Overview
- Jump To Details
Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024)
Best for Wireless Charging - Jump To Details
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Best for Fast Charging - Jump To Details
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Best Smartphone Under $200 - Jump To Details
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
Best Camera Quality for Price - Jump To Details
TCL Flip 2
Best Flip Phone - Jump To Details
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Best Affordable iPhone - Jump To Details
Nuu B30 Pro 5G
Best Affordable Gaming Phone - Jump To Details
Bark Phone
Best First Phone for Kids
Some of the latest flagship phones push well past the $1,000 mark, but you don't need to spend nearly that much to get a quality device. Here, we've collected the best options for around $300 or less to help you stay on budget. And you can rest assured that all of our recommendations are actually worth buying. After all, PCMag has been writing about cell phones for at least three decades and reviewing them for just about as long. Among our Editors' Choice winners are the affordable Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, the fast-charging OnePlus Nord N30 5G, and the classic-style TCL Flip 2. We even included the low-cost iPhone SE for Apple fans. Click through to the in-depth reviews below for our full impressions, and read past the list for some guidelines to keep in mind while you shop.
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024)
Best for Wireless ChargingWhy We Picked It
The 2024 edition of the Motorola G Power 5G features a 6.7-inch display with a resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels and an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz for big, clear visuals. Its battery life is quite good at over 12 hours in our tests, and we like the option for either 30W wired fast charging or 15W wireless charging.
Who It's For
If you're looking for an affordable Android phone with wireless charging, it's hard to beat the Moto G Power. It can handle most entertainment needs just fine, too, thanks to its 8GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage.
Pros
- Affordable
- Long battery life
- Capable performance
- Wireless charging
Cons
- Rear panel attracts dust and hair
- Mediocre cameras
- Lots of preinstalled bloatware
Learn MoreMotorola Moto G Power 5G (2024) ReviewOnePlus Nord N30 5G
Best for Fast ChargingWhy We Picked It
We like the Nord N30 first and foremost because it offers 50W wired charging. That's faster than what most other phones support no matter the price. Other highlights include a 120Hz 1080p display, a high-resolution quad-camera stack, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot.
Who It's For
If you often end up with a dead battery by the end of the day and waiting for a recharge will slow you down, the Nord N30 is a worthwhile pick. In our tests, we fully recharged the phone from empty in just 55 minutes.
Pros
- High-resolution camera
- Good performance
- 120Hz display
Cons
- Middling battery life
- No IP rating
Learn MoreOnePlus Nord N30 5G ReviewSamsung Galaxy A15 5G
Best Smartphone Under $200Why We Picked It
The Samsung Galaxy A15 5G's high-resolution, 6.5-inch screen provides smooth animations thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate. The phone also has a headphone jack and a microSD card slot, both welcome features no matter the price. In addition, Samsung promises four OS updates and five years of security upgrades to keep the A15 going for years to come.
Who It's For
If you don't want to spend tons of money on a flagship Android phone, the Galaxy A15 5G is your best choice. It's better than competitors in its price range by a fair margin.
Pros
- Affordable
- Long battery life
- Competent cameras
- Excellent software upgrade policy
Cons
- No IP rating
- Plastic build
Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy A15 5G ReviewSamsung Galaxy A25 5G
Best Camera Quality for PriceWhy We Picked It
With rounded corners and flat sides, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G resembles most other Galaxy phones. It handles everyday tasks like email, web browsing, and media playback without issue thanks to its combination of an Exynos 1280 processor and 6GB of RAM, while the battery life runs for a long time (13 hours and 10 minutes in testing). Samsung offers four years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates, so you won't have to get a new phone for a while. A headphone jack and microSD card slot are also highlights.
Who It's For
If you want an affordable smartphone that can handle more than the basics, the Galaxy A25 is hard to beat. Its quality cameras produce beautiful images with crisp details and good color that you don't usually see at this price.
