For now, the new iPhone SE offers the most bang for your buck as far as devices go, but you can still get amazing deals on slightly older Galaxy, Pixel, and Moto devices. Both the iPhone SE and iPhone 11 have the same A13 Bionic chipset, which is future-talk for “the phone runs well and the camera looks good.” Basically, even though the iPhone SE looks like an older iPhone model with its smaller screen and home screen button (which I missed), it will run similarly to an iPhone 11, making it one of the best cheap smartphones on the market today. Check out our in-depth iPhone SE review if you want more details on this awesomely cheap smartphone. The most impressive feature on the Galaxy A50 has to be its camera. Here are the camera specs for the Galaxy A50:
Triple-camera setup Primary: 25 MP sensor with 26mm-equivalent f/1.7 lens Ultra-wide: 8 MP sensor with 13mm-equivalent f/2.2 lens 5 MP depth-sensing sensor with f/2.2 lens PDAF autofocus LED flash 1080p/30fps video
Comparatively, the iPhone SE only has a single-camera setup and a 12-megapixel sensor. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy A50 is over here offering a triple-camera setup and 25-megapixel sensor for the same price. It also doesn’t have the sleak iOS interface that many of us have come to love. Yes, that is me admitting my bias as an iPhone user. It’s hard to beat the user experience that Apple offers on its devices. But if you prefer the Android interface and don’t mind some occasional lag on your phone, the Galaxy A50 is easily one of the best cheap smartphones available. The most standout feature on the Google Pixel 3a has to be its screen resolution. The phone comes with a 5.6-inch OLED display with a 2220x1080 resolution. Oh, what’s the resolution for the iPhone 11 you ask? It’s 1792x828, which just so happens to be worse than the Google Pixel 3a. So, the Google Pixel 3a kills the display game, and has a 12.2-megapixel camera (along with a cool Night Sight feature) to boot. All in all, it’s a pretty awesome package despite not being the newest kid on the block. In case you’re curious, the longest we’ve seen a Moto G Power battery last was four days. My iPhone X feels like it runs out of battery after four hours. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t care much for bells and whistles and wants a phone that won’t suddenly die on you, the Moto G Power is the best in its class. What are the best cheap smartphones?
Best cheap iPhone: The iPhone SE is the newest midtier phone on the market, and it certainly feels like it should be more expensive than it is. The biggest callout is that the iPhone SE has the same chipset as the much pricier iPhone 11, which means it’s much speedier than the average midtier phone. Best cheap Android: The Samsung Galaxy A50 has the most impressive camera that we’ve seen amongst the cheap smartphones. It’s triple-camera setup and 25-MP sensor takes photos that rival most premier smartphones. If the Android lifestyle is your preference, this is the best cheap Android available. Best cheap Google Pixel: The Google Pixel 3a’s claim to fame is its amazing screen resolution that even beats out the iPhone 11. It’s the crispest resolution that we’ve seen amongst the midtier smartphones. Best battery power: The Moto G8 Power has an unbelievably strong battery for its price. You can use your Moto Power for up to four days without charging, assuming you’re not streaming or gaming non-stop. If battery power is your number one concern, the Moto Power is the best in the business.
Do you have any thoughts on these cheap smartphones? Do you have a cheap smartphone that you prefer over the ones we recommend here? Let us know in the comments below. Oh, and make sure to check out the latest cheap smartphone deals here if you’re shopping for a new device. If you’ve been feeling the need to upgrade your internet connection, here’s some of our top picks for internet providers.