8 Best Cheap Phones (2026), Tested and Reviewed

Forget the spendyflagship smartphone.

Every year, I test a dozen or more devices to find the best cheap phones that perform where it counts and aren’t annoyingly slow.

Wireless carriers in the US go out of their way to make expensive smartphones seem affordable.

AT&T will advertise aSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultrafor just $36 a month, but don't let that fool you.

With over 36 monthly installments, you spend more than a thousand bucks on a phone.

Your pricey device may also keep you locked into the network, unable to switch wireless carriers until the phone is paid off.

Get a seriously great, affordable smartphone instead.

Our top pick, theGoogle Pixel 10a, costs $499 and is as good as almost any flagship device.

Our other recommendations strike a great balance between price and luxury.

There's even afolding phonein this guide!

Check out our manyother mobile guides, includingBest Android Phones,Best Samsung Phones,Best Phones With a Headphone Jack,Best Google Pixel,Best Moto Phones, andBest iPhones.

Updated March 2026: We've added the Google Pixel 10a and the iPhone 17e, and we’ve mentioned the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro.

For the most part, yes.

Cheap phones typically launch in the first half of the year.

Google just launched the Pixel 10a, and the iPhone 17e is here alongside Nothing's Phone (4a) Pro.

There are still some holdouts, like a new Moto G Stylus 2026 in the next few months, along with some über-cheap Samsung phones.

If you want a device from those brands, I'd wait until April or May, but our top picks are the absolute latest devices.

Consider Last Year’s Flagship Phones (or Used)
If none of these phones have the features you want or they aren’t as powerful as you’d like, your best option is to look for a previous generation flagship smartphone, which might be steeply discounted.

Sometimes they’re easy to find, but manufacturers may stop selling them.

Keep in mind that you’ll lose a year of software support, but that’s often still better than the software support available on cheap phones anyway.

The Google Pixel 9, for example,has dipped to $499.

Prices fluctuate, so purchase accordingly.

Alternatively, consider buying a used smartphone.

(Wehave some tips here.) You'll need to research, but sites likeSwappa,Gazelle, andBack Markethave a good reputation and are solid places to buy a used or refurbished device.

Look for the current top modelson AndroidandiPhonefrom the past year or two, and see what they're going for in mint or good condition.

5G is the current cellular network generation, and it's widespread enough that you should try to stick to phones that support it.

It's not replacing 4G LTE entirely, so you'll see 4G in your status bar as you roam the country.

You canread more about it here, but in short, 5G comes in two major types: sub-6 and millimeter wave (mmWave).

The latter is usually only available in flagship phones and allows you to access superfast speeds, but you’ll rarely encounter mmWave (think select areas in major cities and certain venues, like stadiums and airports).

Sub-6 isn’t much faster than 4G LTE, but it has a broader range and is more widely accessible.

Most of the smartphones we recommend here support sub-6 5G, even those as low as $180.

If you buy an unlocked phone on this list and try to take it to one of your wireless carrier’s retail stores, they may tell you it isn’t compatible with the network.

It likely is.

Just use a paper clip or SIM ejection tool to pop the SIM card out of your current phone, then slide that SIM into your new phone.

If it doesn’t work at first, reboot the phone.

(Most cheap phones support eSIM technology, too.)
If you need a new SIM, try ordering one online from your carrier or see if they’ll give you one when you activate a line in the store (if you’re starting coverage).

Tell them you have a phone.

Often, reps will want to sell you a phone; that’s one reason they might hassle you into buying a different device in the store.

Having said that, please make sure whatever phone you buy will work onyour wireless network.

Listings on retailers like Amazon should state clearly which networks a device will be compatible with.

Also, make sure the listing says the phone is being sold “unlocked.”
In this guide, we’ve listed whether a phone works with amajor US carrier.

But what if you’renot on AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon?

If we note that a phone works on T-Mobile, for example, that means it’ll likely work on smaller carriers like Metro By T-Mobile and Mint Mobile, both of which utilize T-Mobile’s cellular network.

