When it comes to finding the best budget phones, there are a lot of factors to consider. You want a phone that has good features but doesn’t break the bank. In this article, we will be discussing the best budget phones for 2022 under $500. We’ll take a look at some of the most popular models on the market and what makes them stand out from the competition. So, whether you’re looking for your first phone or just wanting to upgrade on a tight budget, read on for some great options!
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Here are the Best Budget Phones you can buy right now:
Overall Best Budget Android Phone
Google Pixel 5a
The Google Pixel 5a is one of the best budget Android phones you can buy. It has a beautiful 6.34-inch OLED display and impressive dual rear cameras. It’s also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, making it a great choice for gaming and other demanding tasks. It also boasts IP67 water and dust resistance rating so you don’t have to worry about taking it out in the rain or dropping it in a puddle. The 5a’s 5G support is another great selling point, as is its clean software experience and excellent battery life. You also get a headphone jack, which is a rarity these days. It is also one of the fastest budget phones to recharge with its included 18W USB-C charger, needing only an hour and 40 minutes to reach 100%.
You can buy this on Amazon for $454.99.
Read More: Google Pixel 6 Pro: Everything to Know
Best Budget Samsung Phone
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G was launched during Samsung’s event on March 17. It’s an addition to the A-series and one of the best budget 5G phones you can buy. It has a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Its bright display at 800 nits is perfect for outdoor use. It comes equipped with a new chipset, the Exynos 1280. This is a powerful processor that includes a lot of AI-inspired features that can handle day-to-day tasks with ease. The phone has a quad rear camera setup that includes a 64MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor. On the front, you’ll see a 32MP selfie camera. The phone runs on One UI 4.1 based on Android 12 and is powered by a 5000mAh battery.
You can buy this on Amazon for $450.
Read More: Galaxy A53 5G vs. Galaxy A33 5G: Which should you choose?
Best Budget 5G Option
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
If you’re looking for some budget phones under $300, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a great option. Don’t get fooled by its low price, this phone still packs a punch. The phone has a large 6.5-inch HD+ display and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 720 processor. The display is bright enough for most conditions, though it can be a little dim in sunlight.
For cameras, it has a quad rear camera setup that includes a 48MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 13MP selfie camera. The phone also has an impressive battery life, thanks to its 5,000mAh battery. And if you’re looking for fast charging, you’ll be happy to know that the A32 5G comes with 15W fast charging support. Samsung has kept all of the features you want in a phone, such as a headphone jack, MicroSD card slot, NFC for contactless payments, and a fingerprint sensor on the side.
You can buy this on Amazon for $280.
Read More: Best Samsung Phones 2022
The newest Budget iPhone
iPhone SE 2022
The Apple March Event last month was packed full of surprises including the all-new iPhone SE. The new iPhone SE is a budget-friendly option that comes with some of the features of Apple’s more expensive models. It has a 4.7-inch display and comes equipped with Apple’s powerful A15 Bionic chip. This chip is the same chip that powers the iPhone 13 models. It also now supports 5G speeds, making it a good option for those looking for a budget 5G iPhone. This makes it one of the fastest budget phones on the market, outperforming Android phones in its price range.
The camera has also been improved with a 12MP sensor with support for Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion. The battery life is good but will still last only about a day. Another great thing is that it remains one of the few smartphones at this price with wireless charging. This iPhone will, at the very least, last a long time because it will receive software updates for years longer than any Android device.
You can buy this on Amazon for $429.
Premium Mid-ranger
TCL 20 Pro 5G
The TCL 20 Pro 5G is a mid-range phone that has some features you’ll find on more expensive phones. It’s easily the most luxurious-feeling phone in the budget category. Its huge curved-edge display boasts very slim bezels and its build quality is top-notch with an aluminum frame and glass on the front and back.
This phone features a large 6.67-inch AMOLED display that gets bright enough to see outdoors. The quad-camera system is pretty good but not as good as the aforementioned competitors.
Under the hood, this phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, the same chip as the Galaxy A52 5G. For storage, you get a generous 256GB which can be expanded via a MicroSD card. In addition, it also has an NFC, a headphone jack, and supports wireless charging. The battery life is good but not great. It’ll last you through a full day of use but if you’re a power user, you might have to reach for the charger by the end of a long day.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a water and dust resistance and does not support C-band 5G.
You can buy this on Amazon for $499.99.
Another Good Budget 5G Phone
OnePlus Nord N200 5G
Just like the TCL 20 Pro 5G, the Nord N200 lacks both C-band support and a CDMA radio, so it won’t work on Verizon or Sprint. But it does have a slightly bigger battery at 5000mAh. It also offers a smoother scrolling at 90Hz rather than the TCL 20 Pro 5G’s 60Hz. Its 6.49-inch display is fair enough but its display is not quite as bright as other competitors.
The Nord N200 features an entry-level Snapdragon 480 CPU that can handle basic tasks. If you’re looking for a budget phone for your intensive gaming, this may not be a good option.
Unfortunately, the camera system is pretty lackluster having only a 13MP main sensor, 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. But that’s not a surprise given its price point.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord N200 5G is an attractive and cheap phone that’s a great fit for T-Mobile’s 5G network.
You can buy this on Amazon for $209.99.
Best Budget Phone under $200
Motorola Moto G Power (2022)
Motorola’s Moto G Power (2022) is the best budget phone you can get for under $200. Motorola phones have always been known for their great battery life and affordability and this newest Moto G (2022) is no exception.
This phone has a large 6.5-inch display and sports a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a huge 5000mAh battery that lasts for two to three days and a triple-camera system that takes good photos.
This phone also has 4GB of RAM with 64GB of internal storage. This is actually a bit cheaper than its predecessor which only had 32GB of storage in its $199 version. It has expandable storage for up to 512GB via the microSD card slot.
Unfortunately, the Moto G Power ships with a MediaTek Helio G37 chipset. Benchmark reveals that this chipset is not as powerful as last year’s Moto G Power model’s Snapdragon 662. This will be noticeable when you run apps on your phone as you will experience some delays and lags. But if you’re looking for cheap phones for under $200, this is a good option.
You can buy this on Amazon for $198.41.
Read More: Motorola Moto G Power (2022): Everything to Know