Nowadays, you needn’t spend $1,000 to get Android expertise. When you want a brand new cellphone however solely have $200 budgeted for it, your finest wager is Android and these are the telephones it is best to contemplate first. You would possibly even be shocked at among the specs present in these gadgets, equivalent to 5,000mAh batteries, quad-camera techniques, and years of software program assist assured.
Beneath you will discover all the finest examples of those super-affordable smartphones. We check every kind of Android telephones to make sure you’re getting essentially the most out of your buy and never working into surprises afterward. If we had to decide on one sub-$200 Android cellphone, it might be the Samsung Galaxy A13, as a result of its massive display, digital camera tech and software program assist, however that hardly scratches the floor of every part that is obtainable. So with out additional ado, let’s take a deeper look into all of the finest Android telephones on this worth vary.
At a look
Greatest general
Full with a 5,000mAh battery, first rate cameras, and 4 years of software program updates, the Galaxy A13 is an all-around winner.
Greatest unlocked cellphone
Because of a classy design, environment friendly Snapdragon processor, and as much as 512GB of expandable storage, the Nokia G100 is an affordable cellphone that does not really feel low cost. Your pockets will thanks.
Greatest battery life
The Moto G Play (2023) can simply clear three days of use on a single cost, plus you get a headphone jack, a fingerprint sensor, and assist on all U.S. carriers.
Greatest show
Uncommon for this worth vary, the TCL 40 XL comes with a vibrant 6.75-inch LCD show, a big battery, and a stable Mediatek Helio G37 chipset. You even get a fingerprint sensor on the again of the cellphone.
Greatest digital camera
With the Moto G Energy (2022), you will get flagship-level digital camera tech with out paying a flagship worth, plus nice battery life and a 90Hz show.
Greatest sturdiness
Regardless of a clunky design, the BV5200 Professional boasts military-grade sturdiness, plus an unlimited 5,180mAh battery and NFC assist.
Greatest general
While you consider the finest Samsung telephones, your thoughts most likely drifts to gadgets just like the Galaxy S23 — huge, flashy, and costly telephones which can be certain to interrupt the price range. Nevertheless, when you’re desperate to personal a Samsung cellphone for your self however must hold prices low, the Galaxy A13 is a stable machine.
Notice that it is a completely different cellphone than the Galaxy A13 5G, which is a dearer cellphone. That mannequin provides 5G, extra RAM and storage, and packs in a sooner processor. However this is the kicker: the non-5G model of the Galaxy A13 — the one we suggest right here — has a greater show and cameras.
At 1080p+, it is greater than twice the decision of what is provided on the Galaxy A13 5G. And at 6.6 inches, this show is good for movies and different kinds of media.
Across the again, the A13 boasts a complete of 4 cameras — consisting of a 50MP major, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors. The picture high quality will not blow you away, however the cameras get the job achieved for social media and permit some image-taking (particularly with the ultra-wide digital camera).
Different highlights of the Galaxy A13 embody expandable storage. That helps make up for the paltry 3GB of bodily RAM through the use of Samsung’s digital RAM tech, which basically creates a RAM disk in your microSD playing cards. It is also acquired a really beneficiant 5,000 mAh battery, 15W quick charging, and Samsung’s customized One UI software program loaded with infinite options and settings.
It comes with Android 12 out of the field and has already been up to date to Android 13, which is a rarity on this worth class. Higher but? Samsung guarantees 4 years of safety updates for the cellphone which is utterly remarkable on this worth class, making it one of the best cellphone you may presumably purchase for below $200.
Greatest unlocked cellphone
Not one of the telephones on this checklist are thought-about costly, however when you’re attempting to spend your cash on one thing dependable, the Nokia G100 is for you. Sitting in direction of the decrease mid-range restrict of $200, it is one of the best unlocked cellphone on this vary on the finish of the day. You will get loads of worth from each greenback spent on the Nokia G100.
The Nokia G100 is provided with the identical 6.52-inch IPS LCD with an HD+ decision of 720×1600 that was on the older Nokia G20. It is also acquired a Snapdragon 662 processor, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, and 32GB or a powerful 128GB of expandable storage (as much as 512GB). Sadly, there isn’t any quick charging, however you should not must mess with it an excessive amount of, because of the beneficiant 5,000 mAh battery.
The Nokia G100 will get two years of Android upgrades and three years of month-to-month safety patches, which ought to get you thru 2025. The cellphone ships with Android 12 and continues to be ready for the Android 13 replace. The software program expertise is pleasant as there isn’t any bloatware and Nokia sticks to inventory Android.
