'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The budget smartphone market is better than ever in 2025, with multiple options from almost every flagship maker. This niche is no longer synonymous with lower-quality products, but high-value and high-performance devices that feature stunning displays and powerful hardware.
However, a large multitude of options online can make the process time-consuming and rather confusing. This guide will look into the best budget smartphones available in the market today to help you make an informed decision.
Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's views.
The best budget smartphones of 2025
1) Google Pixel 9a
Price: $449
Trending
The Google Pixel 9a is undoubtedly one of the best options in the budget smartphone category. It houses the Tensor G4 chipset, which offers sufficient power for AI processing, gaming, and high-resolution photography. It comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, which is enough for most users.
It comes with a dual camera setup, housing a 48MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide. It shoots up to 60 FPS on both 4K and 1080p resolution, capturing incredibly sharp videos. The camera also has a huge set of features, with fun AI features like Add Me, Face Unblur, and Magic Eraser, and video features like Cinematic Pan, Astrophotography timelapse, and Fused video stabilisation, to name a few.
The Pixel 9a features a stunning 6.3-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Having a comparatively smaller display, it's the perfect option for those who prefer smaller phones. While the 5100 mAh battery is advertised to last over 30 hours, reviews suggest it lasts almost an entire day's use. With lighter use, it could be closer to the estimated number.
Here's the buying link for the smartphone.
2) Apple iPhone 16e
Price: $599
The Apple iPhone 16e is currently one of the best affordable Apple smartphones, particularly for those who want the Apple experience without paying a premium. It features the Apple A18 chip, which is highly power efficient. Moreover, the 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU are capable enough to run large games with hardware-accelerated ray tracing enabled easily.
It's the replacement for the affordable SE series and holds up quite well, despite being more pricey compared to standard SE models. It features a single 48MP Fusion camera, which is essentially a 2-in-1 camera lens, capable of shooting at standard settings and also with 2x optical zoom. You can also shoot up to 4K video at 60 FPS and enjoy some of the best picture quality with several AI features.
The iPhone 16e is another phone with a smaller form factor, featuring a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display. Its compact build makes it super easy to carry around. Apple claims that the 4005 mAh battery will last an average of 26 hours of video playback. Reviews suggest it lasts a little over 12 hours of moderate use, which is great.
Here's the buying link for the smartphone.
3) Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
Price: $399.99
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is one of the best Samsung smartphones on the market today. It houses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, which is a mid-range processor that offers decent performance for everyday tasks and gaming. It comes in multiple RAM and storage options that you can choose from, but expect a slightly higher price with higher configurations.
This budget smartphone also features an excellent camera setup, featuring three cameras. It has a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens, all capable of shooting sharp pictures with high clarity. It's also capable of shooting up to 4K video at 30 FPS.
The Galaxy A36 5G features a large 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It offers great picture quality with bright color tones and smooth visuals. It houses a 5000 mAh battery, which should be great for a day-long use. Samsung claims it lasts upwards of 29 hours of video playback, while user reviews suggest it lasts over 16 hours of moderate use.
Here's the buying link for the smartphone.
Also read: 5 best gaming phones to buy in 2025
4) OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Price: $299.99
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a super affordable smartphone for those on a tighter budget. It features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, which offers decent performance for daily multitasking and moderate gaming. This budget CPU paired with the 8GB RAM offers enough speed for most users.
While it may look like a dual camera setup, the Nord N30 has three lenses, featuring a 108MP main camera, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth camera. Its 108MP camera captures absolutely stunning images with great depth and color tone. However, the camera is only capable of shooting up to 1080p at 30 FPS.
The Nord N30 5G features a 6.7-inch IPS LCD display panel, featuring a refresh rate of 120Hz. Now, LCD may be inferior to OLED and AMOLED panels, but it still offers decent color and shadows. It features a 5000 mAh battery, which lasts a little over 12 hours of use according to user reviews.
However, if you prefer buying within the OnePlus ecosystem and have a slightly higher budget, go for the OnePlus 13R. It offers premium specs for a mid-range price.
Here's the buying link for the smartphone.
5) Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro
Price: $279.00
The Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro is the most affordable option on the list at $279. It features the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro, which is a mid-range CPU that offers high performance for gaming and multitasking. It features 8GB RAM, but has two storage configuration options. CMF phones have always been known to be highly customizable, featuring several accessories.
This budget smartphone features a triple camera setup, with two 50MP cameras and an 8MP lens, capable of capturing high-quality pictures, even in low-light conditions. The camera can also shoot up to 4K at 60 FPS, which is great considering the phone's price. The TrueLens Engine 3 offers professional-grade light and shadow rendering, making the picture look significantly better.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro has the biggest screen on the list, having a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It features a 5000 mAh battery, which lasts an entire day of use, according to user reviews.
If your budget is a little higher, go for the Nothing Phone 3a as it's a better fit. However, the CMF beats all phones when it comes to value for money as it's one of the only phones offering high-level specs at this price point.
Here's the buying link for the smartphone.
This concludes the list of the best budget smartphones. We've provided a varied list of options, featuring different budget categories and serving different purposes. Before purchasing any of the provided budget smartphones on the list, be sure to look into their features and do ample research to see if they fit your needs.
Check out similar articles by Sportskeeda:
- All iPhones set to get the iOS 26 update
- Google Pixel 9A vs Nothing Phone 3a: Which is the better Android smartphone?
