Our Experts
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Reviews ethics statement
Mike Sorrentino Senior Editor
Mike Sorrentino is a Senior Editor for Mobile, covering phones, texting apps and smartwatches — obsessing about how we can make the most of them. Mike also keeps an eye out on the movie and toy industry, and outside of work enjoys biking and pizza making.
Expertise Phones |Texting apps | iOS | Android | Smartwatches | Fitness trackers | Mobile accessories | Gaming phones | Budget phones | Toys | Star Wars | Marvel | Power Rangers | DC | Mobile accessibility | iMessage | WhatsApp | Signal | RCS
Andrew Lanxon Editor At Large, Lead Photographer, Europe
Andrew is CNET’s go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
Expertise Smartphones | Photography | iOS | Android | Gaming | Outdoor pursuits Credentials
- Shortlisted for British Photography Awards 2022, Commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
$425 at Amazon
Best Android phone for $500
Google Pixel 7A
View details
$429 at Apple
Best for a smaller phone
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
View details
Affordable phones previously offered dismal performance, resulting in a frustrating experience. Budget handsets are getting better each year, and you don’t need to spend a ton of money to get a phone that’s packed with great features. The best phones under $500 offer a good camera system, decent performance and a big display. Most of these phones include some features that you find on flagship devices that cost over $1,000. They even get several years of software and security updates to keep the phone going for longer.
These phones do make cuts that justify why they’re cheaper than phones that cost more than $500, but those cuts are increasingly in areas that might not raise any particular flag when you just want a reliable device for everyday use. Apple’s iPhone SE and Google’s Pixel 6A and 7A phones, for instance, have smaller screens, but all run on newer processors and software. Samsung’s Galaxy A series of phones often look just like the Galaxy S line but instead run on a less powerful processor. The Moto G Stylus 5G takes nice photos, provides a roomy 256GB of space and throws in a stylus, but Motorola doesn’t provide software support for as long as its competitors. You can see the pros and cons of each of these phones below, with more details available in our full reviews.
What is the best phone under $500?
Google’s $499 Pixel 7A compares so closely to the $599 Pixel 7 and $699 Pixel 8 that it’s now tough to recommend the more expensive option. The Pixel 7A includes the same Tensor G2 processor found in the 7 Pro that powers Google’s Pixel-exclusive features. It gets wireless charging, a 90Hz refresh rate and a 64-megapixel main camera paired up with a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera. The Pixel 7A does miss out on the Pixel 7’s battery-share feature and the camera’s Action Pan mode and doesn’t have all the AI features that define the more recent Pixel 8.
If you want to save even more money, last year’s Pixel 6A has received a permanent price drop to $349 and still has a lot to offer. It runs on the Tensor chip, includes many of the same Pixel features like Real Tone for photography and Hold for Me for phone calls, and takes crisp and colorful photos for a phone of its price. This is especially true when it gets discounted to $299, which it often is, making it the best phone for under $300 as long as it’s on sale.
Best phones under $500
Photo Gallery 1/1
Although Apple’s iPhone SE is the only iPhone under $500 that the company currently sells new, there are options for getting a cheaper iPhone with a more modern design. Apple often sells its iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini in its Certified Refurbished store, where both models go for roughly $500 depending on the storage option (as of this writing, the iPhone 12 Mini with 256GB of space sells for $509). Apple even includes a one-year warranty on these refurbished models, which is identical to what the company provides for brand-new devices. You can also find refurbished iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models that are under $500 on websites like Amazon or Gazelle, but warranty policies vary depending on the seller and condition.
Moving over to Android, The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G includes a lot of features for the money, but its 50-watt charging speed is the standout feature. The phone can charge from 0% to 100% in 45 minutes. Its large 6.72-inch 1,080p display runs at a 120Hz refresh rate, making apps, games, websites and streaming video animate smoothly. It’s worth calling out that the 108-megapixel main camera — despite having an astounding megapixel count — takes photos that are only marginally better than those of other $300 phones.
