Best Android Phones Under $400 Android Central 2020
When your budget maxes out at $400, the Google Pixel 3a is the best phone you can get. That's because it offers the same core experience as the higher-end Pixel 3 that preceded it. You get the same software and features, and the exact same camera experience. The only shortcomings come in the hardware and a couple of the specs - a fine trade-off to save hundreds of dollars.
The Pixel 3a strikes a good balance between hardware, specs, and experience. Yes, it's made out of plastic, but it's really well executed. Yes, it has cut specs compared to the Pixel 3, but it fits right in with the phones at this price. Its features, too, match the competition, but unlike the other phones, the Pixel 3a has great Google software that's filled with nice little features and guaranteed to get updates for years.
However, what sets the Pixel 3a apart from the competition at this price is its camera. Where it's completely acceptable for a sub-$400 phone to have an "okay" or "capable" camera, the Pixel 3a has an outstanding camera - because it's the exact same as the high-end Pixel 3. That means you're not only getting far and away the best camera at $400, but you're also getting one of the best cameras period. Even the selfie camera is directly comparable to the Pixel 3's, which is one area where mid-range phones typically cut costs.
Nokia just keeps making great, affordable phones with the same basic formula. You get solid (if understated) hardware, capable specs with just a little extra, solid cameras, and Android One software that's clean and regularly updated.
The Nokia 7.2 adds in some spice with neat color options and a new triple camera that brings a much higher resolution on the main sensor and supports it with a new ultra-wide lens for interesting shots. Processor, RAM, storage, and battery are all improved from the Nokia 7.1, and it was already no slouch. This is a complete package and a great value.
The G7 checks all of the boxes for less than $300, with solid specs, great software performance and a good-looking screen in an attractive casing. You're missing out on NFC and get just average battery life, but most people will take that trade-off. Motorola has practically defined this price segment since the original Moto G, and it's clear why when you see the Moto G7.
Depending on what country you're buying in, you have a few other G7 model options with a bigger battery for a little more money or slightly scaled-back features for an even more enticing price.
Best with a Big Screen: Samsung Galaxy A50
Samsung upped its game with the Galaxy A50, bringing so much of what makes its flagships great down to a palatable price. You get a great 6.4-inch display, way better specs than you'd expect, and a flagship-like triple-camera that really holds its own.
Obviously, you miss out on Samsung's best metal-and-glass build quality, and there are a few features cut here and there, but the A50 does a great job bringing what matters down to a budget-friendly price. And ultimately, it's still a Samsung phone - with the consistency and features you expect.
The sub-$400 market is both extremely competitive and a little confusing, but there have never been more great options readily available. The Google Pixel 3a clearly stands out as the best possible value for the money under $400, because it's based on the same principles as Google's higher-end Pixels. That means it has the same software, features, and camera as the Pixel 3 (and in many ways Pixel 4), but at a considerable discount.
Sure it's made of plastic, and the screen isn't as nice, but at this price point you kind of expect those shortcomings. When it comes to the actual experience of using the phone on a day-to-day basis, those missing specs and features fade away and you just experience Google's fantastic software and flagship-level camera.
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