As high-end telephones get dearer, one of the best low-cost Android telephones get even higher. We’ve reviewed and ranked the entire greatest Android telephones below $500/£500 you should purchase in the present day. Whether you are seeking to get related with 5G, or simply wish to get as a lot as attainable to your cash, our purchaser’s information will make it easier to discover the right cellphone for you. Here are a few of our high selections for probably the most cheap telephones accessible now.What are one of the best low-cost Android telephones?2021 wasn’t one of the best yr for finances telephones however, fortunately, 2022 has been a much better yr for folk who aren’t comfy with (or capable of spend) $1,000 on a brand new cellphone. We’re seeing options like a number of cameras, sooner processors, and 5G hit value factors that will have been exceptional simply a few years in the past. Because of that, one of the best finances Android telephones do not feel “cheap” in any method however the value. We’ve put these telephones by our collection of assessments (opens in new tab) to make sure you’re getting solely one of the best suggestions.Our high choose is the Samsung A53 5G, which is available in at below $500, and provides among the greatest options of Samsung’s dearer flagship telephones. It’s bought a stunning 120Hz AMOLED show, 4 cameras on the again (which might be truly good), an enormous battery that’ll final many customers effectively over a full day, and software program assist for years. It’s laborious to argue with Samsung’s place within the Android world as of late for this final purpose, alone.But if you happen to’re seeking to save much more cash and are on the T-Mobile or AT&T networks within the U.S., our high choose below $300 is the OnePlus Nord N20 5G. The Nord N20 sports activities a vibrant AMOLED show, an excellent processor, surprisingly glorious cameras, and battery life that’ll final effectively over a day for any person. OnePlus even features a 33W charger within the field, making it a rarity amongst telephones as of late, not to mention one which prices below $300. Just bear in mind that it solely has correct 5G assist on T-Mobile’s community.If cameras are your most essential choose, although, you would be remiss to not take into account the Google Pixel 6a first. This cellphone makes probably the most of its {hardware} with glorious picture processing on the cameras, and fairly snappy efficiency with the newest model of Android.This cellphone additionally helps sub-6 5G so you can work with any service’s newest community know-how because it continues to increase over the subsequent couple of years. It prices fairly a bit greater than the Nord N20, nevertheless it’s laborious to go flawed with Google’s award-winning cameras and dedication to years of software program updates.These are one of the best low-cost telephones you should purchase(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Display: 6.5-inch AMOLED, 2400×1080, 120Hz refresh charge | Processor: Exynos 1280 octa-core CPU | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Cameras: 64MP major, 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro, 5MP depth, 32MP selfie | Charging: 25W wired | Battery: 5,000 mAh | Water Resistance: IP67 | Dimensions: 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm | Weight: 189gGood-looking hardwareVibrant AMOLED show with 120Hz refresh rateFour good rear camerasLarge 5,000 mAh batteryIP67 water and mud resistanceNo 3.5mm headphone jackCameras aren’t nearly as good as a PixelThe Galaxy A collection is considered one of Samsung’s biggest achievements with stable specs and good designs on mid-range and low-end telephones. We referred to as it the mid-range cellphone to beat in 2022 for a purpose. This one is a stellar launch that feels extra like a flagship at half the conventional flagship value. It’s much more spectacular than the dearer Galaxy A73 (opens in new tab) due to the worth for the value.Samsung retains up the pattern with the Galaxy A53 5G, a refresh of the A52 with improved efficiency because of the Exynos 1280 CPU octa-core CPU, which has two cores operating at 2.4GHz and the remaining six operating at 2.0GHz. This is paired with a stable 6GB RAM and powered by a big 5,000mAh battery. And not like some cheaper telephones, charging is quick at as much as 25 watts.Perhaps probably the most spectacular inclusion with this cellphone is a really full 5G chipset. This cellphone helps sub-6 and mmWave 5G together with mid-band with C-band. If you have been searching for an inexpensive cellphone with full 5G assist, this can be a nice selection. Wi-Fi is not nice with solely Wi-Fi 5 supported nevertheless it ought to nonetheless be nice for most individuals.On the entrance of this cellphone, you get a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED show operating at 120Hz so that you get nice colours and distinction with clean animations. This cellphone comes with 128GB of storage however it’s expandable if you wish to get a reminiscence card to drop in. Check out our full Samsung Galaxy A53 evaluate (opens in new tab) for more information. (Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)OnePlus Nord N20 5G Display: 6.43-inch 60Hz AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | RAM: 6GB LPDDR4x | Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2 | Cameras: 64MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP monochrome, 16MP entrance | Charging: 33W SUPERVOOC | Battery: 4,500mAh | Water Resistance: IP52 | Dimensions: 