The world of the high-value cheap Android smartphones continues its relentless push forward with the launch of new flagships but not everybody either wants or can afford to spend an exorbitant amount of money on their next smartphone.
The reality is that there’s no real reason to spend the cost of a new computer or a used car on a smartphone either. Most smartphones above a certain price and value point will more than meet the needs of most users. The majority of those will be replaced by users with a new gadget within just a few years.
Fortunately, the technology keeps moving forward too, whittling away at the contrasts between a ‘premium’ device and a ‘budget’ device. That shift offers potential buyers a bit more flexibility when it comes to brands and models.
Top 10 Best Budget Smartphones 2022 Summary
But not all high-value Android smartphones are quite up to par and some could legitimately be described as ‘cheap’ in the pejorative sense. There are still plenty of differences and caveats to consider for those looking for a great experience that suits their individual needs. Given the sheer number of OEMs and devices to consider, choosing one can be a daunting task. Here at Android Headlines, we do a lot of research and reviews to help make the decision easier.
That doesn’t mean that every device that deserves placement here is going to have earned it. Device evaluations are subjective and there are dozens upon dozens of devices to select from. A significant portion of those may suit any single user’s needs as well as the phones listed here.
With that in mind, here’s our take on the top devices available to buy now. Each offers a great value to users that we feel surpasses all others without breaking the bank.
Below the summary, you’ll find a slightly longer description of each item along with the where to buy links.
Best world-ready cheap Android smartphone
OnePlus Nord N200 5G
- Price: $239.99
- Where to buy: Amazon
OnePlus is a company that’s well-known for its “flagship killers.” OnePlus Nord N200 5G is the latest in its push to bring that to the budget end of the pool. Not only does this smartphone deliver all the bands you’d need to access mobile networks in the US and abroad. That’s with the exception of 5G, presently only supported on T-Mobile’s networks. It’s also just an all-around performer with lots of flagship-level additions over the last generation.
Setting aside the price for a moment, OnePlus Nord N200 5G delivers an excellent UI experience via Android 11. An Android 12 update will almost certainly be forthcoming too. But that is delivered to end-users via a 6.49-inch FullHD+ display at a 90Hz refresh rate. Backed further by a Snapdragon 480 SoC with 4GB RAM and 64GB Storage. With the latter metric expandable up to 256GB via microSD card.
The 5,000mAh battery, conversely, should be more than enough to power users through all day without charging. And if charging is needed, 18W fast charging will get users moving again quickly.
In terms of the design, this design is much closer to a flagship than to most budget phones. And that carries over to the 13-megapixel tri-camera array at the back. A 16-megapixel camera is embedded behind glass via a punch-hole cutout at the front for great selfies. Meanwhile, a side-mounted, power-button-based fingerprint scanner keeps this device safe for users.
All of that comes at a staggeringly low $239.99, too. Making this easily one of the best value phones on the market.
Best cheap smartphone for gamers
POCO X3 Pro
Xiaomi-associated brand POCO has a new variant of the POCO X3 for 2021 and it’s a big enough improvement to easily rank among the best affordable, but not “cheap” Android smartphones for the year.
Not least of all, for slightly less money than last year’s model, the 128GB of internal storage has been pushed into the next gen. That’s with UFS 3.1 storage coupled with 6GB of RAM in the base model. And paired with a Snapdragon 860 too. Compared to last year’s Snapdragon 732G. The 6.67-inch FullHD+ handset also packs 33W charging for some of the fastest around. And comes with a headphone jack too.
All of that, of course, is setting aside the new device’s 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring that the display is one of the best available anyway. Let alone for the price of this smartphone. All packed into a fantastic-looking smartphone taking high-end design cues with gaming-ready performance to boot.
Poco X3 Pro – AliExpress – $229
Best cheap rugged Android smartphone
CAT S42
- Price: From $215.56
- Where to buy: Amazon
Finding a good rugged smartphone can be a hassle. Especially since they tend to either not work with US carriers or to be so low-powered as to render them effectively useless. And that’s where the Bullitt Group-built, Caterpillar CAT S42 enters the equation in our list of the best, relatively cheap, Android smartphones.
Engineered for reasonable performance, battery life, and exceptional protection against wear and tear, this is arguably the phone to buy for its ruggedization.
Setting aside the 4200mAh battery, quad-core 1.8GHz processor, Android 11, and frequent security patches offered with this device, it’s really made to survive the harshest conditions users can throw at it. And that’s because the CAT S42 is designed to be dropped onto steel, without a case, from 6-feet. Summarily, CAT S42 has achieved MIL-SPEC 810H certification and IP68 water- and dust-proof ratings. It’s also protected against thermal shock, vibration, humidity, and salt mist.
