In our Android Phone Guide, we rank the top 10 best phones you can buy. Now in recent years, most of these devices come in at $1,000 and beyond (at least at launch). Not everyone needs or wants to spend that much on a phone and thankfully there are still strong options that are much more affordable than those absolutely top-end devices.

So as a companion to the Best Android Phones, we’ve created a list for the Best Cheap Android Phones. These phones can still deliver an excellent user experience for less than half of flagship costs.

1. Google Pixel 3a / 3a XL

We are perhaps right on the cusp of the release of a Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a XL, so if you want to wait we understand, however the upside there is the pricing on the already affordable Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL is amazing right now. These phones still offer an awesome stock experience and reliable updates that Pixel fans have come to love.

You lose the secondary wide-angle selfie camera, but the overall camera experience is remarkably close to the original Pixel 3 and absolutely the best to be had at this price point. While you can find better specs at this price, you aren’t going to find a better total package.

Check out our full Pixel 3a review.

Price: ~$300/~$380

Key Features:

  • Fast and reliable updates
  • Fantastic camera
  • Headphone jack

Check out our full Pixel 3a review

Buy Google Pixel 3a
Buy Google Pixel 3a XL

2. Moto G7

While Motorola hasn’t been able to compete in the high-end market for quite a few years now, the company has continued to churn out excellent mid-tier devices at affordable prices. The Moto G7 continues that tradition at less than one quarter the price of some flagships today and offers an absolutely solid experience throughout.

The 6.2-inch FHD display looks great and features a 19:9 aspect ratio and teardrop notch that mirrors the look of much more expensive devices. The phone also features stock Android and Moto has been pretty reliable with updates again of late. The biggest trade-off versus something like the Pixel 3a or the real high-end devices is the camera, which is adequate for snapshots, but if you are at all serious about your smartphone photography you’ll want to look another step up.

Price: $229

Key Features

  • Solid Display
  • Excellent Build Quality
  • Headphone Jack

Buy Moto G7

3. Nokia 7.2

Nokia may not exactly be back, but the name lives on and they are doing impressive work with low to mid-tier devices. We loved the Nokia 7.1 and the 7.2 has improved on it basically every way. This is a beautifully designed phone with a circular triple-camera array on the back with a 48MP Sony primary camera, an ultrawide and a depth sensor for portraits.

The 6.3-inch FHD+ screen isn’t obviously on par with flagships, but it’s bright and clear with support for HDR content and solid viewing angles. The available microSD slot will give you plenty of space if the 64GB onboard storage isn’t enough. The phone is also part of Android One so you get to enjoy stock Android and predictable upgrades. The triple-camera is a notable step up from the Moto G7 if that’s a priority for you, but still behind the Pixel 3a in terms of overall camera performance.

Price: $349

Key Features:

  • Awesome Camera
  • Stock Android
  • Beautiful Design

Buy Nokia 7.1

4. ZTE Blade 10

For a device that can be had for under $200, the ZTE Blade 10 and Blade 10 Prime are quite impressive. Now you aren’t getting the latest tech at this price, but for the most part, the ZTE Blade 10 comes across as a solid early 2019 device with a minimal teardrop notch, a rear fingerprint reader, and a headphone jack. The front-facing 16MP camera performs well and on the back you have dual cameras that allow for portrait mode photos.

he Media Tek Helio P60 isn’t going to be great for heavier games, but for daily smartphone tasks it keeps everything moving just fine. The 3,200 mAh battery may seem a bit small, but given the lower-powered CPU and FHD+ screen resolution, it will easily get you through a day. Storage is solid on the Blade 10 as well with 64GB onboard and a microSD allows for expansion up to an additional 512GB.

Price: $179.99

Key Features:

  • Solid Camera Experience
  • Headphone Jack
  • Incredibly Affordable

Check out our full Blade 10 Prime Review

Buy ZTE Blade 10

5. Nokia 6.2

If you like the look of the Nokia 7.2, but want to save a little more money the Nokia 6.2 ticks a lot of the same boxes with a 6.3-inch FHD+ display and teardrop notch front-facing cameras. Around back a triple-camera array is the most prominent feature of the class back along with a rear fingerprint reader.

The primary camera on the Nokia 6.2 is a 16MP standard lens, which is paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 5MP depth camera to assist with portraits. Internally you are running with a Snapdragon 636, 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage with support for more via the microSD slot. As an Android One phone the Nokia 6.2 is stock and should offer regular updates.

Price: $249

Key Features:

  • Solid Camera Experience
  • Excellent build quality
  • Stock Android One

Buy Nokia 6.2

6. Alcatel 3V

If pricing is your top concern then it doesn’t get much better than the Alcatel 3V, which comes in at right around $120. Obviously, at this price it isn’t going to blow you away with its specs or design, but on both counts the phone does a good job with what it has. It offers dual rear cameras which enable some bokeh effect trickery like you will find on higher-end smartphones. The 16GB of internal storage is a little tight, but you can add up to a 128GB microSD card. Given the relatively low power of the device the 3,000 mAh battery will keep you going for a full day and into a second without a problem.

Price: $119

Key Features:

  • Big 6-inch Display
  • Dual Rear Cameras
  • Bargain Price

Buy Alcatel 3V

7. ZTE Blade Max 2S

Another entry that comes in below the $200 mark, the ZTE Blade Max 2S is at a glance fairly similar to the Alcatel 3V with a 6-inch FHD screen and a similarly understated design. So what does the extra money get you? 32GB of internal storage is probably going to be enough for some users, but if it isn’t you still have a microSD card slot available to expand. The battery is a big jump up at 4,000 mAh, which paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 should easily push you into and possibly through two days of use.

Price: $165

Key Features:

  • Great battery life
  • Big 6-Inch Screen
  • Aggressive Pricing

Buy ZTE Blade Max 2S