Pros
- Affordable
- Vibrant OLED display
- Good performance
- Quality cameras
- Long battery life
Cons
- No mmWave 5G
- No wireless charging
Learn MoreSamsung Galaxy A25 5G ReviewTCL Flip 2
Best Flip PhoneWhy We Picked It
The TCL Flip 2 is an excellent little flip phone. It offers some great old-school features like a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and even a user-replaceable battery. TCL claims the device gets approximately 14 hours of talk time, which makes for quite a long conversation.
Who It's For
If you yearn for the days of phones with a clamshell design, the TCL Flip 2 will satisfy your nostalgia itch. It's simple, portable, and gets the job done if you just want to make calls.
Pros
- Affordable
- Long battery life
- Clear earpiece and speakerphone
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Email access
Cons
- Can't download additional apps
- Poor cameras
Learn MoreTCL Flip 2 ReviewApple iPhone SE (2022)
Best Affordable iPhoneWhy We Picked It
You can't reasonably talk about the best phones in any category without including an iPhone. Yes, the iPhone SE exceeds the $300 limit for what we consider to be affordable, but that's simply the price you must pay for a new iPhone. That said, it's a fantastic phone for Apple fans who aren't prepared to drop $800 or far more on the latest iPhone models.
Who It's For
Anyone who likes Apple products but doesn't want to spend a ton of money on a higher-end iPhone should be happy with the iPhone SE. Sure, it doesn't come with the latest chip or camera system, but it's still an iPhone for a reasonable price. And if you factor in carrier incentives, you can often find this phone for less than $200 (so long as you don't mind paying it off monthly over time).
Pros
- Most affordable new iPhone
- Speedy performance
- Supports T-Mobile and Verizon mid-band 5G
- Longer battery life than the previous model
Cons
- Outdated body design
- No Night mode in camera
- Lacks support for AT&T's 3.45GHz mid-band 5G
- Shortest battery life of any current iPhone model
Learn MoreApple iPhone SE (2022) ReviewNuu B30 Pro 5G
Best Affordable Gaming PhoneWhy We Picked It
The Nuu B30 Pro 5G is a stylish phone with good gaming performance thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chip and generous 12GB of RAM. It also supports fast 30W wired charging and comes with the appropriate charger in the box. Wi-Fi 6 support is a plus, too.
Who It's For
If you're looking to play games on your phone without spending a ton, the Nuu B30 Pro can handle most modern titles without an issue. And fast wired charging means you won't have to wait too long to get back to the action when your battery runs out.
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- 30W charger included
- Fast Wi-Fi
Cons
- Dim display
- Mediocre cameras
- Dated Android software
Learn MoreNuu B30 Pro 5G ReviewBark Phone
Best First Phone for KidsWhy We Picked It
The Bark Phone is a modified Samsung Galaxy A13. It runs Bark's parental control software that allows parents to monitor virtually everything their child does on the device. For the kid, the Bark Phone is not a toy. It features good cameras, a big screen, expandable storage, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Who It's For
This is for the parent who wants to guide their child into the smartphone world without hassle. Bark does the thinking, so you don't have to. Just make sure that both you and your child are aware of what the device can and can't do.
Pros
- Easy setup
- Exceptional parental controls
- Tracks social media and sends danger alerts
- Looks like a regular smartphone
- Durable build and included case
- No contract required
Cons
- Pricey monthly plans
- Some alerts are slow to reach the parent app
Learn MoreBark Phone Review
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Phones for 2024
What Do You Need in a Cheap Smartphone?
Although budget-friendly phones don't have all the perks of midrange or flagship models, that doesn't mean you can't find a perfectly capable device to suit your needs. Let's start with the features we believe are absolutely essential. Keep in mind that most of these recommendations are for smartphones; if you're in the market for a feature phone, some of these guidelines don't apply.
