Compare Low-End Smartphones
Looking for a Low-end smartphone? It’s a full-fledged smartphone with the most basic features: calling, texting, internet, apps, and a camera all work, but it cuts corners on speed, materials, and camera performance. This overview is intended for anyone looking for a first phone, a second phone, or a backup phone who doesn’t have high expectations. We don’t earn more from one brand than another, so you can compare the entry-level models below based on specifications and prices from all providers. Use the filters to narrow down the features to only those you really need.
Which low-end smartphone is right for you?
In this price range, the choice isn’t about the processor or the number of cameras, but about four factors you can’t change after purchase. If you’re unsure whether to look in this price range or go one step up, our selection guide will help you decide.
How do low-end smartphones really differ?
- Storage and RAM: there’s a factor of two or more between the smallest and largest models in this category, and you can’t change this after the fact
- Network: making calls over 4G—a feature called VoLTE—is still frequently missing in this segment; without VoLTE, a device falls back to the 2G network for calls, and that network is being phased out
- NFC: contactless payments with your phone only work with an NFC chip, and not every model in this segment has one
- Update cycle: the number of years of Android and security updates varies more widely here than in any other class, and cannot be determined by price
Three features are now standard in this segment: a screen large enough for video, a camera that takes usable photos in daylight, and a battery that lasts a day. The difference lies in what remains of these features after two or three years. If you’re primarily looking for a good price and don’t need a smartphone, the broader overview of inexpensive phones is a better starting point.
Choose a low-end smartphone if making calls, sending messages, using a handful of apps, and taking photos in daylight are enough for you.
Choose a phone without apps if you don’t need apps and want to go weeks on a single charge; check out feature phones.
Go one step up if you want to keep the phone for years, take a lot of photos with it, or play games on it; those are the mid-range smartphones.
Why storage and RAM matter more here than the processor
An entry-level smartphone rarely slows down because of its processor alone. It freezes because the RAM is too small to keep multiple apps open, or because the storage is full of photos and app updates, leaving no room for the next system update. Manufacturers therefore often provide a lighter version of Android for these devices—Android (Go edition)—which requires less memory. That helps, but it doesn’t change which storage option you choose, so don’t automatically go for the smallest one. Also check if it has a memory card slot: that provides space for photos and music, but not for apps.
A second reason not to choose the smallest model: in this price range, devices often come with a significant number of pre-installed apps, and some of these cannot be uninstalled—only disabled. These apps take up storage space from day one, making the smallest model feel more cramped than it appears on paper.
How long can an entry-level model be used safely?
As long as it receives security updates. This is precisely where two devices in the same price range differ the most. Since June 2, 2025, a legal minimum standard has been in effect in the EU for new models: the manufacturer must continue to provide security updates for five years after the last day of sale and spare parts for seven years. That’s a minimum requirement, not a promise from the manufacturer, and you can’t tell from the price how far a brand goes beyond that. Models that were already on the market before that date aren’t subject to that minimum requirement; in that case, the product page is your only guide. Also check which Android version a device has in the store, because entry-level models often don’t have the latest version, meaning part of the update period has already passed before you even turn it on.
Two parts of the energy label that really matter here
New models in the EU have carried an energy label since June 20, 2025; models that were on the market before that date do not have one. The entire label is explained for mid-range smartphones, and for this segment, there are two components that can influence your decision. The first is the repair class, rated from A to E. For a low-cost device, the cost of a screen repair is significant relative to the purchase price, meaning that an entry-level model that’s difficult to repair is more likely to be replaced than repaired after a single accident. The second is the number of charge cycles: a battery must withstand at least 800 cycles and still retain 80 percent of its capacity afterward. In a class where the battery is rarely replaceable, this factor helps determine the lifespan of the entire device.
Entry-level model or an older mid-range phone?
For the same price, you can often find a mid-range phone that’s one or two years old, either new or refurbished. These usually have a better screen, more RAM, and more storage, and their remaining update cycle may still be longer than that of a new entry-level model. On the other hand, a refurbished device has a battery with a history, and the warranty varies by provider. To find out which option works best for you, read Refurbished, New, or Last Year’s Top Model?
