New cell phones can be insanely expensive. As of December 2022, the iPhone 14 Pro begins at $999 while a new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 costs $1,799.99 without a trade-in. Fortunately, there are more affordable options.
This article will compare the pricing and specs of reasonably-priced Android phones to help you find the best deal.
The Top 7 Cheap Android Phones Available Now
If you’re shopping for a new smartphone but want to don’t want to pay a lot, know that you have options. I recently checked out several popular Android phones to see which ones offer the best features and performance for the best possible price.
In the table below, you’ll see my top seven picks for the best budget Android phones available now with options under $500, under $300 and under $200. The phones below are listed in order from least to most expensive. While each phone is listed next to its retail price, know that you can find discounts and deals at other sellers. Click on each phone below for additional information including specs, pros and cons and links to the best deals I could find on each device in December 2022.
| Phone | Retail Price | Best For... | Screen Size | Storage | Rear Camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | $159.99 | Best Android Phone Under $200 | 6.5" | 32 GB | 13 MP |
| OnePlus Nord N200 5G | $239.99 | Cheapest Clark-Recommended Android Phone | 6.49" | 64 GB | 13 MP |
| Samsung Galaxy A13 5G | $249.99 | Best Camera on a Samsung Phone Under $300 | 6.5" | 64 GB | 50 MP |
| Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | $279.99 | Best Samsung Phone Under $300 | 6.5" | 64 GB | 48 MP |
| OnePlus Nord N20 5G | $282 | Most Storage Under $300 | 6.43" | 64 GB | 64 MP |
| Google Pixel 6a | $449 | Best Cheap Google Phone | 6.1" | 128 GB | 12.2 MP |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | $449.99 | Best Android Phone Under $500 | 6.5" | 128 GB | 64 MP |
Below, you’ll find more information on each of our top picks for the best, most affordable android phones available now.
Samsung Galaxy A03s
Best Cheap Android Phone Under $200
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Retail Price: $159.99
Screen Size: 6.5″
Battery: 5000 mAh
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 13 MP rear camera; 5 MP front camera
RAM: 3 GB
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The Samsung Galaxy A03s is a great choice for a budget Android phone. Without a trade-in, you can get it for $159.99 unlocked directly from Samsung. With an eligible trade-in, the price drops to as low as $104.99. I checked for other deals across the web in December 2022 and found the same phone available at Walmart (on Cricket Wireless’s network) for $69.88 or $49.88 at Walmart on Straight Talk Wireless’s network. Tracfone Wireless also offered the Samsung Galaxy A03s for only $49.99.
The phone itself offers an excellent HD display on a 6.5” screen, which means you won’t have to sacrifice any size or clarity with this phone. It also features a triple-camera system, a long-lasting battery and 32 GB of storage. Check out all of the specs on Samsung’s website here.
Pros:
- Large HD display with strong battery power and triple rear camera system
- Positive ratings across the web; Google’s aggregated data of customer reviews reveal an average rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars based on 1,300 reviews in December 2022. Recent customers are raving about the quality and display here.
- Great value: It’s under $200 directly from Samsung! Plus, you can find even better deals from various carriers that drop the price to below $100.
Cons:
- The lowest amount of RAM on the list, which means you may experience a little bit of lag as you add various data-storing apps to the phone.
- 13 MP camera isn’t as powerful as other cheap and flagship Android phones.
- Low amount of storage compared to other phones on this list (32 GB)
OnePlus Nord N200 5G
Cheapest Clark-Recommended Android Phone
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Retail Price: $239.99
Screen Size: 6.49″
Battery: 5000 mAh
Storage: 64 GB
Camera: 13 MP rear camera; 16 MP front camera
RAM: 4 GB
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When I asked Clark Howard about his top picks for cheap Android phones, he quickly recommended this phone as a great budget option.
