A great smartphone doesn't have to be expensive. Here, we round up the best value phones of 2023 that offer good performance and features at affordable prices.
1. Motorola Moto G Power (2022)
The Moto G Power lasts up to 3 days per charge and offers incredible battery life—unmatched durability in a $200 phone. It also has a decent 6.5-inch HD+ display, acceptable performance from the Mediatek Helio G37, 64GB of storage, and a 50MP camera. The Moto G Power is hard to beat when battery life is a primary consideration.
2. TCL 30 XE 5G
This sub-$150 TCL phone offers 5G connectivity for super-fast data speeds. In addition to smooth 5G performance, it packs a beautiful 6.52-inch HD+ screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a powerful Snapdragon 480 processor, and a powerful 5,000mAh battery. 64GB of storage is also generous for the price. For one of the best cheap 5G phones around, check out the TCL 30 XE 5G.
3. OnePlus Nord N20 5G
OnePlus is known for affordable flagships, and the Nord N20 5G offers a premium experience for less than $300. It's powered by a fast Snapdragon 695 5G chip, has a crisp FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED display, and is paired with an ample 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. The camera and battery life are also well above the price range.
4. Nokia G11
The legendary phone brand Nokia's G11 is only $150, but it appears more expensive. The solid polycarbonate shell is reminiscent of old Nokia designs. It also packs a 6.5-inch HD+ 90Hz display, a Unisoc T606 processor, a triple 50-megapixel camera array, and an ample 4GB of RAM. Two-day battery life and clean Android 12 software make the Nokia G11 an excellent budget option.
5. Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Apple's cheapest iPhone offers top-notch performance thanks to the blazingly fast A15 Bionic chip (the same chip found in the iPhone 14 series). In addition to incredible performance, it has solid dual cameras, decent battery life, wireless charging, and runs smooth iOS 16. Starting at $429, it's an incredible value for iOS fans on a budget.
6. Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
This $250 Samsung phone packs 5G and the Galaxy experience into one affordable device. Its 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity V display looks sharp, the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G chipset performs well, and it has a respectable 50-megapixel primary camera. Even though the Galaxy A13 5G is made of plastic, it still has Samsung's slim design. For the price, it's a steal.
7. Google Pixel 6a
Google's budget-conscious Pixel 6a is a copycat of the $449 flagship Pixel 6. It has the same powerful Google Tensor processor, polished Android 13 software, and excellent camera quality as the more expensive model. A compact 6.1-inch OLED display with narrow bezels is vibrant. The Pixel 6a offers a premium software experience and camera quality that far outshine anything in its class.
Diploma
Finding a cheap smartphone no longer means compromising on features and performance. Today's top budget phones like the Moto G Power, TCL 30 XE 5G, Nokia G11, and Pixel 6a offer great experiences without breaking the bank. Choose based on priorities like battery, camera, or software.