9 Best Budget Smartphones of 2026

The Pixel 9a is the phone we would point most budget buyers to first, mainly because of how long it will stay current. Google lists 7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates, which is longer than any other phone here. The hardware covers the basics well: a Tensor G4 chip, 8 GB of RAM, a 6.3-inch pOLED screen that runs at up to 120Hz and reaches 2700 nits at peak, and IP68 dust and water resistance. The 48 MP main camera works with Google's camera software, including Night Sight for low light, Add Me for group shots and Magic Editor in Google Photos. Google rates the 5100 mAh battery for 30+ hours and up to 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver, and it charges wirelessly. The tradeoffs are modest. At $499 it sits right at the ceiling of this list, the cover glass is Gorilla Glass 3, and there is no microSD slot. It is also a smaller phone than most here.

On paper the Phone (4a) Pro has the most hardware for the money on this list. Nothing pairs a 4 nm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 storage, and the 6.83-inch AMOLED runs at up to 144Hz with a 5000-nit peak. The camera is the reason to pick it: alongside a 50 MP main sensor with OIS, there is a 50 MP periscope lens with 3.5x optical zoom, something no other phone here offers, and Nothing advertises up to 140x ultra zoom. The 5,080 mAh battery charges at 50W, and the box includes a case and a pre-applied screen protector. The compromises are about the long term. Nothing promises 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches, so it will stop getting new Android versions well before the Pixel 9a or Galaxy A37. It is rated IP65 rather than IP68, and its Glyph Interface and Nothing OS take some getting used to.

The Galaxy A37 5G is the strongest Samsung option under $500 and the closest rival to the Pixel 9a. It runs on an Exynos 1480, which Samsung says is up to 12% faster on the CPU and 19% faster on graphics than the A56, and it pairs that with a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED screen and Vision Booster for outdoor use. The build is a step above the cheaper A models: IP68 water resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides and a glazed ceramic frame. The triple camera has a 50 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide and a 5 MP macro, and the 12 MP front camera supports Super HDR video. Samsung lists 6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates, one year short of Google. The 5,000 mAh battery reaches up to 60% in 30 minutes with Super Fast Charging 2.0. Watch the memory: the 128 GB model has 6 GB, so pick 256 GB if you multitask.

The moto g power 2026 is the value pick for buyers who want a sturdy, large phone without spending close to $500. Motorola says it was tested to IP68 and IP69 and to the MIL-STD 810H military standard, and it upgrades the cover to Gorilla Glass 7i, which Motorola says performed up to 2x better in drop and scratch lab tests than last year's model. The 6.8-inch FHD+ screen runs at up to 120Hz and boosts to 1000 nits in sunlight, and Water Touch keeps it usable with wet fingers. Inside is a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 with 8GB of RAM, a 5200mAh typical battery and TurboPower 30 charging. NFC handles tap-to-pay, and a microSD slot takes cards up to 1TB. The processor is the weak point: it is the same chip as the $199.99 moto g play, so heavy games and editing will feel slower than on the Pixel or Nothing. Motorola also does not publish an update period on the page.

The moto g stylus 2026 is the phone for people who want to write on the screen. Its built-in active stylus slides out of the body and supports smart shortcuts and handwriting in several languages, which no other phone here offers. Motorola also gives it the fastest charging on this list: 68W TurboPower wired, plus 15W wireless charging, and it rates the 5200mAh battery for up to 44 hours. Inside is a 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 with 8GB of LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 storage, which Motorola says makes it 10% faster than last year's model. It carries the same IP68 and IP69 ratings as the g power, NFC for payments and a microSD slot up to 1TB. The catch is price. At $499.99 for 128GB it costs as much as the Pixel 9a, which has a faster chip and a published 7-year update promise, while Motorola does not state an update period on this page. The 256GB version, at $599.99, is over budget.

The Galaxy A27 5G brings Samsung's long support window down to $349.99. Samsung lists 6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates from the phone's global manufacture date in Q2 2026, which is far longer than Motorola publishes for its similarly priced phones. It runs on a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, the same chip as the $499.99 moto g stylus, and has a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED screen with Vision Booster. At 7.8 mm it is slim, and Gorilla Glass Victus+ covers both sides. Samsung rates the 5,000 mAh battery for up to 23 hours of video playback, with up to 45% charge in 30 minutes. Software extras include Object Eraser, Edit Suggestion, Voice Transcription and Circle to Search. The compromises show in the details. It is rated IP64, so it handles rain but not a dunk in the pool, and the 5 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro cameras are basic. Charging is also slower than on the A37.

The Galaxy A17 5G is the cheapest way into Samsung's long support promise. Samsung lists 6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates from its global manufacture date in Q3 2025, which no other phone at this price on our list matches. The 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display is a real upgrade over the LCD screens common at $250, and the slim 7.5 mm body uses Gorilla Glass Victus for scratch defense. Samsung Wallet handles tap-to-pay with NFC-enabled cards from participating banks, and Gemini Live and Circle to Search are built in. Samsung describes the chip only as a 2.4 GHz octa-core processor, so expect a phone made for messaging, video calls, social apps and streaming rather than demanding games. The IP54 rating means splash protection, not water resistance for a swim. Next to the moto g 2026 at the same price, it trades a bigger battery claim and stereo speakers for far longer software support.

The moto g 2026 is a straightforward everyday phone with a few touches you would not expect at $249.99. The 6.7-inch screen runs at up to 120Hz, so scrolling looks smooth, and High Brightness Mode lifts it to 1000 nits in sunlight. Motorola rates the 5200mAh battery for 2 days and pairs it with TurboPower 30 charging, and dual stereo speakers with a smart amplifier make videos and calls easier to hear without earbuds. The vegan leather finish and Gorilla Glass 3 give it a solid feel, and the 128GB of storage can grow with a microSD card up to 1TB. Motorola listed free Moto Buds 2 with the phone on the day we checked. The limits are memory and protection. With 4GB of RAM, switching between many apps will be slower than on the 8GB phones here. It is only water-repellent, which Motorola says does not cover submersion, and the page does not state an update period. The $249.99 price was a sale from $299.99.

The moto g play 2026 is the floor of this list and a sensible one. For $199.99 on sale, Motorola gives it a 6.7-inch screen that runs at up to 120Hz, 5G, and the same MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip found in the $399.99 moto g power. The 5200mAh battery carries a 2-day rating, dual stereo speakers handle videos and speakerphone calls, and Water Touch keeps the screen working when your hands are damp. Facial recognition and Circle to Search are included. Storage is the biggest limit: 64GB of UFS 2.2 goes quickly once apps and photos pile up, so plan on a microSD card, which the phone accepts up to 1TB. Charging tops out at 18W, protection is IP52 and Gorilla Glass 3, and memory is 4GB. Motorola does not publish an update period on the product page. It is a good backup phone, a first phone for a child or a phone for light users, not one for heavy multitasking.