![]() Splash Resistance: Though we've yet to see a budget offering with an official ingress protection (IP) rating, a handful of affordable phones are now splash-resistant. Though no phone is going to sound as good as even an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker, it's definitely an upgrade over a single driver. Stereo Speakers: A handful of budget-friendly phones have stereo speakers and even advanced features such as custom tuning and Dolby audio. It's a great feature to have, as contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are more popular than ever before. NFC: NFC is slowly making its way to the affordable phone market. The macro lenses are almost always awful. For the most part, these phones can capture solid images with their primary and wide-angle cameras if you have a steady hand and good light. Multi-Lens Cameras: Most affordable phones have multi-lens camera stacks that allow you to capture wide-angle and macro shots. Keep in mind that you won't find many of these features on the majority of budget-friendly phones, but we anticipate that some will trickle down over time. Once you verify the essential features, look for extra perks. If you spend more, opt for a phone with no less than 128GB of storage, which would make a microSD slot optional. ![]() Look for at least 64GB of storage on phones under $200 and make sure the phone has a microSD slot. Storage: Like RAM, you can't have too much storage. If you're willing to spend more, make sure you get a minimum of 6GB. For phones under $200, look for at least 4GB of RAM. RAM: Simply put, the more RAM the merrier. Also, don't assume a budget phone will ever get an Android version upgrade, no matter what the manufacturer says. Don't go back any further than Android 12 for security and compatibility reasons. Operating System: The current version of Android is Android 13, but few budget phones ship with the latest build. You also should check for Wi-Fi 5 (previously known as 802.11ac) as well as Bluetooth 5.0 or later. ![]() If you're looking at flip phones, make sure the modem has voice over LTE (VoLTE), voice over Wi-Fi (VoWIFI), and Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) for the best call quality. For the most part, you should choose a phone with a Qualcomm X12 (for LTE), X60 (for 5G), or higher modem. For example, T-Mobile customers in rural areas should pick a phone with LTE band 71 support, while Verizon customers should look out for C-band coverage on 5G phones.Ĭonnectivity: Connectivity has a huge impact on call quality and data speeds. You should also figure out if the phone supports the bands that best suit your needs. Search for 5G and LTE bands by the phone's model number, not its name. No matter your choice, make sure your phone has the appropriate band support for your carrier. Mediatek's Dimensity 700 line is also good, though the company's Helio line has a bit less horsepower.Ĭompatibility: Before you make a purchase, decide whether you're ready to jump on the 5G bandwagon or if you'd rather stick with LTE 4G.
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