Perhaps as importantly, that’s topped by a reasonable camera, a bright and responsive 5.5-inch HD+ Gorilla Glass 5 screen, and decent audio. A 3.5mm audio port is included as well. And all of the latest hardware and component features are part of the package too. All but making up for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage — expandable up to 256GB via a standalone microSD card slot.
Best cheap smartphone for battery life
Moto G Power
For those who are looking at smartphones that are cheap but have a ton of battery without skimping on power, Motorola has stepped forward its ‘Power’-branded offerings this year with the launch of the Android 10-powered Moto G Power. And it’s available unlocked for use on all GSM carriers.
The now-Lenovo-owned Moto division built the G Power to serve those who need a smartphone that can last up to 3 days. But Motorola also stuffed its latest G-series smartphone with enough specs to fit in just about anywhere. To begin with, there’s a respectable 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, doubling down on last year’s G7 Power.
That hardware is backing up an updated Snapdragon 665 SoC. There should be plenty of performance to power through most smartphone tasks and even enough for most mobile games without issue.
The company also built in a 5,000mAh capacity battery to drive the other components. That’s including a 10W fast-charging system this time around. So, not only is that coupled with a more battery-efficient chipset. Moto made sure this handset will refuel comparatively quickly.
The previously released Moto G7 Power was capable of surviving two full days of use still left the 30-percent to 50-percent battery mark remaining. That’s a serious step above what’s usually available in the mid-range value segment. At just under $250, if battery life is what really matters, this device should only improve on that and at a price that is well worth the expenditure.
Moto G Power – Motorola – $249.99
Best cheap smartphone under $350
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
- Price: From $497.99
- Where to buy: Amazon
The Samsung Galaxy A-series is now a firmly-set staple when it comes to high-performance, high-value Android smartphones on the cheap. Centered in the middle of that range is Samsung’s Galaxy A52 5G. As one of the first A-Series Samsung phones to feature 5G, it isn’t the least expensive on the market. But, at under $500, it’s hardly the most expensive either. Especially with consideration for its flagship-like leanings.
At 6.5-inches, with an Infinity-O Full HD+ AMOLED display, this phone comes with 50-percent more RAM than its predecessor. Specifically, that’s 6GB RAM backed by 128GB of storage. And, of course, that’s all backing up an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC. So this phone will be more powerful than its predecessor and not by a small margin.
A quad camera led by a 64-megapixel primary snapper with all of the latest Samsung trimmings, comparable to those found in the flagship S-Series round out that package. Alongside battery longevity that’s beyond respectable and the latest Android and OneUI software features.
Samsung Galaxy A51 – Amazon – $289.99
Best cheap Android phone for a great display
TCL 20 Pro 5G
- Price: From $499.99
- Where to buy: Amazon
Any discussion surrounding the best cheap Android smartphones on the market would be remiss to exclude the TCL 20 series. Each of the handsets in the new series is unexpectedly good. Particularly from a company that’s better known for budget audio and televisions than phones. But that holds especially the TCL 20 Pro 5G.
Not only does this phone offer a full day of usage on a single charge with over 7-hours of battery life. And not only does that come built into a refreshingly new design with flush cameras, minimal bloatware, and great performance. That’s with 5G support on nearly all major US carriers, except AT&T, which just gets top-tier 4G support. This phone is easily among the best you could buy for its display alone.
TCL packed the 20 Pro 5G with an OLED panel, just for starters. Then the company stacked in NXTVISION 2.0, which was built in conjunction with Pixelworks, which adjusts the display on everything from color temperature to brightness and sharpness based on environmental factors and content. The screen is also easily one of the brightest I’ve tested, despite the battery life. And despite that it’s a 1080p screen, it’s easily one of the clearest.
The company rounds that out with modest IP52 water and dust rating, 256GB of expandable storage, an IR Blaster, support for both 3.5mm audio jack and USB-C output, and great cameras. The latter of which is led by a quad-array of cameras at the back, with a 48-megapixel OIS camera leading the charge. A 32-megapixel selfie-snapper, conversely, keeps things interesting on that front.
And all of that is without consideration for the TCL ecosystem’s customization, Super Bluetooth, or the deeper screen customizations.
TCL 20 Pro 5G – Amazon – $499.99
Best cheap smartphone for 5G via Android
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
- Price: From $399.99
- Where to buy: Samsung
Samsung’s Galaxy A71 5G, while undeniably one of the best Android smartphones around, could hardly be described as cheap. But it’s a great value so we’re not just talking about its nearly $400 price tag.
Samsung engineered its Galaxy A71 5G around a more-than-capable Snapdragon 765G and support for 5G. And that means this phone very nearly reaches flagship levels of performance. But also tosses 5G support into the mix. Conversely, that allows for more stable connectivity and a relatively small speed increase. As opposed to massive speed gains most users would see with mmWave connections.