The cellphone comes with a beautiful textured again obtainable in a single Nordic Blue shadeand boats a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. You additionally get a triple-camera setup, together with a 13MP major digital camera that’s surprisingly first rate. Nokia packed simply the appropriate options into this value-rich machine, making the G100 our prime sub-$200 advice.
Greatest battery life
Moto has historically been the king of the sub-$200 class, and the Moto G Play (2023) is not any exception to Motorola’s rule right here. After all, we discovered loads of faults within the Moto G Play (2023) when evaluating it to older generations, however now that the Moto G Play (2021) is near-impossible to seek out, this is likely to be one of the best Motorola cellphone in its worth vary.
The show is a 6.5-inch, 720p HD+ LCD, however it does the job. You additionally profit from respectable bezels and a small waterdrop notch, making this a decently good cellphone for watching movies or enjoying mild video games. You will discover extra noticeable downgrades with the 16MP + 2MP twin rear cameras, however they’re serviceable for fast uploads to your favourite social media app.
The Moto G Play (2023) has a fingerprint sensor on the rear within the Moto brand, which is each bit as quick and dependable as you would ask for. There’s additionally a headphone jack and assist for expandable storage, together with an superior 5,000mAh battery and assist for all U.S. carriers. Due to the decrease energy processor and decrease decision show, we discovered that Motorola’s 3-day battery life claims had been completely achievable, making this one of the best battery life decide of the bunch.
Greatest show
It could not have essentially the most cutting-edge specs, however do not you sleep on the TCL 40 XL. Beneath $200, you will not discover a extra fascinating show than this cellphone’s 6.75-inch vivid LCD panel. The waterdrop notch appears a bit dated, however it’s your entire package deal as a complete that bolsters the value of this cellphone.
TCL provides you a pleasant deal together with all that display actual property. You get plenty of reminiscence, with 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage that may be elevated as much as a whopping 512GB. There’s additionally a fingerprint scanner on the aesthetically pleasing aspect of the cellphone. The TCL 40 XL has a beneficiant 5,000mAh cell that tops up faster than any cellphone on this class, owing to its 18W quick charging pace.
You get a pleasant set of quad cameras that includes a 50MP major lens. On the software program aspect of issues, the TCL 40 XL is powered by Android 13. Beneath the hood, you will see that a Mediatek Helio G37 chipset to maintain your entire cellphone afloat. What prevents this cellphone from being our primary decide is the dearth of any future platform upgrades or any method of waterproofing. TCL does promise two years of safety updates although.
Greatest digital camera
Let’s begin with the positives, we could? The Moto G Energy (2022) has one of the best digital camera in its class, delivering crisp, clear pictures all through the day and even in low-light conditions. It is no Pixel however it’s definitely spectacular for a cellphone below $200. Even the macro digital camera is spectacular — one thing you will virtually by no means see on this worth vary — letting you get tremendous up-close to things for some attention-grabbing, ‘Grammable imagery.
It is also acquired improbable battery life that’ll simply get you thru the promised 3 days per cost. Our Moto G Energy (2022) evaluation confirms the longevity, though it would take a number of hours to cost it up because it solely helps 10W charging.
However the kicker is that to attain this sort of battery life, Motorola went with an extremely weak MediaTek processor within the Moto G Energy (2022). Merely put, if a sluggish UI and lag when switching between apps is a deal breaker for you, contemplate one thing with a greater CPU. The Moto G Energy has a Mediatek Helio G37 chipset that was by no means going to interrupt any data.
At the least the display is comparatively massive at 6.5 inches and might even run at 90Hz when you’re doing mild sufficient work that the chipset can sustain. It runs Android 11, which is not frequent for this worth level anymore. When you think about what number of different cellphone makers are committing to updates on cheaper telephones, like Samsung, it is undoubtedly a significant weak point. Nonetheless, absolutely anything it is advisable do on this cellphone ought to work with out subject on this older model of Android.
Greatest sturdiness
Placing a case on the cellphone is a superb approach to make sure it stays protected all through your each day use, however some telephones had been designed to be rugged and sturdy proper out of the field. One such cellphone is the Blackview BV5200 Professional, and when you’re susceptible to clumsiness or work in a bodily demanding atmosphere, the BV5200 Professional is a stable selection.
The design of the BV5200 Professional makes its ruggedness unmistakable, and it has sturdiness scores to again it up. Not solely is there an IP68 and IP69K mud/water resistance score, however you additionally get a MIL-STD-810G certification. This implies the BV5200 Professional was examined to outlive drops of as much as 5 ft.
