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What happened to all the great $400 midrange phones?
The gap between bargain-basement and high-end smartphones continues to grow
Not everybody wants to spend $1,000 on a new flagship phone, but the Android ecosystem is known for its wide selection of devices. In particular, we've recently seen some excellent low-cost smartphones like the OnePlus Nord N30 and Samsung Galaxy A15, which will satisfy anybody comfortable with dependable yet entry-level performance.
Best budget Android phones in 2024
These days, you don't have to pay through the nose to get a decent phone
It's an exciting time for smartphones. Thanks to increasingly powerful new chips, we're long past the days when you had to choose between spending a bundle on a premium phone or settling for sluggish performance on a budget model.
Motorola releases 3 new budget phones with some unique twists
It's not likely you'll find some of these features for these prices
Part of the reason Motorola has been successful for as long as it has is because of its reach across all worldwide markets when it comes to releasing smartphones. Motorola creates phones that fit many people’s needs across various financial backgrounds and technological uses. In August, we saw rumors and leaks regarding some upcoming Moto G budget phones and their specs. Today, Motorola confirmed those rumors and announced three phones that will hit the European market with the Moto G84, Moto G54 and Moto G54 Power.
Google Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 3a: Time to upgrade?
Is it time to say, "Goodnight, sweet prince," to the Pixel 3a?
The Google Pixel 3a has achieved classic status in its life cycle, though it's no longer on our list of favorite Android phones. At the time of its release, it was a welcome step by Google towards an affordable version of its flagship phone that sacrificed little to reduce the price point. It maintained the excellent cameras, Google Assistant features, and software support that we'd come to associate with the Pixel phone while slightly decreasing overall performance by opting for a lesser processor.
Nothing launches CMF brand to focus on budget-friendly technology
CMF by Nothing will prioritize clean and timeless design
Nothing has been riding high lately with the release of its second smartphone, the Nothing Phone 2. Just under three years following the company’s launch, Nothing has released five products — three earbuds and two phones. The brand has become synonymous with quality design at a low price, which is an ideology that doesn’t seem to exist as much as it used to in today’s tech world. Nothing CEO Carl Pei doesn’t want his company to be viewed as a budget line, so in its Q2 Community Update video, Pei announced a new sub-brand called CMF by Nothing that focuses primarily on wallet-friendly tech.
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New budget phone vs. old flagship: Which is best for you?
Everyone wants the best bang for their buck, but your priorities may vary
If you're like us, you're always drooling over whatever gadget is on the horizon. Sure, you could look at older hardware or consider holding onto your current device for another few months. Still, when every review praises whatever phone Samsung or Google just launched, keeping your wallet in your pocket can be tough. But smartphones are more expensive than ever before, and with inflation on every consumer's mind, it's only natural to wonder whether a new flagship is worth the cash, leaving you with a couple of options to consider
How to take a good photo on a cheap phone
108 megapixels surely looks tempting, but you can make do with your current phone
A flagship phone with 108 megapixels is nice to have for capturing moments with family and friends. But unless you plan to sell your photos as stock images or start a career in mobile photography, it's not worth splurging on a phone that's only used for occasional selfies. Sometimes, simplicity is key. While your phone's megapixel count matters, you won't see its full potential if you don't know how to take pictures.
Nothing Phone 1 vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: Pure value for the money
We pit the Nothing Phone 1 against the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G for a battle of the midrange greats.
While the Nothing brand is a newcomer to the industry, the man behind it is not. The founder of Nothing is Carl Pei, who also co-founded OnePlus. In similar fashion as Pei's former company, Nothing is beginning its story by releasing a device that punches above what its mid-range price tag would suggest.
Nothing Phone 1 vs. OnePlus Nord N20: Similar DNA, different approaches
Nothing took a page from the OnePlus playbook
Nothing and OnePlus are smartphone companies that share similar roots and DNA. The philosophical underpinnings of Nothing and OnePlus are similar in that both were created to shake up the smartphone industry by the same man, Carl Pei. While the companies share common traits, their approach to design and implementation are different. This is readily apparent in our battle today: the Nothing Phone 1 and the OnePlus Nord N20.
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G review: The best display at this price, hands down
Budget phones are getting seriously good
Samsung has a phone for sale at just about every price point. While this has worked out very well for the company so far, it also means that Samsung has to compete with itself almost as much as with other manufacturers. Between the low-cost Samsung Galaxy A13 5G and the mid-range A53, it can be challenging to decide which phone deserves your money. Should you spend additional cash on one of the more powerful Android phones, or opt for a real budget device that might not deliver the performance you need?
The affordable TCL Stylus 5G debuts with a 50MP camera and a Dimensity 700 under the hood
Motorola better watch out; there's a new budget stylus in town
TCL has been rising in popularity lately, ranking 4th in US smartphone market share behind Motorola and just ahead of Google and OnePlus. The manufacturer has found success with budget devices in particular, and this latest isn't about to change that formula any. This week the company is announcing its Stylus 5G, with a price that's ready to go head-to-head against the non-5G version of Motorola’s own budget-friendly G Stylus.