If somebody’s looking for a really affordable phone that involves some compromises but gets you the big screen and the fast refresh rate, the Nord N200 5G could be it. $239 is retail, but there are deals on it regularly that drop that price.
In December 2022, I was able to find a few deals for the OnePlus Nord 200 across the web. At Best Buy, the device was available unlocked for the full retail price, but you could get it for $149.99 with same-day activation.
Additionally, the same phone was available at Walmart for $135, but it was locked into Metro by T-Mobile’s network. I also found the phone fully refurbished and unlocked on eBay for $99.99.
Pros:
- Great front camera (16 MP) plus more RAM and storage than the Samsung Galaxy A03s. You can check out the full specs here.
- Decent ratings across the web; 3.7 out of 5 stars from 418 ratings on Google Reviews and 4.1 out of 5 stars from 279 customer reviews at Best Buy in December 2022.
- High-quality device for a bargain price, plus it’s Clark-recommended!
Cons:
- Rear camera isn’t the best quality compared to other budget phones and flagship models.
- Even with a little more RAM than the Samsung Galaxy A03s, the phone may still lag, especially as you begin downloading various apps
Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
Best Camera on an Android Phone Under $300
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Retail Price: $249.99
Screen Size: 6.5″
Battery: 5000 mAh
Storage: 64 GB
Camera: 50 MP triple rear camera setup
RAM: 4 GB
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The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G is the second Samsung phone I’ve included in this list, and it won’t be the last. According to the most recent data by the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Samsung and Apple tied for first place in 2022.
The Galaxy A13 5G has an excellent triple rear camera setup with a 50 MP main camera. This phone also supports expandable storage, which means you can increase the 64 GB of internal storage by an additional 1 TB with a microSD card. You can check out the full features and specs on Samsung’s website.
There, you’ll find the Galaxy A13 5G available for $249.99 retail without a trade-in. I searched the web to see what other deals were available, and here’s what I found:
- T-Mobile: $258, or get it free with a new T-Mobile line (24-month contract required); 32GB for $198
- Best Buy: $224.99; 32GB for $164.99
- Boost Mobile: $69.99 (The device will be locked to Boost Mobile’s network when you purchase it, but you may be eligible to request that Boost Mobile unlock it for free. You can find more information about this process on Boost Mobile’s website.)
- Cricket Wireless: $49.99 (when you switch to Cricket Wireless and bring your old number)
As you can see, some deals offer cheaper prices but come with more restrictions. When you’re shopping for a cheap phone of any kind online, be mindful of discount details.
Pros:
- High-quality rear camera for an Android phone under $300
- Excellent battery life and display as well as other flagship model staples that you won’t have to sacrifice for the price of this phone
- You can find deals on this phone from various resellers that make it cheaper, but be wary of the fine print; know if you are buying a locked phone.
Cons:
- The phone will likely lag or run slower than you’d expect a flagship phone to run, especially if you use a lot of apps.
- Customers complain about the quality of the device itself, as it offers many of the same features as Samsung’s flagship models, but is designed to be more cost-effective. You can read reviews at Samsung, Best Buy and Cricket Wireless.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
Best Samsung Phone Under $300
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Retail Price: $279.99
Screen Size: 6.5″
Battery: 5000 mAh
Storage: 64 GB
Camera: Four rear lenses with a 48 MP main camera
RAM: 4GB
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If you’re looking for an Android phone under $300 that offers most of the perks of a flagship device, the A32 5G is a good option to consider. Like the other devices on this list, it offers 5G capability and long-lasting battery life. It also offers 64 GB of storage and four rear lenses with a 48 MP main camera. To check out the full specs of this phone, visit Samsung’s website.
Directly from Samsung, you can purchase an unlocked Galaxy A32 5G for $279.99 without a trade-in. With an eligible trade-in, you could pay as low as $224.99. I found the same phone at Target for $149.99, but it’s locked to Simple Mobile. I also found the device renewed at Amazon for $129.99 locked to T-Mobile’s network.