159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5mm | Weight: 173gGorgeous AMOLED displayExcellent cameras3.5mm jack and microSD card slot5G connectivity and NFCGreat-looking and feeling constructLots of software program featuresUSB port compatibility pointsOnly one OS updateLimited 5G assistThe odd $282 price ticket of the Nord N20 is just the start of OnePlus’ newest expectation-defying finances cellphone. Inside is a Snapdragon 695 5G — the identical one within the Motorola G Stylus 5G (2022), which is almost double the value — 6GB of RAM, and even 128GB of quick UFS 2.2 storage. You’ll discover from our OnePlus Nord N20 5G (opens in new tab) evaluate that the cellphone constantly carried out extra like a cellphone twice its value.On high of that, it is bought an AMOLED show on the entrance, which is sort of by no means seen in telephones on this value vary. As you’d count on from an AMOLED panel, the colours are attractive, black ranges are good, and all the things simply appears nice. It could possibly be somewhat brighter and it is “only” bought a 60Hz refresh charge, nevertheless it’s laborious to argue with AMOLED high quality when most telephones on this value vary are caught with a bland LCD.The cameras are additionally above and past the extent of high quality of most telephones on this value vary. It actually solely has a 64MP primary digital camera on the again — the 2MP monochrome and 2MP macro cameras are largely ineffective on their very own — however that primary digital camera produces some significantly nice photographs with vast dynamic vary, impressively good AI-powered multi-frame software program that mechanically picks one of the best shot after you’re taking it, and even takes high quality 1080p video.Keep in thoughts that, whereas the processor feels quick for each day duties and may run some video games fairly effectively, extra intensive 3D video games like Fortnite are mainly unplayable. Additionally, some gaming controllers that join through USB-C do not work on this cellphone for some purpose, so maintain these issues in thoughts earlier than shopping for.There are so many causes to decide on a OnePlus Nord N20 5G if you happen to’re on a finances and, whereas the cellphone is now accessible unlocked after a interval of T-Mobile exclusivity, it solely helps 5G speeds on T-Mobile. AT&T prospects can use the cellphone however will solely get a 4G LTE sign.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Google Pixel 6a Best cameras on any finances cellphoneDisplay: 6.1-inch AMOLED, 2400×1080, 60Hz refresh charge | Processor: Google Tensor | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB UFS 3.1 | Cameras: 12MP major, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP selfie | Charging: 18W wired | Battery: 4,410 mAh | Water Resistance: IP67 | Dimensions: 152.2mm x 71.8mm x 8.9mm | Weight: 178 gramsSimply wonderful camerasFast efficiency throughout the boardBeautiful OLED displayGreat Pixel-exclusive featuresSupports 5G networksComfortable dimensionOnly a 60Hz showNo headphone jackNo wi-fi chargingOftentimes, if you spend lower than $500 on a cellphone, it’s a must to compromise on the processor and the construct of the cellphone. But Google is doing issues otherwise with the Pixel 6a which, as we stated in our Google Pixel 6a evaluate (opens in new tab), is a cellphone of few compromises.It all begins with the Google Tensor processor inside. That’s the primary processor designed in-house by Google, and is the very same one included within the dearer Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. That implies that it doesn’t matter what you do on the cellphone, efficiency is nearly as good because it will get. 40% higher than most telephones on this value vary, in actual fact.Then, in fact, are the cameras Pixel telephones are so well-known for. The Pixel 6a could be utilizing comparable {hardware} to older Pixel telephones — that is a 12MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor — however the outcomes are higher than ever because of that Tensor processor. Tensor is filled with AI smarts that assist make footage look simply plain higher, together with clever object recognition that helps maintain objects in movement completely clear.Folks with children or pets ought to positively take into account choosing up a Pixel 6a over anything on this listing, as you will not discover a cellphone that takes higher photographs of them. But that is not only for one of the best finances Android telephones, both. That even contains telephones which might be far, far dearer.Add to that Pixel’s nice options like name screening, instantaneous Google assistant text-to-speech, real-time on-device translation, and many extra, and you have a cellphone that solely will get higher with time, not worse. Google has even considerably improved the fingerprint sensor with a number of software program updates, and the Pixel 6a already runs Android 13 which is one thing you may have a tough time discovering on different telephones for some time.The downsides? The display screen is simply 60Hz, which is on par with what you’d get from any older cellphone you are possible upgrading from. That means the Pixel 6a will not look as clean as telephones with 90Hz or 120Hz shows. Personally, I do not assume this can be a enormous deal, and did not discover that it bothered me in any respect when reviewing it, even coming from telephones with greater refresh charges.It does not have a headphone jack or assist for wi-fi charging. Even with these negatives, nonetheless, it is laborious to argue with the worth Google brings with the Pixel 6a, and there is no actual competitors with the cameras. They’re the perfect you may get on any cellphone below $500.