Moto expands its budget lineup yet again with Moto G Stylus 5G and Moto G 5G
Moto now has more Gs than a 90s rap album
Motorola has been on a roll lately, growing faster than any other Android OEM as it gobbles up the market share left by LG's withdrawal from smartphones. A big component of its strategy appears to be making a phone at every conceivable price point, from the bargain-basement Moto G Pure to the updated Edge+ flagship. The latest additions to the Moto G family fall somewhere in the middle. The Moto G Stylus 5G is a tweaked version of the 4G Stylus from earlier this year, and the Moto G 5G is a slightly cheaper MediaTek-powered device with no stylus. Although, "cheaper" is a relative term here—both phones are a bit more spendy than you'd expect at $499 for the Stylus 5G and $399 for the Moto G 5G. They could have trouble competing with the excellent budget phones already on the market.
The new Samsung Galaxy A13 5G tries to raise the bar on budget phone expectations
Not only is 5G getting cheaper, but so are 90Hz displays
The 5G tide is making its way toward budget phone shores in the United States and Samsung is becoming part of that rising force with the debut of the Galaxy A13 5G, its most affordable 5G offering to date.
T-Mobile's latest REVVL phone is all: big screen, 5G, can't lose
Another entry in the carrier's budget-friendly series
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Every carrier offers its own branded devices, usually aiming to lure customers in with low prices. T-Mobile has had its REVVL series for a few years now, selling phones made by Motorola or TCL but with its own logo on the back. The REVVL V+ 5G is its latest release, and if you've been looking to find an affordable 5G-friendly smartphone, this might be the one for you.There are two things you'll notice about this device right away: it's big, and it's cheap. With a 6.82" HD+ display, this is a giant phone. Just look at the hands-on video T-Mobile published below — it looks comically big, with a size increase over last year's already massive REVVL 5G (careful not to mix them up). The carrier plans to sell it for just under $200, with specs to match: a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.
Time for a smartphone diet: An ode to Lite phones
The concept of flagship for less isn't new, but it's taking off only now
The commotion in the smartphone market lately hasn’t been quite like it used to be. We’re seeing some major activity outside the usual launch seasons, non-flagships are creating headlines more often, consumers have started to look for options beyond the upper tier, and companies, too, are making mid-range models that we can actually recommend. All these are signs that the smartphone industry has graduated to a stage where even cheaper phones can make sense for consumers without degrading their overall experience.
I am very happy that budget smartphones finally, really don't suck
The definition of "budget" is broader than ever — and that's a good thing
We learned a lot in 2020. About face coverings, about entertaining ourselves in our own homes, about staycations, and probably about making bread — or at least personally net carbohydrate profiteering off of someone who did. But in the realm of smartphones, one trend markedly stood out amidst a global economy (and frankly, just a globe) in turmoil: good, relatively inexpensive phones.
Samsung makes some of the priciest Android phones you can buy, but it also has options at basically every price point there is in the smartphone market and its low-end game is pretty strong. Case in point: the Galaxy A21. It's a very large phone at a price that's anything but, and today, you can get one for even cheaper than usual: $199.99, a savings of $50.In my review, I praised the A21's 6.5-inch screen size — very large for a budget device — and its battery life. Performance and camera quality aren't anything special for a cheap phone, but they're both acceptable for the price. This is an unlocked device, too, which means it won't be packed with bloatware like my Boost Mobile review unit was.
T-Mobile's new REVVL 4, 4+, and 5G are sub-$400 phones made by TCL
Nice, cheap phones with a shared bloodline
T-Mobile is updating its own-brand REVVL line of mid-range phones with three new entries, including a 5G phone that costs $400 at full retail. All of them are available from September 4 at T-Mobile on discount and, for the first time, at Metro by T-Mobile.
Samsung Galaxy A21 review: Large device, small price
A 6.5" screen for $250, but performance leaves something to be desired
Samsung is best known for its big, powerful, and obscenely expensive phones. But what does $250 buy you in the Galaxy lineup these days? Getting your head wrapped around Samsung's budget offerings is an understandably difficult task given their confusing naming scheme and year over year model refreshes, but the Galaxy A21 is one of the latest price-conscious phones from the Korean manufacturer. It's available on a number of US carriers now, including Boost, which is the version of the phone we reviewed. While the A21 offers a large screen and decent battery life, the phone's overall performance and cameras (for the price) should give budget-conscious big-phone enthusiasts pause.
Redmi kicks off new X series with launch of 10X and 10X Pro
The first phones to use MediaTek's Dimensity 820 SoC and support dual 5G standby
Xiaomi loves nothing more than releasing new devices. And usually, they're pretty solid phones that offer up good specs for the money. Today Xiaomi is announcing the new Redmi 10X pair of phones complete with 6.57-inch Samsung AMOLED screens, 30x digital zoom cameras, and dual-mode 5G connectivity.