If you’re nervous about compatibility, look up the specifications of the exact model you’re considering.

Make sure it has the LTE or 5G bands it needs to run on your carrier.

Warning for Verizon users:There’s a higher chance an unlocked phone will not work on your network.

Make sure it is labeled to work on Verizon, or that it says the phone is CDMA-capable.

If something strange is going on, like you don’t get any texts, you may also need to contact customer service and ask them to enable CDMA-less roaming.

AT&T and T-Mobile are GSM carriers, which is the standard for most of the world; most unlocked phones are compatible with them.

ThePixel 10a (8/10, WIRED Recommends)disappointinglymay not change muchfrom its predecessor, thePixel 9a, but it remains the best smartphone on the market, especially for anyone trying to curb their spending.

It's not the cheapest phone, but it has the best suite of features for the price, from an excellent dual-camera system to a sharp, 120-Hz screen, and performance that can run most apps and games perfectly fine thanks to the Tensor G4 chip.

It'll even get software updates for seven years, and Google says the battery is slightly easier to replace than the older model.

The biggest changes from the Pixel 9a are a brighter screen, faster wired and wireless charging (still noPixelsnapmagnets forQi2 charging), and a tougher glass protecting the display.

The plastic ring on the camera module is also gone, so the back of the Pixel 10a is even flatter than before—great for anyone who hates bulky camera bumps.

These updates are still fairly minor, so if you happen to catch the Pixel 9a on sale, it's still worthwhile if it means saving $100 or $150 bucks.

However, the Pixel 10a will almost definitely also go on sale during major sale events like Prime Day this summer, if you can be patient.

It's nice to have faster charging speeds, but battery life overall is OK.

It adequately lasts a full day with average use and then some, but folks who spend a lot of time on their smartphone during the day—whether it's for navigating, music streaming, or reading fanfic—will likely find themselves hunting for an outlet in the afternoon.

The dual-camera system is versatile.

The main 48-MP camera can snap pleasing photos, in low light and daytime, whereas the 13-MP ultrawide lets you capture sweeping scenes or group photos.

Even the 13-MP selfie camera is pretty reliable.

Naturally, with all the smart software features that Google is known for on its Pixel phones, there are some new AI perks here.Camera Coachlets you ask Google's AI to give you suggestions on how to take a better photo, and Auto Best Take for group photos will automatically snap multiple pictures when you tap the shutter button and choose the best of each person, like fixing someone's blinking eyes.

Speaking of, software is the top reason why I heartily recommendPixel phones.

I've detailedmany of them here, but you can use Add Me to make sureeveryone is in the group photo, including the photographer.

Audio Magic Eraser lets you strip out unwanted sounds from your videos, like sirens.

And Google's Call Screen technology nips spam calls in the bud.

I used the Hold for Me function to not have to listen to Delta's terrible hold music for four hours after my flight was canceled.

Other perks include secure face unlock and fingerprint unlock—both work with sensitive apps that require biometric authentication, so you have multiple unlocking options.

Secure face unlock is virtually nonexistent for every other Android phone at this price.

There's also NFC for contactless payments and anIP68 ratingthat protects it from the elements.

Apple's cheapest iPhone—theiPhone 17e (7/10, WIRED Recommends)—is a better value than its predecessor, theiPhone 16e.

MagSafe is the biggest addition here (one of the strangest omissions last year), so now you can take advantage of the largeaccessory ecosystem, whether you want to use amagnetic walletthat sticks to the back of your iPhone or amagnetic tripodto snap selfies on your travels.

Like the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup, the iPhone 17e also uses the same Ceramic Shield 2 glass mixture to protect the display, which is more durable and scratch-resistant and matches what's on the pricier iPhones—always a plus.

It's no iPhone Mini, but this is Apple's smallest phone in the lineup, which is nice for anyone who hates big-screen handsets, though you're stuck with the old-school notch design instead of theDynamic Islandfound on therest of the iPhones.

(There's still Face ID!)
It's powered by the latest-generation A19 chip, like theiPhone 17, though there's one less graphics core, so there's a minor hit to performance.

