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Best Budget Phones 2026

You don't need to spend $800 to get a great phone. These picks deliver excellent performance, good cameras, and long software support for under $500.

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Motorola Moto G Power 5G smartphone
#1

Motorola

Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2025)

3.5
72/100

At $249, the Moto G Power 5G punches well above its weight. The 5,000mAh battery is nearly indestructible, the 50MP camera handles daylight photos well, and 5G connectivity future-proofs the purchase. Motorola's clean Android skin means snappy performance even at this price.

Android5GMediaTek Dimensity 70255,000mAh, 30W wired256GB
From $179 $249refurbished

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Samsung Galaxy A55 smartphone
#2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A55

4.0
79/100

The Galaxy A55 delivers a flagship-quality AMOLED display and excellent cameras at a fraction of flagship cost. The 5,000mAh battery routinely lasts two days, 5G is included, and Samsung promises four years of OS updates — remarkable for this price range.

Android5GExynos 14805,000mAh, 25W wired128GB / 256GB
From $299 $449refurbished

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Apple iPhone SE 4th generation smartphone
#3

Apple

iPhone SE (4th generation)

4.0
80/100

The iPhone SE 4 brings the A18 chip — same as the iPhone 16 — in a $499 package. It's the best choice for families buying kids their first iPhone, for anyone upgrading from an older SE, or for iPhone loyalists on a tight budget. Parental controls in iOS are unmatched by any Android at any price.

iOS5GApple A183,279mAh, 20W wired128GB / 256GB
From $379 $499refurbished
From $0/mowith trade-in

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Google Pixel 10a smartphone
#4

Google

Google Pixel 10a

4.0
84/100

The Pixel 10a delivers Google's excellent Tensor G5 chip and the company's best-in-class computational photography at $499. You get seven years of software updates, a clean Android experience with no bloatware, and Pixel's signature AI photo tools — at a price that makes flagship rivals look wasteful.

Android5GGoogle Tensor G55,000mAh, 18W wired128GB
From $399 $499refurbished

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