Top 10 Best Smartphones Under 200 Dollars [-2022]
Best smartphones under 200, Smartphone hardware costs are going down at a fast pace. What has once considered top-notch Android smartphone specs are now available for under $200? You can now buy nice Android smartphones that feature powerful hardware, yet, don’t burn your pockets. Listed below are the top 10 best smartphones under 200 dollars.
Just because you want a cheap smartphone does not mean you have to compromise on features. There are lots of bargain budget phones under $200. Often so good it looks bizarre flagship phone prices at least three times as much.
Best mid-range smartphones might not have the sharpest displays or the most seamless metal designs, but a less expensive smartphone can still be good looking, offer good specs, a good battery life, and a solid performance whereas saving your pennies at the same time.
How We Choose The best smartphones under 200 dollars in 2022:
For this feature, we are specifically looking at best smartphones under 200 dollars.
If you have a little bit extra cash to spend on a smartphone, then check out our best $300 smartphone or our big best smartphone feature that includes devices in all price ranges. For those who are on a budget though, this can be the right place for you.
Whether you are after an impulse replacement otherwise you just can not bear the thought of spending the best part of $500 or more on a device that lets you ring people (among some other things) here are the best budget smartphones available to buy today for under $200.
Best Overall: Check Motorola Moto G6 at Amazon, “Striking that elusive balance between affordability, design, and performance.”
New Release: Check Nokia 3.1 at Amazon, “A sturdy newcomer to the best budget smartphone leagues.”
Best Splurge: Check Nokia 7.1 at Amazon, “Not quite under $200, but very close and it punches on top of its weight class in terms of price.”
Fast Charge: Check Moto E5 Plus at Amazon, “Perfect for streaming your favorite TV shows or taking part in games in landscape view.”
Best Value: Check Honor 7X at Amazon, “Easily measure up to high-end smartphone brands.”
Best Ultra-Budget: Check Samsung Galaxy J2 Core at Amazon, “A full smartphone design for a little fraction of the average smartphone price.”
Runner-Up, Best Ultra-Budget: Check Alcatel 1X Evolve at Metro PCS at Amazon, “Has its flaws but ultimately excels where it counts, providing reliable performance while not breaking the bank.”
Best Camera: Check Nokia 6.1 at Amazon, “A phone that is all about high-end visuals while not the high-end price tag.”
Runner-Up, Best Camera: Check Sony XA1 at Amazon, “Offering a mind-blowing 23MP of resolution, that rivals even mid-tier DSLR cameras out there.”
Best Battery Life: Check Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom at Amazon, “Able to last, on average, for about two days on one charge.”
1. Motorola Moto G6 (Best Overall)
The Moto G6 strikes that elusive balance between affordability, design, and performance. The curved, 3D glass back makes this phone comfortable to carry, and the thin bezels mean the 5.7” full HD display offers edge-to-edge visuals.
The phone prioritizes speed with a 1.8 gigahertz octa-core processor and features an Android 8.0 Oreo operating system.
Let your creativity loose with the dual-sensor setup of a 12MP and 5MP cameras, or switch to portrait mode. Wherever you can focus on a foreground subject and apply three totally different editing effects to the photo, including a blurred background or a “color pop.”
Need assistance? The Moto G6 is Amazon Alexa capable with two hands-free options, whether you need to ask a question, use an app, or manage your different good home devices. One of its only drawbacks is that the life of its 3000mAh battery, that falls short of its predecessors.
2. Nokia 3.1 (Best New Release)
The Nokia 3.1 is a strong newcomer to the budget smartphone leagues. Although some cuts were made so it could be more cost-effective, like eliminating the finger sensor.
This phone has a grippy flat plastic back and curving glass on the front that lends it an air of sophistication. Its 2990mAh battery capacity is deceiving. The phone will hold a charge for the complete day despite its relatively small size.
The screen of the phone is surprisingly high-quality the 5.2-inch 18:9 display has 1440×720 resolution and it runs Android 1 software free from any bloatware that may slow it down, thus it should receive updates quickly.
Headphone users are happy that the phone includes a headphone jack. Keep in mind that the octa-core Mediatek MT 6750 processor does not offer the most effective performance, and whereas a strong selection at its price point, the phone will suffer from sluggishness and only has 2GB of RAM, which may make multitasking difficult.
At last, MicroSD support for up to 128GB cards is available.