I still had no trouble running all my usual apps and games, evenGenshin Impactat its max graphical settings.

Battery life is also solid, comfortably lasting me a full day, though extreme users will likely need a top-up before bed.

I suspect the improved and energy-efficient C1X 5G modem is what helps extend battery life despite the small size of the phone.

Where this iPhone doesn't quite feel like its $599 price is the camera.

You can snap perfectly good photos with the 48-MP sensor, but that's it; that's the only camera on the back.

Now compare it to the Pixel 10a and its dual-camera system, or the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE and its triple-camera module (often on sale for under $500).

Apple should really have added an extra camera here for versatility, as the lone camera is too limiting.

Generally, camera performance is also a little lackluster in low light, especially if you're trying to capture a moving subject like a pet.

It may sound like it has the same 48-MP camera as the iPhone 17, but the sensor is smaller, so you're not getting the same image quality.

The selfie camera is also OK, but it can struggle with high-contrast scenes.

There's no ultrawideband chip on the iPhone 17e, so you can't precisely trackAirTags—this iPhone will only give you the general vicinity of the tag's location.

And the screen is still stuck on a60-Hz refresh ratewhen nearly every phone that costs this much has moved on to 120 Hz.

These concessions make the iPhone 17e feel a little overpriced, but it's sure as heck better value than the iPhone 16e.

If you don't find the flaws off-putting and don't care much for the camera experience, this smartphone will satisfy anyone looking for a good, reliable, and price-friendly iPhone.

Applealso sellstheiPhone 16for $100 more, but I don't think it's worth paying more for less storage and slightly lesser performance, even if it has perks like a dual-camera system.

Want a Samsung phone but don't want to pay the flagship prices?

The Galaxy S25 FE is exactly that (FE stands for Fan Edition).

It's very similar to theGalaxy S25 series, but think of it as a “lite” version.

Certain elements are just a few notches below what you'd find in a flagship, like the screen, which doesn't get as bright, and doesn't feature an adaptive refresh rate that can go from 1 to 120 Hz.

This phone's MSRP is $650, but I've already seen it dip as low as $450—that's the price that makes it worthwhile (and also worthy of consideration for this guide).

You still get a sharp 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate, a 4,900-mAh battery that generally lasts a full day with average use, and a triple-camera system with a 3X optical zoom lens.

The results from the camera are surprisingly strong, though I did find that the phone has trouble autofocusing in low light, and nighttime images can be a little blurry if there's a lot of movement.

Like the two phones above, this Android phone will get some of the longest software support compared to competitors in this bracket.

I used it for more than a week, and the Exynos 2400 chipset didn't cause me any strife.

I booted up the very demandingGenshin Impactmobile game and maxed out the graphics—there certainly were stutters during gameplay, but it was totally playable.

Almost all the Galaxy AI features are available on this phone, if that's something you care about, too.

(Read ourBest Samsung Phones guidefor more details about that.)
It maintains all the other flagship perks you'd want, from Qi wireless charging (Qi2 Readyif you have a magnetic case) and IP68 water resistance.

It may look a little plain, but it's a great all-rounder—just make sure you catch it on sale.

Midrange and budget phones usually don't experiment too much with design, so they're rarely exciting, but London-based Nothing has been trying to fix that for a few years with its attractive, stylish, and unique handsets.

The latest iteration is theNothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro, though only the latter will launch in the US on March 27 (exclusively on Amazon).

I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but it far and away looks nothing like its peers.

The Pro has a fresh camera module with a unique camera layout and the Glyph Matrix that the company debuted last year on the Phone (3).

This tiny display has some fun functionality, like seeing an outline of your head so you can snap a selfie picture with the rear cameras (and still be in the frame).

On paper, the Phone (4a) Pro is very competitive compared to the Google Pixel 10a, offering a triple-camera experience, a 144-Hz AMOLED screen, and speedy charging.

However, software support isn't anything special, water resistance is a little lackluster, and carrier support can be a little wonky.

But if you want a smartphone that will turn heads, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro will do it.

