurry
- Only 1 android update will come
TCL 20 Pro 5G
Our Rating: 4.3/5
- Android: Android 11
- Screen: 6.67'' | FHD+ | Curved AMOLED Dotch Display
- Camera: Main 48MP Sony OIS Camera | OIS | 16MP Ultra Wude-Angle Camera | 5MP Macro Camera | 2MP Depth Camera | Front 32MP
- Storage: 256 GB
- Ram: 6 GB
- CPU: Qualcomm® Kryo™ 570 Gold | Cortex-A77 2×2.2 GHz | Qualcomm® Kryo™ 570 Silver | Cortex-A55 6×1.8 GHz
- Battery: 4500 mAh | 18W Quick Charge | 15W Wireless Charging
- On the market since: 2021
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
TLC 20 Pro 5G boasts high-end features that are challenging big brands
The TCL 20 Pro 5G is a solid all around smartphone with some nice features. If you value a strong display it’s is a strong contender.
What we like:
- Excellent build quality
- Wireless charging
- Good cameras
- Headphone jack
Cons:
- Battery life isn’t fantastic
- Model from 2021
- No more updates
- No IP rating
Samsung Galaxy A15
Our Rating: 4.0/5
- Android: Android 14
- Screen: 6.5" | FHD+ | Super AOMLED
- Camera: Main 50MP | Digital Zoom up to 10x | 5MP Ultrawide | 2MP Macro Rear / 13MP Front
- Storage: 128 GB
- Ram: 4 GB
- CPU: MTK MT6835V
- Battery: 5000 mAh | Super Fast Charging (25W)
- On the market since: 2024
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
For basic use it's a good smartphone.
The A15 may not boast remarkable specifications, yet its 6.5-inch AMOLED screen, 5,000mAh battery, and inclusion of a headphone jack position it as a reliable and cost-effective option catering to budget-conscious consumers.
What we like:
- Available in different colors
- Nice design
- Super Fast Charging (25W)
- Headphone jack
Cons:
- No charger in the box.
- Not water resistant
Motorola Moto G Play 2023
Our Rating: 3.8/5
- Android: Android 12
- Screen: 6.5" HD+ | LCD | 90Hz
- Camera: Triple camera system / 16MP Main / 2MP Macro | Depth sensor | Front 5MP
- Storage: 32 GB
- Ram: 3 GB
- CPU: MediaTek Helio G37
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- On the market since: 2023
Camera Quality: low | good | excellent
More suitable for just calling and texting
Don’t expect too much from this basic phone. However, it is perfectly suitable for calling or sending messages.
What we like:
- Good build for the price
- Big display
Cons:
- Slow 10W charging
- Underpowered cameras