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One of the things that people often say when it comes to smartphones is that they are too expensive. High-end smartphones can cost around $1,000 or more, and that’s money that not everyone is willing to spend on a single device. Those who are usually willing to spend big bucks on a phone need its high-end features like a blazing-fast processor, a pro camera system, lots of storage space, and a high-quality screen with a high refresh rate. The truth is that not everyone needs all these premium features, and if this is the case for you, you would be better off buying a cheap phone instead. There are many affordable smartphone choices on the market with less impressive specs, but they’re still enough for basic tasks like texting, calling, and browsing the web. Believe it or not, there are great smartphones for just $200 or less. These may not be as powerful as other phones that are considered high-end, but you’re still getting a pretty decent phone for what you’re spending. You don’t need to look anywhere else because we’ve done the research for you and gathered a list of the best budget-friendly smartphones you can purchase in 2022.
Samsung’s Galaxy line is one of the premiere flagship phones out there but let’s face it, some of their high-end models are too heavy on the budget. The good news is that the Samsung Galaxy A13 is well worth your time and money despite its cheap price tag. The Samsung Galaxy A13 was released in 2022, costing around $190. While it’s not made from the same high-quality materials as the high-end Galaxy series, the A13 still has a ton of good specs that make it a good buy. Its CPU and GPU are Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G52, respectively. With an Exynos 850 chipset, it also becomes a very powerful budget phone. One of the main selling points of the Galaxy A13 is its 6.6-inch LCD. The phone offers one of the best displays on this list, making it a suitable device for media playing and viewing your work files. Moreover, the phone has a long-lasting 5,000 mAh battery, and you can get about 16 hours of web browsing or video playback per charge. This battery life is enough for browsing social media or binge-watching your favorite shows. The downside to the A13 is that it only has 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The storage problem can be solved by using a microSD card or a cloud storage service. However, there isn’t much you can do about the RAM. The A13 also comes with a headphone jack which is a good thing as you don’t have to spend extra on those expensive Bluetooth headsets. The phone has a 50MP wide camera, 5MP ultrawide camera, a 2MP macro camera, a 2MP depth camera, and 8MP wide selfie camera. Both its rear and front-facing cameras can only record 1080p videos at 30 fps, which isn’t surprising since it’s an ultra-affordable device. The A13 supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, so you won’t have issues with your network and wireless accessories. Unlocking the device is easy and simple because it comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader. One thing to note about the phone is that it only comes with a USB charging cable and ejection pin, so you’ll still have to purchase a power adapter separately.
Excellent display for its priceDecent 50MP main cameraExcellent build qualityDecent battery lifeExpandable storage via microSD card
Limited RAM and internal storageOther cameras are underwhelmingPerformance could be betterNot 5G-readyDoesn't come with a power adapter 
Since reemerging as a phone manufacturer a few years back, Nokia has been known to release exceptional quality budget phones. They may not be able to contend with Samsung and Apple yet, but they’re the budget king of smartphones. If you ask us, their best so far is the Nokia G2o. What makes it great is its internal makings. It includes an octa-core CPU, a PowerVR GE8320 GPU, and a MediaTek chipset. All of these make the Nokia G20 a good phone capable of many tasks. It can run high-end games in medium settings. Besides that, you shouldn’t expect any major delays or lag issues when using the G20 for many different purposes. To make things even better, the phone has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It comes with a dedicated microSDXC slot, so you can quickly get more space when needed. Overall, the Nokia G20 provides a powerful punch for a smartphone that’s less than $200. What’s also worth noting is that the phone has a 5,050 mAh battery, one of the biggest on this list. You can expect at least 11 hours of usage before you run out of juice. The phone’s primary camera is an impressive 48MP quad-camera, so you can take some fantastic shots and videos with it. There are very few restrictions when it comes to the camera but if you want to get the most out of it, avoid using it in entirely dark rooms as it can get grainy. It also comes with a 5MP ultrawide camera, 2MP macro camera, 2MP depth camera, and 8MP selfie camera, but their performance is pretty underwhelming. Other noteworthy features the device has is its dual sim support, side-mount fingerprint scanner, and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The phone has a pre-applied screen protector, USB Type-C cable, and charging adapter. Overall, the Nokia G20 is a good budget phone with many excellent parts that you won’t typically find in a budget phone.