Historically, we've really enjoyed Nothing's smartphones, especially theprice-conscious A-series, so hopefully that’s true with these latest models.

Stay tuned for our review.

Editor's Note:Motorola is expected to announce the Moto G Stylus 2026 very soon—potentially in the next two months.

I still think the 2025 model is perfectly fine to buy, especially when it is on sale for $300.

But if you're in no rush, the 2026 model is around the corner.

I'd pick Nothing's Phone (4a) series over Motorola's Moto G Stylus 5G.

However, if you don't want to risk network connectivity and want a phone that will work on any carrier in the US, no questions asked, this Motorola is the best choice under $400.

It'sthe best Moto G smartphonebecause the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset delivers the smoothest performance.

Seriously, I rarely saw a choppy animation with this phone, even when playing games likeKingshot.

The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen is large and sharp and has a120-Hz screen refresh rate, and I didn't find its peak brightness lacking on sunny days.

And this slim phone has a 5,000-mAh cell—with average use, I managed to keep it going for a full day with around 35 percent leftover by bedtime.

I love the beautiful blue color on the back, and paired with the vegan leather texture, it looks smart.

This is the only smartphone with a built-in stylus—except for the $1,300 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and it's handy for doodling, signing documents, or jotting some quick notes if you prefer handwriting input.

Speaking of uncommon features, the Moto G Stylus has a headphone jack, an extremely rare find these days, not to mention a microSD card slot if you want to expand on the already-generous 256 GB of internal storage.

Motorola has also improved water resistance; there's now anIP68 rating, meaning this Moto G can survive water submersion.

Wireless charging is still present, a feature not common on sub-$400 phones.

I prefer using it versus fishing for a USB-C cable before bed.

The primary camera delivers solid results, even in low light, though the usual failings apply: You need to be very still for nighttime shots.

It's a noticeable step up from the rest of the Moto G lineup, and I think most people will be happy with the camera quality.

Lastly, we have the improved software update policy.

For the first time, all new Moto G devices will get two Android OS upgrades, alongside three years of security updates.

It's not much compared to its peers above, but this is a big step for a company with historicallypoor software support.

The key thing is thatMotorola phonesgo on sale all the time, and this model has dipped as low as $285.

It's a great budget phone at its MSRP, but it's even more sensible on sale.

Motorola'snew Moto G Powerdoesn't change much over its predecessor—it's powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 6300 with 8 GB of RAM—but chalk it up to performance optimizations because it certainly runs smoother thanthe 2025 edition.

Sadly, it loses a feature that made its predecessor stand out from the crowd of cheap phones: wireless charging—virtually unheard of on a sub-$300 phone.

Now, you can only plug in to recharge.

Yes, you'll still notice a bit of slowness here and there, but it's not a stuttery mess.

The battery capacity is slightly higher at 5,200 mAh, and I easily got two full days with average use.

If you're using the phone heavily, it'll leave you just enough juice for doomscrolling before bed.

Motorola also upgraded the selfie camera to 32 megapixels, but that's about it for hardware changes.

Overall, the camera experience is OK.

The 50-MP main camera delivers results that look overly processed, with washed-out colors.

It struggles with high-contrast scenes, and you have to be very still when tapping the shutter button to avoid a blurry image.

Some of these photos are passable, but I wouldn't rely on this camera alone for capturing important milestones.

I like the fake leather texture on the back, though I wish the phone's color this year were as vibrant as previous entries.

It's IP68/69 rated, meaning it'll handle rainy weather and even a drop in the pool just fine.

The 6.8-inch LCD screen is sharp and bright, though I wish Motorola had upgraded it to an OLED panel.

(Samsung uses AMOLED in its $200Galaxy A17 5G!)
More importantly, this phone retains theheadphone jackfor those of you who prefer to plug in when listening to music, and there's a microSD card slot to expand on the 128 GB of built-in storage.

The software update policy remains at two Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates, which isn't great.

But there's not a ton of competition at this price, at least in the US, and this Moto G Power checks off most of the boxes and isn't painful to operate.