That is unless consumers buy the Verizon variant for mmWave support. But that handset costs an extra $50 at $649.99. So it borders on leaving the affordable category.
In any case, what Samsung is giving users here is a top-of-the-line mid-ranger that should match the latest flagships in terms of core features. The company built the phone on a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Infinity-O platform. Inside that smaller-than-average front camera housing, there resides a 32-megapixel selfie snapper.
The main cameras are no slouch either. Of course, this is a quad-camera array with a 64-megapixel primary sensor, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 5-megapixel dedicated macro shooter.
With all of that stacked atop a capable 4,500mAh battery with fast charging, a microSD card slot for expanded storage, and a great fingerprint-resistant design, this is undoubtedly a top choice for gaining access to next-gen networking.
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G – Samsung
Best cheap smartphone with stock Android
Nokia 5.4
- Price: From $232.99
- Where to buy: Amazon
Starting at just $232.99 via Amazon, the Nokia 5.4 is easily one of the best android smartphones on the cheap end of the spectrum. And it’s anything but cheap. But its biggest selling point is that it comes with almost stock Android and reliably offers a great experience.
Put shortly, the Nokia 5.4 is a no-extras device with a 48-megapixel quad-camera, 16-megapixel front camera, sleek modern design, and plenty of battery life. It’ll be updated to Android 11 at some point, undoubtedly in the near future, but offers almost pure Android 10 with no bloatware for now. Android 12 likely isn’t out of the question either.
In terms of hardware, the company includes a 3.5mm audio jack or USB-C audio output, the HD+ 6.39-inch display is bright and punchy, and the hardware underneath is nothing to scoff at. Under the hood, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset powers the gadget, with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage, building on its predecessor — the Nokia 5.3. The dedicated Google Assistant key spotted on its predecessor has remained intact as well.
Available in a Polar Night coloration or in a purple/magenta Dusk color, battery life is great too. 24+ hours of on-time and 7+ hours of screen-on-time are coupled with a relatively fast-charging battery. Ultimately giving users a completely modern experience without a high cost or extra software that almost nobody needs or wants.
Nokia 5.4 – Amazon – From $232.99
The best cheap smartphone that’s almost an Android flagship
Nokia G50
- Price: $285.57
- Where to buy: Amazon
With an MSRP of $285.57 and starting at $10 less at Amazon, the Nokia G50 is arguably among the best budget-friendly phones you can buy without it being “cheap.”
That doesn’t just come down to its 5G support or its crisp HD+ 6.82-inch panel either. Although the gadget’s usability in direct sunlight is a definite perk. Great color options and hardware design language here is met with a 3.5mm audio jack included. And with Bluetooth 5.0 for those who don’t want the wires.
Software, conversely, delivers minimal bloatware while ample storage and RAM ensure that everything from the OS to the fingerprint snapper and facial recognition is snappy. And, of course, the camera itself is fantastic for the price point. As is the guaranteed long-term update cycle for both the OS and security. Although this phone ships with Android 11, it will be updated through two years of OS updates. And it will see frequent security updates for three years.
Finally, more than 8-hours of screen-on time with intensive use in our test of the device shows that multi-day use is well within reach for most users. Rounding out what is easily one of the best offerings running Android on a budget, let alone one of the best Nokia phones to date.
Best cheap Android smartphone overall
Google Pixel 5a with 5G
- Price: $399
- Where to buy: Google
Like its predecessor, the Google Pixel 4a, the value-focused Pixel 5a with 5G is only available in one color. Namely, a deep green-tinted black dubbed “Mostly Black.” Accented with lighter hues on the power button. And that means, like its predecessor, it’s not the flashiest out-of-the-box. Or the most visibly updated.
Of course, Google did include 5G as a matter of course this time around. And it did opt to include a better, larger display too. At 6.34-inches — compared to last year’s 5.81-inches. That’s a FullHD+ OLED panel with HDR support and a punch-hole selfie camera that’s effectively the same as last year’s model. But with a 4,680mAh capacity battery backing things up this time, instead of a 3,140mAh battery.
The internal specs, stepping past cameras momentarily, are better too. Google has bumped things up with a more-than-respectable octa-core Snapdragon 765G chipset paired with an Adreno 620 GPU. For clarity, that’s the same chipset used in the standard Pixel 5 flagship. Albeit with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage rather than 8GB and 128GB.
But what really sets this phone apart aside from being an all-around performer at a near-budget-phone price, is its cameras. Yes, it will get the latest updates faster and yes it does come with great internals for just $399. As well as 5G. But it also has nearly the same camera specs as the flagship Google Pixel 5 had. And, given the internals, should offer the very best camera experience in its price range. Bar none.
Coupled with everything else there is to know about this handset, there’s just about no reason at all to buy anything else if you’re looking at high-value Android smartphones.
2022-01-08 15:07:14