It’s 2019, and flagship smartphones are all about a thousand dollars or more. However, as high-end phones get increasingly expensive,less expensive phones are getting better. Phones under $300 are flawlessly structured, with great screens, super-long battery life, amazing cameras, and awesome speakers. We’ve examined and ranked the majority of the best cheap Android phones you can purchase and with our buyer’s guide you’ll discover the perfect phone for you.
Best Overall: Moto G7
The best budget Android phone for vast majority
Motorola’s 2019 Moto G is well-constructed, pleasantly structured, and has some amazing updates over its predecessor, including a quicker processor, improved display, and rear fingerprint sensor.
- Great build quality and design
- Excellent main rear camera
- Compatible with all major U.S. and international carriers
- Moto Display adds tremendous value
- Comes with Android 9 Pie
Bad:
- Moto G line isn’t known for swift software updates
- Lacks NFC
Key Specs
- Display 6.20-inch (1080×2270)
- Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 632
- Front Camera 8MP
- Rear Camera 12MP + 5MP
- RAM 4GB
- Storage 64GB
- Battery Capacity 3000mAh
- OSAndroid Pie
Nokia 6.1
A fantastic smartphone with superb build quality and execution for the price.
Nokia’s hit the balance between cost and execution with the Nokia 6.1. It’s not exactly as feature-filled at the Moto G7 or the Nokia 7.1, yet for $229 there isn’t a better deal in town.
Good:
- Durable chassis with outstanding build quality
- Clean software and timely updates
- All-day battery life with USB-C charging
Bad:
- Average camera
- 16:9 display
Key Specs
- Display 5.50-inch (1080×1920)
- Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
- Front Camera 8MP
- Rear Camera 16MP
- RAM 3GB
- Storage 32GB
- Battery Capacity 3000mAh
- OSAndroid 8.0
Google Pixel 3a
The uncontested budget photography king
The Pixel 3a takes completely shocking photos, using the similar image processing as the standard Pixel 3, and accompanies the promise of three years of software updates. It’s somewhat expensive contrasted with different phones on this list, however it’s the best photography option by a mile.
Good:
- Incredible camera
- Good build quality with polycarbonate shell
- Three years of updates
- Clean Android build
- Available at most carriers
Bad:
- $400 isn’t super cheap
- Performance is a bit slow
Key Specs
- Display 5.60-inch (1080×2220)
- Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
- Front Camera 8MP
- Rear Camera 12.2MP
- RAM 4GB
- Storage 64GB
- Battery Capacity 3000mAh
- OSAndroid 9 Pie
Samsung Galaxy A50
Samsung’s best budget phone in years.
Samsung’s carrying its A-game with the Galaxy A50, a fabulous gadget that you can (and should) get for under $300 if you value a lot of highlights and a beautiful display.
Good:
- Big, beautiful AMOLED display
- Excellent triple camera setup
- Samsung’s One UI is among the best Android skins around
- Huge 4,000mAh battery
Bad:
- Unlocked model lacks NFC
- Main camera isn’t quite as good as Nokia 7.1 or Pixel 3a
Key Specs
- Display 6.40-inch (1080×2340)
- Front Camera 25MP
- Rear Camera 25MP + 5MP + 8MP
- RAM 4GB
- Storage 64GB
- Battery Capacity 4000mAh
- OSAndroid Pie
Nokia 7.1
Way more phone for a little more money
The Nokia 7.1 packs a mess of phone into $350. It has an incredible Snapdragon 636 processor and 4GB of RAM, alongside ample 64GB storage and a beautiful 5.85-inch screen. If its all the same to you somewhat of an indent, it’s a looker, as well, with a sharp aluminum frame and a lovely dual camera rear design.
Good:
- Beautiful glass and metal design
- Two years of updates and security patches
- Clean and simple Android One software
- Cameras are relatively good in low light
- Snapdragon 636 is speedy
Bad:
- No CDMA carrier support
- Not everyone will love the notch
Key Specs
- Display 5.84-inch (1080×2280)
- Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
- Front Camera 8MPRear
- Camera 12MP + 5MP
- RAM 4GB
- Storage64GB
- Battery Capacity 3060mAh
- OSAndroid 8.1
Moto G7 Power
The greatest battery you’ll discover today.
