Compare: Best Phones Under $500

Mobile phones today can cost at least $1000. But the truth is, you don't need to spend that much money on a trusty smartphone. There are plenty of good options that won't have you splurging your hard-earned money.

Are cheaper smartphones worth it?

There are heaps of good choices out there that won't break your wallet. Sure, they don't have ridiculously big storage capacity or futuristic camera features, but you can still get the good, more practical features like long battery life and durability.

Here are other things to consider:

Pros:

Designed to be durable
Affordable
Has basic functionalities like calling and messaging
Less to lose in case you break or misplace it
Cheaper to replace parts
Easy-to-use

Cons:

Does not have special features such as being waterproof, or having a much bigger memory, etc.
The camera is not as high-quality as its premium counterparts
Smaller displays
Lesser software/OS updates
Might not be able to handle most mobile games
May have performance issues in the long run due to lower memory

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See the rundown of the best cheap mobile phones here:

Mobile Phones Below $500	Price	Screen Size	Screen Resolution	Operating System	CPU	Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
OnePlus Nord N200 5G	from $240	6.49 inches	1080 x 2400 pixels	Snapdragon 480 5G	Octa-core	Rear: 13MP (f/2.2) Front: 16MP (f/2.1)
iPhone SE	from $256.99	4.7 inches	1334 x 750 pixels	Original: iOS 9.3 Current: iOS 15.1	A13 Bionic	Rear: 12MP (ƒ/1.8) Front: 7MP (ƒ/2.2)
Motorola Moto G Play	from $170	6.5 inches	720 x 1280 pixels	Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460	Octa-core	Rear: 13MP (ƒ/2.0) Front: 5MP (ƒ/2.2)
Google Pixel 4a	from $349	5.81 inches	1080 x 2340 pixels	Snapdragon 730G	Octa-core	Rear: 12.2MP (ƒ/1.7) Front: 8MP (ƒ/2.0)
Samsung Galaxy A02s	from $110	6.5 inches	720 x 1600 pixels	Mediatek MT6739W	ARM Cortex-A53	Rear: 13 MP (f/2.2), Front: 5 MP (f/2.2)
Moto G Power	from $169.99	6.6 inches	1080 x 2300 pixels	Android 10	Snapdragon 662	Rear: 16MP wide (ƒ/1.7); 8MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 2MP macro (ƒ/2.2) Front: 16MP (ƒ/2.0)
Galaxy A32 5G	from $280	6.5 inches	1,600 x 720 pixels	Android 11	Dimensity 720	Rear: 48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, 2MP depth; Front: 13MP
Moto G Stylus	from $299	6.4 inches	1080 x 2300 pixels	Android 10	Snapdragon 665	Rear:48MP main (ƒ/1.7); 16MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 2MP macro (ƒ/2.2) Front: 16MP (ƒ/2.0)

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OnePlus Nord N200 5G

This model may be made of plastic, but it doesn't look cheap at all. It has a sleek design and a good performance, all thanks to its Snapdragon 480 processor. This makes it one of the most affordable 5G phones in the market.

If you're after the quality and display, it has a 1080p display and a long-lasting battery life. It also has the Oxygen OS and an easy-to-use version of Android 11.

Price: from $240

Key features:

Screen Size: 6.49 inches
Processor: Snapdragon 480 5G
Size / weight: 6.42 x 2.95 x 0.33 inches / 6.67 ounces
Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:28
5G networks supported: T-Mobile
Camera: Rear: 13MP (f/2.2) Front: 16MP (f/2.1)

Pros:

90Hz display
Good battery life
5G

Cons:

The camera quality may not be as good as high-end phone models
Subpar performance

iPhone SE

If you're looking for a cheap iPhone with quality features, iPhone SE is your best option. It has the same performance as the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro with its A13 Bionic processor. This chip also gives a high-quality camera that most budget Android phones are missing.

It has Portrait Mode for both front and rear cameras, Smart HDR, and an extended dynamic range to give you quality videos.

Price: from $256.99

Key features:

Display: 4.7-inch LCD (1334x750)
CPU: A13 Bionic
RAM: Unknown
Storage / Expandable: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB / No
Camera: Rear: 12MP (ƒ/1.8); Front: 7MP (ƒ/2.2)
Weight: 5.22 ounces

Pros:

Affordable
A13 Bionic performance
Supports wireless charging

Cons:

Big bezels
Camera has no night mode

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Motorola Moto G Play

This model isn't as fast as the other mobile phones on this list, but it has an excellent battery life and may last for three days. The camera quality is subpar and will only get two years of security updates. It has a 720p display and may have slow performance occasionally.

