Best Budget Smartphones 2025: Top Picks for Every Need
Budget smartphones have never been better. For $200-$400 you can now get features that cost $700+ just three years ago — 120Hz displays, triple cameras, 5G, and multi-day battery life. Here are the best picks for 2025.
Best Budget Smartphones Compared
| Phone | Display | Camera | Battery | Updates | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 8a | 6.1″ 120Hz OLED | 64MP + 13MP | 4,492mAh | 7 years | ~$499 (sale ~$299) |
| Samsung Galaxy A55 | 6.6″ 120Hz AMOLED | 50MP + 12MP + 5MP | 5,000mAh | 4 years OS | ~$289 |
| Motorola Moto G Power 5G | 6.7″ 120Hz | 50MP | 5,000mAh | 3 years | ~$199 |
| OnePlus Nord N30 5G | 6.72″ 120Hz | 108MP | 5,000mAh | 2 years | ~$199 |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | 6.7″ 120Hz AMOLED | 50MP + 50MP | 5,000mAh | 3 years | ~$299 |
Google Pixel 8a — Our Top Pick
The Pixel 8a regularly goes on sale for $299 — at that price it’s the most extraordinary value in smartphones. The Tensor G3 chip delivers Google’s computational photography magic: Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, and Night Sight are genuinely useful features. Seven years of OS and security updates mean this phone stays safe and current until 2031. The 120Hz OLED display is vibrant and smooth.
Best Display: Samsung Galaxy A55
Samsung’s mid-range champion has a premium look and feel rare at this price. The Gorilla Glass Victus+ screen and metal frame make it feel more expensive than it is. The 120Hz Super AMOLED display is gorgeous. The 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization takes excellent photos. Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches is solid longevity.
Best Under $200: Motorola Moto G Power 5G
For absolute minimum spend, the Moto G Power 5G is unbeatable. The 6.7″ screen is large and pleasant to use. 5G connectivity future-proofs it. The 50MP camera is decent in good light. And the 5,000mAh battery routinely delivers two-day battery life. Motorola’s near-stock Android experience means fast performance even on modest hardware.