One of the best telephones beneath $500 actually do not sacrifice a lot compared to gadgets with a lot greater costs. Even higher, there’s quite a lot of competitors on this midrange house, making telephones on this value vary the primary you need to think about when you’re able to improve or on the lookout for a vacation present. These telephones sometimes price between $400 and $500 whereas providing options like excessive refresh charge screens, 5G and pictures processing software program. However put together for some tradeoffs, reminiscent of lower-quality cameras or an older processor.Â
Even at their decrease costs, the most effective telephones beneath $500 might hit many of the options in your guidelines. Searching for an enormous 6.5-inch display? Many of those telephones have that, or there are additionally smaller shows if that is your desire. Want a fantastic digital camera? You may discover that in most of those picks. Most of those telephones do not skimp on software program updates both, with their makers promising at minimal three years of safety updates.
There are some compromises made to maintain prices low, and every firm takes a special strategy to make these cuts much less noticeable. Apple’s iPhone SE and Google’s Pixel 6A, as an illustration, have a smaller display and older digital camera setup, but embrace new processors and software program from these firms. Samsung’s Galaxy A53 has a spacious display and spectacular battery life, though it runs on a much less highly effective processor than the Galaxy S22. And the Moto G Stylus 5G takes good pictures, gives a roomy 256GB of house and throws in a stylus, however Motorola would not present software program assist for so long as its rivals.
Images and video particularly are areas the place these telephones priced beneath $500 take a noticeable hit compared to their costlier counterparts, however photo-processing software program ought to assist decide up a number of the slack. As an illustration, whereas the iPhone SE has a single 12-megapixel digital camera that doesn’t assist night time pictures, its A15 Bionic chip does enable for Apple’s Deep Fusion processing. It is a comparable scenario for the Pixel 6A, which makes use of a 12-megapixel essential digital camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, but can improve these pictures with processing powered by the cellphone’s Tensor chip.
You’ll be able to see the professionals and cons of every of those telephones under, with extra particulars accessible in our full opinions.
Finest telephones beneath $500
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The Pixel 6A replaces the Pixel 5A because the $449 budget-friendly model of its flagship cellphone. CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco known as it the “greatest Android cellphone beneath $500” in her Pixel 6A overview, calling out the way it retains the identical Tensor chip seen within the $599 Pixel 6 and lots of of its options.
The cellphone is barely smaller than the Pixel 6, that includes a 6.1-inch OLED show and a refresh charge of 60Hz. And it has the same digital camera to the Pixel 5A, together with a 12.2-megapixel essential digital camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera. However by together with the Tensor chip, pictures can profit from its Actual Tone pores and skin tone characteristic, Face Unblur, Evening Sight for darker pictures and the Magic Eraser for eradicating undesirable parts from a photograph.
Regardless that the cellphone is just a few months outdated, there are already events through which the Pixel 6A is discounted even additional to $299, which is an unbelievable worth.
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The $450 Samsung Galaxy A53 consists of most of the greatest options seen within the Galaxy S22 line, with a number of tradeoffs to hit that cheaper price. The cellphone features a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 2,400×1,080-pixel decision, 5G assist and a long-lasting 5,000-mAh battery. The cellphone additionally comes with a 64-megapixel essential digital camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, 5-megapixel macro digital camera and 5-megapixel depth digital camera.
However a specific excessive level for this cellphone is Samsung’s pledge to supply 4 years of software program assist, along with transport with Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1.
Learn our Samsung Galaxy A53 5G overview.
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The $429 iPhone SE is a mixture of an older design with the newest smartphone options, together with Apple’s A15 Bionic chip and 5G assist. It is also one of many few telephones in the marketplace that features a smaller, 4.7-inch display.
It is that throwback design, which continues the final form that Apple has used since 2014, that could possibly be what you like or dislike most about this cellphone. In order for you a bigger iPhone on this value vary, you can too think about the iPhone 11, and get a much bigger display and Face ID. However that cellphone doesn’t embrace 5G connectivity.
The cellphone additionally solely consists of one 12-megapixel essential digital camera, which doesn’t assist night time mode. Most different telephones on this roundup embrace a number of cameras and options like night time mode, making the omission noticeable. Nevertheless, pictures make up for this by together with the Deep Fusion photo-processing approach to reinforce medium-to-low mild pictures, and Sensible HDR4 processing for bettering shade and distinction. CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland did discover that video shot in 4K decision at 60 frames per second is especially good on the iPhone SE, however it is not going to embrace the Cinematic Mode seen on the iPhone 13.
Learn our Apple iPhone SE overview.
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The $500 Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is among the greatest stylus-equipped telephones you may get proper now, particularly for the worth. You get Android 12, 5G connectivity, a big 6.8-inch display and a spacious 256GB of storage. Sadly, the cellphone is barely promised one software program replace and three years of safety updates, which is a a lot shorter timeline than the 4 years promised by Samsung for the Galaxy A53.
