Don’t want to spend $1,000 or more on a new smartphone? We don’t blame you. The good news is there are plenty of models available for half that price, but the trick is knowing which budget smartphone is worth buying. After all, just because you’re not spending flagship phone money doesn’t mean you want to be stuck with a rubbish phone. There are plenty of options out there for the best budget phones.
We’ve collected the models that still give you great performance, good cameras, the right connectivity, and often a desirable design and brand name too — all for less money than you may expect. The best budget phones in 2024 will surprise you with their strong performance, making them more than capable of playing the latest games. Plus, they have batteries that will last you at least a day.
If your budget for a new smartphone this year is around $500, then these are the best models you can get.
Best overall budget phone
OnePlus 12R
- Sleek, polished design
- Top-notch display
- Fast performance; runs cool
- Excellent battery life
- 80W charging!
- Unbeatable price
- Poor ultrawide and macro cameras
- No wireless charging
Why you should buy this: It's OnePlus's newest flagship killer and the truest expression of OnePlus's creed.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants an amazing phone at an incredible price.
Why we picked the OnePlus 12R:
OnePlus is best known as the "flagship killer," which certainly used to be accurate. These days, OnePlus's flagship phones are, well, flagships themselves. While they're no less capable, it's hard to frame them as a true "flagship killer". That title has instead been handed down to the OnePlus 12R, a $500 smartphone that absolutely deserves the nickname. It's a powerful, gorgeous, and immensely desirable phone and our pick for the best budget phone in 2024.
Performance here is top-notch. It uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, last year's flagship chip, and it's exceptional. It runs cool, even under pressure, and it'll handle anything you can throw at it. It's silky smooth, thanks in large part to the variable 1-120Hz refresh rate, and the 2780 x 1264 resolution means everything on the AMOLED 6.78-inch display looks crisp, vivid, and inky dark.
It looks great elsewhere, too. The aluminum frame has soft curves and the camera system on the back is unique without being ugly. Sure, it won't be to everyone's tastes, but it's not afraid to stand out, and we love it for that. Under the hood, it's running Android 14 in the OxygenOS 14 flavor, and it looks and feels great. Even better, you get three years of Android updates and four years of security patches, too.
The battery is another big highlight. First, it takes serious advantage of OnePlus's charging expertise, and has an 80W charging rate (100W outside of the U.S.), and while there's no wireless charging, the speed of the wired charging is enough that you might not miss it. Not that it'll need charging that much, as the enormous 5,500mAh battery is more than capable of lasting for two days on a single charge. It's an exceptional performer here.
The camera is good, but not up to the level of the rest of the phone. The main 50-megapixel camera lens has taken some greats shots during our time with it, and while it's taken some bad shots, it's been solid on the whole. The ultrawide lens isn't as good, largely because it only has 8MP, and the less said about the macro lens the better. Thankfully, the 16MP selfie camera is good, leaving this on a good note.
The OnePlus 12R is a great smartphone, and it comes at a great price, too. It starts from $500, but OnePlus offers a strong deal where it takes a further $100 off that price when you trade in any other smartphone in any condition. Yes, including that decade-old smartphone from the dawn of the era. That's an unbeatable deal and makes the OnePlus 12R an even better deal. The best part? It's available to take advantage of for the entire life of the OnePlus 12R. It doesn't get much better than this.
Best Samsung budget phone
Samsung Galaxy A35
- Light and comfortable to hold
- IP67 rating makes it durable
- Main camera takes fun photos
- Long software update commitment
- Battery doesn't last two days
- No wireless or fast charging
Why you should buy this: It's a very impressive phone for $400.
Who it’s for: Anyone who appreciates Samsung phones at a great price.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy A35:
The Galaxy A55 may have been a letdown, but that doesn't matter because the Samsung Galaxy A35 is here to plug that gap. It's a great-looking and feeling smartphone with a good amount of power, a strong display, a capable camera, and some very compelling reasons to be your next phone.
The design is a particular high point. It's similar looking to Samsung's flagships, but uses a plastic chassis instead of metal. That's not a downside, as Samsung has invested well into plastic that feels great to hold, and when paired with the glass that curves into both sides, the result is a well-weighted device that doesn't feel at all inexpensive. Keep a tight hand on it though; while the front glass is Gorilla Glass Victus+, the back is just regular glass, and might not have the durability to take the blows and falls the display glass will.
The processor isn't a new one by any means, but the Exynos 1380 still has plenty of legs. It handled most of the games we threw at it without any noticeable heating up or lag. The battery isn't as impressive as we hoped, though, managing a day-and-a-half on one charge, and charging is on the slower end, topping out at 25W.
The camera is good, with the main 50MP lens being the standout and the only bit really worth your attention. The images it takes are fun and colorful, and it's capable of tackling most circumstances. Don't expect much from the wide-angle and macro lenses, as they're nowhere near the same level of quality. Ignore them and pretend the main lens is the only one.
