Modern Smartphones are more like mini-computers as compared to the bulky old phones. A downside to such compressed processing power is price. There was a time when going for a cheap smartphone meant losing out on a lot of features; that time is not 2023.
In 2023, many cheap smartphones offer you more features than you would expect. You may not get the video display quality of an iPhone XS, but with the right budget smartphone, you will come very close.
How good a smartphone is can be measured using battery life, OS, Resolution, Storage, RAM, and camera pixels. We have graded the best ten among thousands of smartphones that are within your budget.
Best Budget Smartphones 2023
1. Honor 10 Lite
When considering budget smartphones, you can’t do significantly better than Honor 10 Lite.
Saying that the Chinese have cracked the secret to budget smartphones will not be an overstatement.
Specs
- Android 9 OS
- 162g in weight
- 3GB RAM and 32 to 64GB storage
- 3,400mAh battery
- 6.21-inch screen size
- 24MP front camera and 13MP + 2MP rear camera
Pros
- Attractive design
- Excellent display
- Comes with a case
- High-performance
- Cheap
Cons
- The old micro USB port
- Made of plastic
Price: View on Amazon
2. Huawei P Smart
Huawei P Smart has the fortune (or misfortune) of sharing similar specifications as the Honor 10 and can make a strong case for number one.
It occupies number two position because of my bias for Honor 10 Lite.
Specs
- 160g in weight
- Android 9 OS
- 3GB RAM and 32 to 64GB storage
- 3,400mAh battery
- 6.21-inch screen size
- 8/16MP front camera and 13 + 2MP rear camera
Pros
- Slick design
- Cheap
- Excellent storage
Cons
- Only one speaker
- Built with plastic
Price: View on Amazon
3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
95% of all budget smartphones are Chinese, and Xiomi is only rivalled by Honor in representation.
Its 48MP primary camera is its magnum opus. While there is no OIS support, it is excellent in all other respects.
Specs
- Android 9 OS
- 6.3-inch screen size
- 3 to 6GB RAM and 32 to 64GB storage
- Dual 48MP +5MP rear camera and 13MP front camera
- 4,000mAh battery
- 185g in weight
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Brilliant screen
- Slick design
- Crazy performance
- Ridiculously powerful camera
- Impressive sensor
Cons
- Heavy compared to similar models
- No NFC
- Single speaker
Price: View on Amazon
4. Moto G7 Plus
G7 Plus is a Motorola model of the 2023 G-series and is one of the best smartphones you’ll get with less than $300.
Compared to G7 Plus’ predecessor, it is light-years ahead of most other contemporaries.
Specs
- 176g in weight
- 4GB RAM and 64GB storage
- 12MP front camera and 16MP +5MP rear camera
- 3,000mAh battery
- Android 9
- 6.2-inch LCD
Pros
- Excellent cameras
- Incredible performance for value
- Solid design
- Fast turbocharging
Cons
- Night shooting is not good
- Deep notch
- Wi-Fi can be patchy
- Heavy
Price: View on Amazon
5. Realme 3 Pro
Bright screen, robust and sleek design and a powerful chipset are call cards for the Realme 3 Pro smartphone.
While its software may have a decisive design, in all other respects Realme 3 is a work of art. It has a long-lasting battery and is ridiculously cheap.
Specs
- 4 to 6GB RAM and 64 to 128GB storage
- 4,045nAh battery
- 16MP +5MP rear camera and 25MP front camera
- 6.3-inch screen size
- Android 9
- 172g in weight
Pros
- Impressive cameras
- Excellent resolution
- Turbocharging
- Impressive storage size
- Cheap
Cons
- Heavy
- Software is fussy
- No NFC
6. Xiaomi Mi 9
While it is relatively higher priced compared to other budget phones, it is not too expensive not to be a budget phone itself.
Xiaomi Mi 9 occupies the niche of excellent software and hardware, brilliant design, but not at a cheap enough price.
Specs
- 6.39-inch LCD
- 20MP front camera and 48MP +12MP +16MP rear camera
- 6GB RAM and 128GB storage
- Android 9
- 3,300mAh battery
- 173g in weight
Pros
- Impressive camera
- Quality for value
- Brilliant screen
- Great design
- Capable of wireless charging
- Ridiculous storage size
Cons
- No IP rating
- Battery life could use some work
- Relatively heavy
Price: View on Amazon
7. OnePlus 7
OnePlus 7 is one of the Chinese phones that looks likely to dominate the world’s smartphone market soon.
Oneplus7 offers an impressive bang for your money. While it lacks some features of Mi 9, it is $150+ cheaper.
Specs
- 182g in weight
- Android 9
- 128GB storage and 6GB RAM
- Dual 48MP +5MP camera
- 6.41-inch screen size
- 3,700mAh battery
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Relatively OK battery life
- Comes with Oxygen OS
- Incredible storage
Cons
- Relatively heavy
- No wireless charging
- Lacks water protection
Price: View on Amazon
8. Moto G6
Moto G6 was considered the best budget phone long before Huawei and Honor came around, and it is still a cheap phone.
While it won’t run like a premium smartphone, it offers solid features and is powerful enough to compete with most other models.
Specs
- Android 8
- 5.7-inch screen size
- 4GB Ram and 64GB storage
- 3,000mAh battery
- 12MP +5MP rear camera and 8MP front camera
- 167g in weight
Pros
- Cheap
- Clear and bright display
- Great storage
- Relatively lightweight
Cons
- Camera is slow
- No water protection
Price: View on Amazon
9. Nokia 5.1
Yeah, the old beast is here. Nokia is widely acclaimed to make the most durable phones you can think of, and they’ve not disappointed.
For under $150, You can’t do better than Nokia 5.1. Any innovative feature you’ve not seen before won’t dazzle you, but it stands out.
It performs excellently across the board and is highly durable.
Specs
- Android 8 that can be upgraded to Android 9
- 5.5-inch screen
- 16MP rear camera and 8MP front camera
- 150g in weight
- 2,970mAh battery
- 2 to 3GB RAM and 16 to 32GB storage
Pros
- Great design
- Durable and cheap
- Handy fingerprint scanner
Cons
- Camera is average
- Doesn’t run too smooth
Price: View on Amazon
10. Moto E5
Moto E5 has an excellent design and is built with quality in mind. It sports a fingerprint scanner and an impressive battery.
Specs
- 5.7-inch LCD
- 8MP rear camera and 5MP front camera
- 4,000mAh battery
- 16GB storage and 2GB RAM
- Android 8
Pros
- Good battery life
- Impressive security features
- Quality for value
- Durable
Cons
- Heavy
- The camera could be better
- Slow OS
Price: View on Amazon