Although the best cheap phones in 2023 might not offer premium features including 200MP main camera that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has, they have enough high-end capabilities that will be worth your money.
After looking at multiple budget phones that cost lower than $500, we came to a conclusion that it is possible for customers to find everything they are looking for in affordable phones. No matter what model you are keen on buying, you do not have to necessarily spend around $800 on a device when you can get it for a couple of hundreds of dollars less. However, you have to trade off some features, like the most powerful processors or versatile zoom cameras. It has been seen in many cases that the camera is decent enough to get the it done. Here in this article of TechTrends, we will take a look at the best cheap phones in 2023. Without further ado, let’s get to it.
Best Cheap Phones in 2023
Modern smartphones are incredible as they are like mini-supercomputers that fit in your pocket when compared with the big ones in the past. With the technology improving every day and getting cheaper, we have made a list of the best cheap phones in 2023 you can buy.
- Google Pixel 6a: The best cheap phone overall
- iPhone SE 2022: The best cheap iPhone
- OnePlus Nord N20 5G: The best phone under $300
- Motorola Edge 2022: Motorola’s Pixel 6a challenger
- TCL 30 V 5G: A cheap phone alternative for Verizon customers
1. Google Pixel 6a
- Display: 1 inches (2400 x 1080)
- CPU: Tensor G1
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB / No
- Rear camera: 2MP main (f/1.7), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2)
- Front camera: 8MP (f/2.0)
- Weight: 3 ounces
The Google Pixel 7a will be here in the middle of 2023, but until that time, the Pixel 6a stays among the best cheap phones in 2023. Although the camera is decent and stands out on Google’s budget devices, the battery life is disappointing. This phone relies on computational photography to offer the greatest images with this price tag, just like its predecessors. Moreover, the photos it takes are able to challenge the ones that more expensive devices take. Unlike the second phone on the list of the best cheap phones of 2023, this on supports a night mode.
In addition, a Tensor chipset powers this incredibly low-budget phone, which is the same silicon that Google’s Pixel 6 flash ships have inside. It begins at $150 more than this phone on the list. Therefore, the same incredible AI-powered tricks are available here. Its price tag is $449 but it offers lots of options and value. If you want it to be slightly better in performance, then add an extra $150 for the Pixel 7 and its newer Tensor chipset. This is yet another one of the best cheap phones in 2023.
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2. iPhone SE 2022
- Water resistance: IP67; max 3.3 feet (1 meter) for 30 minutes
- Display: 7-inch LCD (1334×750)
- Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.8)
- Front camera: 7MP (ƒ/2.2)
- CPU: A15 Bionic
The next one of the best cheap phones in 2023 is iPhone SE, which is the new third-generation that has the lightening-fast A15 Bionic processor that the 2019 iPhones had, but it is in the frame of the iPhone 8. Since it repurposes the design of iPhone 8, it additionally advantages from the water resistance that iPhone 8 had. The rating is IP67, which means it can survive a submersion of 1 meter for 30 minutes.
However, the amazing price tag is the most important thing that makes this waterproof phone so special. It costs $429 and is the most inexpensive IP-rated, waterproof iPhone on the market. Moreover, it is better than many of the reasonably-priced Android phones out there. Wireless charging is also supported on this phone and the design is made of aluminum and glass, which makes it extraordinarily top rate as opposed to Android phones with a similar price.
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3. OnePlus Nord N20 5G
- Display: 43-inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080)
- CPU: Snapdragon 695
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB / Yes
- Rear cameras: 64MP (f/1.8) main, 2MP (f/2.4) monochrome, 2MP (f/2.4) macro
- Front camera: 16MP (f/2.4)
- Weight: 1 ounces
The OnePlus Nord N20 5G can be utilized to illustrate how U.S. users are getting bamboozled with the Nord line-up. In other regions of the planet, people enjoy the more full-featured OnePlus Nord 2; but here, we get a device with a lower price and stripped-down specs to match.
There are things to like about the OnePlus Nord N20 5G, most remarkably, it gives you a 5G network in a device that costs under $300. The Nord N20 might be one of the least expensive 5G telephones accessible. You also get other strong highlights, such as a decent AMOLED display and excellent battery duration.
Other features of the Nord N20 5G frustrate, as the camera enhancements we’ve seen on other late OnePlus telephones have ignored this model. In any case, at $282, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G is a good value that will please bargain hunters just looking to add 5G connectivity. If you are making a list of the best cheap phones in 2023 that you can buy out there, don’t forget this one.
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4. Motorola Edge 2022
- Display: 6 inches (2400 x 1080)
- CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 1050
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
- Rear camera: 50MP wide (ƒ/1.8); 13MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2); depth sensor
- Front camera: 32MP (ƒ/2.45)
- Weight: 99 ounces
The next one on the list is Motorola’s latest model, which offers the goods for gamers. Motorola Edge has a refresh rate of 144Hz for Android phones. Moreover, it has 8GB or 12GB RAM. Therefore, the performance will be great, making it one of the best cheap phones in 2023. You can have some of the premium features without the need to spend a lot of money. The cost of this phone is $498.
However, there is a flaw with the Edge and that is its battery life. Fortunately, with the help of the 30W charger, you can get back to the game again very fast. If you don’t prioritize having a telephoto camera or a glass back panel, this is the phone for you. This is yet another one of the best budget phones in 2023.
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5. TCL 30 V 5G
- Display: 67 inches (2400 x 1080)
- CPU: Snapdragon 480 5G
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB / Yes
- Rear camera: 50MP (f/1.9) wide, 5MP (f/2.2) ultrawide, 2MP macro
- Front camera: 16MP
- Weight: 1 ounces
Those who are a fan of Verizon and need a long-term 5G phone that can take advantage of the carrier’s quickest speed, should take a look at TCL 30 V 5G. This is yet another 5G phone that is not going to cost a lot of money as can be bought for less than $300.
Just like many of the factors of TCL phones, it delivers a big, expansive display with incredible colors. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 480 5G, which may not be a blazing performance, but you have to trade somethings off to get what you want. For those who are a fan of Verizon and do not care about buying the TCL 30 V 5G from the carrier, this is a save of money.