The $300 Motorola Moto G Power 5G is one of the cheapest phones available with 256GB of storage. It’s perfect for someone who downloads a lot of movies and music to enjoy when there isn’t a consistent internet connection. The phone’s 6.5-inch 1,080p display runs at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate too, making movies, applications, websites and games look especially nice. Whereas Motorola makes the Power 5G a media machine for its price, it does cut back in terms of its cameras. Like many $300 phones, it’s good for outdoor photography but is quite bad at getting details in low-light environments.
Show more
We test every phone in real-world scenarios, focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new software updates, or to compare it against new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 largely has the same camera hardware as the Z Flip 4. But the new chip brings some image processing improvements.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNETPhotography
Photography is a major focus for most phones these days, so we take pictures and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting scenarios. We try out any new camera modes, such as ProRes Log mode that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max line, or the Magic Editor photo tool that launched with the Google Pixel 8 series.
Battery life
Battery testing is conducted in a variety of ways. We assess how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use and note how it performs during more focused sessions of video calls, media streaming and gaming. We also conduct a video playback test, as a simple, replicable measure of pure battery life, which isn’t always included in the initial review but sometimes added later in an update.
Performance measuring
We use benchmarking apps to measure each phone’s performance, alongside our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. Of note are how graphics and animations look. Are they smooth? Or do they lag or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations, and how fast the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.
We perform processor-heavy tasks like editing photos, exporting videos and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of a particular phone includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models.
Read more: How we test phones
Show more
End-of-year sales: Affordable phones usually get cheaper with holiday discounts and deals. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day can help you save quite a bit.
Buy a case and screen protector: Protect your phone and peace of mind with a case.
Go to a store: The best way to know if a phone is for you is to actually hold it and use it.
Prioritize what you care about most: Trying to find a phone on a budget is tough but you’ll have more success if you focus on what features matter the most. If you’re looking for a cheap phone with great cameras, grab the $499 Pixel 7A, for example.
Team Android or iOS: If your family and friends are on Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime, stick with an iPhone. Otherwise, it’s simple enough to switch platforms.
Last year’s phones: They can often be a great deal, too. Wait for this year’s launch to get last year’s phone for less, when stores and carriers may be trying to offload their existing stock.
Watch this: Pixel 7A Review: A Step Forward for Google’s Budget Phone
Show more
Google Pixel 7A vs. Google Pixel 6A vs. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) vs. Apple iPhone SE
undefined
| Google Pixel 7A | Google Pixel 6A | Samsung Galaxy A54 5G | Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,400 x 1,080 pixels; 60/90Hz | 6.1-inch OLED; (1080 x 2400); 60Hz | 6.4-inch Super AMOLED; 2,340 x 1,080 pixels; 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate | 6.6-inch LCD display; 2,400 x 1,080 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate | 4.7-inch LCD; (1,334 x 750 pixels); 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 361 ppi | 429 ppi | 403 ppi | 399 ppi | 326ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in | 6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 in | 6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in | 6.41 x 2.9 x 0.37 in | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 73 x 152 x 9.0 mm | 152.2 x 7.18 x 8.9 mm | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm | 162.8 x 73.8 x 9.3 mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 193g (6.81 oz) | 6.3 oz; 178g | 202 g (7.13 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) | 5.09 oz; 144g |
| Mobile software | Android 13 | Android 12 | Android 13 | Android 13 | iOS 15 |
| Camera | 64-megapixel (main), 13-megapixel (ultrawide) | 12.2-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel ultra wide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 5-megapixel (macro) | 50-megapixel (main), 8-megapixel (ultrawide) | 12-megapixel (wide) |
