Android Central 2021: Best Android Phones Under $400The Google Pixel 4a is a mid-range, affordable smartphone that we believe you will love. It costs less than $400. It offers the same experience as the higher-end Pixel 4 before it. You get the same software, features and camera experience as the higher-end Pixel 4. There are some limitations with the hardware, but this is a great trade-off that saves hundreds of dollars.Source: Andrew Martonik/Android CentralThe Pixel 3a in 2019 was a standout Android value. We now have the Pixel 4a to match its remarkable achievements. Google kept the best parts of the 3a and made some improvements to the Pixel 4a. The Pixel 4a is less expensive than the 3a. The best thing about the Pixel 4a, as with all Pixel phones, is its camera. Although the 12.2MP single rear camera is not impressive on paper, it is outstanding when used in practice. The pictures are clear, the colors are vibrant, and low light photography is easy. We said that the Pixel 4a is one of those phones you can just grab out of your pocket and press the shutter button to get great looking photos every time. The main attraction of the Pixel 4a is its camera, but there are many other benefits. The AMOLED display is beautiful. You can get through a whole day on one charge. The 128GB storage is very large. And you get an updated version of Android 10 with three years of guarantee updates. Pros: Flagship cameraBattery life that lastsThere are many storage optionsSoftware that is simple and practicalSoftware updates guaranteed Cons: Plastic build at a cheap priceThere are no secondary camerasGoogle Pixel 4a Android Smartphone - Best Android Phone Under $400 Google Pixel 4a Android Smartphone - A legitimate Pixel experience and camera for hundreds of dollars The Pixel 4a offers the same core and camera experiences, but at a significantly lower price. Amazon: $349Best Buy: Starting at $300B&H: $349TCL 20S is the best Android phone under $400Source: Derrek Le / Android CentralThe Pixel 4a is a great phone, but it can be expensive. If you want to lower your costs, the TCL20S is a good option. It has the most impressive specs and features in this price range. The TCL 20S's display is outstanding. The TCL 20S is a 6.67 inch Full HD+ LCD panel. Its secret weapon is TCL's NXTVISION technology. This technology allows for sharper images and vibrant colors. It makes it a great canvas for movies, games, and other media. The internals of the TCL 20S are equally impressive, offering excellent performance, 128GB expandable storage and a large 5,000mAh battery. The 64MP main sensor significantly improves the 48MP camera on the 10L. Also, the 20S will be updated to Android 12. The TCL 20S has an NFC chip that allows contactless Google Pay payments. You can also summon the Google Assistant using a dedicated key. You can choose from two stunning colors: North Star Blue or Milky Way Black. It has a vibrant display and crips.Battery - 5,000 mAhIs there an NFC chip?Pros: No 5G for improved primary cameraThere is no official IP water resistance ratingThe best Android phone under $400: TCL 20S Android Smartphone. With tons of features and specs, the TCL 20S Android smartphone is an excellent choice. It delivers everything you need at a great price. Amazon: $250Best 5G Android Phone Under $400: OnePlus Nord 5GSource: Jeramy Johnson/Android Central5G networks are growing worldwide and the technology is making its way into more affordable phones. The OnePlus Nord N2005G 5G, for example, is not only the cheapest 5G-enabled phone we have ever seen, but also one of our top picks under $400. The N200 5G has the same design language and beautiful blue gradient finishes as the OnePlus 9 series. The back is matte and has a coloring that will make you forget it's made of plastic. It has a full HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh speed and NFC for contactless payments. The device also features a responsive, side-mounted fingerprint sensor as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, the alert slider is not available on higher-end OnePlus models. The best thing about this phone is its 5G connectivity at such a low price. This phone's build and 5G connectivity should last a long while in your hands, although it only supports one major Android platform upgrade. Pros: This is one of the most affordable 5G phones.Beautiful designRefresh rate: 90HzAmazing battery life Cons: No alarm sliderCameras for the average personOnly one Android updateBest 5G Android Phone Under $400 OnePlus Nord 200 5G Affordable 5G At Last The OnePlus Nord Z200 5G offers 5G connectivity and premium design at a lower price. Best Buy - $240Nokia 5.4 is the best Android phone camera under $400Source: Jeramy Johnson/Android CentralThe Nokia 5.4 is a clean Android version with almost no bloatware. It also promises two years of software updates and three years of security patches. Although it's not the most feature-packed or powerful phone, it can handle most daily tasks, including web browsing, social media, and video consumption. Its cameras are the biggest upgrade to its predecessor, Nokia 5.3. The primary sensor saw a huge leap from 13MP in its predecessor, the Nokia 5.3, to 48MP with the Nokia 5.4. Nokia's AI and Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 enable a fast camera app with great colors and video recording. At least on paper, the three other cameras didn't seem to have changed much from the 5.3. There are still a 2MP depth camera and macro camera, as well as a 5MP ultra wide camera and a 16MP selfie cam. The 2MP depth and macro cameras are fine, but we found that the 5MP ultra wide was very useful in our testing. The shots can sometimes appear a bit washed out but this was easily fixed with a simple touchup in Google Photos. These cameras were great, especially considering the price. The pros: Android One software is simple and clean.Software updates are guaranteed in the futureQuad-camera systemElegant hardware in a variety of colorsCons: Large screen and large batteryThere is no official waterproofing or wireless charging.Moto G Power (2020), the best battery for an Android phone below $400Source: Joe Maring/Android CentralMotorola's Moto G phones are some of the most valuable Android devices. The Moto G Power (2020) is no exception. The G Power was the third Moto G phone to be launched in the U.S. in 2020. It easily ranks among the top of the line. The Moto G Power (2020), impresses with its impressive battery life straight out of the box. The Moto G Power (2020), with its massive 5,000 mAh battery, can last up to three days on one charge. This is among the longest battery lives available on a smartphone right now. It makes the Moto G Power (2020), an excellent choice for anyone who values endurance. The G Power excels in many other areas, such as its speed, triple rear cameras and clean software. While the lack of NFC is disappointing, Motorola's policy to only release one major software update is not sufficient to make the package worse. Moto has released a 2021 update to the Moto G Power (2020), however, in many respects we view it as a downgrade from the 2020 version. We will stick with our original pick for now. The Moto G Power (2021), while it has a smaller processor and screen, it still ships with Android 10. The pros: It can last up to 3 days.Performance that is reliableIt is a good idea to have three camerasGreat features in clean softwarePros: Does not have a headphone port.One software update was promisedBest Android smartphone battery under $400 Moto G Power (2020). Android Smartphone The phone that never stops working. The Moto G Power's largest battery can last for up to three days before you need to charge it. Amazon: $220Walmart: $262Samsung Galaxy A52: Best Android Phone Display under $400Source: Apoorva Bhardwaj/ Android CentralSamsung's Galaxy S Series is the most popular and well-known of all the Galaxy phones. But they are far from the only one made by the company. The Galaxy A52 is a striking and powerful Samsung phone that you can get without breaking the bank. The Galaxy A52 is a phone that has everything, as we mentioned in our Galaxy A52 review. Although it's made of plastic, the A52 feels and looks much more expensive than it is. The sturdy build quality and stunning color options make it feel premium. The 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate is another factor. It is large and bright, and provides excellent visibility in direct sunlight. Even better is the slimmest bezels, with a small hole punched cutout for the selfie-camera. The Galaxy A52 is fast and powerful with a 4,500 mAh battery and four rear cameras capable of taking excellent photos. The A52 is currently available for less than $400, making it an excellent budget phone. A 5G version is also available but it is closer to $500. This version is not available in the United States. It should work on GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile, but not CDMA carriers such as Verizon. The 90Hz AMOLED display looks amazingModern, sleek designSolid camerasThree Android updates guaranteed Cons: Doesn’t have 5GMade from plasticNo 4K 60fps recordingThe best display on an Android smartphone under $400 Samsung Galaxy A52 Android Smartphone Flagship Samsung Without the flagship price. If you are looking for a premium Galaxy handset that costs less than $1000, then the Galaxy A52 is the perfect choice. Amazon: $400B&H: $370Xiaomi Redmi 10 Pro is the best international Android phone below $400Source: Apoorva Bhardwaj/ Android CentralWe'd like you to know that an international phone is not available in the U.S. Redmi Notes have been a favorite of ours for a long time. The 10 Pro is the latest addition to this line. This is another exceptional piece of tech that offers a remarkable experience at a great price. The Note 10 Pro's specs show that there is a lot going on. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor and 6GB RAM. 128GB storage is also available. The 5,050mAh battery is larger than that found on the Moto G Power. The phone also features a 6.67 inch AMOLED display with slim bezels and four cameras at the back. The Redmi Note 10 Pro is similar to the Galaxy A52 in that it has many international quirks. It does not come with a U.S. warranty. The custom Android interface from Xiaomi takes some getting used too. The device is only compatible with GSM networks. If you are on Verizon, you will be out of luck. This is a great deal, provided you are okay with these things. The pros: AMOLED looks greatGiant 5,050 mAh batteries are availablePerformance that is reliable and fastTons of RAM, storage and other cons: The quirks of owning a international phone