(Image credit score: Android Central)Motorola One 5G Ace Display: 6.7-inch LCD, Full HD+ | Processor: Snapdragon 750G | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Cameras: 48MP vast, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, 16MP entrance | Charging: 15W | Battery: 5,000mAh | Water resistance : IP52 | Dimensions: 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9mm | Weight: 212gFast Snapdragon 750G with 6GB of RAMFantastic battery lifeHeadphone jack5G supportedBland designCamera efficiency is not greatOlder Android versionLike we stated in our Motorola One 5G Ace evaluate (opens in new tab) we realized this can be a finances cellphone with a set of options that makes it probably the greatest selections for somebody that wishes a protracted battery life with first rate efficiency. The Snapdragon 750G with 6GB RAM below the hood retains this cellphone buzzing together with stable efficiency in most apps, and the large 5,000mAh battery makes positive you possibly can maintain going all day with no cost — and perhaps even a second day.The show is nothing particular at 6.7 inches, with a Full HD+ decision operating at 60Hz, nevertheless it’s nonetheless stable for the value. The 128GB of storage is a lot for lots of apps and footage, and may even be expanded with a microSD card. The cameras are alright, and the 48MP primary shooter can truly seize some stable photographs in good lighting. Ultra-wide photographs are additionally first rate and a very good shade match to the principle digital camera. One of the largest drawbacks of this cellphone is the software program. Motorola launched this gadget with Android 10, nevertheless it has since been up to date to Android 11. Motorola additionally lists this as one of many gadgets it expects to replace to Android 12. However, the replace continues to be nowhere to be discovered for some carriers like AT&T. At least the cellphone is simply $200 as of late, making it one of the best finances Android cellphone with one of the best battery life.(Image credit score: Android Central)Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Best Samsung cellphone below $300Display: 6.4-inch TFT, 720×1600 | Processor: MediaTek MT6853 Dimensity 720 5G | RAM: 4/6/8GB | Storage: 128GB | Cameras: 48MP major, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro, 5MP depth, 13MP selfie | Charging: 15W wired | Battery: 5,000 mAh | Water Resistance: IP67 | Dimensions: 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1mm | Weight: 205gAttractive designGreat cameras90Hz AMOLED show is excellentThree platform updatesLong battery lifeCan be a bit laggy with heavy use”Fast” charging is simply 15WSamsung’s lineup of mid-tier Android telephones has gotten rather a lot higher in recent times, with one of many newest examples being this one as proven in our full Galaxy A32 5G evaluate (opens in new tab). This is on the mid-range of Samsung’s extra inexpensive Galaxy telephones, and it ought to completely be in your shortlist.The coronary heart of the Galaxy A32 5G is its 48MP major digital camera, and photographs taken with it look glorious regardless of what you may count on at this value. There’s loads of element, good dynamic vary, and vibrant colours. To assist increase the varieties of footage you possibly can take, the A32 5G can also be geared up with an 8MP wide-angle digital camera, a 5MP macro digital camera, and a 5MP portrait digital camera.Outside of the digital camera division, the Galaxy A32 5G is simply as spectacular. It delivers a top quality 6.4-inch TFT show at 720p, first rate efficiency in day-to-day duties because of its MediaTek MT6853 Dimensity 720 5G, and a beefy 5,000 mAh battery that enables for lengthy endurance. Tie all of that along with USB-C charging and a headphone jack, and you find yourself with fairly the package deal.(Image credit score: Samsung)Samsung Galaxy A13 5GBest service cellphone below $200Less than $200Incessantly on sale at U.S. carriersTwo-day battery lifeGood digital camera through the day5G connectivitymicroSD card assistNot good for gamingDim displaySlow chargingMacro digital camera is ineffectiveSamsung provides nice telephones at nearly any value level, and the Galaxy A13 5G is not any exception. Many U.S. carriers provide this cellphone at no cost or just some {dollars} per thirty days, so choosing one up if you’re on a really tight finances is virtually a no brainer. If you want an unlocked cellphone for below $200, try the TCL 20S beneath.As with any cellphone below $200, you should not count on the world from the Galaxy A13 5G. While the processor is simply nice for scrolling by social media, shopping the online, or chatting with mates, it is not going to do a lot for gaming. Sure, easy 2D video games like Angry Birds are simply nice however something extra graphically intense will not run very effectively (or in any respect).The show can also be a bit dim and it fees slowly in comparison with dearer telephones, however you will not have to fret about charging an excessive amount of because of the large battery inside. That, mixed with the low-power processor means you may don’t have any hassle getting 2-days of battery life out of the A13 5G.As the identify suggests, it is also bought 5G connectivity, so downloading apps or watching movies on the go ought to offer you an excellent expertise. It’s additionally bought microSD card assist which helps negate the truth that it solely ships with 64GB of inner storage.Lastly, that 50MP digital camera will get you some fairly spectacular footage through the day, which is not at all times anticipated on this value vary. Low-light photographs depart rather a lot to be desired however a minimum of there is a flash on the again to assist make up for that.