In today’s tech-savvy world, smartphones have become an indispensable part of our daily lives, serving as communication devices, productivity tools, and entertainment hubs. While premium flagship smartphones often steal the spotlight with their cutting-edge features and hefty price tags, there’s a wealth of budget-friendly options available that offer impressive performance without breaking the bank.
Such phones are abundantly produced by manufacturers to target the customers in the mid-range segment. Most of these phones are either a generation older or they offer great value for money with an ease of mind. We’ll review and compare the best budget smartphones priced under $600, helping you find a device that delivers exceptional value for your money.
The Best Budget Samsung Device: Samsung A54 (Around $300)
The Samsung Galaxy A54, a much-needed improvement over its predecessor, costs half as much and features a floating camera design language similar to the S23 series. However, you can still anticipate a ton of fantastic technology for your money, including a big 5,000mAh battery that, in our testing, lasted the entire day with extra power.
Furthermore, the array of cameras, which includes a 50MP primary sensor, exceeds expectations and enables some excellent and remarkably versatile shooting for the price. 23W fast charging is also respectable enough to get you powered back up quickly. The icing on the cake is Samsung’s pledge to provide software support for four generations of OS upgrades and five generations of security patches, which is longer than the majority of other entries on our list.
Budget Apple IPhone: Apple iPhone 13 (Around $600)
The age of the iPhone 13 is not a deceiver. Although it was released in 2021, the hardware it offers is remarkably close to that of its successor, and even in 2024, with prices having dropped since launch, it still delivers top-notch performance.
Though it may not have been a revolutionary addition to the series at launch, every feature it offered represented a significant improvement over earlier iPhone models, from battery life to camera performance and more. In terms of battery life, this phone has an impressive amount of it. Its A15 SoC and 4GB of RAM allow it to smoothly run even the newest games and apps.
The Best Budget Pixel: Google Pixel 7a (Around $500)
With a debut price of $499, the Pixel 7a aims to provide a comprehensive and well-rounded Pixel experience at a far cheaper cost than Google’s costly but powerful Pixel 7 and 7 Pro flagship phones from 2022 and 2023. The 7a has an attractive 6.1-inch display up front, and an amazing 64MP sensor—the most megapixels of any Pixel phone—is situated on the back. Additionally, the Tensor G2 chip is powerful enough to power the whole Pixel 7 series, including the top-of-the-line Pixel Fold.
The Pixel 7a’s greatest drawbacks are perhaps its short battery life and lackluster software support compared to rivals like Apple and Samsung. But, the 7a is the best choice if you’re searching for a low-cost approach to get the renowned camera features and AI intelligence of the Pixel line.
Budget Camera Phone: OnePlus 10T (Around $300)
The OnePlus 10T is a respectable mid-range Android phone that can be ideal for you if you’re looking for a quick phone with good cameras that doesn’t require a high price tag. At debut, this phone had an unreasonably high starting price, but by 2024, it had significantly dropped in price. The OnePlus 10T boasts an attractive screen, a potent CPU, quick charging, and a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor on the back. We have already praised this sensor for its ability to take good low-light photos.
The OnePlus 10T also has a 2MP macro sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. It’s sad that there isn’t a telephoto lens; instead, you have to use the meager 10x digital zoom when attempting to close the distance. Nonetheless, the OnePlus 10T is among the most reasonably priced camera phones given its low cost.
Best Cheap & Durable Phone: Nokia XR20 5G (Around $230)
The Nokia XR20 is the first of its kind to combine extra-hardy construction with intelligent internals, even though the Nokia 5210 may be one of the brand’s most recognizable tough phones and more recently we’ve seen feature phones like the Nokia 800 Tough. The Nokia XR20, manufactured by HMD Global, may not have flagship-level specifications, but it looks like it will outlive them. Like you would expect from a rugged smartphone, it has IP68 dust and water ingress protection, MIL-STD-810 approved testing, and a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display protected by toughened Gorilla Glass Victus (which, should it break, can be replaced for free within the first year of purchase).
Its dedicated emergency and Google Assistant keys are a wonderful addition, and its three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates (at launch) make it an excellent long-term choice for people who frequently spend time in difficult or outdoor conditions. But even with all of this extra security, it isn’t very expensive.
Concluding Remarks
In the ever-expanding landscape of budget smartphones, finding the right balance between price and performance can be a daunting task. However, with the Samsung A54, Apple iPhone 13, Google Pixel 7a, OnePlus 10T, and Nokia XR20 5G, there are plenty of options available that offer exceptional value for money.
Each of these devices brings something unique to the table, whether it’s the impressive camera capabilities of the Pixel 7a, the durability of the Nokia XR20 5G, or the overall performance of the Apple iPhone 13. Regardless of your preferences and priorities, there’s a budget smartphone on this list that’s sure to meet your needs. With careful consideration and research, you can find a budget smartphone that delivers the features and performance you need that is also affordable.