Transferring past its design, there are many different highlights for the BV5900. It has an enormous 5,180mAh battery, USB-C charging, the Mediatek Helio G35 chipset, and NFC for contactless Google Pay funds. There’s additionally 4GB of RAM together with 3GB digital RAM, including as much as 7GB complete, and 64GB of storage that may broaden to 1TB. You miss out on any platform upgrades previous the pre-installed Android 12 and there isn’t any fingerprint sensor, however you do get face unlock.
Blackview’s design of the BV5200 Professional definitely is not for everybody, however when you’re somebody who is aware of you’d profit from a ruggedized handset like this, it is definitely value , arduous look. The Blackview BV5200 Professional makes loads of compromises however its rock-bottom price ticket is definitely very engaging.
FAQ
Which is one of the best smartphone below $200?
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Only a few years in the past, $200 could not purchase you a lot in the best way of the finest Android telephones. Nowadays, nonetheless, it is fairly shocking simply what number of choices you might have in such a low-price section. There are many “low cost” Android telephones which can be fairly nice.
We predict one of the best Android cellphone below $200 is the Samsung Galaxy A13 out of every part presently obtainable. For the common individual searching for a brand new cellphone, the Galaxy A13 is great. It is acquired stable cameras, a show that’ll get the job achieved and, most significantly, years of software program updates that’ll hold it protected and related for so long as you need to hold it.
Samsung’s software program replace promise is unmatched within the business proper now, providing extra updates than any firm that makes Android telephones. That is not simply essential for getting new options and preserving your cellphone feeling comparatively new, but additionally for safety. With out correct safety updates, older telephones generally is a ticking timebomb for malware or hackers.
When you’d fairly go along with an unlocked machine, the Nokia G100 is our second favourite selection. The show appears adequate, the efficiency is nice for many apps and lightweight video games, the three rear cameras are a bunch of enjoyable to make use of, and that 5,000mAh battery is a life-saver. It is also acquired a reasonably stable software program replace schedule, even when Nokia is not the quickest firm to roll out updates.
It additionally presents 4GB/128GB reminiscence choices, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, quad cameras, and underrated options like face unlock. Let’s not neglect the chic inventory Android expertise with assured upgrades to Android 13 in addition to Android 14.
How to decide on the appropriate cellphone below $200
While you’re on a good price range, shopping for a brand new cellphone isn’t the best factor to do. Most telephones within the under-$200 class look very comparable, however what manufacturers are you able to belief and what do you have to look out for?
At below $200, it’s unusual to get a cellphone that isn’t product of plastic. There’s simply no approach round this because it’s an enormous cost-saving measure most producers take. In any other case, you’ll be spending extra for an costly cellphone physique and the corporate should in the reduction of elsewhere.
It’s additionally quite common to seek out telephones with a typical HD show — also referred to as 720p — as a substitute of a full-HD 1080p or greater decision. Some telephones, just like the Samsung Galaxy A13, provide a 1080p show that appears considerably higher than others on this class.
At below $200, you are virtually definitely getting a plastic cellphone with a 720p show. There’s simply no approach round this because it’s an enormous cost-saving measure most producers take.
However, usually, that decrease decision is preferable for 2 causes. First off, most telephones below $200 don’t have a strong processor. With out that further processing energy, a higher-resolution show will find yourself making the cellphone really feel a bit laggy when quite a bit is occurring. Second, a lower-resolution show helps hold the cellphone’s battery lasting a very long time on a single cost.
Most telephones on this class solely function 3-4GB of RAM, which is commonly tremendous with these lower-resolution shows. The lower-power processors can’t multitask significantly properly, so having a ton of RAM isn’t going to assist issues a lot. However, in sure instances, having further RAM may assist make your cellphone really feel a bit speedier. Samsung’s digital RAM know-how permits you to use a small portion of a microSD card as a solution to “nearly” create extra RAM and might be a killer function relying in your app utilization.
Samsung’s promised 4 years of safety updates for the Galaxy A13 is double that of some other producer on this web page.
Now, with all that stated, it is best to by no means count on to get plenty of main working system updates on a cellphone on this worth class. Whereas most telephones see a single huge OS replace — generally from Android 12 to Android 13, or one thing comparable — some telephones will simply get safety updates for a couple of years and be achieved. Whereas main OS updates are a nicety, they don’t at all times make sense for a cellphone with a lower-power processor as new options typically require extra processing energy to truly be good to make use of.
