Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Google Pixel 9a ($450 – $500).
- Mid-range phones now handle everyday tasks, photos and gaming well for far less than flagships.
- Check how many years of software updates the phone will get; the best brands now offer six to seven.
In this article
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Cheap smartphones can be a smart buy or a false economy. We picked the lowest-priced models in the US that still earn a buy or consider verdict from us.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 9a | Buy | 8.6/10 | $450 – $500 |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro | Buy | 8.9/10 | $900 – $1,000 |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Buy | 9.0/10 | $1,200 – $1,300 |
Budget picks in detail
Google Pixel 9a
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $450 – $500
A safe choice: Google Pixel 9a earns a buy verdict with a score of 8.6/10, at a typical price of $450 – $500.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.9/10 · Typical price: $900 – $1,000
Google Pixel 9 Pro is one of the smartphones we would buy in the US. It scores 8.9/10 in our ratings and usually sells for $900 – $1,000.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.0/10 · Typical price: $1,200 – $1,300
A safe choice: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra earns a buy verdict with a score of 9.0/10, at a typical price of $1,200 – $1,300.
How to save money
Mid-range phones now handle everyday tasks, photos and gaming well for far less than flagships.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Check how many years of software updates the phone will get; the best brands now offer six to seven.
Common mistake: Buying a phone with a short update period; it becomes unsafe sooner.
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Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap smartphones in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Google Pixel 9a, typically $450 – $500.
Are cheap smartphones worth it?
Mid-range phones now handle everyday tasks, photos and gaming well for far less than flagships. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Check how many years of software updates the phone will get; the best brands now offer six to seven.
When are smartphones cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.