Customer reviews across the web in December 2022 vary from an average rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars on Samsung’s website (96 reviews) to 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 5,254 reviews aggregated by Google. Best Buy customers (114) rate the device 4.1 out of 5 stars, which indicates overall high customer satisfaction.
Pros:
- The phone offers a great battery life, camera, screen size and display that customers repeatedly mention in reviews across the web.
- The device offers 5G capability and has the capacity for additional external storage on top of its built-in 64 GB.
Cons:
- Reviewers online have noted dropped Wi-Fi signal with this phone.
- The phone may lag, crash or struggle to load if you put a large number of apps, files or other stored data on it.
- Although this phone is under $300, it is on the pricier end of our list.
OnePlus Nord N20 5G
Most Storage Under $300
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Retail Price: $282
Screen Size: 6.43″
Battery: 4500 mAh
Storage: 128 GB
Camera: 64 MP triple camera system; 16 MP front-facing camera
RAM: 6 GB
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If you’re looking for more than 64 GB of storage on a cheap Android phone, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G is a great option. It comes with 128 GB of internal storage as well as an impressive 64 MP triple camera system, a large 6.43” screen and a long-lasting battery. You can check out the full specs of this phone at T-Mobile.
While the Nord N20 5G is no longer available to purchase directly from One Plus, you can buy it at T-Mobile for $282. As of December 2022, you could actually get this phone completely free through T-Mobile when you activate a new line. The bill credits will be applied over the course of 24 months, according to T-Mobile’s website.
If you do purchase this phone by paying in full on T-Mobile’s website, it will be locked to T-Mobile’s network when it arrives. However, you’ll likely be eligible to have it unlocked for free. You can find T-Mobile’s SIM unlock policy here.
Pros:
- 128 GB of internal storage, which is 2-4x the amount of storage in most budget phones
- You can actually get this phone completely free when you sign up for a new phone number with T-Mobile (bill credits applied over 24 months).
- Recent customers who have reviewed the phone on T-Mobile’s website have only great things to say about the phone’s quality for its price.
- Faster refresh rates than the cheaper phones on this list with 6 GB RAM
Cons:
- I was able to find the Nord N20 for sale only at T-Mobile, which means it’ll be locked to that network.
- The screen size is slightly smaller than some of the more affordable phones on this list.
Google Pixel 6a
Best Cheap Android Phone from Google
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Retail Price: $449
Screen Size: 6.34″
Battery: 4410 mAh
Storage: 128 GB
Camera: 12.2 MP rear camera; 8 MP front camera
RAM: 6 GB
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If you’re looking for a phone that has nearly all the same features as a just-released version, you may be looking at a slightly higher price compared to other phones on this list, but you can still save big by buying the right phone. If this sounds like you, Clark recommends the Google a-series.
In 2022, Google launched the Pixel 6 series. Just as Clark predicted, the series included the more affordable 6a device. It’s currently available for $449 directly from Google.
Pros:
- Google came in third place on the most recent ACSI study, only three points behind Apple and Samsung, for customer satisfaction (2022).
- Excellent storage, display quality and long-lasting battery life
- Despite not having the best camera hardware, customers online rave about excellent camera quality including images and HD video quality.
Cons:
- At $449, this is on the higher end of the budget cell phone options.
- This phone features the smallest screen and lowest MP camera on this list despite being one of the most expensive.
- A few customers have complained about issues including screen blackouts, glitches and overheating with extended use of 4K video recording.
Samsung Galaxy A53
Best Cheap Android Phone Under $500
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Retail Price: $449.99
Screen Size: 6.5″
Battery: 5000 mAh
Storage: 128 GB
Camera: 64 MP rear camera
RAM: 6 GB
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One of the best cheap smartphones you can buy while staying under a $500 budget is currently the Samsung Galaxy A53. Samsung ties for first place with Apple in regards to customer satisfaction according to the most recent 2022 data from ACSI. Additionally, from an aggregated 76,964 reviews online, the Galaxy A53 earns an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The phone itself offers excellent features that rival that of a brand-new flagship device including an excellent display, screen size, camera, battery life and more. You can check out the full details of the phone’s specs on Samsung’s website.
