It’s 2020, and flagship smartphones are all nearly a thousand dollars or more, so why not spend a little less?.As high-end phones get more expensive, cheap phones are getting better.
SEE ALSO: Galaxy Note 10 and 10 Plus, next level mobile computing
Deciding on the absolute best budget smartphone can be a little though as the choices won’t just always just come down to comparing sticker prices. Of course, price can be relative while shopping for the best cheap phone: one person’s ‘cheap’ isn’t necessarily someone else’s ‘affordable.’
After much research and comparison, here is a compiled list of our top 5 budget smartphones of 2020.
Apple iPhone SE 2020 ($399)
The Apple iPhone SE (2020) is the overall best budget phone in the world. This is perfect for people who want an affordable phone from Apple without all the bells and whistles on its higher-end models. If you’re OK without features like Face ID for authentication or a large screen, the SE works great.
The new iPhone SE 2020 is larger than its predecessor and retains pretty much everything from the iPhone 8 except for the powerful A13 Bionic chipset which is the same processor you’ll find in the iPhone 11 Pro. And, as usual, Apple will keep this phone updated for four to five years.
The iPhone SE (2020) cuts a few corners when compared to the flagship iPhone devices, with a slightly weaker camera system, screen, and battery, but considering just how remarkably cheap the phone is, and that all its components deliver strong performance, it is really hard to overlook it.
Specifications:
Weight: 148g | Dimensions: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 4.7-inch | Resolution: 750 x 1334 | CPU: A13 Bionic | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 64/128/256GB | Battery: 1,821mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 7MP.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite ($446)
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite has a huge, gorgeously vibrant screen, it comes with an S Pen stylus, and it has all the Samsung style on the software side as well. This phone was revealed at the CES 2020. There’s no 5G here or wireless charging, and the storage space is lowered to 128GB (you can expand that with a memory card though if you need more).
This is one of Samsungs best smartphones in the business and you can be sure it would turn heads at the next family gathering with its vibrant screen.
Specifications:
Google Pixel 4A 5G ($499)
The Google Pixel 4A 5G is a good phone for reasons that have almost nothing to do with the “5G” in the name. It starts at $499.This phone offers a big enough screen, great cameras, and a decently fast processor. It even has a headphone jack.
The Pixel 4A 5G is an inexpensive way to get in on features usually reserved for flagship smartphones. But as with any phone, there are trade-offs.
Specifications:
OnePlus 7T ($459)
The OnePlus 7T was a return to a cheaper phone after the OnePlus 7 Pro, yet it might still be too pricey for some. The price is now even lower due to the release of the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and OnePlus 8T.
While the 7T is a noticeably lower version of the 7 Pro with key features such as the pop-up camera found in the 7 Pro missing, it still got the same three top-tier rear cameras. The OnePlus 7T deserves a spot on this list simply because it features flagship-level specs (which are even better than some flagship phones with its 8GB of RAM) and a big six inches screen.
Specifications:
Weight: 190g | Dimensions: 160.9 x 74.4 x 8.1 mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.55-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | Chipset: Snapdragon 855 Plus | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 3,800mAh | Rear camera: 48MP + 12MP +16MP lenses | Front camera: 16MP | Supported Networks: GSM + CDMA networks.
MOTO G Power ($250)
The Moto G Power sacrifices very little to hit its $250 price point. With a speedy processor, excellent cameras, and great battery life, this is the best cheap phone for most people.
The first are the quad cameras on the back – a 16MP main shooter, 8MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom, 8MP ultrawide lens with 118-degree field-of-view, and finally, a 2MP macro lens. Plus, 4K 30fps video. It’s an impressive suite topped by a 16MP front-facing camera in a punch-hole, adding to the flagship looks. It offers good performance and sharp looks for a budget phone.
Specification:
Weight: 197g | Dimensions: 156 x 75.8 x 9.6 mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.4-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2300 | CPU: Snapdragon 665 | RAM: 4 GB | Storage: 64 GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP f/1.7 | : 8MP f/2.2 (telephoto) | : 8MP f/2.2 (ultrawide) | : 2MP f/2.2 (macro) | Front camera: 16MP f/2.2