The most effective low-cost telephones for 2025

It could be modern to spend $1,000 on the newest flagship smartphone once they first get launched, however it’s not needed. You do not even must spend $500 at this time to get an honest handset, whether or not it’s a refurbished iPhone or an inexpensive Android cellphone, as there are many choices as little as $160 that might suit your wants.

However navigating the finances cellphone market might be difficult; choices that look good on paper will not be in apply, and a few handsets will find yourself costing you extra when you think about many include restrictive storage. Whereas we at Engadget spend most of our time testing and reviewing mid- to high-end handsets, we have examined plenty of the newest budget-friendly telephones available on the market to see which are literally value your cash.

What to search for in an inexpensive cellphone

For this information, our high picks value between $100 and $300. Something much less and also you may as properly go purchase a dumb cellphone or high-end calculator as a substitute. Since they’re meant to be extra inexpensive than flagship telephones and even midrange handsets, finances smartphones contain compromises; the cheaper a tool, the decrease your expectations round specs, efficiency and expertise needs to be. For that purpose, the most effective recommendation I can provide is to spend as a lot as you’ll be able to afford. On this worth vary, even $50 or $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product.

Second, it is best to know what you need most from a cellphone. When shopping for a finances smartphone, chances are you’ll have to sacrifice an honest foremost digicam for lengthy battery life, or commerce a high-resolution show for a sooner CPU. That’s simply what comes with the territory, however realizing your priorities will make it simpler to search out the proper cellphone.

It’s additionally value noting some options might be exhausting to search out on low-cost handsets. As an illustration, you received’t want to go looking far for a tool with all-day battery life — however if you would like a terrific digicam cellphone with glorious digicam high quality, you’re higher off shelling out for one of many suggestions in our midrange smartphone guide, which all are available at $600 or much less. Wi-fi charging and waterproofing additionally aren’t straightforward to search out on this worth vary and overlook concerning the quickest chipset. On the intense aspect, all our suggestions include headphone jacks, so that you received’t have to get wireless headphones.

iOS can be off the desk, for the reason that $400 Apple iPhone SE is essentially the most inexpensive iPhone within the lineup. That leaves Android OS as the one possibility. Fortunately at this time, there’s little to complain about Google’s OS – and chances are you’ll even desire it to iOS. Lastly, remember most Android producers sometimes supply far much less sturdy software program options and assist for his or her finances units. In some instances, your new cellphone might solely obtain one main software program replace and a yr or two of safety patches past that. That applies to the OnePlus and Motorola suggestions on our record.

If you happen to’d wish to preserve your cellphone for so long as attainable, Samsung has the most effective software program coverage of any Android producer within the finances area, providing four years of security updates on all of its units. That stated, if software program assist (or gadget longevity total) is your foremost focus, contemplate spending a bit extra the $500 Google Pixel 7a, which is our favourite midrange smartphone and has deliberate software program updates by way of mid-2026.

Finest low-cost telephones

OnePlus

The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G affords the most effective worth of any of the smartphones on our record. No different cellphone within the worth bracket encompasses a processor as quick because the N30’s Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. Furthermore, OnePlus has specced the N30 with 5G connectivity along with a beneficiant 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, that means you most likely received’t have to finances for a microSD card or cloud storage. It additionally comes with a 120Hz IPS show, a characteristic that’s nice for each gaming and on a regular basis use. Better of all, the N30 ships with a 50W energy adapter for quick charging, letting you get a full day of battery life in half-hour. The N30 could be nearly good if it had waterproofing and OnePlus had dedicated to pushing multiple main Android OS replace to the cellphone. — Igor Bonifacic, Contributing Reporter

$230 at Amazon

SAMSUNG

For simply $200, the Galaxy A15 5G is a fairly outstanding gadget. It has a 6.5-inch show with a barely slower 90Hz refresh fee the Nord N30. Nevertheless, as a result of it options an AMOLED panel as a substitute of an LCD show, it boasts higher brightness and richer colours than principally all of its rivals. It may also be configured with as much as 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and its 5,000 mAh battery delivers lengthy battery life. Its digicam system is strong for its worth, providing a foremost digicam that handles on a regular basis photographs properly and a selfie digicam for video calls. And whereas its design isn’t too thrilling, the polycarbonate Samsung makes use of on the again has a pleasant matte end that feels extra like glass than low-cost plastic. Lastly, the A15 comes with 4 years of safety updates and three years of OS upgrades, which is longer than most handsets on this worth vary. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

$173 at Amazon

Motorola

For these on a extremely tight finances, the 2024 Moto G Play covers all of the bases properly. It has a speedy Snapdragon 680 processor together with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. And whereas that final quantity may appear small, the cellphone has a microSD card slot so you’ll be able to add more room if and if you want it. Its 6.5-inch LCD display can be surprisingly sharp with a 90Hz refresh fee. The Moto G Play even has an IP52 ranking for mud and water resistance. That isn’t a lot, however it’s adequate to guard in opposition to an errant splash or two. Certain, the G Play is primary, however it’s primary in a great way. — S.R.

$110 at Amazon

Motorola

The $200 Motorola Moto G Stylus affords one thing not one of the different picks on this record do: a built-in stylus. If you happen to love doodling and jotting down notes, then that is a budget cellphone to purchase. Fortunately, it has just a few different issues going for it too. The Moto G Stylus sports activities a giant and responsive 6.5-inch show and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery. Plus, it’s out there in two pretty colours: midnight blue and glam pink.

As with different choices on this worth vary, it will be good if the Moto G Stylus got here with a extra succesful digicam, a quick charger and higher safety in opposition to water. One phrase of recommendation: keep away from Moto G Stylus 5G. It doesn’t supply sufficient of an improve to justify costing $400. — I.B.

$178 at Amazon

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