Smartphones are a major part of the consumer tech world, with many manufacturers offering diverse options with varying capabilities. Although smartphones still pale in comparison to the capabilities of a laptop, some manufacturers have found a way for their phones to be integrated with laptops, expanding the possibilities of collaboration.

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While models like the Samsung S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max are among the best phones today with top-tier features, their hefty price tags make them inaccessible to the majority of buyers. Fortunately, the budget smartphone segment is incredibly vast with exciting models from well-known brands. If you're looking to upgrade your device or get a second phone but don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, Game ZXC's guide spotlighting the best budget phones worth considering in 2024 is here to help.

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Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Budget Phones in 2024

The latest entry in Samsung's budget A Series, the A25, is a terrific smartphone for users on a budget. Launched in 2024, it also happens to be Game ZXC’s pick for the best overall budget phone. One of its strong points is that it is 5G enabled, allowing you to load websites quicker and enjoy fast download speeds, among other benefits. When compared with the A15, another budget Galaxy device that costs less, they both boast similarities in screen size, display technology (Super AMOLED), camera, and battery. However, the A25 outshines the A15 in peak brightness (1000 nits), processor (Exynos 1280), and RAM (6GB).

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The A25 may be classified as a cheap device, but you can still take decent photos with it. It ships with a triple-lens camera comprising a 50MP lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. Selfies also look nice thanks to the 13MP front camera. Whether you're watching a movie or listening to a song, the A25’s stereo speakers can create an immersive audio experience. Although the smartphone comes with 128GB storage, you can still upgrade it up to 1 terabyte using an SD card to store videos, songs, and other files.

A major flaw with this device and every recent Samsung device is that you don't get any additional accessories aside from the USB-C cable. The adapter must be bought separately. It also skips on wireless charging, a feature that some users' reviews claim would have increased its appeal beyond the budget segment. Despite these shortcomings, the Galaxy A25 has more than earned its place as one of the best budget phones to buy this year, mainly due to its superb offerings.

The Galaxy A15 is designed for shoppers looking for a cheap phone that still boasts a suite of attractive features. Dubbed one of Game ZXC’s best budget phones, the A15 is similar to the A25 except for a few differences. Like the A25, the Galaxy A15 ships with 5G connectivity, which makes browsing and downloads super fast. Available in Blue Black and Light Blue color variants, the device can handle basic tasks with ease thanks to the lower midrange smartphone chip MediaTek Dimensity 6100+. With a 4GB RAM device, you can afford to keep a few tabs open at once.

For a cheap smartphone, the A15 intends to stun owners with nice visuals. It sports a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display that renders vibrant colors with a peak brightness of up to 800 nits. Aside from getting a big 5,000 mAh battery, the phone can reach 100% from 0% quickly using its super-fast charging feature. As it is a budget device, you shouldn't expect it to support wireless charging. The 6100+ chipset is awesome for casual gaming, but players may experience lag during FPS gaming.

Despite its accessible $200 tag, the Motorola Moto G Power 5G is an amazing smartphone that delivers a premium feeling to users. Just like the Samsung A25 and A15, the Moto G Power ships with 5G capability. Feel free to stream movies and YouTube videos without buffering. Sporting a 6.5-inch display, the Moto G Power delivers vivid images whether you set it at a 90 Hz refresh rate or a 120 Hz refresh rate. Just note that the 120 Hz refresh rate drains the battery quicker as it needs more power to offer a superior visual experience. The phone’s design emphasizes more on the screen than bezels, allowing you to focus on what matters — the screen.

Capable of lasting for up to two days on a single charge, you can use this device for streaming, gaming, or video conferencing without worrying about the battery draining fast. Photos taken with the 50MP rear camera or the 16MP front camera look great. Running on Android 13 OS, the smartphone also comes with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage that is upgradeable to 1 TB. The MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor does a terrific job of optimizing the phone’s performance.

The Moto G Power offers better sound quality using Dolby Atmos technology. Whether you're watching a movie or streaming a song, the vocals sound better than on other cheap phones. Users have complained about the battery draining quicker than they expected, possibly because of the 5G feature. The fact that the phone comes with bloatware has also been frowned upon by users.

If you want a budget phone that boasts the design and features of a premium device, then you're better off with the Motorola Think Phone. Following the path paved by other smartphones in this guide, the Think Phone supports 5G internet. This means you'll enjoy super-fast download speeds with minimal latency experienced. The phone's 6.6-inch OLED display is slightly larger than the Moto G’s 6.5-inch screen. The Think Phone’s 144Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through apps feel more fluid than ever.

