Purchasing a phone for less than $500 is a lesson in goal setting. It’s tough to find a phone that has everything at this price point, but fortunately, you’ll be able to find a decent phone that does the things that are most important to you.
For several years, firms such as Apple, Google, and Samsung have been upgrading low-cost phones and manufacturing smartphones that can meet your demands considerably less. Other companies, like TCL, have begun to create their brand by selling directly to consumers, and OnePlus is also making a comeback at the lower end of the market.
Most consumers look for the same things in a sub-$500 device that they do in a flagship: extended battery life, a great screen, a good camera, and solid performance. It isn’t easy to get high straight away. As in all of those regions, if you can figure out where you’ll put the inevitable B grade, you’ll be able to select a phone you’ll require.
4a Google Pixel
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If you use Android, spend less money, or want the best camera, the Google Pixel 4A is the obvious choice. It will not have the largest screen or the fastest processor, but it will feature a clean Android operating system with app upgrades for at least three years. It is only available in one configuration: storage black with 128GB for $349.
The Pixel 4A’s main selling point is its camera, competing with smartphones costing $1,500 or more. That’s because Google uses far too much software image processing—the sensor itself is quite old and unremarkable. The Pixel 4A can shoot photos at night, perform astrophotography, and has an excellent portrait mode. It can’t compete with the iPhone SE for video, but it still wins for photos.
The Pixel 4A’s other characteristics are adequate but not outstanding. It boasts a 5.8-inch screen, enough RAM to keep background apps running, and a headphone connection. There is no wireless charging, no trendy face unlocking, and the body is constructed of plastic rather than a premium material like glass. The Pixel 4A does not have any water resistance ratings (but a splash of water is probably fine).
However, the Pixel 4A is arguably the best choice for getting an Android phone for less than $500. For $350, you get better tech support and a better camera, and there isn’t a bad deal.
Iphone Se (Apple)
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The Apple iPhone SE 2020 is the phone that most people choose in terms of camera balance, build quality, power, battery life, software, and durability. We recommend upgrading to the 128GB storage variant for $449, which is $50 more than the initial pricing but well worth it in the long run.
The iPhone SE follows a tried-and-true formula. It features the same body and 4.7-inch LCD screen that Apple has used since the iPhone 6. This positions the display at the lower end of today’s screen sizes and also implies that the phone’s bezels are larger than everything else on the market.
However, for that same phone body, you receive a slew of advantages. The iPhone SE’s best feature is its processor, Apple’s A13 Bionic. That is significant since it is the best processor available on any phone, anywhere, because it’s the same chip utilized in Apple’s $999-and-up iPhone 11 Pro. We usually highlight the speed at this price point on phones, but it’s nice to have.
The 2020 iPhone SE is the finest phone under $500 for most people as a complete package. It is significantly less expensive than competitors on a cost-per-year basis because it is likely to survive four, five, or even six years if properly cared for. Similarly, it’s a good phone in its own right. Access to a large selection of iOS apps, Apple’s clean iOS technology, and a big accessory ecosystem.
Galaxy A51 Samsung
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The $399 Galaxy A51 Android phone from Samsung could be the best-selling phone of 2020. The Galaxy A50’s predecessor outperformed all expectations. For the A51, Samsung prioritized a large screen, a long battery life, and a camera. The screen was correct, and the other two are flawless.
The 6.5-inch OLED display on the A51 is bright and colorful, and you’d have to be fairly picky to find fault with it. It doesn’t have the same rapid refresh rate as the OnePlus Nord, but Samsung’s excellent quality compensates. If there’s one oddity about the screen, it’s that Samsung places a chrome bezel around the hole punch for the front-facing selfie camera. It’s annoying.
The A51 has a nice build quality, albeit the back plastic is noticeable. It features a headphone port and 128GB of storage, which is the standard for every phone nowadays. The battery life should be excellent because to a 4,000mAh battery, but it isn’t because it has to power the large screen.
The A51, on the other hand, receives a very large and extremely gorgeous screen. If that’s your first priority—and it is for many people—the A51 is a good choice.
Nord Oneplus
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Because the OnePlus Nord is not yet available in the United States, claiming it is less than $500 is technically incorrect. However, if you live in a region where it is accessible, the OnePlus Nord appears to be the type of phone that strives for a solid B in each category rather than attempting to ace one or two. A solid Android bet for £379/€399
The OnePlus Nord includes a few capabilities generally reserved for significantly more expensive phones, like support for 5G sub-6 networks and a 90Hz high-refresh panel. You will have higher download speeds if you live in a 5G area. But it’s the show that will have the most impact on your daily life, and it makes it feel smoother and more powerful.
You’ll miss wireless charging and a Nord headphone connector, but those aren’t the only notable omissions. The battery life is good, the 6.44-inch screen is large and beautiful, and the app is less distracting than competitors (but not as clean as Google’s). The £379/€399 variant has 128GB storage and 8GB RAM, which are both excellent for the price.
Phones frequently feature some critical tradeoffs that you must accept in order to achieve the functionality you desire. With the OnePlus Nord, there are no major flaws to work with. Again, it is not available in the United States. It is possible to import it. However, it is not recommended because it will not support the correct LTE bands.
TCL 10 Pro (Professional)
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TCL is arguably best known for its televisions, although it has long been a white-label smartphone manufacturer. It is now attempting to establish itself in the smartphone market with new low-cost alternatives such as the TCL 10L and TCL 10 Pro. The Pro is a $449.90 upgrade select and retail, while it is frequently found for less.
The 10 Pro appears to be serious about business. Instead of shimmering hues and big camera bumps, it’s thin, smooth, and gray. It boasts a 6.47-inch display. However, this list appears to be shorter than that of other phones. You also get a headphone port and a huge 4,500mAh battery, which should last you all day.
The 10 Po’s strongest feature is its 6GB RAM, which is sufficient for multitasking and should not cause your new apps to shut down in the background. There’s also the obligatory 128GB storage space.
The cameras are unimpressive: a 64-megapixel primary sensor, an ultra-wide 16-megapixel sensor, and a 5-megapixel macro. The images you’ll get will be over-processed, making them appear false.
Overall, the best thing about the TCL 10 Pro is that it has a lot of RAM for multitasking and a slim, non-bulky design. If there’s a good deal on one, it’s worth looking into.
