There are a lot of great phones out there, but the reality is many of them cost well over $500. So what if you want a good phone but don’t want to spend a lot of money? There are plenty of cheap phones out there that aren’t so great, but the good news is that a cheap price point doesn’t have to mean low quality.
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In 2018, there are a lot of options for budget phones out there that are anything but cheap when it comes to quality. In this guide, we look at what we feel are the best cheap phones you’ll find, ranging from as low as $90 to just a tad over $500.
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Moto G6 and G6 Play
While Moto’s flagships have been more than a little uninspired as of late, the same can’t be said for the Moto G6 and G6 Play. Here we have two phones that offer an exceptional flagship quality build, paired with mid-range specs to keep the price down. This makes the G6 family easily two of the best cheap phones on the market today.
The Moto G6 is powered by a Snapdragon 450 with 3GB RAM, 32GB storage with microSD support, and offers a 3,000mAh battery. The dual-camera setup pairs a 12 and 5MP lenses, while the front offers an 8MP shooter. You also get a 5.7-inch 18:9 display with a 1080p resolution.
The Moto G6 Play shares the same gorgeous design but offers more modest specs including a Snapdragon 427 with 2GB RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, a 4,000mAh battery, a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie snapper, and a 5.7-inch 720p display. Probably the best thing about the Moto G6 and G6 Play is that they support every U.S. carrier out of the box. It’s also worth noting that the Oreo-based software is very close to stock, so no major bloat to deal with.
The Moto G6 starts at just $220 for Prime users, while the Moto G6 Play can be found for just $190 with Prime.
Specs
Moto G6
- 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 2,160 x 1,080 resolution, 407ppi
- Snapdragon 450 chipset
- 3/4GB of RAM
- 32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 12 and 5MP rear cameras, 8MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,000mAh battery
- Android 8.0 Oreo
- 153.8 x 72.3 x 8.3mm, 167g
Moto G6 Play
- 5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 1,440 x 720 resolution, 282ppi
- Snapdragon 427 chipset
- 2/3GB of RAM
- 16/32GB of on-board storage, expandable up to 128GB
- 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
- Non-removable 4,000mAh battery
- Android 8.0 Oreo
- 155.4 x 72.2 x 9.1mm, 180g
Read more
- Moto G6 and G6 Play review
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Honor 7x
The Honor 7x is the latest low-cost budget flagship from Huawei’s Honor brand, yet it still has high-end features that make it one of the most attractive cheap phones for any buyer.
One of its standout features is its 5.93-inch display with very little in terms of bezels, along with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a 1080p resolution. Inside, it has Huawei’s in-house Kirin 659 octa-core processor running four cores at 2.36GHz and four at 1.7GHz and with a Mali T830 GPU.
In terms of software, you are getting Android 7.0 Nougat with Huawei’s EMUI 5.1 interface on top. Depending on the market, you will get either 3GB or 4GB of RAM inside, along with either 32GB or 64GB of storage, with a microSD card to expand it up to 256GB. The rear camera setup has a 16MP primary sensor, along with a secondary 2MP sensor that can handle features like portrait mode. It also has an 8MP front-facing camera. Finally, it has a 3,340mAh battery, which should last up to a day with regular phone use.
In the U.S., you can buy the Honor 7x right now for just $199.99.
Specs
- 5.91-inch IPS LCD display with 2,160 x 1,080 resolution, 407ppi
- Kirin 659 chipset
- 3/4GB of RAM
- 32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
- Dual 12 and 2MP rear cameras, 8MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,340mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat
- 156.5 x 75.3 x 7.6mm, 165g
Read More
Xiaomi Mi A2
What makes the Xiaomi Mi A2 one of the best cheap phones out there is its great price-performance ratio. The phone, which starts at just 250 euros (~$295) is powered by the Snapdragon 660 chipset, comes with 4 or 6GB of RAM, and sports a 6-inch Full HD+ display. It also has a premium metal body and is equipped with a dual-camera setup on the back.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 is part of the Android One family.
Additionally, the successor to the Mi A1 is part of Google’s Android One program. This means it runs a stock version of Android and is also guaranteed to get at least two years of OS updates. If you like Xiaomi phones but hate the MIUI Android skin, the Mi A2 just might be up your alley.
Other specs and features include a 3,000mAh battery, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and a 20MP selfie snapper. It’s available in India as well as a number of European markets, but it was not released in the U.S.
