Best budget smartphones of 2024

There was a time when budget smartphones were considered good only for calling and texting but not anymore. It is now easier than ever to get a decent smartphone on a budget that can do almost everything you would expect. There are plenty of smartphone options to choose from under $500 that offer a good display, performance, cameras, battery life, and even fast charging.

Check out these best budget smartphones of 2024.

Best Budget Smartphones in 2024

1. Pixel 8a
2. OnePlus 12R
3. Nothing Phone 2a
4. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
5. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
6. Motorola Moto G 5G (2024)

Pixel 8a

The Pixel 8a is an Android smartphone to get if you want the Pixel experience on a budget. It sports a 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED display. There is a Tensor G3 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 64MP dual rear camera setup. The battery capacity is 4,492mAh with 18W fast charging.

Pixel 8a Highlights

• Price: $499
• Amazon Review Score: 4.2 (based on 658 ratings)
• Why You Should Buy:
• Superior camera performance
• All the goodness of Google AI tools and tricks
• 7 years of software support

OnePlus 12R

The OnePlus 12R is a good pick if you want flagship performance on a budget. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The phone has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display (2780 x 1264 pixels), 50MP triple rear cameras, and a 5,500mAh battery with 80W wired fast charging.

OnePlus 12R Highlights

• Price: $499
• Amazon Review Score: 4.4 (based on 524 ratings)
• Why You Should Buy:
• Flagship processor
• Superfast charging
• Great OLED display

Nothing Phone 2a

If you looking for a budget smartphone that stands out in the crowd, the Nothing Phone 2a is an easy choice. It has the same Glyph interface and unique design that helped Nothing make headlines. The phone has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimesity 7200 Pro chipset, 12GB of RAM, and 50MP dual rear cameras. The battery capacity is 5,000mAh along with 45W fast charging.

Nothing Phone 2a Highlights

• Price: $349
• Amazon Review Score: 4.4 (based on 524 ratings)
• Why You Should Buy:
• Unique eye-catching design
• Good battery life
• Clean Nothing OS

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is a mid-range smartphone featuring a 6.6-inch AMOLED Full HD+ display. Under the hood, it has the Exynos 1380 processor coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB onboard storage. There is a 50MP triple-camera setup and a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired fast charging.

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Highlights

• Price: $299
• Amazon Review Score: 4.4 (based on 524 ratings)
• Why You Should Buy:
• Good AMOLED display
• Good battery life
• Four years of software updates

Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)

If you want a budget smartphone with stylus support, Motorola’s Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is the right pick. It sports a 6.7-inch OLED display with 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution. There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB storage. The phone has a 50MP dual rear camera setup and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging.

Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) Highlights

• Price: $249
• Amazon Review Score: 4.5 (based on 136 ratings)
• Why You Should Buy:
• Stylus support
• Good battery life
• Wireless charging support

Motorola Moto G 5G (2024)

Motorola’s Moto G 5G (2024) is a good pick for those who want a smartphone under $200. It comes with a 6.6-inch HD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate. There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, 4GB RAM, and 128GB onboard storage. The phone has 50MP dual rear cameras, a 5,000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging.

Motorola Moto G 5G (2024) Highlights

• Price: $199
• Amazon Review Score: 4.1 (based on 1,065 ratings)
• Why You Should Buy:
• Super cheap pricing
• NFC support for contactless payments
• Vegan leather back design

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