3. Nokia 7.1 (Best Splurge)
If you are willing to spend around $200 but also willing to throw down simply a tad more on a premium phone experience, then you should actually check out the Nokia 7.1.
This Android phone is one of the best you will find in this price range. One of the first things you will notice is its stunning 5.84-inch HDR screen with high contrast, therefore videos and other content look nice.
Under the hood, the Nokia 7.1 has 4GB of RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, which means this can run every app you can throw at it.
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For charging, it has a fast-charging USB-C port. It additionally has a stunningly good dual-lens camera for a mid-range phone, with one 12-megapixel camera and one 5-megapixel camera on the back that gives nice photos.
For software, the Nokia 7.1 is running the newest version of the Android OS and is part of the Android One program, which implies the phone runs stock android and you also get two years of Android updates and three years of security patches.
Whereas the Nokia 7.1 is not quite under $200, it’s very close and it punches above its weight class in terms of price.
4. Moto E5 Plus (Best Quick Charge)
Stylish and cheap, the Moto E5 Plus is Motorola’s latest powerhouse release. It features a six-inch max Vision display that lets you enjoy a lot of your favorite websites with less scrolling.
The large, 18:9 LCD screen is perfect for live streaming your favorite TV shows or playing games in landscape view. It also can accommodate split-screen for multitasking on the go.
However, perhaps its real claim to fame is its 1.5-day battery life. With a 5000 mAh battery, you don’t must worry about taking a break to give it a boost, and it will gain up to 6 hours of battery life within 15 minutes of charging.
The Snapdragon 435 octa-core chipset is not the strongest processor in the game, however, it is an excellent deal at the price point and can allow the phone to accomplish what you need it to.
Though made to resemble a metal frame and glass backing, the phone is actually constructed of plastic meant to be additional splash and scratch-resistant. The fingerprint scanner is situated on the back with an indentation that makes it simple to find.
5. Honor 7X (Best Value)
The Honor 7X will simply measure up to the high-end smartphone brands. At a glance, it’s like anyone of the top-brand android phones, but it prices half as much.
The 7X packs a 3GB RAM, a 2.36GHz Octa-Core processor, and 32GB of storage with room for a micro SD card to suit an extra 256GB. With a six-inch screen, the device may not fit into your jeans pocket, but it offers crisp visual detail (2,160 x 1080 resolution) on an 18:9 widescreen display.
In fact, the phone is so large that it offers a “split-screen” function that permits users to operate two apps simultaneously a stand-out feature among competitors.
The Honor 7X has a dual-lens 16MP and 2MP camera for capturing high-definition photos. For a further level of professionalism, the camera offers Portrait Mode, which blurs the background and captures your subject in vivid detail.
This phone is additionally built to last, with a 3,340 mAH battery that may deliver up to 1.5 days of power on one charge. The Honor 7X is upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo software and is compatible with GSM cellular networks like AT& T and T-Mobile.
6. Samsung Galaxy J2 Core (Best Ultra-Budget)
Snappy and classy, the Samsung Galaxy J2 Core is a reminder that you will, in fact, get a perfectly usable smartphone for an ultra-budget price.
This affordable new model from Samsung is a nice option when you are looking for something less expensive or a starter smartphone.
Samsung’s first foray into android Go smartphones, the J2 Core has the brand’s Exynos 7570 chipset and a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, and therefore the 8GB of storage will be upgraded to 256GB using a microSD card. Whereas the phone, that runs on Android 8.1 Oreo, cannot handle intensive gaming sessions, it’s fine for less-demanding games and apps.
And the 2,600mAh battery will last the whole day with lighter use. The five-inch LCD panel offers quad-HD (960 x 540 pixels) resolution and 220ppi for good visuals.
The 8MP back camera and 5MP selfie camera actually are not the best on the market, but they perform well in bright light-weight and offer features like Beauty Mode and LED flash. Overall, it’s a full smartphone design for a tiny fraction of the average smartphone worth.
Still can not choose what you want? Our round-up of the best Samsung phones for gaming can help you find what you are looking for.
7. Alcatel 1X Evolve (Runner-Up, Best Ultra-Budget)
As an ultra-budget option, the Alcatel 1X Evolve holds slightly lower specs compared to different devices, but this model’s shortcomings are overruled by its very reasonable price.
The 1X Evolve contains a 1.1GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, and 16GB internal memory, that could be a respectable amount of hardware for such a small device. In addition, the phone features an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-snapper equipped with built-in flash.