I still think it's more prudent to wait for the Moto G Stylus 2026, as it'll likely be a better smartphone in nearly every way for not much more.

I'm recommending Samsung's Galaxy A56 5G with a big asterisk: I don't think it's worth the $500 MSRP.

I have seen the superior Galaxy S25 FE (see above) dip even lower to $450 during sale events, and that's a much better value.

You should wait for a sale to hopefully bring the price down below $400, then it's a little more worthwhile.

(Be wary ofcheaper Galaxy A56 models on Amazon, because many of them are the global variant and may not be supported by US carriers.)
I used the Galaxy A56 as my phone for two weeks, and the only feature I missed was wireless charging.

It delivers strong performance, even for lightweight mobile games, and I often didn't charge it every night, as I was able to make it last a day and a half with average use.

The triple-camera system is OK—the main camera is really what you'll use almost 99 percent of the time, and it can take decent photos in mixed lighting.

You may have to try a few times in low light, as it can struggle with autofocus.

The build quality is really nice, though I find the design a bit drab.

The screen is a natural highlight: it's sharp, colorful, and has no trouble kicking up the brightness on super sunny days.

The fingerprint sensor is responsive, and I made contactless payments just fine.

Samsung promises a fairly long software support window, meaning you can hold onto this phone for several years and it'll still stay up to date with new features and security patches.

The Galaxy A56 isn't my first choice, but it's a solid midrange Samsung phone that does the job.

Motorola’sRazr 2025 (8/10, WIRED Recommends)folding flip wins themost improved award.

There's finally no sluggish performance, and it remains one of thecheapest folding phoneson the market.

It also comes in several fun styles—even a fancyFIFA World Cup 2026 Edition.

Like most Motorola phones, it's always best to wait for a sale, and this Razr has often dipped to $600.

That's still a crazy low price to pay for afolding phone!

The exterior screen is still large enough to see widgets, notifications, and even to look at a few apps without opening the whole thing up.

Flip phones are great because they'll feel like normal handsets once opened up, but they fold down to be super compact.

There are some slight improvements to durability on this Razr, and you get a nice, bright screen with battery life that lasts a full day with average use.

The cameras can take some decent photos, but they're not a strong point of the base Razr (for better cameras, look at theRazr Ultra).

Still, the ultrawide is handy for taking group shots, and you can use the external screen as a viewfinder so everyone can make sure they're in the frame.

We highly recommend you stick with the phones above, but here are some alternatives worth considering.

Samsung Galaxy A36 (left) and Galaxy A26 (right).

Samsung Galaxy A26 for $300:If you want a Samsung phone but don't want to spend much, I think theGalaxy A26 (6/10, WIRED Review)is the best bang for your buck.

Performance is solid, battery life lasts a full day, there's an IP67 water resistance rating, and the camera is OK.

It even has expandable storage (though no headphone jack), and Samsung promises six years of software updates, which is unparalleled at this price.

It seems to no longer be available from Samsung, which means a successor is on the way.

Samsung Galaxy A36 for $400:With a higher price, you'd think the A36 would be even better than the A26, right?

Wrong.

TheGalaxy A36 (6/10, WIRED Review)hits many highs, including a brighter display, good battery life, and solid cameras, but storage is not expandable, and performance was bizarrely more choppy.

The six years of software support are nice, but if the phone is already annoying to operate, I can't imagine what it'll be like in six years.

It's an OK phone, but you can do better.

(It's a better buy at its sale price of $230.)
TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G for $200:TCL's60 XE (7/10, WIRED Recommends)has an anti-reflective matte screen called Nxtpaper to limit the blue light entering your eyes for better sleep and reduced eye fatigue.

There's no evidence to suggest that blue-light blockers work, but if you ignore those claims, this is still a great budget phone with a pleasing matte screen.

There is a switch on the side that lets you flip between different display modes that turn the screen closer to a monochrome or color E Ink experience, great for fans ofe-readers.

Performance is good, the camera is decent, and there are extras like a headphone jack and microSD card slot.

