Apple's newly announced iPhone SE, priced at $ 399, is getting a lot of attention, and with good reason. With most iconic smartphones approaching or exceeding the $ 1,000 mark, inexpensive phones are becoming increasingly attractive.
But Apple is not the only company offering a cell phone that costs half as much as its flagship models. Below, you will find some of the best cheap cell phones you can buy right now. (Or, in the case of the iPhone SE, which you can buy soon).
The best cell phones under $ 300
Moto G Stylus, $ 299
The Motorola G Stylus, as the name suggests, includes a stylus. You can use the pen to write or draw on the cell phone screen, similar to how the Apple Pencil works on an iPad or the S-Pen on a Galaxy Note phone. When you finish using it, it slides into the cell phone case, so you don't have to worry about carrying another accessory.
With a 48-megapixel main sensor, the G Stylus' camera setup looks great. There's also a macro camera and a 117-degree ultra-wide camera that lets you take photos of large groups or the horizon without having to back up. The macro camera is designed to take close photos, giving you a new perspective.
The G Stylus has a 6.4-inch display, a 4,000 mAh battery, 128GB of storage and 4GB of memory, and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 665 processor.
You can order the Moto G Stylus right now for $ 299. It comes unlocked to run on all major carriers.
Google Pixel 3a, $ 299
Google's Pixel 3a is a year old, and there are rumors that the Pixel 4a could be announced soon, but the 3a is still a great cell phone. And because the 4a is supposedly close to launch, the Pixel 3a's price continues to drop. It is normally priced at $ 399, but you can get the Pixel 3a for $ 299 right now.
Google's Pixel line runs the latest version of Android, with monthly security updates. Google uses the official version of Android in Pixel, which gives owners early access to features such as Live Caption (which will subtitle any video or audio played on their cell phone) or new camera features.
The Pixel 3a has a 5.6-inch screen, a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, and an 8-megapixel front camera, and can record 4K video at 30 frames per second. Pixel phones take some of the best pictures of smart phones, and the Pixel 3a is no exception.
It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 670 processor and has 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage.
For someone who wants an Android device, but wants more than a Samsung or Motorola cell phone, the Pixel 3a is a good option.
The best cell phones under $ 400
iPhone SE, $ 399
Apple has just announced the second generation iPhone SE and, on paper, it is an incredible cell phone. With a 4.7-inch screen and a TouchID button, the iPhone SE looks like the iPhone 8, but with improved internal components.
It uses the same A13 Bionic processor as the more expensive iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, and has a 12-megapixel rear camera, wireless charging, and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
The iPhone SE becomes even more attractive with a starting price of $ 399 for the 64GB model. You can double the storage to 128GB for $ 449, or 256GB for $ 549.
We haven't had a chance to test the new SE, but it has everything you need to be one of the best budget smartphones of 2020. Combine Apple's software, hardware, app store, and services in one best-ever package. price we've seen in years.
You can preorder the iPhone SE starting today, Friday, April 17. Deliveries will begin on April 24.
Samsung Galaxy A51, $ 349
In our tests, we found that Samsung's Galaxy A50 is a capable and compelling smart phone. Now, with the recent announcement of the Galaxy A51, Samsung is ready to beat it.
The Galaxy A51 has a 6.5-inch Full HD + AMOLED display that's on par with what Samsung uses in its more expensive Galaxy S20 line. There is a 32-megapixel front camera and a four-camera array on the back of the phone, with a 48-megapixel camera at the forefront.
Inside is an eight-core processor, 4GB of memory, 128GB of storage, and a 4,000mAh battery. You can expand the storage with a micro SD card.
For any fan of Samsung devices, the Galaxy A51 has a lot to offer: it will provide almost the same experience as the much more expensive Galaxy S20 line, but at a considerable discount.
Buy the Galaxy A51 for Sprint or Verizon from Samsung, or the unlocked version on Amazon.
The best cell phones under $ 500
OnePlus 7T, $ 499
OnePlus has just announced the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, and they are fantastic cell phones. But they also start at $ 599 and hit $ 899.
For budget-conscious shoppers, OnePlus has lowered the price of the OnePlus 7T to $ 479. It is the highest priced cell phone on our list, but it is still cheaper than flagship phones.
For that price, you get a 6.55-inch, 90Hz display, which translates to smoother gaming and scrolling, 8GB of memory, 128GB of storage, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus processor.
The set of cameras on the back includes three lenses: a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle, and we found it to be a solid camera setup. The front camera is 16 megapixels.
You can buy the OnePlus 7T right now for $ 479. It comes unlocked and will work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless.
In conclusion
There are many affordable smart phones available right now. Just because a phone costs less than its high-end counterparts doesn't mean it's a worse phone. Some features are cut down to lower the price, such as a slower processor, a less capable camera or a lower resolution screen, but the overall experience will be very similar to what you get on a $ 999 cell phone.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.