| Front-facing camera | 13-megapixel, 4K @ 30fps | 8-megapixel | 32-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 7-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K at 30/60fps | 4K | 4K | 4K at 30 fps | 4K |
| Processor | Tensor G2 | Google Tensor | Exynos 1380 | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB / 128GB | 6GB RAM/128GB storage | 6GB + 128GB; 8GB + 256GB | 4GB RAM + 128GB; 6GB RAM + 128GB; 6GB RAM + 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | Micro SDXC | Yes | NA |
| Battery/Charger | 4,385 mAh (18W fast charging 7.5W wireless charging) | 4,410 mAh capacity; 18-watt fast charging (adapter sold separately) | 5,000 mAh (25W wired charging) | 5,000mAh (20W wired charging, 10W adapter included) | Battery NA (20W wired charging — charger not included), 7.5W wireless charging) |
| Fingerprint sensor | Side | Under display | In-display | Side | Home button |
| Connector | USB-C | USB C | USB-C | USB-C | Lightning |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None | Yes | None |
| Special features | 5G (5G sub6 / mmWave), IP67 rating, 18W fast charging, 7.5W wireless charging | 5G-enabled, 18W fast charging, WiFi 6E, security updates for 5 years, Android OS updates for 3 years, dual SIM, IP67 water resistance | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP67 rating | Stylus, Moto Gestures, stereo speakers | 5G-enabled; supports 25W wired fast charging; Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $499, $549 (mmW) | $349 ($299 when on sale) | $449 (6GB/128GB) | $400 | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) |
| Price (GBP) | £449 | £349 | £449 (6GB/128GB) | Converts to £317 | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) |
| Price (AUD) | AU$749 | AU$599 | AU$649 (6GB/128GB) | Converts to AU$590 | AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB) |
Are cheaper phones worth it?
For many people, a phone that costs less than $500 will likely have everything you need for communication, photography and entertainment. In some cases, the phones even provide some of the latest features seen on higher-end phones like smooth 120Hz refresh rates and multiple cameras.
You should be aware of (and OK with) the limitations a phone may have compared to its more expensive counterparts. For instance, if you want an iPhone with a bigger screen than the iPhone SE and iPhone 11’s screens, your next best option is the $899 iPhone 15 Plus. That’s far outside the $500 price range, but you also get additional benefits like an improved camera.
On the other hand, if you want a phone with a bigger screen and if running Android is fine, you’ll have plenty of options that are under $500.
Show more
Can you get a good camera on a cheaper phone?
Yes, you can find several cheaper phones that take great photos, whether it’s through the camera available on the device, photo processing software on the phone or — is most often the case — a combination of both.
Apple’s iPhone SE includes the A15 Bionic chip, which supports Smart HDR4 processing and Apple’s Deep Fusion processing. Smart HDR4 helps with improving color and contrast, while the Deep Fusion processing helps with medium- to low-light environments. CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland put together a sampling of photos and videos taken on the phone during his review, which can be watched on the CNET Highlights YouTube channel. The iPhone SE also has only one 12-megapixel camera, and that camera does not support night photography.
On the Android side, the Google Pixel 6A includes the company’s Tensor chip, which brings photography features like Real Tone for capturing more accurate skin tones, Face Unblur for fixing a person’s face and Magic Eraser for removing unwanted objects. It has a 12-megapixel main camera paired up with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, which takes good photos but is a clear step down from the 50-megapixel main camera seen on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7.
Samsung’s Galaxy A54 is an interesting case: it has a main 64-megapixel camera alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro camera and 5-megapixel depth camera. While that’s more megapixels than the 50-megapixel main camera on the Galaxy S24, the image detail is a step down with the S24 able to produce photos with better contrast and sharpness.
Show more
What makes these phones cheaper?
Each company takes a different approach toward cheaper phones.
The iPhone SE, for example, has a recent Apple processor packed inside an otherwise dated phone design. Google’s Pixel 6A likewise includes the new Tensor processor but uses an older 12.2-megapixel main camera instead of the 50-megapixel main camera found on the $599 Pixel 6.
Samsung’s Galaxy A54 takes the opposite approach. It includes a processor that’s slower than the Galaxy S24’s but includes other modern features like a screen with a high refresh rate.
Show more