The only problem is that the screen is hard to read in direct sunlight.

Moto G 2026 for $200:The Moto G 2026 comes in this gorgeous pink!

It's a pretty-looking phone, and a decent $200 handset.

Performance is sluggish, which is why I think you're better off buying the Moto G Power 2026 when it goes on sale.

The cameras are barely passable, but you can make contactless payments, access 5G connectivity, and perform day-to-day tasks with a bit of patience.

Moto G Play 2026 for $180:Motorola's new Moto G Play 2026 adds 5G connectivity for the first time.

However, performance is still quite sluggish, with apps and webpages taking several seconds to load.

If you want to pay very little money, this will do the job, but I think you should buy the Moto G Power 2026 instead, especially when it inevitably goes on sale.

While the Power's performance isn't amazing, it's much better than the Play's and has stronger cameras and more features.

Minimal Phone for $450:Want to reduce your reliance on a smartphone?

TheMinimal Phone (6/10, WIRED Review)has an e-paper touchscreen and a physical keyboard, but it runs Android.

That means you can still access every app you'd want via the Google Play Store, but the experience is going to be inferior, due to the phone's low refresh rate (good luck watching videos on this thing) and the tiny monochrome screen.

Still, this is a decent alternative (or maybe even a second phone) if you just want to get away from doomscrolling.

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G for $200:The newGalaxy A17doesn't change much from its predecessor—it's still frustrating to use, perhaps even more so this year.

The paltry 4 GB of RAM constantly slowed downeverything.If I were in an emergency, I would not trust the A17 to help reliably.

The good news is that the camera is decent, there's a long software update window, and the AMOLED screen is nice—not to mention the expandable storage.

But you need a lot of patience with this phone, so it's only for someone whose needs are very minimal.

Nuu N20 for $130:Right after I tested the Galaxy A16 last year, I moved on to the cheaper Nuu N20.

Color me surprised.

Yes, it can still be sluggish, but performance on this nearly $100 phone is far better and manageable.

I used it for a week with no major problems.

Well, except one: GPS on this device isn't great.

The few times I used it for navigation, it struggled to find my location and was slow to update the map.

Another big problem?

The N20 runs Android 14, so it's already out of date, and the company tells me there is no “exact schedule for software updates.”
Sonim XP Pro 5G for $550:This rugged phone is sold through Verizon only, but I tested it on Google Fi and didn't have any connectivity issues.

(Fi is powered by T-Mobile's network.) I have dropped this Android phone multiple times on the sidewalk (on purpose), and the screen has not cracked.

It's quite durable, and that's largely the reason to buy it.

On its own, it's not wholly impressive—you can buy more powerful, feature-rich phones for the money.

The camera is especially bad, consistently delivering blurry shots unless you stay as still as a statue.

But performance is decent, it comes with 256 GB of storage with a microSD card slot, and there's a customizable button you can set to trigger a shortcut or open an app.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite for £249:Nothing'sPhone (3a) Lite (6/10, WIRED Review)is a confusing smartphone in its lineup.

TheCMF Phone 2 Proexists and is similar in price (CMF is Nothing's sub-brand), and in general, there are better phones you can buy for the money.

The cameras are lackluster, and there's a lot of bloatware, which feels like the opposite of Nothing's philosophy.

Performance is decent, as is its battery life, but this phone also didn't launch in the US.

If you're eyeing acheapphone, try to stick to name brands.

There are several smartphones you'll find for dirt cheap on Amazon, but you're about to load up whatever you buy with your personal information and photos—it's important to make sure it's a reputable brand with good security practices (or at least some kind of record that it does issue security patches).

Outside of that, I generally recommend avoiding the previous generation (unless otherwise mentioned above).

It may not get updates for much longer (if any), and prices aren't usually that different.

That's why I don’t recommend Motorola’s Moto G series phones from 2024 or older—you may want to skip some of the 2025 models too, like the Moto G 2025, since its successor is already here.

I also don't recommend you buy any HMD devices anymore.

Sadly, the company has ceased its operations in the US market.