Top 5 Best Cheap Phones in 2025

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We’ve tested and reviewed the best phones at the lowest prices

We can help you find the greatest low-cost phone. With one notable exception, this list of the greatest smartphones available for $500, £500, or AU$850 or less includes all of the best deals we’ve examined on the smartphone market. You can be sure that we’re not just giving you advise based on features and price tags because we’ve spent weeks testing each of these phones. We have taken the time to thoroughly examine each of these phones, and we only suggest those that are worthy of your attention.

You won’t have any trouble locating a fantastic Android phone if you’re in the market. We have the Nothing Phone 3a in our Future Labs and are currently working on a review, and I recently evaluated the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. This list will continue to expand as more low-cost phones from Samsung and Motorola are on the horizon. If you’re still looking for a cheap smartphone, come back.

Unfortunately, Apple has significantly increased the price of its budget model, making it more difficult for iPhone aficionados to find a deal these days. The iPhone SE, which priced a reasonable $429, £419, or $719, is no longer available. The expensive iPhone 16e, which retails for $599, £599, or AU$999, is now the least expensive new iPhone. Finding a used phone is a lot better option if you’re looking for an iPhone deal, at least until Apple realizes its mistake and lowers the price of the iPhone 16e.

Since we’re always testing new phones and now have more affordable phones in reviewers’ hands, come back soon for even more possibilities if you need to cut costs without sacrificing quality.

Table of Contents

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1. iPhone 14

With the unveiling of the new iPhone 16e, a phone that dramatically raises the floor for iPhone pricing without introducing any noteworthy new features, Apple has harmed its followers who enjoy bargain hunting.

Although I’m hopeful Apple would acknowledge its error and lower the price, I advise sticking with a tried-and-true low-cost iPhone and looking for an iPhone 14 for sale on Swappa.com, eBay, or your wireless provider.

Don’t let the iPhone 14’s age deceive you. Although we evaluated it for the first time in 2022, Apple maintains phones up to current with new iOS versions for five years, so they may utilize nearly all of the capabilities of iOS 18.

Its Apple A15 Bionic chipset is strong enough to rival the top Android phones available today, not to mention the low-cost versions on this list.

On Swappa, you can purchase a brand-new iPhone 14 for about $515, or you may spend less on a slightly used one. Along with two 12MP cameras—one of which is extremely wide and capable of handling close-up shots—the iPhone 14 also boasts an improved selfie camera.

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2. Google Pixel 8a

Despite the arrival of the Pixel 9a, which we want to evaluate as soon as possible, the Pixel 8a remains my favorite low-cost Android phone from Google. I wouldn’t purchase the Pixel 8a at full price because the Pixel 9a costs $499, £499, or AU$849, much like the Pixel 8a did when it was first released. However, Google frequently gives price reductions on this phone, so if you can get it for $100, £100, or AU$175 less, I would.

One of the greatest A-series budget phones I’ve seen from Google in a long time is the Pixel 8a, which rivals the more expensive Pixel 8 family in every way. Above all, the Pixel 8a features an unprecedented commitment for a phone in this price range: it will receive Android OS updates for the next seven years. This implies that it will remain completely current even if you retain it for a longer period of time.

Using the Pixel 8a with all of Google’s awesome new AI capabilities, such as the generative writing tools that let you produce emails and texts in Gmail, was enjoyable to me. I liked Google Gemini better than the previous Google Assistant. Google Photos includes Best Take to enhance your group photos and the Magic Editor tool to help you restyle your images. This deal model truly gives you everything.

Pay careful attention to this phone if you’re searching for a great deal. Throughout the year, Amazon offers fantastic discounts on Google A-series phones, and this one should be even less expensive than $499. The usual price of the Pixel 7a decreased to $349.

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3. OnePlus 13R

With the OnePlus 13R, OnePlus’ renownedly ambitious technology and chic design aesthetic is now available at a lower price point. Although it’s not the most affordable phone on this list, it may be difficult to find one that provides greater performance and battery life for the money.

The main selling point of this less expensive variant of the flagship OnePlus 13 is its 6,000mAh battery, which can last for an entire day before needing to be recharged. According to our Future Labs tests, it has a battery life of well over a day when used normally, making it one of the most durable phones available.

Depending on the configuration you choose (and the area in which you reside), you will receive either 12GB or 16GB of RAM in addition to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, which was the top Android chipset of the previous year. The phone’s exterior is also rather appealing, featuring a sleek, contemporary boxy shape and a stunning 6.78-inch display.

