Finest low-cost telephone: 5 smartphones for underneath $500

A few of us take a sort of “I eat to dwell” reasonably than an “I dwell to eat” method to devices. They’re instruments that aid you get issues performed, not one thing you wish to make investments quite a lot of time or cash in. If that’s you — and there’s no judgment right here from a certifiable gadget nerd — then you possibly can most likely consider extra worthwhile methods to spend $1,000 than on a telephone.

Funds telephones to the rescue. These units are roughly $500 or underneath, and so they’re extra succesful than ever earlier than. You gained’t get all of the bells and whistles, however you’ll save a bit cash to spend on, I don’t know, precise bells and whistles. It’s your world.

What I’m in search of

Robust software program assist

No less than a few years of OS upgrades and, ideally, three years of safety updates. There’s no level in shopping for even an affordable telephone if it’s a must to substitute it after simply a few years as a result of it stopped getting safety patches.

A superb display screen

Because you have a look at it roughly two thousand instances a day, your telephone’s display screen is one place you shouldn’t compromise. An OLED has richer distinction and coloration than an LCD, and the large screens on at this time’s telephones actually need no less than a 1080p decision. Sooner refresh charges like 90Hz and even 120Hz have gotten extra frequent on funds telephone screens, however for my cash, a smooth-scrolling LCD doesn’t look as good as an OLED with a regular refresh fee.

Serviceable space for storing

In case you plan to hold onto your telephone for some time, you’ll need sufficient space for storing to accommodate all of the system information, pictures, and movies you’ll accumulate through the years. Ideally you’ll get no less than 128GB in-built, however at a minimal I search for 64GB with the choice to increase area through a MicroSD card.

One good rear digital camera, not 4 mediocre ones

Upgrades like telephoto cameras and optical picture stabilization are uncommon within the under-$500 class, however you possibly can nonetheless anticipate good, primary efficiency in good lighting from any fashionable smartphone. Low mild is trickier. Telephones on this class ought to provide an evening mode to assist with non-moving topics in very dim mild. And there aren’t any bonus factors awarded for including additional macro and depth cameras to pad out the rear digital camera array — these 2- and 5-megapixel sensors are just about ineffective.

A lot of our picks run about $400 or $500, however there are nice choices for $300 and underneath, too. You will discover a brilliant, high-definition OLED display screen or a battery that lasts for days. In case you can hone in on the one or two options which can be most necessary to you and also you’re prepared to compromise elsewhere, you will get a telephone that fits your wants for half the value of a flagship.

What compromises are you able to anticipate from a funds telephone? Some mixture of the next: slower processors, much less storage, and lousier cameras than flagship telephones, nearly throughout the board. Many have lower-resolution screens, and most lack official water-resistance scores, wi-fi charging, and NFC chips for contactless cost.

The most effective iPhone underneath $500

$429

The 2022 iPhone SE is Apple’s least costly telephone, however its tiny 4.7-inch display screen feels cramped now and could also be robust to make use of in an age the place apps and webpages are designed for greater screens.

Display: 4.7-inch, 1334p LCD / Processor: A15 Bionic Cameras: 12-megapixel f/1.8 with OIS, 7-megapixel selfie / Charging: 20W wired, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate-resistance score: IP67

In case your funds has a strict $500 cap and also you’re in search of a brand new iPhone, the selection is simple. The 2022 iPhone SE is the solely new iPhone underneath $500. It’s the least costly strategy to get into the iOS ecosystem and it’ll do the job, however I’d strongly encourage anybody wanting on the SE to contemplate whether or not it’s doable to spend a bit extra on an iPhone 14, now priced at $599.

The necessary factor to know in regards to the SE is that it comes with a really small, very dated 4.7-inch display screen. It’s the identical dimension because the one on the iPhone 6, and it’s beginning to really feel cramped in an age when apps and internet pages are designed for greater screens. The SE’s large bezels make the gadget look dated, too, however the usability of a small display screen might be an even bigger issue through the years to return.