Specs
- 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with 2,160 x 1,080 resolution, 403ppi
- Snapdragon 660 chipset
- 4/6GB of RAM
- 32/64/128GB of on-board storage, non-expandable
- Dual 12 and 20MP rear cameras, 20MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,000mAh battery
- Android 8.1 Oreo
- 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm, 166g
Read more
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Nokia 2
This is the cheapest phone on this list — it will only set you back $90. What sets it apart from other handsets in this price range is its massive 4,100mAh battery, which should last around two days. It also runs stock Android, like the rest of Nokia’s phones. These three things are what make the Nokia 2 one of the best cheap phones out there.
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The Nokia 2 doesn’t impress in the specs department, but it is a good option for those looking for a basic phone to check emails, social media, and so on. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 212 chipset, has 1GB of RAM, and 5-inch HD display. It also features a basic 8MP camera, has 8GB of expandable storage, and comes with IP52 drip protection.
The device has an aluminum frame for a sturdy feel in the hand and a polycarbonate back. It ships with Nougat on board but can be upgraded to Android 8.1 Oreo. If you’re not a heavy user and just want something cheap, the Nokia 2 is definitely a phone you should consider.
Specs
- 5.0-inch IPS LCD display with 1,280 x 720 resolution, 294ppi
- Snapdragon 212 chipset
- 1GB of RAM
- 8GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
- Non-removable 4,100 mAh battery
- Android 7.1.1 Nougat
- 143.5 x 71.3 x 9.3mm, 161g
Read more
OnePlus 6
At $529, the OnePlus 6 is the most expensive device on our list of the best cheap phones. However, it’s still considered affordable because it offers similar specs as the best phones on the market but comes in way cheaper.
OnePlus introduced an all-new, all-glass design with the OnePlus 6. The back is sleek — almost resembling the Galaxy S9 — and the front houses a 6.28-inch AMOLED display. Yes, there’s a notch, but you can turn it off in the settings menu.
This phone also has the latest and greatest specs available: the Snapdragon 845 SoC, 6 or 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. The cameras have been improved this time around too. It comes with dual 16 and 20MP sensors around back with f/1.7 apertures, along with 19-percent larger pixel size than the OnePlus 5T. There are also slow-motion video modes that allow for 720p footage at 480fps and 1080p at 240fps. You can also shoot 4K video at 60fps. The phone launched with Android 8.1 Oreo on board and has already received the Pie update.
Specs
- 6.28-inch Optic AMOLED display with 2,280 x 1,080 resolution, 402ppi
- Snapdragon 845 chipset
- 6/8GB of RAM
- 64/128/256GB of on-board storage, non-expandable
- 16MP and 20MP rear cameras, 20MP front camera
- Non-removable 3,300mAh battery
- Android 8.1 Oreo
- 155.7 x 75.4 x 7.8mm, 177g
Read more
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Pocophone F1
If you regularly follow Android-related news, you’ve definitely heard of the Pocophone F1. Made by Xiaomi, the phone offers great value for money. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset and sports 6 or 8GB of RAM, just like the Galaxy Note 9. It also features a rear dual-camera setup, a 4,000mAh battery, and a 6.18-inch Full HD display.
However, I still wouldn’t quite call the Pocophone F1 a flagship. The reason is that it’s missing wireless charging, isn’t IP rated for protection against water and dust, and doesn’t have a premium glass or metal design — it sports a polycarbonate (plastic) back. The phone also can’t compare with the likes of the Huawei P20 Pro and Pixel 2 XL in terms of camera performance.
But it does offer a fantastic price-performance ratio, as the device starts at just 330 euros (~$390). It’s already available in a number of markets, with the U.S. not being one of them.
Specs
- 6.18-inch IPS LCD display with 2,246 x 1,080 resolution, 403ppi
- Snapdragon 845 chipset
- 6/8GB of RAM
- 64/128/256GB of on-board storage, expandable up to 256GB
- Dual 12 and 5MP rear cameras, 20MP front camera
- Non-removable 4,000mAh battery
- Android 8.1 Oreo
- 155.5 x 75.3 x 8.8mm, 180g
Read more
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That’s it for our look at some of the best cheap phones you can buy. Did we miss any budget phones you’d recommend? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Also feel free share your experience with us regarding some of the cheap phones you’ve owned — good and bad. We always love hearing from you guys.
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