To make the device's screen resistant to damage when it falls, Motorola equips the Think Phone with Gorilla Glass Victus display protection. It also boasts an IP68 certification, meaning that the device is dust and dirt-resistant, and it can also handle being dipped in water. Another interesting thing about the Think Phone is that you can sync the device to your Lenovo ThinkPad for convenient integration of your phone and laptop for work. This allows you to expand your mobile workspace, opening the doors for greater productivity.

Regarding security updates, Motorola promises up to 4 years of updates. The device can also run Android OS versions up to 16. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 also makes it a decent phone to use for competitive gaming with minimal lag expected. Users have noted that while the device comes with stereo speakers, the second speaker is not as loud as the first. This makes the sound quality feel somewhat uneven. The camera software has also been faulted for being somewhat leggy. If you can live with these shortcomings, then the Motorola Think Phone is a terrific budget smartphone that delivers a premium experience.

The OnePlus Nord N30 is another remarkably cheap smartphone with a suite of interesting features worth considering. It ships with a large 6.7-inch screen which should give you more room to see opponents when playing games or characters when streaming movies. OnePlus opted for an LCD panel, which isn't a totally bad idea, but perhaps the manufacturer could have gone with an OLED panel. The refresh rate is 120Hz, which is pretty good for a phone at this price point. Scrolling through apps should be seamless most of the time.

OnePlus opted for a Snapdragon 695 chip, a fast mid-range chip that offers modest performance. Users should expect some lag when playing competitive titles like CODM on high graphics, so it's probably best to play on medium graphics. Images taken with the N30’s 108 MP rear camera look great with high detail. You don't have to worry about the battery running down quickly as the N30 has a 5,000 mAh battery that's been optimized for top performance. Besides, charging the device with the 67-watt super fast charging ensures that you get a full battery within minutes.

One of Game ZXC's best phones in 2024, it's no surprise that the Galaxy A54 makes yet another entry into the best budget phones list. Although it's marketed as a cheap smartphone, this device ships some premium features that will have you wondering if Samsung made a mistake by tagging it a “budget” phone. Recent Samsung smartphones have adopted a similar design, which has all of them looking premium, like the flagship S24 series. The device comes with superior screen protection thanks to Gorilla Glass S. It's also dust and water-resistant. The A54’s AMOLED display is super bright, allowing you to enjoy videos with vibrant images.

The A54 packs a triple-camera setup which allows you to take smooth photos in areas with high or low light. Equipped with Samsung's super-fast charging technology, going from 0% to 100% shouldn't take so long. Besides, the 5,000 mAh battery should last users the whole day unless they perform performance-hungry tasks like gaming. The A54’s 5G compatibility allows you to surf the internet seamlessly with fast download and streaming speeds guaranteed. Unfortunately, there's no headphone jack, but that doesn't have to be a dealbreaker unless you're a diehard fan of headphones. The fingerprint scanner has also been criticized for being sluggish at times.

How to Choose the Best Budget Phone

Now that you've used pricing as a filter to narrow the options, below are a few other factors to help you select the right device based on your needs.

Battery Life: It's best to aim for a smartphone that can last several hours on a single charge. Many cheap smartphones come with a 5,000 mAh battery that guarantees hours of usage. However, the battery will drain faster if you game, stream, or leave background data turned on. It's best to keep that in mind.

Camera: Contrary to the opinion that only flagship devices take the best photos, some cheap phones can take decent shots whether in bright or low-lit conditions. If you're going to be taking photos a lot with your device, it makes sense to research the camera specs of your preferred phone. It's also not bad to compare the camera quality of two devices just to get a better sense of what you are getting.

Display Panel: LCD panels are cheaper than OLED panels, and they're also more likely to last longer. However, they're not as bright as OLED panels. Since LCD panels are cheaper to pair with smartphones, many manufacturers rarely equip their cheap smartphones with an OLED panel, which is pricey. This doesn't mean that a couple of budget phones don't come with OLED displays. If vibrant colors and deeper contrast are a must-have for you, then narrow your search further to find the few budget phones with OLED displays to choose from.

Processor: The processor plays a critical role in determining how well the device can handle intensive tasks like gaming or video streaming. Most budget smartphones come with modest processors that won't deliver top-tier performance, but you won't complain about lag issues most of the time. Consider the processor and its capabilities, especially with performance-hungry apps, before making a decision.

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FAQ

Q: What phone is better than an iPhone?

The iPhone is a terrific phone series, and while it surpasses many Android devices today, some flagship models like the Samsung Series and Google Pixel are probably its best rivals in terms of camera, battery life, and all-round performance.

Q: What phone is most popular in the US?

The iPhone enjoys a significant market share of 50% in the US today, making it the most popular phone brand in the country.

Q: Can I get iOS on Android?

Although you can't get iOS on Android directly since it's built for only the iPhone, there are some iOS emulators online. Of course, these can't be compared to the real deal.