All the action in the best budget 5G smartphones is in the mid-priced market as Google, OnePlus, Samsung, and even Apple battle for a spot in your pocket. Here’s a look at your options.
Buying a 5G smartphone on a budget has never been more fun given discounts, steep competition among carriers and Android device makers, but there are trade-offs. The 5G smartphone sweet spot has typically been between $400 and $700, but there are some cases where you can get a solid device for under the $250 or less. Are there compromises? Sure, the cameras are typically the biggest downgrade from more expensive alternatives, but most of the devices in the mid-range can snap good-enough photos. Recent launches from Google as well as OnePlus highlight how the price-camera gap is closing more and more. Your first step in buying a 5G device on the cheap is to ponder what you care about (and don’t). If the camera is everything, flagship devices will likely merit more consideration. However, smartphone vendors including Google, Samsung, OnePlus and even Apple are bringing more flagship features down market. And then there are the discounts and long-term deals to be had.
