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With the launch of his iPhone 12 Last year, Apple has discounted some of its older models, including the reduction from 2018 iPhone XR up to $ 500. That price level has been popular as of late, and many major cell phone makers are offering great new phones in that range. One of them is the new Pixel 4A 5G, which joins the Pixel 4A from August.
With so many phones hitting the market, people on a tight budget have more options to choose from. Plus, in addition to the new ones, there are still plenty of reliable options available from 2019 and 2020. The best part: they all cost around $ 500 or less. And despite its low prices, budget phones are getting more and more advanced And it includes features similar to those of a premium phone, such as incredible cameras, fast processors, lots of internal storage, a great front camera (for selfies!) and the latest software features. Also, if you’re willing to buy an unlocked phone, your options are even wider.
Check out the list below of the best phones under $ 500 (which we’ll update regularly) and read reviews from CNET. Note that we’ve linked to the unlocked version of each phone, and they should run on most of the top four US wireless providers, unless otherwise specified.
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The best cheap phones to try now
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John Kim / CNET
With a four-year gap between the 2020 iPhone SE and the previous one, Apple packed its latest budget phone with a ton of updates. That includes wireless charging, better camera specs, and water resistance. (Unfortunately, for wired headphone users, it doesn’t have a headphone jack.) If you’re looking for a new iPhone but want to save as much money as possible, the $ 399 (£ 419, AU $ 749) iPhone SE is your best bet for a cheap phone option. Read our Apple iPhone SE (2020) review.
Angela Lang / CNET
If you want an affordable 5G phone, the Pixel 4A 5G is a worthwhile consideration. Available for $ 499 (£ 499, AU $ 799), the phone has solid battery life, fantastic dual rear cameras, and solid Google software support.
Sarah Tew / CNET
In addition to its top Galaxy S20 phones, Samsung has a more cost-conscious line of A-series phones. This year it launched the Galaxy A51 5G, which has four cameras, including a selfie camera, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and expandable memory. CNET reviewed the non-5G version that costs $ 399, although we’ve seen it go on sale for just $ 280. Read our Galaxy A51 review.
Patrick Holland / CNET
The $ 445 One 5G is one of the best and most affordable 5G phones available. This budget smartphone option has a total of six, yes six, cameras, a 90Hz high refresh rate display, and fast charging technology. It is available now in the US on AT&T and on Verizon at a later date. Read our Motorola One 5G review.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
James Martin / CNET
OnePlus is expanding its more affordable “Nord” family of phones with the launch of the Nord N10 5G. Available in Europe and North America at a later date, the phone costs £ 329, which is roughly $ 430 or AU $ 590. Although it doesn’t have wireless charging or an in-display fingerprint reader like higher-end OnePlus phones do, it does have a 90Hz display, a headphone jack, and 5G. Read our OnePlus N10 5G review.
LG
Available now from AT&T and Cricket, the K92 is a competitively priced 5G phone that features a 6.7-inch screen with slim bezels and a punch-hole camera on the front. It is powered by a Snapdragon 690 chipset and a 4,000 mAh battery. In addition to a 16-megapixel front camera, it has four other cameras on the back: a 64-megapixel standard shooter, a 5-megapixel wide-angle camera, and two other cameras for depth detection and macro images. Read our first shot of LG K92.
Angela Lang / CNET
Released in August, Google’s Pixel 4A costs $ 349 (£ 349, AU $ 599). The 5.81-inch Google Pixel phone only comes in one color (black) and one size (as there is no Pixel 4A XL unlike in previous years). This Google Pixel has a headphone jack, a slightly larger screen and a larger battery than the Pixel 4 and 128GB of storage out of the box. Read our Google Pixel 4A review.
Josh Miller / CNET
The iPhone XR may be two years old, but after the previous SE, it’s one of the cheapest iPhones you can get from Apple. Currently starting at $ 499 (£ 499, AU $ 849) with no contract at 64GB, it sports a 6.1-inch LCD, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and the A12 Bionic processor. It is also compatible with Apple’s latest iOS 14 software update. Read our Apple iPhone XR review.
Angela Lang / CNET
Although the Galaxy A50 came out last year (and it is the predecessor to the aforementioned A51 phone), it is still a great phone for $ 350. This Samsung phone has a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen, an in-display fingerprint reader, a camera. front for selfies and a headphone jack. Read our Samsung Galaxy A50 review.
Angela Lang / CNET
When it debuted last year, the OnePlus 7T was a strong flagship device. It’s now available for $ 350 at T-Mobile, which is a great deal for a phone with a 90Hz screen, a solid triple rear camera array, and fast performance. Read our OnePlus 7T review.
Sarah Tew / CNET
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Note 20, the Moto G Stylus features a stylus that you can store inside the phone along with a built-in Notes app to help with productivity. Currently priced at $ 200 from Motorola, the phone also features triple rear cameras, 128GB of storage, and a robust 4,000mAh battery. Read our Moto G Stylus review.
James Martin / CNET
Two years have passed since its launch, but the Galaxy S9 is still worth considering. At a $ 400- $ 500 discount from Samsung and other retailers, the Android phone is waterproof, has wireless charging, expandable storage, and a headphone jack. Also, its curved OLED screen gives the phone a modern look that still endures. Read our Samsung Galaxy S9 review.
Sarah Tew / CNET
The Moto G Power is a bit cheaper than the G Stylus at $ 180, but it has a robust 5,000 mAh battery. During our tests, it lasted an impressive four days at no charge. The phone has three rear cameras (one of which is a macro lens), a 6.4-inch screen, and expandable memory. Read our Moto G Power review.
