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Smartphones are a necessary part of everyday life, but even if you have some spare cash, no one enjoys shelling out more than a thousand dollars for minor improvements in performance, cameras, and design. Phones started to reach four figures a few years ago, and it looks like they will continue to get more expensive, especially if you’re the type who likes having the latest models. Not everyone is keen on going overboard with their spending, and for a phone worth $1,300, you might as well buy a full-blown laptop instead. While features like 5G and a lineup of five cameras on the back of a device may seem like they’re must-haves, for most users, taking an Instagram-worthy photo and being able to send messages reliably is all you really need. Flagship devices might be reaching astronomical prices, but thankfully, many Android phones on the market come at an affordable price. These devices continue to grow more powerful each year, with improved designs, performance, and more. If you aren’t a heavy user and need something cheap and reliable, we’ve gathered a list of the best affordable Android phones you can get your hands on in 2022.
You might’ve assumed that most 5G-capable smartphones come with a hefty price tag, but more and more affordable models are already 5G-ready these days. One example is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, which costs less than $500. It has a beautiful 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, and it doesn’t have any notch whatsoever. All you will notice is a small circle for its camera. This phone is an excellent choice, especially if you’re a gamer, because of its 120Hz refresh rate. Users can expect a decent performance from its Exynos 1280 processor, and the device comes with a total of 6GB RAM. The phone only comes with 128GB of internal storage, but you can quickly expand it up to 1TB by inserting a microSD card. Millions of people use their phones to create content on social media, and you will surely be glad to find out that the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G comes with a 64MP main camera. It also has a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, a 5MP depth camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. You can record 4K videos with a maximum frame rate of 30 fps. The phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery, and you can expect up to 12.5 hours of usage per charge. It supports fast charging, but you will need to purchase a 25W charger separately. You won’t have issues using the phone on vacations or road trips since it has IP67 water and dust resistance.
Beautiful display with 120Hz refresh rateExcellent designImpressive cameras for its priceExpandable storageWater and dust-resistant12.5-hour battery life
Performance could be betterLow RAMLacks a 3.5mm headphone jack
People love the Google Pixel 5a because it’s a budget-friendly smartphone with excellent cameras. It features a 12.2MP dual-pixel, a 16MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP front-facing camera. You can take high-quality Reels or Tiktoks because its rear camera can record videos with a maximum resolution of 4K at 60 fps. On the other hand, its front camera can only record 1080p videos at 30 fps. The phone has a sleek and modern design, and its 6.34-inch OLED display is high-quality and vibrant. It features an FHD+ resolution with HDR support and a >100,000:1 contrast ratio. Sadly, its display’s refresh rate is only 60Hz. The device has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, 6GB RAM, and 128GB storage, and users can expect impressive network speeds with this phone since it has 5G connectivity. It also supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The Google Pixel 5a is an excellent phone to have when you hate bringing a charger or power bank with you whenever you leave your house because it comes with a 4680 mAh battery. A single charge will give you around 12 hours of usage. Like most modern mobile devices, this phone supports fast charging, and the good thing is that it already comes with an 18W charger in the box. Customers will receive a 1-year warranty upon purchase.
Impressive camerasVibrant OLED displayExcellent performanceTop-notch battery life5G supportComes with an 18W charger
Display's refresh rate is only 60HzChipset is pretty outdatedNo microSD slot (storage isn't expandable)
The OnePlus Nord N20 5G proves that you can still get a magnificent smartphone even if you only have a $300 budget. The phone has 5G support, but you need to use T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Simple Mobile, or Metro by TMO. You will love browsing through social media or watching videos on the device because of its beautiful 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with no notch. A unique thing about it is that a fingerprint sensor is integrated underneath the display, allowing you to maximize the screen and have an easier time unlocking the device. The phone won’t be the best choice for those who plan to do a lot of mobile gaming because it only has a 60Hz refresh rate. Users can expect a decent performance from the phone because of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor. Like its rivals, its RAM is limited to 6GB. The phone has a storage capacity of 128GB, but if this isn’t enough, you can expand it to 512GB through its microSDXC slot. The OnePlus Nord N20 5G comes with a 16MP front camera, a 64MP wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera. It might not be the best phone to take videos for Instagram or Tiktok since it can only record 1080p video at 30 fps. The phone excels when it comes to its battery life because you can expect up to 11 hours and 20 minutes of usage per charge. When it’s time to recharge, you won’t have to wait too long because it supports 33W fast charging.
Highly affordableFantastic FHD+ AMOLED displayFingerprint sensor underneath the displayExpandable storageSuperb battery life33W fast charging
5G support is limitedNot the best camerasCan only record 1080p videos60Hz refresh rate
If you’re the type who likes using a smartphone with a stylus, the Moto G Stylus would be the perfect option for you. This phone just hit stores in 2022, and you can expect to pay around $300 for the variant with 128GB storage. They also have a 256GB model, but it would cost you an extra $100. You can also get more storage by using a microSD card. The device features a 6.8-inch Max Vision FHD display with IPS technology and a 90Hz refresh rate. Its selling point is its built-in stylus that will help you have an easier time taking notes, playing games, editing photos, etc. The smartphone offers users a decent performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 processor and 6GB RAM. It has a quad-camera system: a 50MP wide camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP depth camera, and a 16MP selfie camera. Unfortunately, its cameras can only record a maximum resolution of 1080p. The Moto G Stylus has a battery capacity of 4,000 mAh, and the brand says you can get up to 2 days of power per charge. They say you can browse the web continuously for 12 hours or listen to music for as much as 120 hours. The phone isn’t 5G capable, but it’s a decent compromise since it’s undeniably a cheap phone.
6.8-inch display with 90Hz refresh rateDecent performance for its priceBuilt-in stylusExpandable storageImpressive battery life
Not the best camerasDisappointing speakerLacks 5G supportSome might find its display to be too large
Not everyone will need a smartphone with top-of-the-line specs, and if you’re alright with settling for a basic phone, you should check out the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. This Samsung device, initially released in 2021, comes at a budget-friendly price of $214.99, which is a spectacular deal since the phone is 5G-enabled. It features a 6.5-inch LCD with a resolution of 720 x 1600 and a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a Mediatek Dimensity 720 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage. We know 64GB wouldn’t be enough for many, but what’s fantastic about the phone is that it comes with a microSD slot that allows you to get up to 1TB of storage. You might think the phone’s cameras would be the worst on the market, but, surprisingly, they’re pretty okay. It has a 48MP wide camera, 13MP front camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera. Its rear camera can record 4K footage at 30 fps, and you can get up to 120 fps when shooting in 1080p. The Galaxy A32 5G is equipped with a Li-Ion 5000 mAh battery, and you can expect up to about 11.5 hours when on 90Hz mode. Users can get up to an hour of extra battery life when on 60Hz mode only.
Super cheap90Hz refresh rateExcellent battery lifeDecent camerasExpandable storage
Low-quality displayNot the best performanceOnly 4GB RAMSpeakers could be improved
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