The best cheap phones mean you can enjoy the features you need most without spending a fortune. These days, there are plenty of great handsets out there. That’s why we’ve ranked the top options below so you get the best value for money.
Most of the phones below may not be on a par with the best phones overall, but they’re still excellent value for money, and offer a lot more than you would expect for the price.
We’ve fully reviewed each of them so you can be confident that they’re as good as they sound too. For each phone, we’ve used them as our main handset for an extended period of time, wile testing out their key features.
This guide will help you figure out which one is the best cheap phone for you, while listing pros and cons. After all, with any cheap phone, you’ll need to make some compromises. Figure out what’s essential for you before you dive in. Do you need a good screen? Prefer great battery life? Maybe you want a good quality camera instead? Below will be all the phones that will help you find the right fit for you.
If you can afford to spend a bit more, check out our guides to the best Android phones, best iPhones, and best camera phones to find a better fit.
Best cheap phones 2022
1. Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC
The best budget phone
Specifications
Weight: 215g
Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.67-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2400
CPU: Snapdragon 732G
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64GB / 128GB
Battery: 5,160mAh
Rear camera: 64MP (wide) + 13MP (ultrawide, 119-degree) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth)
Front camera: 20MP
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Reasons to buy
+Excellent battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Sometimes erratic backlight
It’s rare to get a 120Hz screen on a budget, but that’s exactly what you get with the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC. That can make interactions feel smoother, and its 6.67-inch 1080 x 2400 screen is large and fairly sharp too, as well as supporting HDR10.
And it’s not just the screen that stands out, as the Poco X3 NFC also has a fairly powerful Snapdragon 732G chipset, which we found offered excellent gaming performance for the money. With a big 5,160mAh battery too (which we found offered up to two days of life with moderate use) this really is a remarkable cheap phone.
There are some compromises, most notably when it comes to the camera, which isn’t as good as some others at this end of the market, but for gaming, video, and most general use, the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC is hard to beat without spending quite a bit more.
Read our full review: Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC
2. Moto G9 Power
The best budget phone for battery life
Specifications
Weight: 221g
Dimensions: 172.1 x 76.8 x 9.7mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.8-inch
Resolution: 720 x 1640
CPU: Snapdragon 662
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 6,000mAh
Rear camera: 64MP (wide) + 2MP (macro) + 2MP (depth)
Front camera: 16MP
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+Spacious screen
Reasons to avoid
-On the bulky side
Motorola consistently makes some of the best cheap phones, and the Moto G9 Power is among its best affordable handsets yet, thanks in large part to its massive 6,000mAh battery. That’s far bigger than the batteries in most phones of any budget, including most other Motorola phones, and we found that it translates into almost two days of life with average use.
But the Moto G9 Power also has a similarly massive 6.8-inch screen, which – while only 720 x 1640 – means it’s great for watching movies on.
With expandable storage too, plus 20W fast charging and a triple-lens camera (led by a 64MP lens), there’s a lot to like here, though it’s a bit on the bulky side and only offers average performance. Still, there aren’t many powerful phones at this end of the market, so that’s not the biggest of issues.
Read our full review: Moto G9 Power
3. Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro
The best cheap 5G phone
Specifications
Weight: 179.5g
Dimensions: 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6.43-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2400
CPU: MediaTek Helio G96
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 64GB/128/256GB
Battery: 5,000mAh
Rear camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP
Front camera: 16MP
Reasons to buy
+Looks great
Reasons to avoid
-Bloated software
At this price range, the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro has all the key elements. It looks pretty nice thanks to a shiny, two-tone back while offering the features you need most.
There’s a serviceable 6.6-inch LCD screen with a 1080 x 2400 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate – the latter being a nice touch at this price range. In addition, you get dual-lens 50MP and 8MP rear cameras and a built-in night mode that does an okay job of things.
And, of course, there’s the all-important 5G connection which ensures you’re up to speed with the latest trends. Up to two days of battery life rounds off the neat bunch of features.