(Image credit score: Android Central)TCL 20S Best unlocked cellphone below $300Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD, 2400×1080, 60Hz refresh charge | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 64GB | Cameras: 64MP major, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth, 16MP selfie | Charging: 18W wired | Battery: 5,000 mAh | Water Resistance: ❌ | Dimensions: 162.2 x 76.9 x 9.1mm | Weight: 199gCrisp and vibrant display5,000 mAh batteryHas an NFC chipImproved major cameraOTG reverse chargingSupports T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon LTENo 5GNo official IP water-resistance ratingTCL has been on the helm of telephones below the Alcatel and BlackBerry manufacturers, however with the TCL 20S, the corporate is lastly getting into the Android area with a tool below its personal identify. Surprisingly, it is some of the feature-rich finances handsets you should purchase proper now. Our full TCL 20S evaluate (opens in new tab) discovered that, whereas the cellphone’s efficiency made it really feel a bit dated, it is laborious to argue with the value, particularly now that the cellphone could be readily discovered for $150.Starting with its show, the TCL 20S provides a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD panel with its NXTVISION display screen know-how — providing true-to-life colours, nice viewing angles, and assist for HDR video content material. If you wish to use the show to showcase video games, the Snapdragon 665 processor with 4GB of RAM provides greater than sufficient horsepower to maintain all the things operating easily.Also supplied are 4 rear cameras, together with a 64MP major digital camera, 8MP ultra-wide digital camera, 2MP macro digital camera, and 2MP depth digital camera. The precise picture high quality is not the perfect we have ever seen, however the truth that you might have so many sensors to work with permits for plenty of taking pictures potentialities. It’s additionally bought a sooner processor than most telephones on this value vary, which is useful for on a regular basis duties.Rounding out the function listing is a big 5,000 mAh battery, USB-C charging, NFC for Google Pay, and it is available in two fabulous colours, North Star Blue and Miky Way black. Plus, you should use your 20S to cost one other gadget because of its OTG reverse charging functionality.(Image credit score: Motorola)Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) Best stylus cellphone below $500Display: 6.8-inch LCD, 2400×1080, 120Hz refresh charge | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | RAM: 4GB/6GB/8GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Cameras: 50MP major, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth sensor | Charging: 18W Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 wired | Battery: 5,000 mAh | Water Resistance: Water-repellent coating | Dimensions: 168.9 x 75.8 x 9.3mm | Weight: 215gIncluded stylus for writing/drawingThree rear camerasGood all-around specsWorks with each U.S. carrierBig battery3.5mm headset jackNo water or mud resistanceIt could be difficult to maintain observe of all the worth telephones Motorola has in its lineup, however one which manages to face out is the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) (opens in new tab). Along with being one of many few Android telephones that comes with a built-in stylus, it is also only a good mixture of specs, options, and worth. Motorola additionally provides a inexpensive Moto G Stylus (2022) (opens in new tab) however, as you’d count on, it is lacking 5G and another essential options compared with the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022).You’re getting a big 6.8-inch show that appears nice, and because of the 120Hz refresh charge, this one will really feel much more costly than it’s due to the sleek presentation. There’s additionally ample efficiency because of the Snapdragon 695 processor, together with 128GB of built-in storage and a really massive 5,000 mAh battery. Given the inexpensive value of the G Stylus, these are all spectacular specs.As the identify implies, the principle draw to the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is its built-in stylus expertise. It’s actually not probably the most premium stylus we have ever used, nevertheless it works effectively sufficient for drawing, note-taking, and many others. It may also be saved seamlessly on the backside of the cellphone if you aren’t utilizing it, which is a pleasant contact that ties the entire expertise collectively.Motorola contains NFC within the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) — not like most of its finances telephones — however there’s nonetheless no IP ranking for water or mud resistance. It launches with Android 12 and can see an replace to Android 13, together with three years of safety updates to make sure your cellphone stays secure when you personal it.How to determine which low-cost Android cellphone to buyMost individuals have a finances to stay to, and that’s the place deciding the suitable budget-minded cellphone comes into play. You wish to choose a cellphone that’s not simply in your finances, however