Budget-friendly smartphones are a vital part of the smartphone market since everyone is unwilling to spend thousands of dollars on flagship phones offering high specs and features. Moreover, revamped budget flagship phones can be pricey for some buyers who are not interested to invest in better choices that fall beyond their budget constraints.

 

The best budget phones offer a mix of performance within a price that makes them an excellent value without making buyers feel as if they are missing out on all of the great features of modern smartphones.

 

Following are some budget-friendly smartphones in 2022 that offer proficient features without leaving a hole in your pockets.

 

1. Google Pixel 5a

 

Priced at: Less than $499

Specifications:

• Display: 6.34-inch FHD OLED Display (1080 x 2340)
• Snapdragon 765GRAM (6GBStorage; 128GB)
• 12.2MP and 16MP ultrawide rear camera; 8MP wide front camera

Pros:

• Strong battery life
• Bundled fast charger
• Excellent camera performance
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Water-resistant

Cons:

• Disappointing performance
• Limited availability
• 60Hz display

 

The Pixel 5a delivers a blend of the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 from last year, but comes in less than either at an astounding $449. It includes an identical dual-camera array; a Snapdragon 765G CPU; an expanded 6.34-inch FHD display; and increased battery capacity.

 

2. iPhone SE (2022)

 

Priced at: $429

 

Specifications:

• 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD (1334 x 750) Display
• A15 BioticRAM CPU
• 3GBStorage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
• 12MP wide Rear Camera and 7MP Front Camera

Pros:

• A15 Bionic performance
• Premium design
• Great price-performance ratio
• Wireless charging

Cons:

• Poor camera quality

 

Apple’s latest iPhone SE is the one and only budget-friendly iPhone you will find in the market. The A15 Bionic Chip makes multitasking and mobile gaming easier and breezier. Other added features include wireless charging and retaining the signature iPhone glass and metal design.

 

3. Moto G Power

 

Priced at: $249.99

 

Specifications:

• 6.4-inch LCD (2300x1080) Display
• Snapdragon 665RAM
• 4GBStorage: 64GB
• 16MP and 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro Rear Camera and 16MP wide Front Camera

Pros:

• Incredible battery life
• Very affordable
• Bright LCD screen

Cons:

• Lackluster colors
• Lacking more stand-out features

 

Motorola’s primary selling point of the Moto G Power is its claimed 3-day battery life. It is the best budget-friendly smartphone with the best battery life. According to Motorola, with one charge you’ll be able to stream 150 hours worth of music, and most battery tests I’ve come across manage to squeeze somewhere between 16 to 18 hours out of the Moto G Power’s 5,000 mAh battery with in-house testing.

 

4. TCL 20 Pro 5G

 

Priced at: $499.99

 

Specifications:

• 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2,400 x 1080) Display
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 750GRAM
• 6GBStorage: 256GB (microSD)
• 48MP wide, 16MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro, 2 MP Rear Camera; 2MP depth and 32MP Front Camera

Pros:

• Unique and stunning design
• Bright/vivid display
• Solid camera performance
• MicroSD and 3.5mm headphone jack

Cons:

• Disappointing battery life
• 60Hz refresh rate

 

The TCL 20 Pro 5G is the best-looking phone that costs less than $500 and offers solid camera performance and a vivid (if slow) display. The TCL’s build quality, cameras and software support offer it a competitive advantage in the budget-friendly smartphone market. Although its battery life and mid-tier performance are some of its unavoidable cons, this budget-friendly smartphone manages to deliver well beyond its price.

 

5. Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

 

Price at: $249.99

 

Specifications:

• 6.7-inch FHD OLED (2400x1080) Display
• Snapdragon 765RAM
• 8GBStorage; 128GB
• 64MP, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, 5MP depth Rear Camera and 32MP Front Camera

Pros:

• Solid performance
• Above-average battery life
• 5G compatible

Cons:

• No standout feature
• Pricey for a budget smartphone

 

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is the best budget-friendly smartphone in the market that offers a speedy Snapdragon 765 performance. It comes with a 8GB RAM, a bright 6.7-inch FHD, OLED screen; 5G modem; and around 10 hours of battery life all come together nicely.

 

6. Moto G Stylus 5G (2021)

 

Priced at: $349.99

 

Specifications:

• 6.8-inch LCD (2400 x 1080) Display
• Snapdragon 480
• 5GB RAM; 6GBStorage
• 256GBRear camera and 16MP wide Front Camera

Pros:

• Very good battery life
• Solid storage and RAM
• Bright LCD screen
• Stylus is unique at this price

Cons:

• Disappointing camera performance
• Weak processor

 

The Moto G Power is the best budget-friendly smartphone that comes with the best stylus. For $400, the Moto G Stylus 5G adds a stylus, 5G, 6GB of RAM and an impressive 256GB of base storage to the mix.

 

The above-listed budget-friendly smartphones are some of the best-listed models that you can find in the market which will satiate your budget demands. Before choosing any smartphone you should get your priorities straight first. A smartphone is basically a computer you carry around in your pocket that allows you to perform various tasks. This can be anything from ensuring that you're able to remain connected with the outside world while being at the comfort of your home.  Therefore, you should always be on the lookout for affordable yet high specs smartphones.

 

With the budget-friendly smartphone market being a huge one, you should consider the following factors when buying a budget-friendly smartphone:

 

1. Affordable plans
2. Operating System
3. Design and functionality
4. Internal Storage
5. Size and Display
6. Battery Life
7. Camera Quality
8. Processor and RAM
9. Software and Integrated Functions
10. Camera Quality and Creativity