The finest telephones underneath $500 actually do not sacrifice a lot compared to units with a lot increased value tags. Even higher, there’s numerous competitors on this midrange house, making telephones on this value vary the primary it is best to think about if you happen to’re able to improve or searching for a present. These telephones sometimes value between $400 and $500 whereas providing options like high-refresh-rate screens, 5G and pictures processing software program. Prepare for some tradeoffs similar to lower-quality cameras or an older processor.
The finest telephones underneath $500 could hit many of the options in your guidelines. Looking for an enormous 6.5-inch display screen? Many of those telephones have that, or there are additionally smaller shows if that is your desire. Need an important digital camera? You’ll 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 method to make these cuts much less noticeable. Apple’s iPhone SE and Google’s Pixel 6A, as an illustration, have a smaller display screen and older digital camera setup, but embody new processors and software program from these firms. Samsung’s Galaxy A53 has a spacious display screen 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 images, supplies a roomy 256GB of house and throws in a stylus, however Motorola would not present software program assist for so long as its opponents.
Photography and video particularly are areas the place the telephones on this value bracket take a noticeable hit compared to their costlier counterparts. However, photo-processing software program ought to assist decide up among the slack. For occasion, whereas the iPhone SE has a single 12-megapixel digital camera that does not assist night time pictures, its A15 Bionic chip does enable for Apple’s Deep Fusion processing. It’s the same scenario for the Pixel 6A, which makes use of a 12-megapixel principal digital camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, but can improve these images with processing powered by the cellphone’s Tensor chip.
You can see the professionals and cons of every of those telephones beneath, with extra particulars accessible in our full critiques.
Best telephones underneath $500
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Pixel 6A replaces the Pixel 5A because the $449 budget-friendly model of its flagship cellphone. CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco referred to as it the “finest Android cellphone underneath $500” in her Pixel 6A evaluation, calling out the way it retains the identical Tensor chip seen within the $599 Pixel 6 and plenty 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 principal digital camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera. But by together with the Tensor chip, images can profit from its Real Tone pores and skin tone function, Face Unblur, Night Sight for darker pictures and the Magic Eraser for eradicating undesirable components from a photograph.
You’re receiving value alerts for Google Pixel 6a (128GB, Charcoal)
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The Samsung Galaxy A53 consists of most of the finest options seen within the Galaxy S22 line, with a number of tradeoffs to hit that lower cost. The cellphone features a 6.5-inch AMOLED display screen 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 principal digital camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, 5-megapixel macro digital camera and 5-megapixel depth digital camera.
But a selected excessive level for this cellphone is Samsung’s pledge to offer 4 years of software program assist, along with delivery with Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1. However, Samsung simply introduced a brand new model of this cellphone, referred to as the Galaxy A54 5G, which we’re wanting ahead to testing quickly.
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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’s additionally one of many few telephones in the marketplace that features a smaller, 4.7-inch display screen.
It’s that throwback design, which continues the overall form that Apple has used since 2014, that could possibly be what you’re keen on or dislike most about this cellphone. If you need a bigger iPhone on this value vary, it’s also possible to think about the iPhone 11, and get an even bigger display screen and Face ID. But that cellphone doesn’t embody 5G connectivity.
The cellphone additionally solely consists of one 12-megapixel principal digital camera, which doesn’t assist night time mode. Most different telephones on this roundup embody a number of cameras and options like night time mode, making the omission noticeable. However, images make up for this by together with the Deep Fusion photo-processing approach to reinforce medium-to-low mild images, and Smart HDR4 processing for bettering coloration 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, but it surely is not going to embody the Cinematic Mode seen on the iPhone 13.
You’re receiving value alerts for Apple iPhone SE (64GB, Starlight)
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The $500 Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is likely one of the finest stylus-equipped telephones you will get proper now, particularly for the worth. You get Android 12, 5G connectivity, a big 6.8-inch display screen and a spacious 256GB of storage. Unfortunately, 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.
Yet if you’d like a stylus-equipped cellphone, the following step-up choice is the considerably costlier Galaxy S22 Ultra at $1,200.
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With the launch of the iPhone 14 collection, Apple discontinued the $500 iPhone 11, but it surely’s nonetheless broadly accessible. It is likely to be a number of generations outdated, however this cellphone continues to be greater than succesful, dealing with gaming nicely and geared up with two excellent rear cameras. It is 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 have been launched alongside the iPhone 12.
Just be aware that some locations could also be promoting refurbished variations of the cellphone since Apple itself is not promoting new iPhone 11 fashions. Best Buy doesn’t carry any unlocked fashions, so you may have to enroll in a service plan by both AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint.
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The Nothing Phone 1 is technically available within the US for $299, however solely by a beta program that’s promoting a global mannequin with restricted US provider compatibility. While the corporate does plan to formally launch a future cellphone for the North American market, this cellphone continues to be value a glance in international locations the place it is accessible. It presents a hanging design and respectable specs for the cash, even at its increased £399 UK value (which converts to roughly AU$700).