Price: from $170

Key features:

Processor: Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460
RAM: 3 GB
Storage: 32 GB
Display: 6.5 inches
Camera: Rear: 13MP (ƒ/2.0) Front: 5MP (ƒ/2.2)
Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh

Pros:

Good performance for its price
Clear call quality
Long battery life
Big display

Cons:

Subpar camera quality
Only two years of security updates

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Google Pixel 4a

The Pixel 4a is a good option for a good phone. It's a little bit more expensive, but its great features make it worth buying. It has one of the best camera quality out there and can even compete with phones that cost twice as much.

The software also gives a smoother experience than the other phones on the list. The updates for both security and Android software are guaranteed until 2023.

Price: from $349

Key features:

Display: 5.81-inch OLED (2340x1080)
CPU: Snapdragon 730G
RAM: 6GBStorage / Expandable: 128GB / No
Camera: Rear: 12.2MP (ƒ/1.7) Front: 8MP (ƒ/2.0)
Weight: 5.04 ounces

Pros:

Great camera quality
Sleek design
Affordable for its features

Cons:

Subpar battery life

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Samsung Galaxy A02s

The Galaxy A02s is Samsung's cheapest phone from its latest lineup. For only $110, its performance is impressive and fast enough to use the web browser, send messages, and play lightweight mobile games. Aside from that, you'll get four years of support, including two OS updates which are not common on cheap phones like this model.

The build quality may not be as good as other models like G Play and Nord, but the battery life is great. It even has a USB-C port.

Price: from $110

Key features:

Processor: Mediatek MT6739W
RAM: 3 GB
Storage: 32 GB
Display: 6.5 inches
Camera: Rear: 13 MP (f/2.2), Front: 5 MP (f/2.2)
Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh

Pros:

Long battery life
Compact design
Decent photography during daytime
MicroSD slot to expand storage

Cons:

LCD doesn't get as bright and may be hard to use outdoors.
Lacks an oil-resistant coating
Not for heavy gaming
Average processing speed

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Galaxy A32 5G

For as low as $280, you can get a Samsung phone with a decent camera. The only downside is its subpar display, but if it's something that you can put up with, it's a good choice of phone. It has a big 6.5-inch screen and a 5,000 mAH battery, making it great for watching videos.

It can last up to 12 hours, longer than other budget phones

Price: from $280

Key features:

Screen size: 6.5 inches
Android version: 11 with One UI 3.1
Processor: Dimensity 720
Cameras: Rear: 48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, 2MP depth; Front: 13MP
RAM/Storage: 4GB/64GB

Pros:

Affordable price
4 years of security patches
Long-lasting battery life
90Hz refresh rate

Cons:

Subpar display

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Moto G Power (2021)

If you want an affordable phone that will last for hours, Moto G Power can last up to 14 hours, making it one of the best phone battery life available today. Aside from that, it has a 6.6-inch display and a decent camera. It's 5,000 mAh makes it a little heavier than other phones, but overall, Moto G Power is a good option if you're looking for an affordable phone that has everything you need.

Price: from $169.99

Key features:

Display: 6.6 inches (1600 x 720)
CPU: Snapdragon 662
RAM: 3GB, 4GB
Storage / Expandable: 32GB, 64GB / Yes
Camera: Rear: 16MP wide (ƒ/1.7); 8MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 2MP macro (ƒ/2.2) Front: 16MP (ƒ/2.0)

Pros:

Long battery life
Affordable price
Sleek design

Cons:

Has only one Android update
Subpar display

Moto G Stylus

If you've been eyeing the Galaxy Note 10 but don't have the budget for it yet, you might want to consider the Moto G Stylus. It comes with a stylus, which you can easily use to take down notes, take screenshots, or edit photos on your phone. It comes with bigger storage and main camera sensor compared to last year's Moto G Power. The only possible downside is its 4,000 mAh battery, but despite that, it can last up to 12 hours.

Price: from $299

Key features:

Display: 6.4-inch LCD (2300x1080)
CPU: Snapdragon 665
RAM: 4GB
Storage / Expandable: 128GB / Yes
Camera: Rear: 48MP main (ƒ/1.7); 16MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); 2MP macro (ƒ/2.2); Front: 16MP (ƒ/2.0)
Weight: 6.8 ounces

Pros: