If you want to keep your budget under control while getting a new phone, there are a lot of great options on the internet. One of the core pillars of the Android experience is to deliver a great phone for a price you wouldn't expect. If you want to spend between $300 and $400 on a new phone, we have some suggestions for how to pick the best phones.
If you want to save more, the best phones under $300 might be a good place to start.
If you're looking for an affordable, mid-range phone, we think the Google Pixel 4a is the best one under $400. You get the same software, features, camera experience, and software updates as the higher-end Pixel 4 for less than the newer Pixel 5a. The hardware and a couple of the specifications are fine, but a fine trade-off to save hundreds of dollars.
The Pixel 3a was one of the best Android values for a long time, but it was replaced by the Pixel 4a. The 4a is still a good choice if you want a small, affordable phone with a camera that is better than its specifications. The larger device for larger spenders is the Pixel 5a.
You can get a guaranteed immediate update to Android 13 in 2022, plus security updates through 2023 with the Pixel 4a. Even though it is not powerful, it still holds up today.
The best thing about the Pixel 4a is its camera. On paper, the 12.2MP single rear camera is not impressive, but it is outstanding in actual use. Low-light photography is a great way to take pictures. We said in our review that this is one of those phones that you can whip out of your pocket, press the shutter button, and get a great looking photo every single time.
The camera is the main draw to the Pixel 4a, but it has many other things going for it. The $349 price is not bad for a device that has a nice display, 128 gigabytes of storage, and can be charged on a single charge.
As 5G networks grow worldwide, the technology is also starting to make its way into more affordable phones. One of the cheapest 5G-enabled phones we have ever seen is the OnePlus N200 5G, but it is also one of the best phones you can buy for under $400.
The N200 5G shares the same design language as the much more expensive OnePlus 9 series and continues the tradition of beautiful blue gradient finishes. It may be made of plastic, but you will never know it because of the coloring and texture on the back.
The screen is full HD+ and has a 90Hz refresh rate, and it also comes with 18W fast charging. You get a fast and responsive side-mounted fingerprint sensor and 3.5mm headphone jack, but you lose out on the alert slider on higher-end devices.
The best thing about this phone is its low price and 5G connection. The build should make this phone last a long time in your hand, although it is limited to one major platform update.
The most talked about phones of the company are the S series, but they are not the only ones. If you want to get a phone with a special touch, look at the Galaxy A42 5G.
In our review of the phone, we noted that it has powerful specifications for this price range. It is easy to read in the sun. It has the same chip as the more expensive one. Its battery life is comparable to the Moto G Power, lasting our reviewer multiple days with active use. Outside of its average cameras, the A42 5G never let us down.
The A42 5G is unique in the U.S. because it is an exclusive phone from the company, giving you access to its Ultra Wideband network. There are lots of 5G phones with sub 6. The A42 5G will be an affordable game-changer if you live in the right area.
The A52 5G is an excellent upgrade if you don't use a carrier, it has a 120Hz screen, more RAM, better cameras, and water resistance.
Like the 7.2, the 5.4 version of the phone has a clean version of the phone's operating system with no bloatware and a promise of two years of software updates. It's not the most powerful or feature-packed phone on this list, but it's more than capable of handling most of your daily tasks, from web browsing to social media to video consumption.
The cameras are the big upgrade from the previous one. The primary sensor jumped from 13MP in the 5.3 to 48MP in the 5.4. With good colors and cinematic video recording, the camera app can be used with ease.
The other three cameras did not seem to change much from the 5.3. You get a depth camera, a macro camera, a 5MP ultra-wide camera, and a 16MP selfie camera. Our testing found the 5MP ultra-wide very usable, even though you can take or leave the 2MP shooters. Sometimes the shots could appear washed out, but that was nothing that a basic touchup in Google Photos could not fix. We were very pleased with the cameras, especially for the price.
The Moto G Stylus 5G is one of the best values theAndroid landscape has to offer, and it's no different with the Moto G phones. The built-in stylus that people love is still on the updated model of the model that was released in 2021.
The Moto G Stylus 5G has two days of battery life out of a single charge. The performance of the processor could be a bit better, but it is hard to argue with the price Moto sells this phone at, and it is a considerably better experience than other 2021 Moto phones.
The Moto G Stylus 5G has the same features as the Moto G, including those fantastic gestures like double-chop to switch the flashlight or double-twist to launch the camera. It has a 3.5mm jack and a main camera on the back. Three years of security updates mean you should be protected from potential digital threats for the lifetime of the phone.
There is no denying how good the phone is, but it may cost more than you were hoping to spend, and plenty of people will want a larger phone. You owe it to yourself to look at the TCL 20S. It has some of the best features you can find in this price range.
The display of the TCL 20S is excellent. It is a Full HD+ LCD panel with a secret weapon being TCL's NXTVISION technology. This allows for a sharper image and more vibrant colors, creating a great canvas for games, movies, and more. The phone's internals are just as good, with good performance, 128GB of storage, and a 5,000 mAh battery. The 10L has a 48MP shooter and the 20S has a 64MP main sensor.
You can summon the Google Assistant via a dedicated key, and we are happy that the TCL 20S includes an NFC chip, which allows for Google Pay payments. It is available in two gorgeous colors, North Star Blue and Milky Way Black. It will get security updates through mid-2023.
The phone was praised for its stylish design, long- lasting battery life, and clean software. He was less enthusiastic about its display, last-gen processor, and lack of 5G or water resistance but, for the price these days, it is a great performer.
There is another one that can be found on some marketplaces that isn't officially available in the U.S. We love the Redmi Note series. The 10 Pro is the latest in that line. It is another outstanding piece of tech that delivers a great experience at an even better price.
The Note 10 Pro has a lot going for it. The phone has a bigger battery than the one found on the Moto G Power, with a 5,050 mAh one. There are four cameras on the back of the device, along with a large 6.67-inch AMOLED display.
The international quirks of the Note 10 Pro are similar to those of the A52. It does not have a U.S. warranty, and it takes some getting used to. If you are on the other side of the country, you will not be able to use the device. This is one heck of a deal if you are fine with those things.
The sub-$400 market is very competitive and confusing, but there are more options in this price point than ever before. The best value for the money under $400 is the Pixel 4a, which is based on the same principles as the higher-end ones. The software, features, and camera are the same, but at a considerable discount.
We have to give the next-best pick to the SAMSUNG GALAXY A42 5G because it is not available new these days. It has a great 5G connection, feature-rich software, and a processor that flies, and it is less than $400.