There, you can purchase an unlocked phone for $449.99 outright. With an eligible trade-in, that price drops to as low as $344.99. Here are the other available prices I found on this phone in December 2022:
Pros:
- Excellent battery life that adapts to your use as well as Fast Charging capabilities
- 128 GB of storage, plus you can add a microSD card for an additional 1TB of storage
- High-quality display, multi-lens camera system and design
- Outstanding reviews across the board from thousands of customers online
Cons:
- At $449.99 retail, this phone is also the most expensive option on this list.
- Users complain about the amount of storage that Samsung’s built-in apps and operating system take up.
Methodology
When I started searching for the best budget Android phones available now, I mainly considered eight different things: price, screen size, battery life, storage capacity, camera quality, RAM, 5G capabilities and customer satisfaction.
Here’s a closer look at each factor I determined while curating this list:
- Price: First, I wanted to include Android phones that were cheap or budget-friendly. I didn’t include any phones over $500 on the list, and I made sure to include at least one smartphone under $300 and $200 as well.
- Screen size: I looked for Android phones that had a screen size of around 6.5 inches. The exceptions that still ended up making the cut were the Google Pixel 6a (6.1”) and the OnePlus Nord 20 5G (6.43”).
- Battery life: Each of the phones included on this list has a battery capacity of around 5000 mAh (Exceptions: Google Pixel: 4410 typical; Nord 20 5G: 4500). Batteries of this capacity should last all day, if not longer, in most circumstances.
- Storage: Regarding the internal storage capacity of the phones on this list, each phone $200 and under offers at least 32GB of storage; phones under $300 offer at least 64GB, and phones under $500 offer at least 128GB.
- Camera: Because our phones have nearly completely taken the place of household cameras, I considered the quality of both the front and rear cameras. Most cameras on our list have 50-64MP, but this is one area that cheaper phones may lack in. Samsung Galaxy A03s, OnePlus Nord N200 5G and Google Pixel 6a have 12-13 MP rear cameras, though customers online seem to believe the Google Pixel 5a has a great camera despite its lacking hardware.
- RAM: Phones under $200 include at least 3 GB of RAM, phones under $300 include at least 4 GB of RAM and phones under $500 include at least 6 GB of RAM.
- 5G: All phones on this list offer 5G capabilities
- Customer Satisfaction: I spent around half an hour reading online reviews from real customers for each phone included on this list in order to get a better idea of customer satisfaction. I’ve also reviewed customer satisfaction through online ratings and recent ACSI studies on cell phone satisfaction.
Final Thoughts
Buying a less expensive smartphone can easily help you save more than $1,000. If you’re shopping for a cheap Android phone, Clark recommends grabbing a Samsung FE edition or Google a-series phone, considering a foreign seller like OnePlus or shopping for a phone that’s one generation behind the latest model.
In addition to Samsung, Google and OnePlus, Clark recommends checking out the current selection at Motorola, which is another company people tend to go to when they’re looking for a more affordable phone. As of December 2022, the company offered devices ranging from $109.99 to $599.99. You can check out the full selection at Motorola’s website yourself, and you may be able to find a great deal!
When it is time to purchase a new phone, take the time to comparison shop and read the fine print. Many smartphones are available for a huge discount (or even for free), but you may end up locked into a certain carrier or a multi-year commitment.
That being said, you’ll likely find great deals throughout the year on cheap Android smartphones, which means you may be able to grab an unlocked phone for an upfront price significantly lower than the retail prices listed above.
Did we miss a deal? Tell us about your favorite budget Android phone in the Clark.com Community, or check out the latest conversations around cell phones.
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