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The market for smartphones is constantly evolving. Low-cost smartphones are now coming with increasingly sophisticated features. There are so many options available in the market and for this reason, selecting the right low-cost smartphone can be somewhat confusing. There are several factors to take into account aside from cost. Anyone looking for low-cost smartphones to buy should consider brand, features, durability, availability in your region and other factors.
We have delightfully put together a list of the top smartphones that cost less than $200 and offer immense value for money. These phones come from reputable companies and have received good feedback from both us and other reliable sources. They offer enough features to meet the typical mobile phone user’s needs, despite their low cost.
1. Samsung Galaxy A16 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G can be yours for just $179 dollars. This low-cost 5G phone has a good set of features for its low price. The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen can achieve 800 nits of brightness with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and Full HD+ resolution. This amazing gadget has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It also has a triple rear camera configuration which includes a 50MP primary sensor, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro sensor. It has a 13MP sensor on the front that can capture 1080pixel footage.
50MP Main Camera, 6.7" display, 128GB, Blue Black, 3 Year Manufacturer Extended Warranty (UK Version)
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G comes with UI 6.1 pre-installed on Android 14. It is a low-cost gadget packed with several key smartphone features. This device’s 5000mAh battery lasts for more than 12 hours of continuous usage and supports 25W charging.
2. CMF Phone 1 from Nothing
The CMF Phone 1 from Nothing, released in July 2024, is a low-cost Android smartphone with a premium feel and surprising features. The phone’s screen has Full HD+ resolution, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a maximum brightness of 2000 nits. Its 6.67-inch AMOLED display is perfect for outdoor use. It weighs roughly 200g and comes with an eco-leather back cover that can be removed. It also has a low rating for dust and splash resistance. The phone’s design makes multitasking quite easy. It has up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage via microSD.
Its operating system is Android 14 with Nothing OS 3.0, with two major Android updates offered. This device’s small 50MP primary camera can take high-quality pictures with a 2MP depth sensor. It supports 30 frames per second 4K video recording. It has a 16MP sensor for selfies that records 1080p footage. Its 5000mAh battery can run for up to 16 hours straight and supports 33W fast charging as well as 5W reverse wired charging.
8+128GB - Unlocked smartphone with 50 MP Sony rear camera with Ultra XDR, 6,67" Super AMOLED display and Nothing OS 2.6 - Black
3. TCL 50 XL 5G
The TCL 50 XL 5G is an amazing low-cost smartphone from TCL. It is not quite designed to compete with flagship or gaming phones, like other gadgets on this list. The device was first released at CES 2024 and was designed for the U.S. market. It comes with a 6.8-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor. It also comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, expandable via microSD.
The device has a dual-camera system with a 50MP main lens and a 2MP rare lens. It comes with a 5,010mAh battery that supports 18W wired charging. The design is simple, with a matte finish and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. TCL markets the 50 XL 5G through U.S. carriers like Verizon and Metro by T-Mobile, often bundled with discounts or trade-in deals.
4. The Redmi 14C
The Redmi 14C is an amazing phone with a sizable 6.88-inch IPS LCD with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The phone weighs between 204g and 211g, depending on the model, and has a variety of finishes. It has a variant that comes with eco-leather and Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the screen. The phone runs on Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS. It comes with both 4GB and 8GB RAM and up to 256G storage. It has a microSD slot allowing for the expansion of memory.
Its camera has a 50MP mains lens and a QVGA lens. The front camera has a 13MP lens. Both cameras can capture 1080p video at 30 frames per second. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 5160mAh battery that can be charged at 18W using USB-C.
4G LTE (256GB + 8GB) Factory Unlocked Global ROM GSM 6.88" 50MP Triple Camera (Tello Mint & Global) + (Free Fast Car Dual USB) (Midnight Black Global Version)
5. Moto G04
The Moto G04 is one of the most affordable low-cost smartphones, released in early 2024. It uses the Unisoc T606 chipset and has a 6.6-inch HD+ LCD screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It supports 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage and 4GB or 8GB of RAM. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with a 15W wired charger. Its 5MP selfie camera and 16MP rear camera adequately meet basic photography needs.
It runs on Android 14. It has a simple design with a matte finish, flat corners, and a single back camera. Motorola offers practical features like ThinkShield for smartphone security and RAM Boost. It faces competition from other low-cost smartphones. For instance, Redmi phones priced similarly, especially in areas like Africa, Latin America, and India.
6,53 HD+ Display, 50 MP Camera, 4/64 GB, 5000 mAh Battery, Android Concord Black
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