one that may final some time, too. That method you’re not spending much more on one more cellphone down the highway. Several components could make a cellphone really feel prefer it ages rapidly, leaving you unhappy together with your buy after a brief time period.But earlier than you ever take into consideration a cellphone’s processor, cameras, or cupboard space, you might want to take into consideration connectivity. All fashionable telephones assist Bluetooth earbuds and Wi-Fi, however not all telephones assist all mobile networks. Make positive the cellphone you’re searching for helps your community of selection! Otherwise, you may want to change carriers to get that dream cellphone, and — as long as your service sells it — you may even get the cellphone on particular for making the change.Now for the cellphone itself. The quickest solution to find yourself with a cellphone that feels sluggish and outdated is to undersell your self on the cellphone’s chipset. As with shopping for a PC, you wish to make sure that the on-board processing package deal isn’t simply ok for in the present day’s duties, however is considerably future-proof, as effectively.Lots of telephones function Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, however that doesn’t imply all of them are worthwhile. Unless your finances completely doesn’t permit for something sooner, you most likely wish to keep away from any cellphone powered by a Snapdragon 400-series or decrease chipset. Those telephones are actually solely good as communication gadgets and for shopping the online or social media.Likewise, MediaTek’s Dimensity collection of processors are the one ones you wish to take into account from the corporate. Phones just like the TCL Stylus 5G (opens in new tab) — which is simply accessible at T-Mobile — sport the superb MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G chipset, which is speedy sufficient for absolutely anything you throw at it.You’ll additionally wish to be certain your new cellphone has a minimum of 4GB of RAM if you happen to’re ever planning on doing multiple factor at a time on it. Less RAM means the cellphone has much less working area for apps, making a state of affairs the place apps take a very long time to load and infrequently need to reload if you happen to change forwards and backwards between apps.Storage isn’t a lot of a priority as of late because of glorious cloud storage providers like Google Photos (opens in new tab), which may offload the photographs and movies you’ve taken to a secure and safe cloud drive. That means they not solely gained’t be taking on valuable area in your cellphone however they’ll even be backed up in case one thing occurs to your cellphone. Services like Google Photos additionally archive your photographs and make it straightforward to seek for even probably the most minute particulars, like your outdated black and white cat, or the blue sneakers you wore to that wedding ceremony a number of years in the past.Cameras on smartphones have develop into more and more essential over time and, with a number of exceptions, the telephones above will all ship a very good expertise in most lighting situations. As these are inexpensive telephones, you’ll must be conscious that the majority fashions will solely take nice footage in enough gentle. Phones just like the Google Pixel 6a or Samsung Galaxy A53 5G provide nice low-light assist, and that perform is turning into extra widespread on telephones even below $300 as of late.Lastly, is the consideration of battery life. No cellphone on this listing has poor battery life, however some of us may need a novel want for a smartphone to final greater than a single day on a full cost. We’ve famous that a number of choices above will provide that however particularly spotlight one cellphone as having one of the best battery life of all of them.The backside line on cheaper Android telephonesThere’s no scarcity of one of the best Android telephones (opens in new tab) as of late. While some telephones price effectively greater than $700, one of the best telephones below $300 (opens in new tab), and even one of the best telephones below $100 (opens in new tab) are completely viable choices relying in your wants.And that is the great thing about a tool that prices a 3rd of a Galaxy S22 Plus (opens in new tab) or Pixel 7 Pro (opens in new tab). It provides 90% of what these telephones price and could be changed extra simply. So when you could miss out on among the extra superior options like waterproofing and wi-fi charging, and you could not obtain as many updates, or for as lengthy, these telephones symbolize a brand new breed of finances gadgets you possibly can really feel assured in shopping for. And OnePlus as soon as once more proves that you simply need not even spend $300 to get a really unbelievable expertise with the Nord N20 5G.Splurging on one of the best general cellphone that throws in all the things and the kitchen sink is not at all times the perfect resolution — particularly if you’re cost-cutting telephones within the first place. Instead, you must determine what you worth probably the most. If you are seeking to spend even much less, the Motorola One 5G Ace delivers a dependable expertise at probably the greatest costs round. Similarly, the Google Pixel 6a has a stellar digital camera. And if you happen to’re searching for a enjoyable stylus, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is a good new choose. Every producer has one thing of worth to supply.Round up of in the present day’s greatest offers