If battery life is your essential concern, and screen or photo quality less so, the Moto G7 Power is the best phone you can purchase. Simply be careful of slow updates.
Good:
- Huge battery lasts days, not hours
- Great software experience
- Decent rear camera
- Nice design
- Works on all four U.S. carriers
Bad:
- Low-res 720p display with a notch
- Motorola has a poor software update track record
- No NFC support
Key Specs
- Display 6.20-inch (720×1520)
- Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 632
- Front Camera 8MP
- Rear Camera 12MP
- RAM 3GB
- Storage 32GB
- Battery Capacity 5000mAh
- OSandroid 9.0
Nokia 4.2
Excellent hardware and clean software on the cheap
The Nokia 4.2 has a fabulous metal and glass design and a clean build of Android 9 Pie with the guarantee of timely, proceeded with updates thanks to Android One. It even has NFC for mobile payments. For under $200, there’s truly not a great deal to complain about.
Good:
- Outstanding build materials
- NFC-compatible
- Android One with Pie out of the box
- Notification LED in the power button
- Smooth performance over Snapdragon 439
Bad:
- Micro- USB charging
- Not CDMA-compatible
Key Specs
- Display 5.71-inch (720×1520)
- Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
- Front Camera 8MP
- Rear Camera 13MP + 2MP
- RAM 3GB
- Storage 32GB
- Battery Capacity 3000mAh
- OSAndroid 9
Alcatel 1X
A marvelous Android experience under a hundred
Valued under $100, the Alcatel 1X runs Android Oreo Go Edition, Google’s suite of apps and software enhancements to make Android run great on less-expensive hardware.
Good:
- Extremely affordable
- Fingerprint sensor for quick authentication
- Android Go is optimized for inexpensive hardware
- Compatible with GSM networks in the U.S.
Bad:
- Very modest specs
- Weak camera performance
Honor 8X
A fabulous value device with a tremendous battery.
You’d be unable to discover a phone with better value for your dollar (or pound, in this case) than the Honor 8X.
Good:
- Big, vivid display
- Huge battery
- Great camera quality
Bad:
- Honor phones are affected by Huawei trade ban
- Software updates may not be prompt
- Micro-USB port for charging
- Will only work on AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S.
- No U.S. warranty
Key Specs
- Display 6.50-inch (1080×2340)
- Processor HiSilicon Kirin 710
- Front Camera 16MP
- Rear Camera 20MP + 2MP
- RAM 4GB
- Storage 64GB
-
Battery Capacity 3750mAh
-
OSAndroid 8.1 Oreo
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
An extraordinary phone that you may want to import.
Xiaomi isn’t a huge brand in North America but it’s structure incredible budget phones like the Redmi Note 7. With absolute best specs for the price, alongside a tremendous battery and a lovely design, the Note 7 is one of the best deals around.
Good:
- Amazing specs and performance for the price
- Nice, simple design with teardrop notch
- Comparatively huge rear camera for the segment
- USB-C charging
- Huge 4,000mAh battery
Bad:
- MIUI isn’t for everyone
- Not compatible with Sprint or Verizon
- No U.S. warranty
Key Specs
- Display 6.30-inch (1080×2340)
- Processor Snapdragon 660 AIE
- Front Camera 13MP
- Rear Camera 12MP + 2MP
- RAM 4GB
- Storage 64GB
- Battery Capacity 4000mAh
- OSAndroid 9.0
Bottom line
There’s no lack of amazing Android phones these days, regardless of whether you want to spend more than $700, less than $300, or even $100. The above phones represent the best of a set impediment — that of not having any desire to overspend on a product that, unavoidably, will need to be replaced in few years.
In any case, that’s the beauty of a gadget that costs 33% of what you’d spend on a Galaxy S10 or Pixel 3. It offers 90% of what those phones cost and can be replaced all the more effectively. While you may miss out on a portion of the more advanced features like waterproofing and wireless charging, and you may not get as many updates, or for as long, these phones represent another type of budget gadgets you can feel confident in buying.
And the Moto G7 is the best value of the bunch.
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