But if you would like a stylus-equipped cellphone, the following step-up possibility is the considerably costlier Galaxy S22 Extremely at $1,200.
Learn our Moto G Stylus 5G overview.
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With the launch of the iPhone 14 collection, Apple discontinued the $500Â iPhone 11, however it’s nonetheless broadly accessible. It is perhaps a number of generations outdated, however this cellphone continues to be greater than succesful, dealing with gaming properly and outfitted with two very good rear cameras. It’s lacking 5G assist, which is more and more bettering as wi-fi carriers spend money on the community, however the cellphone will work nice on LTE and Wi-Fi. The iPhone 11 additionally doesn’t assist MagSafe equipment, which had been launched alongside the iPhone 12.
Simply be aware that some locations could also be promoting refurbished variations of the cellphone since Apple itself is not promoting new iPhone 11 fashions. Finest Purchase doesn’t carry any unlocked fashions, so you will have to enroll in a service plan by both AT&T, Verizon, T-Cellular or Dash.
Learn our Apple iPhone 11 overview.
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The Nothing Telephone 1 is not accessible within the US. However for international locations the place the cellphone is out there, it affords a placing design and first rate specs for the cash. The £399 cellphone (which converts to roughly $480 or AU$700) is adorned with LED strips on the again, every of which known as a “glyph,” that mild up for alerts and notifications. That design is accompanied by two 50-megapixel cameras: a large angle and an ultrawide. Across the entrance is a 6.55-inch 120Hz show with a 2,400-by-1,080-pixel decision and a 16-megapixel selfie digital camera. The cellphone runs on a Snapdragon 778G Plus chip, with fashions that begin with 8GB of reminiscence and 128GB of storage.
All that quantities to a cellphone that compares properly throughout the value vary, particularly given its digital camera high quality and appears. However for now, we’ll need to see if future Nothing cellphone fashions find yourself getting a launch within the US.
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How we take a look at telephones
CNET assessments telephones by utilizing them each day and evaluating them with competing telephones to evaluate their worth. We think about quite a lot of components, such because the cellphone’s display, cameras, battery life, software program, efficiency, options and ease of use.
For low-priced telephones, we be certain that these gadgets persistently work properly when utilized in quite a lot of conditions. This consists of many day-to-day actions like studying the information, listening to music, watching movies, texting, enjoying video games and multitasking.Â
We take a look at cellphone cameras in a spread of environments, taking take a look at pictures outside within the daytime and nighttime, and indoors in darker settings. We use cameras in energetic environments, like a live performance or a sports activities sport, and with quite a lot of topics together with folks, objects and pets. We additionally take a look at accessible digital camera settings, particularly these which can be rarer in these value ranges reminiscent of Evening mode and Portrait mode.
These anecdotal cellphone experiences are additionally mixed with benchmark assessments reminiscent of Geekbench efficiency testing and battery testing. We monitor battery life in two methods: By seeing how a lot energy is usually left after a day of regular utilization and by seeing how a lot battery is depleted throughout a extra intensive hour with the cellphone. For the latter take a look at, we’ll examine how the cellphone’s battery holds as much as a collection of video calls, gaming, video streaming and internet searching.
Telephones beneath $500 FAQs
Are cheaper telephones value it?
For many individuals, a cellphone that prices lower than $500 will doubtless have every part you want for communication, pictures and leisure. In some instances, the telephones even present a number of the newest options seen on higher-end telephones like easy 120Hz refresh charges and a number of cameras.
Nevertheless, you ought to be conscious of — and OK with — the restrictions a cellphone might have in comparison with its costlier counterparts. As an illustration, if you would like an iPhone with a much bigger display than the iPhone SE and iPhone 11’s screens, your subsequent most suitable choice is the $899 iPhone 14 Plus. That is far exterior the $500 value vary, however you additionally get extra advantages like an improved digital camera.Â
However, if you would like a cellphone with a much bigger display and if working Android is ok, you will have loads of choices which can be beneath $500.
Are you able to get digital camera on a less expensive cellphone?
Sure, you will discover a number of cheaper telephones that take nice pictures, whether or not it is by the digital camera accessible on the machine, photograph processing software program on the cellphone or — is most frequently the case — a mix of each.Â
Apple’s iPhone SE consists of the A15 Bionic chip, which helps Sensible HDR4 processing and Apple’s Deep Fusion processing. Sensible HDR4 helps with bettering shade and distinction, whereas the Deep Fusion processing helps with medium- to low-light environments. CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland put collectively a sampling of pictures and movies taken on the cellphone throughout his overview, which may be watched on the CNET Highlights YouTube channel. Nevertheless, the iPhone SE additionally has just one 12-megapixel digital camera, and that digital camera doesn’t assist night time pictures.
Over on the Android facet, the Google Pixel 6A consists of the corporate’s Tensor chip, which brings pictures options like Actual Tone for capturing extra correct pores and skin tones, Face Unblur for fixing an individual’s face and Magic Eraser for eradicating undesirable objects. But it surely has a 12-megapixel essential digital camera paired up with a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, which takes good pictures however is a transparent step down from the 50-megapixel essential digital camera seen on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7.
