Best Cheap Phones: Affordable Smartphones Worth Buying—and Which to Avoid
Buying a cheap phone does not have to mean accepting poor performance, weak cameras, or short software support. These affordable smartphones offer useful features at lower prices, while others make too many compromises to recommend. Here are the best budget phones to consider, along with the models you should avoid.
Best Cheap Phones
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G — $300
The Samsung Galaxy A26 is the best value option if you want a Samsung phone without spending much. It delivers solid performance, all-day battery life, an IP67 water-resistance rating, expandable storage, and a capable camera. There is no headphone jack, but Samsung’s promise of six years of software updates is unmatched at this price.
The Galaxy A26 no longer appears to be available directly from Samsung. Since Samsung did not release a Galaxy A27 this year, buy the A26 if you can still find it.
Samsung Galaxy A36 — $400
The Galaxy A36 has several strengths, including a brighter display, strong battery life, and a robust camera. It also receives six years of software support. However, storage is not expandable, and performance can be inconsistent.
It is an acceptable phone at its regular price, but it becomes a much better deal when discounted to $230. If the phone already feels frustrating to use, its long software-support period may not matter much.
TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G — $200
The TCL 60 XE stands out for its anti-reflective matte Nxtpaper display, which limits glare and offers display modes that resemble a near-black-and-white or color E Ink screen. It is a good choice for e-reader fans who want a budget Android phone.
Performance is good, the camera is decent, and the phone includes a headphone jack and microSD card slot. The main drawback is that the screen can be difficult to read in direct sunlight. The phone is available in the US, while UK buyers may prefer the more premium TCL P80 Ultra for £480. It offers the same E Ink-style display modes, plus a faster processor, brighter display, and more versatile triple-lens camera. No US release has been announced.
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Moto G 2026 — $200
The Moto G 2026 is an attractive, affordable phone available in a distinctive pink finish. It supports contactless payments and 5G, and it handles basic daily tasks at a reasonable price.
However, performance has not improved much, and the cameras are barely passable. The Moto G Power 2026 may be a better purchase when it becomes available, particularly if it goes on sale.
More Budget Phones to Consider Carefully
Moto G Play 2026 — $180
The Moto G Play 2026 adds 5G connectivity for the first time, but performance remains slow. Apps and web pages can take several seconds to load. It is suitable only for buyers with very basic needs. The Moto G Power 2026 should offer better performance, a stronger camera, and more features.
Minimal Phone — $450
The Minimal Phone is designed to reduce smartphone dependence. It has an e-paper touchscreen, a physical keyboard, and Android with access to the Google Play Store. However, its low refresh rate and small monochrome display make activities such as watching videos unpleasant.
It can be a useful alternative—or a second phone—for people who want to escape constant scrolling without giving up smartphone apps entirely.
Phones to Avoid
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G — $200
The Galaxy A17 has a good AMOLED display, decent camera, expandable storage, and a long software-support period. Unfortunately, its 4 GB of RAM makes everyday use frustratingly slow. It should be considered only by people with very limited smartphone needs.
Nuu N20 — $130
The Nuu N20 performs better than expected for a phone that costs close to $100, but it has serious limitations. GPS navigation was unreliable, and maps were slow to update. It runs Android 14, which is already outdated, and the manufacturer has not provided a precise schedule for software updates.
Sonim XP Pro 5G — $550
The Sonim XP Pro 5G is a durable rugged phone sold through Verizon, although it connected successfully to Google Fi during testing. It survived repeated drops onto a sidewalk and includes 256 GB of storage, a microSD card slot, and customizable shortcut buttons.
Durability is its main advantage. The camera is particularly poor, producing blurry photos unless the phone is held completely still, and more powerful phones offer more features for the money.
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite — £249
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is difficult to recommend because the similarly priced CMF Phone 2 Pro offers a more compelling alternative. The 3a Lite has a lackluster camera, substantial bloatware, and a design that feels contrary to Nothing’s usual approach. Performance and battery life are good, but newer phones offer better value.
The Blank Phone (4b) for £299 adds the Glyph bar, stereo speakers, and a better IP64 rating while removing the unnecessary macro lens. However, it costs £50 more. Neither phone is available in the United States.
What to Look for in a Cheap Phone
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When shopping for an inexpensive smartphone, prioritize a reputable brand, reliable security updates, adequate performance, and long-term software support. Very cheap phones may look attractive on Amazon, but you will be trusting them with personal information, photos, and other sensitive data.
Choose a manufacturer with good security practices—or at least a track record of issuing security patches. A slightly more expensive phone from a trusted brand is often a better long-term purchase than an unknown model with uncertain software support.
Source: www.wired.com