All articles tagged with #budget phones
With the Pixel 11 starting at $899, this piece spotlights five affordable Android phones that offer strong value: Pixel 10a, Nothing Phone 4a Pro, TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro, Moto G 2026, and Galaxy A17 5G. Each undercuts Pixel 11 with a mix of capable cameras, larger displays, solid battery life, and software/update support—proving you can get solid Android performance for far less.
Verge’s budget-phone guide highlights the iPhone 17E as the best cheap iPhone and points to the Google Pixel 10A (with Nothing Phone 4A Pro as a strong Android alternative) as standout options, delivering solid performance, long software support, MagSafe on the iPhone, and good value for under $600.
The article lists five Android smartphones to avoid in 2025, including the Moto G 2025, Samsung Galaxy A36, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and Galaxy S25 Edge, mainly due to their shortcomings in features, software support, or value compared to better alternatives from other brands like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.
Nothing is launching its fifth phone in a year, the 3a Lite, a budget-friendly, minimalist smartphone that appears to be a rebranded version of the earlier CMF Phone 2 Pro, raising questions about the brand's expanding and potentially confusing product lineup and its impact on brand identity.
The upcoming iPhone SE 4, expected in early 2025, is anticipated to be a significant release for Apple, offering major upgrades like a 6.1-inch OLED display, USB-C charging, and possibly Apple's in-house 5G chip. It may also feature the A18 chip, aligning it with the iPhone 16's performance. This model could expand access to Apple Intelligence, Apple's AI suite, beyond flagship devices, making advanced features more accessible to budget-conscious consumers. The iPhone SE 4's enhancements could make it a pivotal smartphone release in 2025.
Motorola has unveiled two new budget-friendly smartphones, the Moto G Power and Moto 5 5G. The Moto G Power features a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz display, MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chipset, 50MP camera system, 5G connectivity, and a 5000mAh battery with 30W fast-charging, while the Moto 5 5G offers a slightly smaller 6.6-inch 120Hz display, Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, and 5G capability. The Moto G Power will be available on March 22 for $300, while the Moto 5 5G will be released on March 21 for $200.
Motorola's new budget phones, the 2024 Moto G Power 5G and Moto G 5G, offer promising features such as NFC, vegan leather back panels, microSD card slots, and headphone jacks, with the G Power 5G also including wireless charging. Priced at $199 and $299 respectively, the phones boast midrange chipsets, 50-megapixel main cameras, and 120Hz refresh rate displays. Both models are set to be released in March and May, with potential for improved user experience pending execution.
The Nothing Phone 2a outshines the Pixel 7a in several ways, including a lower price, cooler design, longer battery life, faster charging, full manual camera controls, and a better-looking interface with enhanced notifications through its Glyph Interface. Despite limited availability in the U.S., the Nothing Phone 2a offers compelling features that make it a strong contender in the budget smartphone category.
The European pricing for the Nothing Phone 2a has been leaked, with the base model starting at around $375, positioning it as a competitor to budget phones from established brands like Xiaomi. The leaked prices for the 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB models are €349 (~$375) and €399 (~$428) respectively, making it a potentially competitive option in the budget smartphone market. The phone is rumored to feature a Dimensity 7200-Ultra chipset, a 120Hz OLED screen, dual 50MP rear cameras, and 45W wired charging, with more details expected to be revealed closer to the official launch next month.
The Framework Laptop 16, featuring a unique expansion bay for an optional discrete GPU, receives mixed reviews for its ambitious modularity and customization but higher cost and noise under load. A pocket-sized travel router with dual gigabit Ethernet ports is introduced, while Firefox 122 brings improvements including enhanced search suggestions and website translations. Budget smartphones with 90 Hz displays are announced, and rumors suggest Intel's Arrow Lake desktop CPUs may feature Thunderbolt 5 and PCIe 5.0 support.
Motorola is set to launch two new Moto G smartphones, the Moto G54 5G and Moto G84 5G, in India in the coming week. The Moto G54 5G has also been spotted at the FCC, suggesting a possible global release. The phones offer impressive specifications, including large RAM and storage capacities, high refresh rate displays, powerful cameras, and long-lasting batteries. Motorola aims to continue its legacy of providing good budget phones with these new releases.
TCL has unveiled its first smartphones featuring NXTPAPER displays, previously designed for tablets and e-readers. The TCL 40 NXTPAPER models are budget-oriented devices with mid- to low-range specs, offering industry-leading eye comfort. The displays provide 25% more contrast than typical E Ink displays, are 65% more power efficient, and exceed TÜV-certified levels of blue light reduction. The screens automatically adjust color temperature based on time and environment. The TCL 40 NXTPAPER and TCL 40 NXTPAPER 5G have different designs and specs, with the former priced at €199 ($215) and the latter at €249 ($269). Both models will be released globally later in 2023.
The Pixel 7a offers substantial upgrades over the Pixel 6a, including a 90Hz screen, improved cameras, and wireless charging, without a major price increase. However, the Pixel 6a is still a great entry-level package at $349 and a better option for those on a limited budget or looking for a backup device. Both phones run the latest version of Android 13 and have similar dimensions, but the Pixel 7a has a larger battery and more color options. Overall, the Pixel 7a is a compelling budget option and a great affordable Android phone for years to come.
Motorola has announced two new budget phones, the Moto G Stylus and Moto G 5G. The Moto G Stylus comes with a built-in stylus for better precision and a 50MP main camera, while the Moto G 5G delivers affordable 5G connectivity with a Snapdragon 480+ 5G processor and a 48MP main camera. Both phones have a 5,000mAh battery and expandable storage options. The Moto G Stylus will be available for $199.99 and the Moto G 5G will start at $249.99, with both phones being sold at various retailers.
Motorola has launched two new budget smartphones, the Moto G Stylus and Moto G 5G, both of which come with Android 13 and cost under $250. The Moto G 5G is powered by a Snapdragon 480+ chip with 5G support, while the Moto G Stylus uses a MediaTek Helio G85 Gaming Edition chip. Both devices feature 6.5-inch HD+ displays, 4GB of RAM, and high-resolution cameras. The Moto G 5G is available now, while the Moto G Stylus will be available from May 5.