Battery Life: There are lots of variables to consider when it comes to battery life, but ultimately, you want your phone to last at least until the end of the day. If you're shopping for a phone with a screen smaller than 6 inches, look for a battery capacity of 3,500mAh or higher. For phones with larger screens, look for a minimum battery capacity of 4,500mAh.
Chipset: In Qualcomm's busy processor line, you should strive for a phone with its current entry-level system on a chip (SoC), the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, or something competitive. MediaTek's Dimensity 6000 line is also good, though the company's Helio line has a bit less horsepower. You can look up how Samsung Exynos or Apple A series chips compare with the Qualcomm and MediaTek hardware. For the latter, make sure the chip is relatively recent. Performance generally improves by up to 20% each generation in our experience, so chips from the last year or two dramatically outperform older ones.
Compatibility: Before you make a purchase, decide whether you're ready to jump on the 5G bandwagon or if you'd rather stick with LTE 4G. No matter your choice, make sure your phone supports the appropriate cellular bands for your carrier. Search for 5G and LTE bands by the phone's model number, not its name. Keep in mind that feature phones mostly do not have 5G.
Connectivity: Connectivity has a huge impact on call quality and data speeds. For the most part, you should choose a phone with a Qualcomm X12 (for LTE), X60 (for 5G), or newer modem. If you're looking at flip phones, make sure the modem has voice over LTE (VoLTE), voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi), and Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) for the best call quality. You also should check for Wi-Fi 6 as well as Bluetooth 5.0 or later.
Operating System: The current version of Android is Android 14, but few budget phones ship with the latest build. Don't go back any further than Android 12 for security and compatibility reasons. Don't assume a budget phone will ever get an Android version upgrade unless the manufacturer commits to it.
RAM: Simply put, the more RAM the merrier. For phones under $200, look for at least 4GB of RAM. If you're willing to spend more, bump that up to 6GB if you can.
Storage: Like RAM, you can't have too much storage. Look for at least 64GB of storage on phones under $200 and try to find something with a microSD slot. You likely don't have to worry about expandable storage on phones with 128GB of space or more.
Once you verify the essential features, look for extra perks.
Dust and Splash Resistance: Although many budget offerings forgo an official ingress protection (IP) rating, a handful of affordable phones can resist some level of dust and water ingress. Look for a number like "IP55" or "IP67."
Multi-Lens Cameras: Most affordable phones have multi-lens camera stacks that allow you to capture wide-angle and macro shots. For the most part, these phones take decent images with their primary and wide-angle cameras if you have a steady hand and good light. The macro lenses are almost always awful, however.
NFC: NFC is slowly making its way to the affordable phone market. It's a great feature to have since contactless payments (such as Apple Pay and Google Pay) are more popular than ever.
Stereo Speakers: A handful of budget-friendly phones have stereo speakers and even advanced features such as custom tuning and Dolby audio. Though no phone is going to sound as good as even an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker, it's definitely an upgrade over a single driver.
Strengthened Glass: If you're spending more than $100 on a phone, it should have strengthened glass to protect the display from cracks and scratches. Gorilla Glass 3 seems to be the standard for most budget models, but we've seen a few with Gorilla Glass 5. In general, each generation of Gorilla Glass is softer than the last; phones with Gorilla Glass 5 displays are less likely to shatter when you drop them, but they're also more likely to accumulate hairline scratches. Note that some devices use Dragontail glass instead.
What's the Cheapest iPhone?
You might notice that we've made an exception in pricing here for the $429 iPhone SE. If you're looking for an affordable new iPhone, it's the one to get. If all you have is $200, you can try for a used model at a third-party reseller. Don't go earlier than the iPhone 11; older models will likely lose compatibility with new iOS versions in the next year or two. For more, see our in-depth explanation of which iPhone to buy.
Finally, visit our stories on the best cheap phone plans and how to get the best price on a new phone. We also have a few other affordable options in our story about the best phones for seniors. And we add new phones to this roundup as we review them, so make sure to check back soon.
Dave LeClair contributed to this story.
