Compare Affordable Smartphones
Affordable smartphones are fully-featured phones where the manufacturer has cut costs in certain areas. Where exactly this happens varies by device. This overview includes only smartphones in the lowest price ranges, with the current price listed for each provider. We don’t earn more from one brand than another. Set your own upper limit in the filters and read below to find out what cost-cutting measures you’ll actually notice.
Which affordable smartphone is right for you?
A smartphone can be considered “affordable” in two ways: it’s simply built, or it’s a higher-end model that has dropped in price. Both types are mixed together in this overview. If you’re not sure yet whether this price range is right for you, start with our selection guide.
How do affordable smartphones really differ?
- Screen: outdoor brightness and refresh rate vary the most here; a 60 Hz screen looks noticeably less smooth than one with 90 or 120 Hz
- Camera: in daylight, the differences are minor, but in low light, they become significant; the number of lenses matters less than you might think, since the main camera does most of the work
- Charging speed: battery capacity determines how long a device lasts, charging speed determines how quickly it recharges, and in this class, charging speed often matters more than capacity
- Software: how much comes pre-installed, whether you can uninstall it, and how many years of updates the manufacturer promises
All these devices can make calls, send messages, access the internet, run apps, and take photos; so you shouldn’t compare them on those features. The choice comes down to how smoothly a device performs these tasks and how long it will continue to do so.
Choose an entry-level model if you don’t demand much from your phone and are mainly looking for a low purchase price; these are the Low-end smartphones
Choose a discounted mid-range model if you want a better screen and camera and don’t mind a model that’s one or two years old; you’ll find them among the mid-range smartphones
Choose refurbished if you want to get a higher-end model for the same price and are okay with the battery having a history and the warranty varying by seller; check out refurbished phones
Simply built or marked down?
A model’s year of manufacture reveals which of the two you’re holding; that year is listed in the specifications on the product page. If a device has just been released, it was built for this price: cost-cutting measures were taken on the chip and the screen refresh rate; the casing is made of plastic instead of glass and metal; and the camera module has one high-quality lens surrounded by a few others that add little value. If a model is two or three years old, it started out in a higher class and does have those components; its price has dropped because a successor has been released. That price drop doesn’t change the end date for updates, so such a device has fewer years of updates left than an entry-level model of the same price, which still has its entire update period ahead of it. On paper, it might seem like a better deal. To see how these options work out for you—including refurbished models—check out Refurbished, New, or Last Year’s Top Model?
Is a charger included in the box?
Not always, and that makes a difference in what the device actually costs you. Since December 28, 2024, phones sold in the EU must have a USB-C port, and you can decide for yourself whether to buy the device with or without a charger; an icon on the packaging indicates what’s included. Since older stock can still be sold, you may still come across a device with a different connector. So be sure to factor in the cost of a charger—and sometimes a cable—if you don’t already have them at home.
The cost-cutting measure not listed in the specs
Cheaper devices often come with a bunch of pre-installed apps, and some of them can only be disabled, not uninstalled. With some brands, recommendations or ads are also included in their own system apps. These can often—but not always—be turned off in the settings. In this price range, how long a device continues to receive updates can vary more by brand than by price; we explain the legal minimum requirement for this and how to check it for each device in our section on Low-end smartphones.
What do you notice in practice?
That varies by user, which is why there’s no single “best” device in this class. If you mainly use your phone for messaging, calling, music, and navigation, you’ll hardly notice the difference a basic chip makes, and the update cycle will be the most important factor. If you take a lot of photos, the main camera is the spec that makes the difference, and you’ll notice that difference most in low light. If you play games, this class reaches its limits, so you’re better off looking at gaming phones. If you plan to keep the phone for four or five years, don’t choose the model with the smallest storage capacity, because a system update can’t be installed without free space. If you’re looking within a fixed budget, the selection of budget phones is more limited; if you also want to see phones without apps, the cheap phones section offers a wider selection.