For $400, it's hard to argue against the Samsung Galaxy A35. It'll get four years of software updates and five years of security patches, so it has the support to last for a long time, even if it will probably be barely hanging in there by the end of the updates. At this price, it sweeps a lot of the competition, making it a must-buy for midrange Samsung fans and a strong consideration for anyone who wants a phone packed with value.
Best Apple budget phone
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Compact and light
- Very powerful
- Touch ID works really well
- Wireless charging
- IP67 water resistance
- Poor battery life
- 60Hz screen
- 64GB won't be enough
Why you should buy this: It's the smallest iPhone you can buy, yet it's still powerful, plus it has Touch ID and the very latest version of iOS too.
Who it’s for: Apple iPhone lovers who miss small phones but don't want to compromise on performance.
Why we picked the iPhone SE (2022):
It's not the biggest smartphone on this list, but it's still one of the most powerful. The jewel in the iPhone SE's crown is the A15 Bionic processor powering it. This is the same chip you'll find in the iPhone 14, and it's incredibly powerful. The result is a budget smartphone that can handle the latest and most demanding 3D games, and pretty much anything the latest flagships can do. It's a strong advantage.
However, the iPhone SE looks just like iPhone 8 so it has chunky bezels and a relatively small display. It may perform like a flagship iPhone, but it looks older, especially as it has a Home button and Touch ID fingerprint sensor. However, some may see this as a benefit.
It's made from glass and aluminum, is very compact and lightweight, plus there are various attractive colors available. There's only a single 12MP camera on the back, but it does have some excellent post-processing, thanks to the A15 Bionic processor, and the iPhone SE still takes good shots. Unfortunately, there's no Night mode, which means you'll need to rely a little more on good lighting.
The battery life is a major drawback. We managed a day of use out of the iPhone SE, but it's unlikely to stretch much further than that with even moderately heavy use, and you're going to need to top it up on particularly hectic days.
Prices for the Apple iPhone SE (2022) start from $429 for 64GB of storage and rise up to $579 for 256GB of storage. We recommend buying the $479 to upgrade your storage to 128GB at least, as performance and battery life suffer when the storage gets close to full.
Best Google budget phone
Google Pixel 8a
- Compact and light
- Vibrant camera
- AI photo-editing suite
- Easy to use Android software
- Long update commitment
- Cheap-feeling body
- Slow charging
- One-day battery life
Why you should buy this: It has everything that makes flagship Pixels great at a much lower price.
Who it's for: Pixel and Android fans alike who appreciate a low price when attached to a great phone.
Why we picked the Google Pixel 8a:
The Google Pixel 8a is flawed, but it's still a good smartphone. If you're looking for a good midrange smartphone and camera quality is right at the top of your needs, then the Google Pixel 8a should be your first stop.
Yes, the camera is still the highlight. Both the 64MP main lens and 13MP wide-angle lens are excellent performers, and they'll deliver solid results from pretty much every lighting circumstance you can think of. The only negative this camera system has is a problem with zoomed-in shots — but considering it doesn't have a telephoto lens, that's understandable. The camera's excellent quality can be paired with the strong AI-assisted editing tools too, with Magic Editor allowing you to remove background elements, change the sky, or do a number of other impressive transformations.
It's worth highlighting the AI elements a bit more, too. Google Gemini Nano will eventually be coming to this phone, which means you have something to look forward to if you buy it before this rollout. But even without Google's on-device AI tech, you have Circle to Search, an actually useful addition that provides very quick and easy image searching.
The processor is the same Tensor G3 you'll find in the flagship Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, and it's just as powerful here. It still suffers from overheating problems though, and the phone will get hot to the touch when playing games or performing any intensive tasks.
The battery is disappointing, lasting only a day on a single charge, and charging is limited to just 18W. We expect more from midrange phones, since the less-demanding specs tend to mean more significant longevity. We suppose you can give the Pixel 8a's disappointing battery a pass for its flagship processor, but there's no excusing the relatively weak 18W charging rate.
We've ending this section on a bit of a low note by listing the Pixel 8a's weaknesses, but do keep in mind its strengths too. What the Pixel does, it does very well indeed, and there are more than enough people out there who will prize what the Pixel 8a can do with its camera to trump some low points with the battery or charging. It's a phone that's sure to last, thanks to Google's seven-year support promise — and if you get a cool seven years out of it, that's $500 very well spent.
Best foldable budget phone
Motorola Razr 2024
- Super-compact design
- Large cover screen with always-on display
- Improved hinge design
- Good cameras
- Long battery life
- Crease is very minimal
- Fun colors
- Ultrawide camera isn't the best
- Only three years of OS upgrades
- No reverse wireless charging
Why you should buy this: It's one of the best foldable phones on the market.
Who it's for: People who want to relive the flip phone days in a smartphone format.
