10 Best Budget Phones

The Samsung Galaxy S21+ is a budget-friendly phone with a glass body and released in January 2021. It operates on Android, featuring a sizable 6.7-inch OLED display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz for smooth visuals, though it doesn't have a curved screen edge. With a battery capacity that allows for around 8 hours of battery life, it should last most users a full day on a single charge. Photographers will appreciate its good-quality triple camera setup including a 12MP main, 64MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide lens; it also supports HDR10+ video, captures still photos well, and can record video at high resolutions, including 8K at 24fps. The phone offers solid performance with the Snapdragon 888 processor and 8GB RAM, ensuring apps and games run smoothly. It does not have a headphone jack, but it supports NFC, 5G connectivity, and wireless charging, including reverse wireless charging. Lastly, while it does not support SD cards, the internal storage of 128GB should be adequate for most users.

The Google Pixel 6 is a budget-friendly phone with a glass body and Android operating system. Its camera setup offers very good photo and fair video quality overall. The primary camera has 50 megapixels, and there's a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. It doesn't have a telephoto or periscope camera, but it does include Google's exclusive camera features like Magic Eraser. The battery capacity is decent and it supports wireless charging. With a 6.4-inch OLED display having a 90Hz refresh rate, you get a smooth and vivid experience. The phone lacks a headphone jack and an SD card slot but comes with dual SIM support and an under-display fingerprint sensor. It's powered by Google's custom Tensor processor and has 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. If you're looking for a phone with strong photographic capabilities, a smooth screen, and exclusive software features at a more accessible price, the Pixel 6 could be a compelling choice.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is a budget-friendly phone with a plastic back, released in 2021 with Android OS. It features a 6.2-inch OLED screen without curved edges. The camera system includes a 12MP main, 64MP telephoto with a 29mm focal length, and a 12MP ultrawide lens, offering good photo and video quality. The phone supports HDR10+ for videos and RAW output for photos. Its 4000mAh battery can last up to around 6.7 hours. It is equipped with the SD888 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, but does not have expandable memory via an SD card. The S21 has 5G capability, under-display fingerprint sensor, wireless charging, and is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, but lacks a headphone jack and front-facing stereo speakers. Its screen supports a 120Hz refresh rate and has a punch-hole design for the selfie camera. The device offers a solid performance, and is a suitable choice if you are looking for a modern smartphone without breaking the bank.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, offered at a premium price, is a high-end smartphone with a robust set of features, including a glass body and an integrated stylus. It comes with 128GB of storage and operates on the Android system. The phone boasts a large 6.8-inch curved OLED screen with a high refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals. The camera system is a highlight, offering very good still photo quality and good video quality, with the main camera at 108 megapixels and a telephoto lens capable of 10x optical zoom. Its 5000 mAh battery provides substantial battery life. It includes features like 5G, NFC, and wireless charging, though it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable storage via an SD card. If you value a phone with a sophisticated camera system, large display, and longevity, this model is a solid choice, but keep in mind it comes without some features that could be important for you, like a headphone jack or SD card slot.

The Google Pixel 6a is a budget-friendly smartphone with a plastic body, and it runs on Android. It offers a modest screen size of 6.1 inches with an OLED display that is not curved. The camera system is capable, providing very good still photo quality and good video quality, including 4K video recording. For those prioritizing photography, the Pixel 6a has exclusive camera features like Magic Eraser. It has decent battery life and comes with 128GB of storage. However, it lacks features such as a high refresh rate screen, and it does not support expandable storage with an SD card. Despite its plastic construction, it has a quality build and supports 5G connectivity. The Pixel 6a uses Google's own Tensor processor, and with 6GB of RAM, it performs well for everyday tasks. It offers classic Pixel features such as call screening and "Hold For Me" for user convenience.

The Google Pixel 6 Pro is positioned at a midrange price and offers a strong photography experience with a very capable telephoto lens that provides 10x optical zoom. Users in need of an Android device with a glass back, large battery capacity, and a 6.71-inch curved OLED screen will find it compelling. Its camera system includes features for RAW output and HDR video, providing very good picture quality and good video quality. For performance, the Pixel 6 Pro is equipped with Google's Tensor processor and 12GB of RAM, ensuring smooth operation. It boasts a high 120Hz refresh rate display for fluid visuals. However, users requiring a 3.5mm headphone jack or expandable storage through an SD card slot will need to look elsewhere, as the Pixel 6 Pro lacks these features. It supports 5G connectivity, boasts stereo speakers, NFC, the latest Wi-Fi 6e, and both wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities. Battery life is average, and the phone includes useful features like IP dust and water resistance, face unlock, and an under-display fingerprint sensor. The Pixel 6 Pro comes with a warranty of 12 months and charges via a USB-C port. Overall, it's a good choice for users who prioritize camera quality and display performance without needing the highest tier price point.

The OnePlus 9 is a budget-friendly option with solid performance, as it has the Snapdragon 888 processor and 8 GB of RAM. It comes with 128 GB of storage and runs on Android. With a glass back, it has a battery capacity of 4500 mAh, and features a 6.55-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth visuals. The phone offers a main camera with 48 megapixels and an ultrawide camera with 50 megapixels, providing good photo and video quality overall. It supports 5G connectivity but lacks a headphone jack and expandable storage via an SD card. It is also equipped with features like wireless charging (at 15 watts) and an under-display fingerprint sensor. The OnePlus 9 comes with a warranty of 12 months and includes a high-performance fast charger in the box.

The Samsung Galaxy S22+ is a premium-priced device released in 2022, featuring a 6.6-inch OLED display that does not have curved edges but offers high peak brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals. It runs on Android, is built with a glass back, and contains a 4500 mAh battery, providing a decent battery life. The phone is powered by SD8G1 processor with 8GB RAM, ensuring solid performance. Its camera setup is rated very good overall with a main camera of 50 megapixels, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, supporting features like HDR10+ video and RAW output. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ does not have a headphone jack or an SD card slot but supports 5G, wireless charging, and IP68 dust and water resistance, and comes with a 12-month warranty.

The Samsung Galaxy A42 is a budget-friendly phone released in November 2020, featuring a large 6.6-inch OLED screen, although its vertical and horizontal resolution are lower compared to high-end phones. It runs on Android and has a plastic body. The device offers a generous 5000 mAh battery capacity that should last well through the day but charging might be slower as it doesn't support wireless charging. With 64GB of storage, expandable via an SD card, and 4GB RAM, it's suitable for everyday tasks. The A42 has a satisfactory main camera with 48 megapixels for still photography but has fair camera performance overall. It records up to 4K video at 30fps and supports 5G connectivity. The phone includes handy features like a 3.5mm headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor under the display. If you're looking for a smartphone that covers the essentials without breaking the bank, this model is worth considering.

The Apple iPhone 11 is a budget-friendly option with a glass body and an LCD screen measuring 6.1 inches. It runs on iOS and is powered by the A13 processor with 4GB of RAM. The iPhone 11 was released in September 2019 and offers 64GB of storage without the option to expand via SD card. Its battery capacity is decent, offering around 7 hours of life, and it supports wireless charging at 7.5 watts. The camera setup includes a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, delivering fair photo and video quality. It is capable of recording 4K video at 60fps and does not support 5G. For security, it comes with Face Unlock but no fingerprint sensor. This model is also resistant to dust and water, and it charges through a Lightning port.