The best cheap phones for 2025

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It could be modern to spend $1,000 on the newest flagship smartphone after they first get launched, however it’s not mandatory. You do not even should spend $500 at this time to get a good handset, whether or not it’s a refurbished iPhone or an reasonably priced Android telephone, as there are many choices as little as $160 that would suit your wants.

However navigating the funds telephone market will be difficult; choices that look good on paper is probably not in follow, and a few handsets will find yourself costing you extra when you think about many include restrictive storage. Whereas we at Engadget spend most of our time testing and reviewing mid- to high-end handsets, we have examined plenty of the newest budget-friendly telephones in the marketplace to see which are literally price your cash.

What to search for in an inexpensive telephone

For this information, our high picks price between $100 and $300. Something much less and also you would possibly as nicely go purchase a dumb telephone or high-end calculator as an alternative. Since they’re meant to be extra reasonably priced than flagship telephones and even midrange handsets, funds smartphones contain compromises; the cheaper a tool, the decrease your expectations round specs, efficiency and expertise ought to be. For that motive, the very best recommendation I may give is to spend as a lot as you’ll be able to afford. On this worth vary, even $50 or $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product.

Second, it’s best to know what you need most from a telephone. When shopping for a funds smartphone, chances are you’ll have to sacrifice a good predominant digicam for lengthy battery life, or commerce a high-resolution show for a quicker CPU. That’s simply what comes with the territory, however understanding your priorities will make it simpler to search out the best telephone.

It’s additionally price noting some options will be onerous to search out on low cost handsets. For example, you gained’t want to go looking far for a tool with all-day battery life — however if you’d like an ideal digicam telephone with glorious digicam high quality, you’re higher off shelling out for one of many suggestions in our midrange smartphone guide, which all are available in at $600 or much less. Wi-fi charging and waterproofing additionally aren’t simple to search out on this worth vary and overlook in regards to the quickest chipset. On the intense aspect, all our suggestions include headphone jacks, so that you gained’t have to get wireless headphones.

iOS can be off the desk, because the $400 Apple iPhone SE is probably the most reasonably priced iPhone within the lineup. That leaves Android OS as the one possibility. Fortunately at this time, there’s little to complain about Google’s OS – and chances are you’ll even want it to iOS. Lastly, take into accout most Android producers usually supply far much less sturdy software program options and assist for his or her funds gadgets. In some instances, your new telephone could solely obtain one main software program replace and a 12 months or two of safety patches past that. That applies to the OnePlus and Motorola suggestions on our listing.

If you happen to’d prefer to hold your telephone for so long as attainable, Samsung has the very best software program coverage of any Android producer within the funds house, providing four years of security updates on all of its gadgets. That mentioned, if software program assist (or gadget longevity total) is your predominant focus, take into account spending a bit extra the $500 Google Pixel 7a, which is our favourite midrange smartphone and has deliberate software program updates by way of mid-2026.

Finest low cost telephones

OnePlus

The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G provides the very best worth of any of the smartphones on our listing. No different telephone within the worth bracket contains a processor as quick because the N30’s Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. Furthermore, OnePlus has specced the N30 with 5G connectivity along with a beneficiant 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which means you in all probability gained’t have to funds for a microSD card or cloud storage. It additionally comes with a 120Hz IPS show, a function that’s nice for each gaming and on a regular basis use. Better of all, the N30 ships with a 50W energy adapter for quick charging, letting you get a full day of battery life in half-hour. The N30 could be nearly excellent if it had waterproofing and OnePlus had dedicated to pushing a couple of main Android OS replace to the telephone. — Igor Bonifacic, Contributing Reporter

$230 at Amazon

SAMSUNG

For simply $200, the Galaxy A15 5G is a fairly exceptional gadget. It has a 6.5-inch show with a barely slower 90Hz refresh price the Nord N30. Nonetheless, as a result of it options an AMOLED panel as an alternative of an LCD show, it boasts higher brightness and richer colours than principally all of its rivals. It can be configured with as much as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and its 5,000 mAh battery delivers lengthy battery life. Its digicam system is stable for its worth, providing a predominant digicam that handles on a regular basis photographs nicely and a selfie digicam for video calls. And whereas its design isn’t too thrilling, the polycarbonate Samsung makes use of on the again has a pleasant matte end that feels extra like glass than low cost plastic. Lastly, the A15 comes with 4 years of safety updates and three years of OS upgrades, which is longer than most handsets on this worth vary. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

$173 at Amazon

Motorola

For these on a extremely tight funds, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all of the bases nicely. It has a speedy Snapdragon 680 processor together with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. And whereas that final quantity may appear small, the telephone has a microSD card slot so you’ll be able to add more room if and whenever you want it. Its 6.5-inch LCD display can be surprisingly sharp with a 90Hz refresh price. The Moto G Play even has an IP52 score for mud and water resistance. That isn’t a lot, however it’s adequate to guard in opposition to an errant splash or two. Positive, the G Play is fundamental, however it’s fundamental in a great way. — S.R.

$110 at Amazon

Motorola

The $200 Motorola Moto G Stylus provides one thing not one of the different picks on this listing do: a built-in stylus. If you happen to love doodling and jotting down notes, then that is a budget telephone to purchase. Fortunately, it has a number of different issues going for it too. The Moto G Stylus sports activities an enormous and responsive 6.5-inch show and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery. Plus, it’s obtainable in two beautiful colours: midnight blue and glam pink.

As with different choices on this worth vary, it might be good if the Moto G Stylus got here with a extra succesful digicam, a quick charger and higher safety in opposition to water. One phrase of recommendation: avoid Moto G Stylus 5G. It doesn’t supply sufficient of an improve to justify costing $400. — I.B.

$178 at Amazon

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