The 2022 iPhone SE is a low-cost entry level to the iOS ecosystem.

Picture by Allison Johnson / The Verge

That’s the largest knock towards the SE — and it’s an necessary one. However for those who’re not anxious a few cramped display screen, then the SE has quite a lot of upsides. Its A15 processor is identical because the one within the iPhone 13 Professional Max, so efficiency is excellent.

There’s IP67 waterproofing and wi-fi charging — each unusual on this worth vary — and though it makes use of an older 12-megapixel digital camera, it takes very good pictures and high-quality video clips. The digital camera has no night time mode, which is a curious omission — mainly each different midrange telephone presents some form of low-light picture mode, and the telephone’s processor is definitely as much as the duty. Apple gonna Apple.

Learn my full evaluation of the Apple iPhone SE (2022).

The most effective Android telephone underneath $500

Google Pixel 8A in aloe green showing back panel.

Google’s newest midranger touts a whopping seven years of software program assist and a variety of small upgrades, together with Google’s speedy Tensor G3 processor, a 120Hz show, and loads of new AI options.

Display: 6.1-inch, 1080p OLED, 120Hz / Processor: Tensor G3 Cameras: 64-megapixel f/1.89 with OIS, 13-megapixel ultrawide, 13-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,492mAh / Charging: 18W wired, 7.5W wi-fi / Climate-resistance score: IP67

Google presents some superb high-end telephones within the Pixel 9, 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL, however it’s the corporate’s funds telephone that makes essentially the most sense. For $500, the Pixel 8A presents a complete lot of what makes its pricier siblings good, however at roughly half the fee.

It’s a modest replace over the Pixel 7A, which you’ll be able to nonetheless purchase, however the 8A comes with one large improve over the earlier technology: seven years of OS and safety updates. In case you’re the sort of one who likes to hold onto their gadget for a very long time, that’s large — particularly within the funds class the place different telephones may solely include one or two platform upgrades.

The Pixel 8A’s display screen has bezels for days however a quick 120Hz prime refresh fee.

Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge

The 8A can also be Google’s first funds telephone to return with a 120Hz show, so scrolling and animations look tremendous {smooth}. You additionally get wi-fi charging and an IP67 score for defense towards water immersion. The digital camera system is dependable, however it’s the obvious place the place Google needed to make some compromises to maintain the value low. It’s a fantastic all-around digital camera, however stepping as much as one of many newest Pixel fashions will get you improved low mild efficiency, an up to date ultrawide digital camera, and a complete lot of AI-powered options.

Learn my full evaluation of the Google Pixel 8A.

The most effective funds telephone that performs like a flagship

OnePlus 12R on a green background with blue translucent squares.

$500

The OnePlus 12R comes with a superb display screen and a top-notch processor, making it really feel way more costly than its $500 price ticket.

Display: 6.78-inch, 1264 x 2780 120Hz OLED / Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.8 with OIS, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 2-megapixel macro, 16-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,500mAh / Charging: 80W wired / Climate-resistance score: IP64

The OnePlus 12R is $500, however it may simply trick you into pondering it prices twice as a lot. It comes with a really large, very good display screen, with refresh charges that go as much as 120Hz and all the best way all the way down to 1Hz, making for a {smooth} scrolling expertise while you want it and financial savings on battery life while you don’t. It’s a function not often seen on a telephone underneath $800.

The 12R is supplied with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is a technology behind 2024’s processor du jour, the 8 Gen 3. However the 8 Gen 2 nonetheless whips — it’s arduous to throw something at this telephone that it may well’t deal with. Much less good: the 12R’s IP64 score, which implies it’s splash resistant however not absolutely water immersible, just like the Pixel 8A.

The 12R misses out on sturdy water resistance however delivers on efficiency.