Why we picked the Motorola Razr 2024:
Just like the iPhone in the early days of smartphones, foldable phones came onto the market a few years ago with a four-figure price tag. Then the Motorola Razr, one of the most popular clamshell phones in the 2000s, was resurrected with two screens of its own: a large screen on the inside and a small display cover screen on the outside.
The Motorola Razr 2024 is the same as the Motorola Razr Plus 2023 as far as the cover screen goes, with the dual cameras taking up most of the 3.6-inch cover display. However, it's far more affordable than the Motorola Razr Plus 2024 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 for the features that it offers. You can run apps on the cover display in full screen or default modes, shake the phone to activate the flashlight, and customize your wallpaper by adding your picture to different shapes and designs.
Speaking of pictures, the main camera is 50MP and the secondary ultrawide wide is 13MP, while the selfie camera on the inner display is 32MP. If you like taking selfies, you might find that they come out better when taken with the rear camera with the phone closed than with the selfie camera. That's something you might want to take into consideration when you're filming videos for TikTok.
The performance of the Motorola Razr 2024 can't be beat, thanks to the MediaTek 7300X processor, which is a major step up from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 used in last year's model. The phone also carries 256GB of storage with 8GB of RAM, which can be extended with a virtual RAM boost feature that incorporates AI learning to help it along.
Design-wise, the crease on the inner display is hardly noticeable in most lighting conditions. It also helps that the built-in screen protector won't break or peel away over time. The hinge is even smoother and a lot quieter than the hinge on the previous model, making the phone close without the sound of thunder.
The Motorola Razr 2024 is the perfect foldable phone for those who want to relive their high school days of carrying the original Motorola Razr — or any other flip phone, in general — with style. At $700, it's worth the nostalgia.
Best Motorola budget phone
Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
- Gorgeous 6.6-inch display
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Fast performance
- Long lasting battery
- Responsive and fluid stylus
- Decent cameras
- Poor lowlight photos
- Fast charging maxes out at 20W
- Only one major software upgrade
Why you should buy this: It's a great budget phone from the kings of making budget phones. Oh, and it has a stylus.
Who it's for: Stylus-lovers who also love a bargain.
Why we picked the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023):
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is a true blue budget phone, rather than a more expensive phone at a bargain price — but that doesn't mean you can afford to discount it. The G Stylus is a bargain-priced smartphone with a great looking display, excellent battery, and solid performance — and it has a stylus, too.
The solid performance comes from the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, a midrange chip that'll handle most of what you can throw at it. It'll even handle most 3D games, though you might notice a few blurry details while you're playing. The performance is underlined excellently by the display's 120Hz refresh rate. That comes on a 1080p 6.6-inch panel, and it looks really good. It uses LCD tech, so it doesn't look as good as the OLED screens on this list, but it's still more than acceptable, and we really like it.
The camera is a small step down, but only because it's closer to "acceptable" than "good". Shots are generally fine, but you'll notice a steep decline when lighting becomes more challenging. The real issue for it here is that there are phones like the Pixel 7a that dominate this space, and it just can't compete with phones like that. The software is a similar story, and while the software itself is good, the update promises are not. You'll get one update, and that means Android 14, and nothing else. That's not great when many brands are now offering four-plus years of support, even on more affordable phones.
Thankfully, the battery is exceptional. A single charge will last you for two days, and will still manage a single day with ease when pushed hard. Sadly, the charging speed is not as good, being limited to just 20W, with only a 10W charger in the box. That's a letdown.
For $260, it's hard to argue against the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023). Not only do you get a stylus, kept snugly within the phone's body, you also get a great-looking 120Hz display, and an exceptional battery life. For the stylus-lovers amongst us, it's the budget phone of choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can always find bargains at online retailers, but be careful to do your research and order the model number you need. In particular, check that the model you are buying supports the bands your carrier operates on. The major carriers sometimes run good promotions, but if you find a phone you like in-store it's worth doing a quick search online to see if you can find it for less. You'll often find affordable options at MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) and we have a list of the best MVNOs to check out.
There are lots of different cell phone plans out there, so take your time and do some research before picking a plan. We have a breakdown of the best cell phone plans to help you get started. If you go for a family plan, then you can often secure good deals on additional lines. Consider the coverage in your area before deciding on a carrier.
The most obvious way to score a bargain is to buy second-hand. If that appeals to you, then we have a guide on how to buy used smartphones that you’ll want to read. You may also consider online retailers, just make sure that you check the model of the phone you are buying supports the bands your carrier operates on.
Flagships have been climbing in price recently, but if you're willing to wait and look at flagship phones from a year or two ago, then you can get them at a much lower price. Almost all Android phone manufacturers offer discounts on older flagships and those discounts get deeper the older the phone gets. On the other hand, the general quality of budget phones has improved greatly in recent years and phone design moves very quickly, so a midrange device today will likely match a two-year-old flagship on performance and may boast a more modern design.
