Best cell phone for under $400

Check out the best phones with productive and essential features that won't break your budget in

We're here to help. For a more detailed insight into our top picks, continue reading the descriptions below or check out the available reviews before making your decision. Editor's note: the prices highlighted in this article may vary depending on discounts offered by the manufacturers. While mid-range phones provide a decent balance of price and performance, in the US, this price sits between budget models and high-end mid-rangers. At this price, you might find older devices or ones with lesser specs. Read nextpit's Google Pixel 6a review.

Best cell phone for under $400

By Allison Johnson , a reviewer with 10 years of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Budget phones to the rescue. At least a couple of years of OS upgrades and, ideally, three years of security updates. Low light is trickier. Phones in this class should offer a night mode to help with non-moving subjects in very dim light. And there are no bonus points awarded for adding extra macro and depth cameras to pad out the rear camera array — those 2- and 5-megapixel sensors are pretty much useless. You can find a bright, high-definition OLED screen or a battery that lasts for days. What compromises can you expect from a budget phone? Some combination of the following: slower processors, less storage, and lousier cameras than flagship phones, almost across the board. Many have lower-resolution screens, and most lack official water-resistance ratings, wireless charging, and NFC chips for contactless payment.

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What to Consider. But know that switching between the two has never been easier. Phones are big in general with the smallest ones having a 6. That makes visiting a store and trying a phone out before you buy it quite important. Phone cameras have gotten better over the past five years. More isn't necessarily better. Software support.

We decided to take the stress away for you and assemble the best phones under dollars in this article. The smartphone market has different price categories and no matter your budget I feel you deserve the best phone for your money. Surprisingly they have a great camera, design, and performance. We went through the phones listed below thoroughly before adding them here. You should compare them all to find the one that best suits your needs on a smartphone. There are people that prefer performance over the camera, and I am one of them. We also listed a couple of old iPhone and Android devices because they have flagship processors and premium cameras.

Best cell phone for under $400

All the smartphones considered here are all available in the key western smartphone markets United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and others — locked or unlocked. They are also mostly available elsewhere in the world. You will notice that brands like Xiaomi, Realme, and others, are missing on this list. This is because they are not officially available in the US and the other key Western markets.

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A sizable 5,mAh battery powers the phone easily through a full day of moderate use and will often last well into the next day. It's also one of the few phones on the market that includes a smaller, 4. You get roped in to way overpriced contracts. Typically, payments are broken into 24 or 36 installments with an eligible plan. If you have questions about your ExpressVPN subscription or need troubleshooting help, please contact Support. Cons Photos are a mixed bag Short software-update timeline. Not yet tested. Security updates come every month, and being a Pixel, it is first in line to get new OS updates. Packed with Google's custom Tensor processor for better performance of Machine Learning-based features, the Pixel 6a seems to be the best option for those who want a more compact Google phone in Read our review. Our Experts. Wait for this year's launch to get last year's phone for less, when stores and carriers may be trying to offload their existing stock. Google Pixel 6A vs. How we test. Let us know in the comments!

At a glance 2. Best overall 3. Best for Galaxy fans 4.

For the lower price point, Nord CE3 is a lite version that has a lot to offer. Go to a store: The best way to know if a phone is for you is to actually hold it and use it. Phones are big in general with the smallest ones having a 6. We try out any new camera modes, such as Action mode that debuted with the iPhone 14 line, or the Unblur photo tool that launched with the Google Pixel 7 series. Moto G Stylus Their chop and twist features are supreme. I love my records and I believe that the best way to get to know a place is through its food. Motorola Edge Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET's expert reviews team. Tech Mobile. Show our expert take. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new software updates, or to compare it against new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus. Amazon Echo Studio.