Best Budget Phones

Wally Nowinski
editor

Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our phone database and find the best budget phone available in 2023. Here are our top picks.

Our criteria for the best budget phone:

  • Budget: We focused on budget and budget only. These are the best phones in our database under $400.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized phone recommendation

The 10 best Budget Phones

1
Pixel 6a
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Google

Pixel 6a

The Google Pixel 6a, released in 2022, has a 6.1" OLED screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and 429 pixels per inch. The display comes with a 60Hz refresh rate, and the device measures 6" x 2.8".

This smartphone is equipped with two cameras but does not offer optical zoom. Powered by a Tensor processor and 6GB of RAM, the Pixel 6a has a 4410 mAh battery capacity, which provides 7.6 hours of screen-on time. Please note that this model does not include a headphone jack.

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2
iPhone 11
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The Apple iPhone 11, released in 2019, features a 6.1" LCD screen with a resolution of 1792 x 828 and 326 pixels per inch. The display has a 60Hz refresh rate, and the device measures 5.9" x 3".

Equipped with two cameras, the iPhone 11 does not offer optical zoom. Powered by an A13 processor and 4GB of RAM, the smartphone has a 3110 mAh battery capacity, providing 7.1 hours of screen-on time. Please note that this model does not include a headphone jack.

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3
iPhone 12 mini
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The Apple iPhone 12 mini, released in 2020, features a 5.4" OLED screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 and 476 pixels per inch. The display has a 60Hz refresh rate, and the device measures 5.2" x 2.5".

The iPhone 12 mini is equipped with two cameras but does not offer optical zoom. Powered by an A14 processor and 4GB of RAM, the smartphone has a 2227 mAh battery capacity, providing 5.1 hours of screen-on time. Please note that this model does not include a headphone jack.

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4
Pixel 6
Google

Pixel 6

The Google Pixel 6, an Android smartphone released in 2022, features a 6.4" OLED screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and 411 pixels per inch. The display offers a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, and the device measures 6.2" x 2.9".

Equipped with two cameras, the Pixel 6 does not offer optical zoom. Powered by a Tensor processor and 8GB of RAM, the smartphone has a 4614 mAh battery capacity, providing 6.9 hours of screen-on time. Please note that this model does not include a headphone jack.

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5
Pixel 7a
Google

Pixel 7a

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6
Galaxy S23
Samsung

Galaxy S23

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a high-quality smartphone released in 2023. It features a 6.1" OLED display that produces clear and vibrant images with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and a pixel density of 422 pixels per inch. The phone's high refresh rate of 120Hz delivers smooth visuals, making it ideal for gaming and scrolling.

The phone's camera system includes three lenses, with a 3x optical zoom and an impressive camera score of 9.6/10. It captures exceptional photos and videos with stunning clarity and detail.

The phone has a screen-on time of up to 8 hours and a battery capacity of 3900 mAh, making it suitable for moderate usage. It is powered by an SD8G2 processor with 8 GB of RAM, ensuring efficient and responsive performance.

However, the phone does not have a headphone jack, and audio playback relies on wireless connectivity.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is a reliable smartphone that offers a high-quality display, impressive camera system, and efficient performance for its users.

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7

The iPhone 13, released in 2021, boasts a 6.1" OLED display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels and a refresh rate of 60Hz. It features a dual-camera system with an 8.0/10 camera score and no optical zoom. The battery life lasts up to 7.1 hours of screen-on time, with a battery capacity of 3240 mAh. It runs on the A15 processor with 4 GB of RAM and does not have a headphone jack. Despite not being the newest model, the iPhone 13 is still a solid choice for those looking for a reliable and feature-rich smartphone.

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8
9
OnePlus

9

The OnePlus 9, an Android smartphone released in 2021, features a 6.55" OLED screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and 402 pixels per inch. The display has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and the device measures 6.3" x 2.9".

Equipped with two cameras, the OnePlus 9 does not offer optical zoom. Powered by an SD888 processor and 8GB of RAM, the smartphone has a 4500 mAh battery capacity, providing 6.9 hours of screen-on time. Please note that this model does not include a headphone jack.

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9
Pixel 7
Google

Pixel 7

The Google Pixel 7 is a high-quality smartphone released in 2022 that boasts a 6.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 90Hz. The camera system consists of two lenses, which have a combined score of 9.0 out of 10 and do not feature an optical zoom. The device has a long-lasting 4355 mAh battery that provides up to 6.9 hours of screen-on time . It is powered by a TensorG2 processor and 8GB of RAM. The Pixel 7 does not have a headphone jack.

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10

The iPhone 12 was first released in October 2020. It features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels and HDR support. It is powered by Apple's A14 Bionic chip and is Apple's first phone to feature 5G connectivity.

The iPhone 12 has a dual-camera system with 12-megapixel ultra-wide and wide lenses, and it supports Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR 3 for improved low-light performance and detail in photos. It also has a 12-megapixel TrueDepth front-facing camera for high-definition video recording and selfies.

The iPhone 12 also includes a ceramic shield front cover for improved drop protection, Face ID facial recognition technology for secure unlocking, and a long-lasting battery that supports fast charging and wireless charging. The iPhone 12 is available in a range of colors, including black, white, red, green, and blue.

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