Samsung’s Galaxy A53 is an attention-grabbing case: Iit has a essential 64-megapixel digital camera alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro digital camera and 5-megapixel depth digital camera. Whereas that is extra megapixels than the 50-megapixel essential digital camera on the Galaxy S22, the picture element is a step down with the S22 capable of produce pictures with higher distinction and sharpness.
What makes these telephones cheaper?
Every firm takes a special strategy towards cheaper telephones.
The iPhone SE, for instance, has a current Apple processor packed inside an in any other case dated cellphone design. Google’s Pixel 6A likewise consists of the brand new Tensor processor, however makes use of an older 12.2-megapixel essential digital camera as an alternative of the 50-megapixel essential digital camera discovered on the $599 Pixel 6.
Samsung’s Galaxy A53 takes the other strategy. It features a processor that is slower than the Galaxy S22’s however consists of different fashionable options like a display with a excessive refresh charge.
Telephones beneath $500 comparability
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G vs. Google Pixel 6A vs. Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. Nothing Telephone 1 vs. Apple iPhone 11
| Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Google Pixel 6A | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Nothing Telephone 1 | iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show dimension, decision | 6.5-inch AMOLED (2,400×1,080 pixels); 120 Hz | 6.8-inch LTPS LCD FHD+; 2,460 x1,080 pixels; 120 Hz | 6.1-inch OLED; (1080 x 2400); 60Hz | 4.7-inch LCD; (1,334×750 pixels); 60 Hz | 6.55-inch OLED show, 2,400 x1080 pixels; | 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina; 1,792×828 pixels |
| Pixel density | 405ppi | TBD | 429 ppi | 326ppi | 402ppi | 326ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in | 6.65 x 2.98 x 0.37 in | 6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 in | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in | 5.94×2.98×0.33 in | |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm | 168.9 x 75.8 x 9.3 mm | 152.2 x 7.18 x 8.9 mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm | 150.9×75.7×8.3 mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 6.67 oz; 189g | 7.58 oz; 215 g | 6.3 oz; 178g | 5.09 oz; 144g | 193.5g | 6.84 oz; 194g |
| Cellular software program | Android 12 | Android 12 | Android 12 | iOS 15 | Android 13 | iOS 13 |
| Digicam | 64-megapixel (huge), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 5-megapixel (macro), 5-megapixel (depth) | 50-megapixel (huge), 8-megapixel (ultrawide/macro), 2-megapixel (depth) | 12.2-megapixel (huge), 12-megapixel extremely huge) | 12-megapixel (huge) | 50-megapixel (essential), 50-megapixel (ultra-wide) | 12-megapixel (huge), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) |
| Entrance-facing digital camera | 32-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 7-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 12-megapixel with Face ID |
| Video seize | 4K | 1,080p | 4K | 4K | 4K at 60fps | 4K |
| Processor | Exynos 1280 | Snapdragon 695 5G | Google Tensor | Apple A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 778G+ | Apple A13 Bionic |
| RAM/Storage | 6GB/128GB | 8GB/256GB | 6GB RAM/128GB storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 8GB + 128GB, 8GB +256 GB, 12GB RAM + 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Expandable storage | As much as 1TB | As much as 1TB | None | NA | None | None |
| Battery/Charger | 5,000 mAh (charger not included, doesn’t assist wi-fi charging) | 5,000 mAh (10W wired charger included) | 4,410 mAh capability; 18-watt quick charging (adapter bought individually) | Battery NA (20W wired charging — charger not included), 7.5W wi-fi charging) | 4,500 mAh (33W wired charging, 15W wi-fi charging, 5W reverse charging) | Not disclosed, however Apple claims it is going to final 1 hour longer than iPhone XR |
| Fingerprint sensor | In-display | Facet | Underneath show | Residence button | In-display | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB C | Lightning | USB-C | Lightning |
| Headphone jack | None | Sure | None | None | None | No |
| Particular options | 5G-enabled; IP67 ranking; helps 25W wired quick charging, Samsung Pay | 5G-enabled; OIS for essential digital camera; NFC for Google Pay; | 5G-enabled, 18W quick charging, WiFi 6E, safety updates for five years, Android OS updates for 3 years, twin SIM, IP67 water resistance | 5G-enabled; helps 25W wired quick charging; Waterproof (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging | 5G, IP53, Three years of Android updates, Twin Sim, 120Hz adaptive refresh charge | Waterproof (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging |
| Worth off-contract (USD) | $450 | $500 | $449 | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) | N/A | $499 |
| Worth (GBP) | £399 | NA however converts to £405 | £399 | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) | £399 | £489 |
| Worth (AUD) | AU$699 | NA however converts to AU$715 | A$749 | AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB) | N/A | AU$849 |