Regarding design, the Evolve leaves something to be desired. Its bezel-free design appearance a bit outdated, lacking the modern sleekness of the latest flagship smartphones.
The display is only 5.34 inches long, but the Alcatel 1X Evolve takes full advantage of its available extent, with super slim borders and an 18:9 ratio. Unfortunately, the screen does not have HD resolution, but that’s an expected compromise at this price purpose.
The Evolve has its flaws, but it ultimately excels wherever it counts, providing reliable performance while not breaking the bank.
8. Nokia 6.1 (Best Camera)
When it comes to a good camera, affordability does not have to mean compromise. The Nokia 6.1 is all concerning high-end visuals without the high-end price tag. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 mobile platform with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, the smartphone features a high-contrast 5.5’” full-HD screen with a sculpted 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass display.
However, Nokia 6.1’s main selling point? Its Zeiss optics 16MP main camera with 4K video recording and dual-tone flash. To actually capture a moment, Dual-sight mode engages both the main and 8MP wide-angle selfie cameras to fuse pictures into one file. Both of these cameras are ready to function in low-light conditions.
For convenience, once you are on-the-go, the USB Type-C charging allows your phone to power up by 50th in 30 minutes, and therefore the android One software is easy to use, boasts Google’s newest technology developments, and offers free, unlimited high-quality picture storage. With no bloatware, the phone’s performance is powerful, fast, and reliable.
9. Sony XA1 (Runner-Up, Best Camera)
The Sony XA1 rear camera offers a mind-blowing 23MP of resolution, that rivals even mid-tier DSLR cameras out there. The F2.0 lens and also the low light-weight function give you unparalleled performance for a smartphone, from a photographic perspective.
The display is five inches, and they have designed it with virtually no bezels to give users that ultra-trendy, borderless look. This model comes with 16GB of internal memory, but you can pack in up to 256GB additional with the SD card slot, and Sony has even packed in a good clean function that offers to remove bloatware and regularly unused apps to optimize your space and speed.
They have put in a MediaTek Helio P20 Octa-Core 64 bit processor which will clock a 2.4 gigahertz of speed and paired that with a high-capacity 2,300 mAh battery.
It’s compatible with the newest Android, but Sony has also loaded in some cool software features just like the ability to learn your preferences as you use your phone and optimize its functionality as you go. It’s a good option for people who want a high-end phone, a higher-end camera, and a budget-end worth.
10. Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom (Best Battery Life)
Equipped with a whopping 5,000mAh battery, the Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom will last, on average, for about two days on a single charge.
This power-saving technology is created possible with its energy-efficient 14nm Fin Field-effect transistors (FinFETs), that guarantee strong, reliable performance whereas using 35 less power. The Zenfone packs a small but powerful 64-bit, 2.0GHz octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB aboard memory, and 32GB storage, with room to expand up to 2TB.
Another major draw lies in the phone’s outstanding image quality. The Zenfone features a 13MP front camera (for detailed, adulatory selfies), and a rear camera with 12MP, 2.3X optical zoom, and 4K UHD video recording.
With a 5.5-inch display, rendered fully 1920 x 1080 resolution and 500-nit brightness, you can review your captured pictures or watch your favorite online videos in vibrant, true-to-life color.
While the Zenfone 3 Zoom is featured for best battery, it’s certainly not the phone’s only pro. The device is compatible with GSM cellular networks, including AT&T and T-Mobile.
How We Tested
We bought 3 top-rated budget smartphones under $200 and our reviewers tested them daily for weeks on end. we asked our testers to consider the most important features once using these smartphones, from their screen resolution to their camera quality. We’ve outlined the major points here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to look for in a Best Smartphones under $200
Screen size – Your average smartphone display is around 5.5 inches, measured diagonally. That is comfortable for most hands small enough for one-handed use but giant enough to form watching YouTube enjoyable. There are larger phones on the market in addition, that is better for streaming media but could be harder to slip in your pocket.
Screen resolution – Displays will be the most expensive and energy-consuming a part of a smartphone and so a major deciding factor. A screen with a resolution of a minimum of 1,280 x 720 pixels should work well; anything higher is fantastic.
Camera – Camera technology has advanced leaps and bounds within the past years some people upgrade their phones simply to get a nicer camera. While it won’t match the quality of a dedicated DSLR, sure phone cameras are nice in their own right, reaching up to 23 megapixels. Cool features, like low-light performance and portrait mode, abound in addition.
