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Some of us take an “eat to survive” approach to gadgets, rather than an “eat to survive” approach. They are tools to help you get the job done, not something you want to invest a lot of time or money into. If that’s you — and there’s no judgment here from a certifiable gadget — then you might be thinking of better ways to spend $1,000 than on a phone.
Cheap cell phones can save you. These devices cost around $600 or less and are more powerful than ever. You won’t get all the bells and whistles, but you’ll save a little money to spend on, I don’t know, really fancy stuff. This is your world.
What compromises do you make with a budget phone? A combination of a slower processor than a flagship phone, less storage, and a worse camera, pretty much across the board. Many phones have lower-resolution screens, most skip wireless charging, and the water resistance is often not as rugged as pricier phones.
$599
OK
- Now there are magnets!
- The basic model has a healthy storage space of 256GB
- A powerful (even basic) photography system
- Basically the same processor as the iPhone 17
harm
- No always-on display
- Screen limited to 60Hz
- No ultra-wide camera or upgraded selfie camera
screen: 6.1 inch, 1170p, 60Hz OLED / processor: A19 / camera: 48 million pixels f/1.6, with OIS, 12 million pixels selfie / Battery: 4,005mAh/ TOLL: 20W wired, 15W MagSafe wireless / Weather resistance grade: IP68
The iPhone 17E is the minimally viable iPhone — and I mean that in a good way. It has the same fast A19 chipset as the standard iPhone 17, has a decent 256GB of storage, and offers all-day battery life. Unlike other products, it also comes with MagSafe Last year 16Eopening up a world of faster magnetic wireless charging and handles and accessories.
Still, Apple’s cheapest iPhone has some major omissions. Most obviously, it’s limited to a single 48-megapixel rear camera, not even an ultra-wide angle. Many buyers may find this limiting. Few will be bothered by the phone’s lack of an always-on display, a 60Hz refresh rate, or that it doesn’t support Apple’s Dynamic Island, a convenient way to track real-time activity.
For some, these will be good reasons to spend the extra $200 on the iPhone 17. For others, they won’t – my mom never even noticed her old iPhone 12 had a second rear camera, so I don’t think she misses the second rear camera on her new 17E. Android alternatives at this price also get you extra lenses, a smoother display, and faster charging. But if you want an iPhone and $600 is the upper limit of your budget, the 17E is your best bet without buying used.
cheapest android phone
$Chapter 449
OK
- Developed cameras look and feel great
- Seven years of software updates
- Satellite SOS support
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- It’s Pixel 9A again
- Pixel 9A is cheaper
- You should buy the Pixel 9A
screen: 6.3 inches, 1080p, 120Hz OLED / processor: Tensor G4/ camera: 48 million pixels f/1.7 (with OIS), 13 million pixels ultra-wide, 13 million pixels selfie/ Battery: 5,100mAh / TOLL: 30W wired, 10W wireless/ Weather resistance grade: IP68
You wouldn’t call the Pixel 10A an ambitious phone; it’s a great phone. it is essentially a copy Last year’s Pixel 9A The camera bump is slightly flatter. Google’s competition isn’t going far, either, though, which means the 10A is still the cheapest Android phone you can buy, and you can’t beat the discounted 9A (well, at least in the US – buyers elsewhere should keep an eye on stiff competition from Poco and Realme).
The 10A is powered by the same Tensor G4 chip as last year, but its 6.3-inch OLED screen is slightly brighter. The battery size is the same, but Google says that due to optimization, the battery life should be longer, and the 30W wired and 10W wireless charging speeds are also faster. The biggest additional feature compared to the 9A is satellite connectivity, which can be useful if you often find yourself off the grid.
The 10A’s cameras remain one of its biggest strengths, with a 48-megapixel main camera (the same as the regular Pixel 10) and an ultra-wide-angle camera. You won’t find many phones with better cameras at this price, but you will find some with more lenses.
A cheap phone with a big and beautiful screen
$Chapter 499
OK
- Slim metal body
- Unique (and fun!) design
- Large and bright display
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- Camera quality varies
- Only three years of operating system updates
- No wireless charging
screen: 6.83 inches, 1260p, 144Hz OLED / processor: Snapdragon 7th generation 4/ camera: 50 million pixels f/1.9 (with OIS), 50 million pixels 3.5x telephoto, 8 million pixels ultra-wide angle, 32 million pixels selfie/ Battery: 5,080mAh/ TOLL: 50W wired/ Weather resistance grade: IP65
The Phone 4A Pro is one of the few Nothing phones to actually be released in the United States. It’s also, in some ways, one of the brand’s most conservative designs, with its clear plastic mostly giving way to opaque metal, save for the chunky camera module (which has the benefit of a 3.5x telephoto lens but otherwise has mixed performance). The metal design also means there’s no wireless charging, though 50W fast wired charging helps make up for that.
The 4A Pro’s main appeal is its large 6.83-inch display, which is brighter than the competition and has a faster 144Hz refresh rate. This is paired with Nothing’s eye-catching software design, making the 4A Pro beautiful in every aspect. That said, while the software may look good, Nothing is only committed to three operating system updates, meaning the company’s latest phone isn’t suitable for anyone looking for a long-term phone.
Other budget phones worth considering
- this 2026 Motorola Moto G Power Although prices start at $299.99, there’s a lot to offer. It has a 6.8-inch LCD display, a 5,200mAh battery, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is increasingly rare in 2026. Additionally, the device combines IP68 and IP69 protection, which means that in addition to being fully dustproof, it can also be immersed in water, exposed to high-pressure water jets and steam. Our biggest concern with Motorola’s budget phones is how much bloatware they come with – be prepared to opt out and uninstall a bunch of stuff you never asked for.
- this Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is another phone with great features, but it doesn’t get a recommendation here. Regardless, the $649 price tag is a bit outside the scope of this guide (although you can sometimes get it on sale), but you do get a telephoto lens and a nice big screen for that price. Still, you’d be better off saving a bunch of money and buying a Pixel 10A, or trying a trade-in sale to get a Pixel 10A. Newer Galaxy S26.
- this Samsung Galaxy A57 Recently launched in the United States, the starting price is $549, which is a $50 increase from last year. The device has all the makings of a mid-range phone, including a 6.7-inch OLED display, 50-megapixel main camera, Exynos 1680 chip, and a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging. It’s thinner than its A56 predecessor, and its protection rating has been upgraded to IP68. Although we haven’t tested it yet, it faces stiff competition from the Pixel 10A, which starts at $499.
- this Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is another good option, priced at $449 in the US. The device comes with a large OLED display, Exynos 1480 processor, and IP68 water and dust resistance rating. Samsung promises six years of operating system and security updates, which is a lot for a phone in this price range. While we haven’t tested the A37 5G yet, its predecessor offered a good balance of hardware and price, and the latest version sounds just as compelling.
- TCL Nxtpaper 70 Pro It recently became available in the US, but it’s exclusive to T-Mobile and Metro. Its main selling point is its 6.9-inch Nxtpaper 4.0 matte LCD screen, which should be more eye-friendly than traditional LCDs. It also has a “maximum ink mode” that turns the screen into monochrome and mutes notifications, and has higher specs than its predecessor.
Senior reviewer Alison Johnson also contributed to this article.
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