You’ll find the best cheap phones that punch above their weight for each price tier. If you’re looking to save on your next smartphone, this is for you.
Picking one of the best cheap phones isn’t as hard as you’d think, with plenty of great options that mean you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the features you need. You can often even get flagship features – like 120Hz screens, great cameras, and modern designs – without spending flagship money.
Choices are varied too. While companies typically only have one or two flagships, they often release a larger selection of affordable handsets. The iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra may get all the media attention, thanks to being some of the best phones around, but cheaper handsets are often better value for most people.
We’ve tested and reviewed a huge number of smartphones over the years, so we know exactly what to look for in the best cheap phones. Whether you’re looking for an iPhone or an Android phone, we’ve got all you need to know below. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the best phone deals, for a bargain, too.
If you’re looking for the best cheap Samsung phone, the Samsung Galaxy A53 is certainly the one to beat. Hardly cheap-looking despite its affordable price, this attractive budget phone boasts an impressive screen and even more impressive cameras. Trust us; during our tests, we found it to take such bright and vibrant images that there’s very little need for editing before rolling them out on social media.
Of course, that 6.5-inch screen is just as fancy, thanks to Samsung’s AMOLED display technology that makes every single content you watch bold and colorful. We found the visuals to be incredibly crisp as well, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate.
Our tests have found its performance and charging capabilities a little slow, unfortunately, but unless you absolutely need a speedy flagship for your daily mobile needs, these aren’t deal-breakers. That’s especially if you care more about the media that you’re consuming and creating.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy A53 review
Apple’s best cheap iPhone is as budget as you can get if you’re an iOS fan. With the launch of the iPhone 14, Apple is still selling some older iPhones cheap, but the iPhone SE (2022) is still the best bargain for iPhone fans, and it’s still available at Apple’s store.