With a starting price of $599, the OnePlus 13R is undoubtedly on the higher end of the spectrum of what we would consider a cheap phone. However, because of a very generous trade-in offer, you may receive $100 off in return for any phone, regardless of condition (yes, even an old rotary phone!).

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4. Samsung Galaxy A35

At less than $400, the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G wowed us with its excellent Samsung display and top-notch features. In contrast to Google and Motorola’s more straightforward Android software, we enjoyed exploring Samsung’s OneUI software features, which provided us with a wealth of practical tools, customizations, and shortcuts.

Naturally, Samsung is always producing new phones, and we anticipate receiving the latest Galaxy A models, such as the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A16, in Future Labs for a thorough evaluation. Check back soon to find out if any of those more recent versions is a better value.

With a 5MP macro camera lens in addition to the 50MP primary camera and an 8MP ultra wide, we liked the Galaxy A35 5G’s camera options better than those of comparable phones at this price. With a 5,000 mAh battery, the same size as Samsung’s large flagship Galaxy S phones, it also boasts a good battery life. In our tests, it ran smoothly for the entire day.

Although Samsung’s Exynos CPU is hardly a slouch, the top Samsung Galaxy S24 still offers superior performance. Nevertheless, we had no issues using this Galaxy mobile to browse the web and play our favorite games.

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5. Nothing Phone 3a Pro

For $459, £449, or AU$849, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a notable choice for anyone looking for a great deal because it provides a really distinctive smartphone experience. With its distinctive translucent back and useful Glyph LED lights, it immediately tackles unimaginative designs seen in the low-cost Android market.

The Phone 3a Pro’s feature set in relation to its price is where it really shines for those on a tight budget. In addition to a sizable 6.77-inch, 120Hz AMOLED screen, a substantial 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage (more than many competitors at this price point), you also get a multipurpose camera system with a 3x optical zoom lens, which is practically unheard of in this price range and provides greater photographic flexibility than the standard wide/ultra-wide/macro setups on other low-cost phones.

The distinctive design is complemented by the simple NothingOS software, which has a clear, distinctive appearance. The Phone 3a Pro offers a distinctive “whole experience” that feels special and appears more costly than it is, making it ideal for bargain shoppers weary of generic designs.

The phone’s mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, however, can cause visible latency and stuttering under greater loads, even though it is adequate of handling daily work and light gaming. Additionally, the phone only offers splash protection and lacks full IP68 water resistance, so US customers should be aware of its limited 5G band support.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro provides outstanding value in spite of these drawbacks. It is an appealing bundle because of its genuinely unusual design, unexpectedly powerful and adaptable camera system (particularly the zoom), long battery life with quick 50W charging, and ample memory/storage options.

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Which low-cost phone is the best?

Since the newest Apple budget phone, the iPhone 16e, is too costly to qualify as a bargain phone, the greatest low-cost iPhone is the iPhone 14. The Pixel 8a is the greatest low-cost Android phone since it costs less than $500 and offers all of Google’s Pixel AI capabilities along with excellent photography. Another excellent choice with an amazing battery life is the OnePlus 13R, which is particularly affordable if you also have a phone to exchange.

How to pick the finest low-cost phone?

You must first determine your budget if you’re searching for a cheap phone. Though there are several possibilities that are even less expensive, our discount phones are less than $500. After that, you must determine what is most important and what you are willing to give up. Although not all three are typically present, you can discover a low-cost phone with excellent software features, an exceptionally long battery life, or remarkable durability.

Give up on Samsung’s features and durability in favor of OnePlus if battery life is your top priority. Select a Samsung phone if durability is important, but be aware that OnePlus phones are more powerful and charge more quickly. The Google Pixel is a good option if you’re looking for the newest features, but it lacks the amazing display of Samsung phones and the battery life of OnePlus phones.

Do I need to purchase a used phone?

Right now, I would personally steer clear of secondhand phones unless you are purchasing from the most reliable vendor. You can’t be certain that the phone you receive is what it says, even though you might find an iPhone 15 for less on Swappa or eBay. Was the iPhone fixed by Apple if it broke, or by a business like uBreakiFix, which might replace expensive parts, like the display, with inferior technology for less money? Instead of purchasing an old phone and hoping to avoid any antics, I would prefer to obtain a reliable, affordable new phone.

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