Even as the cost of electronics rises, these phones provide everything you need without spending a ton of money.

We picked out some of the most popular sub-$600 models around and put them through a battery of tests to see which ones are an actual value.

Round up the usual suspects.

Discover the Trusted Reviews pick of the best cheap phones you can buy in 2026, and find out why there’s no need to overspend ...

Time was, buying the best cheap smartphone meant serious compromise. From potato-quality cameras to sluggish processors that can barely handle scrolling, the budget end of the smartphone world was a ...

These are the best budget smartphones to buy in mid-2026, featuring top picks with great cameras, long battery life, solid ...

See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Android market heading into mid-2026 is the strongest it's ever ...

See Samsung's affordable Galaxy A-series smartphones, featuring impressive camera capabilities, including the 50MP Galaxy A55 ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Budget phones are without a doubt closing the quality gap separating them from higher-end devices in 2026. Some of these phones are so good ...

The Samsung Galaxy A56, held on a table. - Jimmy Gunawan/Shutterstock One of the big draws to new smartphones is the camera array: How well does the handset take a photo? Watch a commercial or tune ...

The Independent and Yahoo will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Time was, buying the best cheap smartphone meant serious ...