The Nothing Phone 1 is adorned with LED strips on the again, every of which is named a “glyph,” that mild up for alerts and notifications. That design is accompanied by two 50-megapixel cameras: a large angle and an ultrawide. Around 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 nicely inside the value vary, particularly given its digital camera high quality and appears.
How we check telephones
CNET assessments telephones by utilizing them every day and evaluating them with competing telephones to evaluate their worth. We think about a wide range of elements, such because the cellphone’s display screen, cameras, battery life, software program, efficiency, options and ease of use.
For low-priced telephones, we ensure these units persistently work nicely when utilized in various conditions. This consists of many day-to-day actions like studying the information, listening to music, watching movies, texting, taking part in video games and multitasking.
We check cellphone cameras in a spread of environments, taking check images outside within the daytime and nighttime, and indoors in darker settings. We use cameras in lively environments, like a live performance or a sports activities recreation, and with a wide range of topics together with folks, objects and pets. We additionally check accessible digital camera settings, particularly these which can be rarer in these value ranges similar to Night mode and Portrait mode.
These anecdotal cellphone experiences are additionally mixed with benchmark assessments similar to 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 check, we’ll examine how the cellphone’s battery holds as much as a collection of video calls, gaming, video streaming and net shopping.
Phones underneath $500 FAQs
Are cheaper telephones value it?
For many individuals, a cellphone that prices lower than $500 will seemingly have all the pieces you want for communication, pictures and leisure. In some circumstances, the telephones even present among the newest options seen on higher-end telephones like easy 120Hz refresh charges and a number of cameras.
However, you have to be conscious of — and OK with — the restrictions a cellphone could have in comparison with its costlier counterparts. For occasion, if you’d like an iPhone with an even bigger display screen than the iPhone SE and that iPhone 11’s screens, your subsequent best choice is the $899 iPhone 14 Plus. That’s far exterior the $500 value vary, however you additionally get further advantages like an improved digital camera.
On the opposite hand, if you’d like a cellphone with an even bigger display screen and if working Android is ok, you may have loads of choices which can be underneath $500.
Can you get a great digital camera on a less expensive cellphone?
Yes, you’ll find a number of cheaper telephones that take nice images, whether or not it is by the digital camera accessible on the machine, picture processing software program on the cellphone or — is most frequently the case — a mixture of each.
Apple’s iPhone SE consists of the A15 Bionic chip, which helps Smart HDR4 processing and Apple’s Deep Fusion processing. Smart HDR4 helps with bettering coloration and distinction, whereas the Deep Fusion processing helps with medium- to low-light environments. CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland put collectively a sampling of images and movies taken on the cellphone throughout his evaluation, which might be watched on the CNET Highlights YouTube channel. However, 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 Real 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 has a 12-megapixel principal digital camera paired up with a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, which takes good images however is a transparent step down from the 50-megapixel principal digital camera seen on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7.
Samsung’s Galaxy A53 is an attention-grabbing case: Iit has a principal 64-megapixel digital camera alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro digital camera and 5-megapixel depth digital camera. While that is extra megapixels than the 50-megapixel principal digital camera on the Galaxy S22, the picture element is a step down with the S22 in a position to produce images with higher distinction and sharpness.
What makes these telephones cheaper?
Each firm takes a special method 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 principal digital camera as a substitute of the 50-megapixel principal digital camera discovered on the $599 Pixel 6.
Samsung’s Galaxy A53 takes the alternative method. It features a processor that is slower than the Galaxy S22’s however consists of different fashionable options like a display screen with a excessive refresh charge.
Phones underneath $500 comparability
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G vs. Google Pixel 6A vs. Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. Nothing Phone 1 vs. Apple iPhone 11
| Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Google Pixel 6A | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Nothing Phone 1 | iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display 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 |
| Mobile software program | Android 12 | Android 12 | Android 12 | iOS 15 | Android 13 | iOS 13 |
| Camera | 64-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 5-megapixel (macro), 5-megapixel (depth) | 50-megapixel (large), 8-megapixel (ultrawide/macro), 2-megapixel (depth) | 12.2-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel extremely large) | 12-megapixel (large) | 50-megapixel (principal), 50-megapixel (ultra-wide) | 12-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) |
| Front-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 | Up to 1TB | Up to 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 offered 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’s going to final 1 hour longer than iPhone XR |
| Fingerprint sensor | In-display | Side | Under show | Home button | In-display | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB C | Lightning | USB-C | Lightning |
| Headphone jack | None | Yes | None | None | None | No |
| Special options | 5G-enabled; IP67 ranking; helps 25W wired quick charging, Samsung Pay | 5G-enabled; OIS for principal 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; Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging | 5G, IP53, Three years of Android updates, Dual Sim, 120Hz adaptive refresh charge | Water resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wi-fi charging |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $450 | $500 | $449 | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) | N/A | $499 |
| Price (GBP) | £399 | NA however converts to £405 | £399 | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) | £399 | £489 |
| Price (AUD) | AU$699 | NA however converts to AU$715 | A$749 | AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB) | N/A | AU$849 |