In 2023, buying a budget smartphone no longer means compromising heavily on features and performance. Many affordable phones now offer great specs and a solid user experience that rivals pricier flagships. In this guide, we cover the best budget smartphones available in 2023 based on factors like price, display quality, camera capabilities, battery life, processor performance and software support.
Uncover the Hidden Gems: 20 Secret Features on the New iPhone 15
Google Pixel 6a – Best Budget Smartphones Overall Under $500
Starting at only $449, the Google Pixel 6a offers tremendous value and flagship-level features at an affordable price point. It has the same Google Tensor processor found in the more premium Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. This delivers excellent performance for the price backed by Google’s AI capabilities.
The Pixel 6a shines with its dual rear camera system that includes Pixel’s computational photography for stunning image quality that beats other budget phones. Night Sight and Magic Eraser make capturing great photos easy for beginners and pros alike. The 6.1” OLED display looks fantastic with deep blacks and vivid colors. It also has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
With a clean Android experience and guarantee of at least 5 years of security updates, the Pixel 6a is the best budget smartphone available today. The only drawback is more limited carrier availability in the US compared to bigger brands.
OnePlus Nord N300 – Best Budget Smartphones Under $300
If your budget is under $300, check out the OnePlus Nord N300 5G. At just $228, you get excellent hardware like a 90Hz 1080p LCD, MediaTek 900 5G processor, 128GB storage, microSD card expansion, and an impressive two-day battery life. The Nord N300 also comes with a triple camera system featuring a 48MP main lens, depth sensor and macro camera.
OnePlus cut costs in the right areas like choosing an LCD display instead of more expensive OLED. But performance is still snappy thanks to ample RAM and fast storage. The Nord N300 will receive two major Android version upgrades and three years of security patch updates. With support for T-Mobile’s 5G network too, it’s a feature-packed smartphone for just over $200.
Samsung Galaxy A53 – Best Budget Smartphones $500 Samsung Phone
Samsung offers premium build quality and features at an affordable price with the Galaxy A53 5G. Priced at $449.99, it boasts an immersive 6.5” FHD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED display with 800 nits peak brightness and an in-screen fingerprint reader. It’s all powered by a capable 5nm Exynos 1280 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB expandable storage.
The versatile quad camera system now features Optical Image Stabilization for steady photos and video. You get excellent battery life too thanks to the large 5,000 mAh capacity. Samsung promises 4 years of major OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates for long-term peace of mind. With an IP67 rating, microSD slot and vibrant 120Hz display, the Galaxy A53 5G is a Samsung standout under $500.
Apple iPhone SE (2022) – Best Budget Smartphones iOS Phone
Apple’s most affordable iPhone, the 2nd generation iPhone SE 2022 delivers flagship performance starting at just $429. Inside is the blazing fast A15 Bionic chip also found in the $1000 iPhone 14 Pro models. So you get buttery smooth performance on iOS 16 along with great app compatibility and gaming.
The 4.7” Retina HD display, Touch ID sensor, wireless charging and IP67 water resistance make the iPhone SE a compelling choice for iOS fans on a budget. While the single rear 12MP camera won’t match pricier iPhones, it takes decent shots aided by Apple’s image processing. Ultimately, if you want cutting-edge power on a smaller budget, the 2022 iPhone SE delivers tremendous value.
Motorola Moto G Stylus – Best Budget Smartphones With Stylus Under $400
For just $299.99, the Moto G Stylus packs a built-in stylus, great battery life and solid performance into an attractive smartphone design. The 6.8” FHD+ Max Vision display gives you tons of screen real estate to draw and take notes. It recharges quickly thanks to the included Turbo Power 50W charger.
With a MediaTek Helio G88 chipset, 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, the Moto G Stylus provides smooth performance for everyday tasks and running multiple apps. The 50MP main camera captures detailed shots while the 16MP front camera enables crisp selfies. If you want stylus functionality without paying flagship prices, the Moto G Stylus is a top choice under $400.
TCL 30 V 5G – Best Budget Smartphones Under $200
You can get a capable 5G smartphone in 2023 for under $200 in the TCL 30 V 5G. The large 6.7” HD+ display offers an immersive viewing experience whether you’re streaming movies or browsing social feeds. Performance is reliably smooth thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G chipset paired with 4GB RAM and 128GB of expandable storage.
A massive 5,000 mAh battery keeps this budget phone powered up for over a day of use. There’s also a 50MP main camera plus 2MP macro and depth lenses for photography flexibility. TCL promises 2 years of OS updates and security patches too. For an best budget smartphones introduction to 5G, the TCL 30 V 5G delivers respectable performance and features below $200.
Nokia G21 – Best Budget Smartphones Battery Life Under $270
Boasting an incredible three-day battery life, the Nokia G21 costs just $269 but outlasts even expensive flagships on a single charge. That’s thanks to the large 5,050 mAh battery plus power efficient 6nm Snapdragon 680 processor. There’s a vivid 6.5” 90Hz display, 128GB storage and 4GB or 6GB RAM options available too.
The Nokia G21 sports a triple camera setup with 50MP main, 2MP depth and 2MP macro lenses. Images look great on the 2400×1080 pixel display. As part of the Android One program, you get a clean software experience and 3 years of OS upgrades. For marathon battery performance on a best budget smartphones, the Nokia G21 is a top contender.
Conclusion
The best budget smartphones market offers some excellent devices with great performance, useful features and long battery life without breaking the bank. Options like the Pixel 6a, Galaxy A53 and iPhone SE pack in premium capabilities like fast processors, vibrant OLED displays, ample storage and capable camera systems. More affordable models from brands like Nokia, Motorola and TCL also provide quality at lower price points.
With 5G now common even on budget devices, you can get fast connectivity along with solid hardware, nice designs and software support. The best budget phones in 2023 provide an outstanding user experience that doesn’t feel cheap or slow. No matter your needs or price range, there is a great affordable smartphone choice waiting for you now.