Picture by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Quick charging is sort of OnePlus’ trademark, and the 12R stays true to the model with as much as 80W quick wired charging within the US (it’s as much as 100W in different areas). It’s good if you wish to cost your telephone on a extra compressed schedule, like throughout your morning routine reasonably than at night time.

Personally, I’d reasonably have slower wired charging if it meant I may have a function that’s not current on the 12R: wi-fi charging. That’s, as soon as once more, one thing the Pixel 8A presents. However that’s the great thing about the 12R — it is aware of what it’s and what it isn’t. And if a low-cost telephone with a giant, high-quality display screen and wonderful efficiency is what you’re after, then the 12R is it.

Learn my full evaluation of the OnePlus 12R.

The telephone underneath $400

The Galaxy A35 5G comes with a superb 6.6-inch OLED panel, a sturdy IP67 mud and water resistance score, and a powerful software program replace coverage for its class.

Display: 6.6-inch, 1080p decision, 120Hz OLED / Processor: Exynos 1380 Cameras: 50-megapixel f/1.8 with OIS, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro, 13-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 25W wired / Climate-resistance score: IP67

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G comes with surprisingly robust specs for its $399 worth. They’re the sort of options you gained’t actually spot from the skin, however they’re necessary, notably its IP67 score for mud and water resistance. Not like nearly each different telephone at this worth, the A35 5G is constructed to resist water immersion, so that you don’t have to sweat it in case your telephone lands in a bathroom bowl or puddle.

Right here’s one other unexciting spec: 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates. That’s not the perfect within the funds class — the Pixel 8A takes that honor with seven years of updates — however it’s a lot better than the 2 or three years we sometimes see in telephones properly underneath $500.

The A35 5G comes with a water-resistance score and software program assist coverage which can be unusually robust for its class.

Picture: Allison Johnson / The Verge

The digital camera is lackluster; it’s fantastic in brilliant mild however struggles in dim and blended indoor lighting. It doesn’t have the strongest processing efficiency yow will discover underneath $500, both, and the Samsung-made Exynos processor often stutters when shortly bouncing between duties. I used to be horrified — horrified! — after I unintentionally texted my husband one of many routinely generated replies as a result of it popped up on the final second as I used to be making an attempt to faucet on one thing else. This stuff don’t occur when all the things hundreds shortly.

However total, it’s a compelling bundle — particularly with a giant, crowd-pleasing OLED show and powerful battery efficiency. In case you’re a light-weight person and never fussy about digital camera high quality, the A35 5G presents some upgrades that make an actual distinction in the long run.

Different funds telephones we examined

The 2024 Motorola Moto G Energy has all of the makings of a superb funds telephone, together with a stunning vegan leather-based exterior and wi-fi charging. Nevertheless it’s loaded with bloatware of the worst form, and that alone disqualifies it from our suggestions. Learn our impressions.

We additionally examined the OnePlus Nord N300, which doesn’t make an look amongst our suggestions. The N300 may be very reasonably priced at $228 however cuts too many corners to incorporate quick charging. The pricier 12R that snags our suggestion above presents a lot better total efficiency. Learn our evaluation.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is one other completely succesful telephone that doesn’t fairly earn a suggestion right here. It’s a bit exterior the scope of this information at $649 anyway, however you do get a telephoto lens and a pleasant, large display screen for that worth. Nonetheless, you’re higher off saving a bunch and choosing up the Pixel 8A or ready for the Galaxy S25 — it’s doubtless arriving in early 2025 with Samsung’s sometimes beneficiant trade-in promotions. Learn our evaluation.

Lastly, for those who’re in search of one thing fairly completely different, the Nothing Telephone 2 is an choice with its smooth look and flashy interface (actually, it flashes) — simply know that it’s not absolutely suitable with Verizon’s community.

Replace, December sixteenth: Eliminated a suggestion for the Google Pixel 6A as it’s out of inventory. Eliminated a notice in regards to the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and added extra element on the Galaxy S24 FE.