These safety updates are what it is best to really take note of, and that’s why Samsung acquired the decide of the litter on this class. Samsung’s promised 4 years of safety updates for the Galaxy A13 is double that of some other producer on this web page. Whereas lower-power processors don’t at all times maintain up properly for that lengthy, it’s nice to know that your cellphone received’t be susceptible to cyber-attacks or malware for so long as you personal the cellphone.
Do you have to select a SIM-free or contract cellphone?
At below $200, many telephones provide the simple choice to decide on between shopping for them outright — also referred to as SIM-free since they don’t include a provider’s SIM card — or simply including them to your cellphone plan as a part of your month-to-month invoice. Whereas many telephones on this checklist received’t value something in any respect from nice wi-fi carriers like T-Cellular, it is likely to be value simply shopping for them outright for various causes.
First off, at below $200, all of those telephones are fairly reasonably priced. Lots of the telephones within the above checklist can be found for below $150, making them even simpler to afford outright — particularly when in comparison with flagship smartphones, which frequently value $600 or extra to purchase outright.
Placing a sub-$200 cellphone on a contract means you’re caught with it for twenty-four months till the contract is up.
Second is the truth that placing a sub-$200 cellphone on a contract means you’re caught with it for twenty-four months till the contract is up. Whereas your provider would possibly provide a solution to pay it off early, it’s possible for a better worth than it might have value to buy outright from Amazon or Greatest Purchase.
Third is the truth that most sub-$200 telephones are inclined to get a bit gradual over a 24-month interval, and that’s assuming you bought the cellphone proper when it got here out. Working example, when you had been to decide on the older Moto G Play (2021) proper now, you’ll be utilizing a cellphone that’s already over 2 years previous, that means it’s most likely not going to be good to make use of for all that for much longer, a lot much less 24 months from now.
Are Android telephones below $200 any good?
Sure, $200 (or much less) Android telephones will be good for a lot of various kinds of individuals. However simply how good can a cellphone be if it’s 1/fifth of the worth of premium telephones like a Samsung Galaxy S23? Clearly, you’re lacking out on one thing by saving a ton of cash, proper?
Shopping for an Android cellphone below $200 is a bit like shopping for an affordable automobile to your each day commute. That automobile’s total objective is to get you to and from your private home or place of job or faculty and never rather more. Equally, a sub-$200 cellphone goes to perform your each day wants and possibly not a complete lot extra.
Do not buy a smartphone below $200 pondering you will get the world with it. Tremendous reasonably priced automobiles will not offer you options like autopilot or a backup digital camera, both.
In each situations, it is best to count on to forego fancy options and different bells and whistles while you decide to economize. Don’t go right into a smartphone buy anticipating a display that’s tremendous vibrant in direct daylight or to be amazed by each photograph you’re taking with its cameras. You received’t get autopilot or a backup digital camera with an excellent reasonably priced automobile, both.
Likewise, make sure you’re setting your self up for efficiency expectations when transferring into both class. An reasonably priced automobile isn’t going to achieve freeway speeds instantly, and it is best to by no means count on to race one. Likewise, a $200 or much less cellphone received’t play video games very properly and won’t multitask between apps very properly, both.
In a nutshell, it is best to count on that listening to music, scrolling via social media, watching a video on YouTube, or simply shopping Android Central on the go can be general expertise on considered one of these telephones. Nearly all of those telephones get multi-day battery life, too, which is a big benefit of this lower-priced, lower-power class.
How lengthy do Android telephones below $200 final?
On common, customers who spend lower than $200 on an Android cellphone will discover their buy can final them round two years earlier than the cellphone begins to really feel a bit gradual or previous. That’s most frequently why producers solely promise one main OS replace, as some new options may find yourself slowing the cellphone down an excessive amount of.
As a result of most sub-$200 telephones will solely get one main Android replace and two years’ value of safety updates, it’s most essential to decide on a more recent cellphone that also has many months of assist left.
Throughout that two-year possession interval, it’s essential to decide on a producer that guarantees common safety updates. Oftentimes, producers on this worth vary will promise to ship quarterly safety updates to make sure that no huge safety vulnerabilities crop up in your cellphone. Telephones with current safety patches are far much less prone to fall prey to malware or different kinds of cyber assaults.
As a result of most sub-$200 telephones will solely get one main Android replace and two years’ value of safety updates, it’s most essential to decide on a more recent cellphone that also has many months of assist left.
When taking these measures into consideration, the weakest hyperlink on our checklist is the Blackview BV5200 Professional, which can possible by no means see one other replace. Whereas that’s tremendous in some circumstances, you’ll have to be further aware to keep away from situations that would find yourself placing malware in your cellphone.