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Some of us take a kind of “eat to live” rather than “live to eat” approach to appliances. They are tools that help you get things done, and not something you want to invest a lot of time or money into. If that’s you — and no judgment here from a gadget geek — you’re probably thinking of more feasible ways to spend $1,000 than on a phone.
Budget phones to the rescue. These devices are priced at around $600 or less, and are more capable than ever. You won’t get all the features and benefits, but you’ll save a little bit of money to spend on, I don’t know, actual benefits and features. It’s your world.
What compromises can you expect from a budget phone? A combination of the following: slower processors, less storage, and worse cameras than flagship phones, across the board. Many have lower-resolution screens, most skip wireless charging, and water resistance is often less robust than more expensive phones.
$599
Goodness
- Now with magnets!
- A healthy 256GB of storage space in the base model
- The camera system is capable, if basic
- Essentially the same processor as the iPhone 17
The bad
- There is no permanent offer
- The screen is limited to 60Hz
- There’s no ultra-wide camera or upgraded selfie camera
a screen: 6.1 inches, 1170p, 60Hz OLED/ Processor: A19 /Cameras: 48 MP f/1.6 with 12 MP optical image stabilizer battery: 4,005 mAh/ shipping: 20W Wired, 15W MagSafe Wireless/ Weather resistance rating: IP68
The iPhone 17E is the minimum viable iPhone — and I mean that in a good way. It has the same fast A19 chipset as the standard iPhone 17, starts with a decent 256GB of storage, and offers a full day of battery life. It also comes with MagSafe, unlike Last year 16Eopening up faster magnetic wireless charging and a world of grips and accessories.
However, there are some big omissions in Apple’s cheapest iPhone. The most obvious is that it’s limited to a single 48MP rear camera, lacking an ultra-wide camera. This is something that many buyers will likely find limiting. Fewer people will likely be bothered by the phone’s lack of an always-on display, a 60Hz refresh rate, or the fact that it doesn’t support Apple’s Dynamic Island, an easy way to track live activities.
For some, these will be good reasons to spend an extra $200 on the iPhone 17. For others, they won’t — my mom never noticed that her old iPhone 12 had a second rear camera, so I don’t think she’ll miss it on her new 17E. Android alternatives at this price will also get you extra lenses, smoother displays, and faster charging. But if you want an iPhone, and $600 is where your budget stops, the 17E is your best bet without buying used.
Best cheap android phone
$449
Goodness
- The streaming camera looks and sounds great
- Seven years of software updates
- Support SOS via satellite
The bad
- It’s the Pixel 9A again
- Pixel 9A is cheaper
- You should just buy the Pixel 9A
a screen: 6.3 inches, 1080p, 120Hz OLED/ Processor: Tensioner G4/ Cameras: 48MP f/1.7 with OIS, 13MP ultra-wide, 13MP selfie/ battery: 5,100 mAh/ shipping: 30W wired, 10W wireless/ Weather resistance rating: IP68
You can’t describe the Pixel 10A as an ambitious phone; It’s basically a carbon copy of Pixel 9A last year With a slightly flat camera bump. However, Google’s competition hasn’t progressed much either, meaning the 10A remains the best cheap Android phone you can buy, without grabbing the 9A at a discount while it’s still on sale (well, at least in the US – buyers elsewhere should look to Poco and Realme for some stiff competition).
The 10A is powered by the same Tensor G4 chip as last year, although the 6.3-inch OLED display is slightly brighter. The battery is the same size, but Google says it should last a little longer thanks to the improvement, and 30W wired charging and 10W wireless charging are also faster. The biggest plus on the 9A is satellite connectivity, which is useful if you find yourself off the grid regularly.
The 10A’s cameras remain one of its biggest strengths, with the 48MP main camera (like the one on the regular Pixel 10) being joined by an ultra-wide camera. You won’t find many phones with better cameras at this price, although you will find some with more lenses.
An economical phone with a large, beautiful screen
$499
Goodness
- Thin metal body
- Unique (and fun!) design.
- Great, great show
The bad
- Camera quality is mixed
- Only three years of OS updates
- No wireless charging
a screen: 6.83 inches, 1260p, 144Hz OLED/ Processor: Snapdragon 7 generation 4/ Cameras: 50MP f/1.9 with OIS, 50MP 3.5x telephoto, 8MP ultra-wide, 32MP selfie/ battery: 5,080 mAh/ shipping: 50 watts wired/ Weather resistance rating: IP65
The Phone 4A Pro is one of the few phones that isn’t getting a physical release in the US. In a way, it’s also one of the brand’s most conservative designs, with the transparent plastic giving way mostly to opaque metal, outside of the chunky camera module (which has a 3.5x telephoto lens but is otherwise mixed performance). The metal design also means there’s no wireless charging, although 50W fast wired charging helps make up for that.
You’ll mostly be drawn to the 4A Pro by its large 6.83-inch display, which is brighter than rivals and features a faster 144Hz refresh rate. This meshes well with Nothing’s attractive design, making the 4A Pro a looker in almost every respect. However, while the software may look good, it only promises three OS updates, meaning the company’s latest phone won’t suit anyone looking for a phone in the long term.
Other budget phones to consider
- the 2026 Motorola Moto G Power It offers a lot despite its starting price of $299.99. It features a 6.8-inch LCD display, a 5,200 mAh battery, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which is increasingly rare in 2026. Additionally, the device combines IP68 and IP69 ratings, meaning it’s rated for submersion in water and exposure to high-pressure water jets and steam, as well as full dust protection. Our biggest concern about Motorola’s budget phones is the amount of heavy software they come with – be prepared to opt out and uninstall a bunch of stuff you never asked for.
- the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE It’s another quite capable phone and doesn’t get a recommendation here. It’s a little outside the scope of this guide at $649 anyway (although you can sometimes get it at a discount), but you get a telephoto lens and a nice, big screen for that price. However, you’re better off saving a bunch and getting the Pixel 10A or trying to get a trade-in promo Latest Galaxy S26.
- the Samsung Galaxy A57 It recently launched in the US with a starting price of $549, up $50 from the previous year. The device has all the makings of a solid mid-range phone, including a 6.7-inch OLED display, a 50-megapixel main camera, an Exynos 1680 chipset, and a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W wired charging. It’s thinner than its predecessor, the A56, and has been upgraded to IP68 protection as well. And while we haven’t tested it yet, it faces stiff competition from the Pixel 10A, which starts at $499.
- the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G It is another great option available in the US for $449. The device has a large OLED display, an Exynos 1480 processor, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Samsung promises six years of OS and security updates, which is a lot of money for a phone in this price range. Although we haven’t tested the A37 5G, its predecessor offered a good balance between hardware and price, and the latest version looks quite convincing.
- TCL Nxtpaper 70 Pro It recently went on sale in the US, though it’s exclusive to T-Mobile and Metro. The main selling point is the Nxtpaper 4.0 LCD’s 6.9-inch matte screen, which is supposed to be easier on your eyes than a traditional LCD screen. It also features a ‘Max Ink Mode’, which turns the screen monochromatic and mutes notifications, as well as somewhat higher specifications than its predecessor.
Senior reviewer Alison Johnson also contributed to this post.
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