Fantastic battery lifeDual sim supportExpandable storageSide-mount fingerprint scannerBluetooth 5.0 connectivityDecent main camera
Could use more processing powerOnly 4GB of RAM720p displayNot 5G-capableOther cameras are underwhelmingSlow charging speed
Motorola used to be well-known for their iconic flip phones, but they have kept up with the times and created modern touchscreen smartphones as well. A new model for their Moto G Power was released in 2022, and while it used to be worth around $250, you can now get it for less than $200 on Amazon. Because it has a water-repellent coating, you can feel confident bringing the phone with you on vacations or road trips. It features a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD screen, and you’ll love watching videos or playing games on it because it has a 90Hz refresh rate. Users can trust that the device will be fast and efficient enough for their day-to-day tasks because it has a MediaTek G37 Helio 2.3 GHz processor with HyperEngine technology. It only comes with 4GB of RAM, which might not be ideal for those who have to do heavy multitasking. Its internal storage is 128GB, and you can still get more space by using a microSD card. The phone’s 50MP wide camera is excellent for taking content for your social media, but its 8MP selfie camera, 2MP macro camera, and 2MP depth camera aren’t too impressive. It has a unique feature called Dual Capture, which allows you to shoot simultaneously with the rear and front camera. The maximum video resolution it can capture is 1080p at 30 fps. Unlocking the Moto G Power is quick and convenient because of its fingerprint scanner and face recognition. The device is Wi-Fi hotspot ready, supporting 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi. Its battery life is impressive because you can get up to 30 hours of usage per charge. You get a free USB Type-C cable and 10W rapid charger upon purchase.
Beautiful 6.5-inch HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rateWater-repellent coatingGenerous amount of internal storageTerrific 50MP wide cameraFantastic battery life
720p displayPhone has thick bezelsOther cameras are disappointingSlow charging speeds
If the most important feature you’re looking for in a phone is 5G connectivity, the TCL 30 XE 5G would be the best option for you. This phone is 5G-ready and would only cost you $198 in 2022. It’s a budget option, so it’s no surprise that it has a plastic back and frame that doesn’t feel too premium. The device features a 6.52-inch LCD screen with an impressive 90Hz refresh rate. It uses an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor that promises a snappy performance that’s excellent for a device with an affordable price tag. Sadly, your productivity will still be limited because of its 4GB RAM. The TCL 30 XE 5G won’t make your jaw drop with its internal storage because you only get 64GB. The good thing is that it has a microSDXC slot that lets you get up to 512GB of extra space. The phone doesn’t keep up with its competitors in the camera department because it only has a 13MP wide camera, an 8MP selfie camera, a 2MP depth camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The device comes with all the modern technology most smartphones have, like a fingerprint reader, facial recognition, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.1 technology. It’s equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery, and TCL says you get up to 15 days of standby time or 25 hours of talk time per charge.
5G connectivityDecent CPU performance for its priceExcellent battery lifeExpandable storage6.5-inch display with 90Hz refresh rateFacial recognition and fingerprint reader
Limited RAM and internal storageDisappointing camerasScreen is dim and low-resCharging speed could be faster
Even if Samsung has many newer phones to choose from, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is still an excellent budget-friendly device to get in 2022. It was a widely popular Android phone in 2021, and it’s perfect for those who want an entry-level option that won’t empty your pockets. The phone has a 6.5-inch display, but its resolution isn’t the best. It’s powered by a Mediatek Helio P35, which is sufficient for basic tasks and browsing. If you need more processing power for heavier workloads, this might not be your best option. The device only has 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Its microSD slot allows you to expand its storage, or you can also opt for a cloud storage service. Like most budget phones, the Galaxy A12 only has one decent camera: its 48MP wide main camera. You won’t be too impressed with the quality of photos or videos you’ll get from its 2MP depth camera, 2MP macro camera, 8MP front-facing camera, and 5MP ultrawide camera. The phone’s 5,000 mAh battery promises up to 16 hours of web browsing or 15 hours of video playback on a single charge. It only supports up to 15W charging, so its rivals beat it when it comes to charging speed.
Excellent designImpressive battery lifeMicroSD slot
Not the best CPU performanceOnly 1 of its cameras is decentSlow charging speedLimited RAM and storage
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