Bargain hunters like yourself are looking for the best bang for buck. These are the best budget phones in the USA in 2023 for you to choose from.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 saw a number of solid budget smartphones manufactured and released into the United States of America. All the budget phones listed below are smartphones that cost less than $400 and are available both carrier locked and unlocked all around the USA.
We have also taken the pains to list phones under different price brackets, so there is something for everyone, including those who are not looking to spend more than $200 on a smartphone this year.
Table of Contents
The best budget phones in the USA in 2023
Our list starts from the top down and presents you with options from manufacturers like Google, Apple, Motorola, and Nokia.
The best budget phones in the USA under $400
Google Pixel 4a. This is easily the best bargain smartphone available in the USA at this time. What does it bring to the table?
A 5.81-inch OLED display, Android 10 OS, Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset, 6GB of RAM, a generous 128GB of internal memory, as well as a 3140mAh battery coupled with 18W fast charging.
The selfie camera is an 8-megapixel shooter, while at the back is a single but capable 12MP camera – perhaps the best camera you can buy for the price.
This entire package is available unlocked for only $349 and it is compatible with all US networks.
iPhone SE 2020 is the most affordable iPhone in the market today. It has 4.7″ display and is powered by the A13 Bionic chipset and packs 3GB of RAM and has options of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB internal storage.
The SE 2020 has a 12MP camera and is well built, like all Apple smartphones. The battery is small-sized though – a mere 1821mAh capacity. 18W fast charging and Qi wireless charging are available.
It is the only iOS device on our list of the best budget phones in the USA in 2021. You can pick the Apple iPhone SE 2020 up from your carrier or independent retailer/store for $399.
The best budget phones in the USA under $250
Moto G Power brings a 6.4″ display to the table, with Android 10 and a SNapdragon 665 processor. RAM is 4GB, and internal memory is 64GB, expandable via memory card. The front camera is a 16MP shooter.
Flip the phone over to observe a triple camera setip of 16-megapixel main lens, 8-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.
Moto G Power has stereo speakers and is IP52 water-repellent, so it can take splashes and droplets of water in stride. There is a hefty 5000mAh battery to keep the lights on for long periods.
Moto G Power is available unlocked for $220. You can also pick a carrier locked unit for a mere $146 on the Total Wireless network. You will not be able to use it on any other wireless carrier though, unless you get it unlocked.
The best budget phones in the USA under $200
Nokia 5.3 is an Android 10 smartphone with a 6.55-inch HD+ display. It runs the stock version of Android OS and so offers a clean user experience devoid of blotware. The software will be upgraded to Android 11 and 12 when those are available.
It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage. The option to expand it via a memory card is available.
The front camera has an 8-megapixel lens. At the back is a quad camera with a 13MP primary lens, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.
Battery capacity is 4000mAh and 10W charging is available via a USB Type-C port.
The Nokia 5.3 is available unlocked for all cell phone carriers at a pocket-friendly price of $189 only.
The best budget phones in the USA under $150
Moto G Fast is one of the best cheap phones in the US. It has a 6.4″ HD+ display and is powered by a Snapdragon 665 chipset. It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
The front camera has an 8-megapixel lens. There is a triple camera at the back, comprising of a 16MP main lens, a 2MP macro lens, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. Battery capacity is 4000mAh.
The Moto G Fast is available unlocked and is compatible with all US GSM networks. Motorola says it is made for the US. It is available in colour White and goes for $149.99.
You can purchase these phones from your wireless carrier (Sprint, Verizon, etc), or from independent store like Amazon, BestBuy, and others, or walk into a brand retail store in your city to get them.