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The Best Budget Smartphones You can Get in 2025!
Want a new smartphone that fits into moderate budgets? Check out these devices! The post The Best Budget Smartphones You can Get in 2025! appeared first on Phandroid.
We’ve gotten to a point in time where premium smartphones are pretty much capable of handling a lot of our needs for day-to-day tasks, with powerful cameras, impressive software capabilities, and a more refined approach to on-the-go computing. With that said however, getting the best-ever smartphone often tends to be expensive, which is why we’ve prepared this rundown of some of the more affordable alternatives that you can get, that don’t necessarily come with crippling compromises. Let’s get started!
Best Budget Phones of 2025
Moto Edge 60 Stylus 2025
Display: 6.7-inch OLED | Chipset: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 | RAM: 8GB | Battery: 5,000 mAh | Charging: 68W wired / 15W wireless | Cameras: 50MP main, 13MP ultrawide + 32MP front, 4K UHD (30fps)/FHD (60/30fps)
The Moto G Stylus (2025) is a great example that you don’t need to spend a lot of cash to get a competent stylus-equipped smartphones. Priced just slightly below 400 bucks, the phone manages to impress with a large and sharp display, a capable Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip, as well as a large battery with fast charging support. Of course, the phone’s main highlight is its built-in stylus, which comes in handy for note-taking and apps which require a bit more precision in terms of input.
One downside though is that it only comes with two major Android upgrades, which might be a bit of a downer especially for users who’d like to keep their phones for longer than usual, and this means that you might miss out on major features beyond Android 16 and 17. While it’s also cheaper than the Moto G Stylus 2025, it’s currently exclusive for Indian markets.
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Google Pixel 8a
Display: 6.1-inch OLED, 2,000 nits, 120Hz | Chipset: Google Tensor G3 | RAM: 8GB | Battery: 4492mAh | Charging: 18W wired / 8W wireless | Cameras: 64MP main, 13MP ultrawide, + 13MP selfie
While it’s not the latest A-series Pixel phone from Google, the Pixel 8a still gets a lot of things right thanks to relatively-capable hardware, as well as impressive camera performance and Google’s monthly security updates. It also comes with a lot of useful features such as Google’s voice typing feature, call screening, and a host of other QoL functions. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also a lot cheaper now as well.
It’s not perfect of course, and folks after a budget device that can go the distance with raw performance might be left wanting a bit more, as the Tensor G3 inside the Pixel 8a is geared more towards moderate usage and well, regular smartphone tasks. It will be able to play most games from the Google Play Store, but don’t expect an ROG phone competitor with this one.
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Nothing Phone 3a
Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED, 3000 nits, 120Hz | Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | RAM: 8/12GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Charging: 50W wired | Cameras: 50MP main, 8MP, ultrawide, 50MP telescopic lens + 32MP selfie
As far as affordable smartphones go, the Nothing Phone 3a really shines in as much different areas as possible—it’s got a large and vibrant display, an attractive mid-tier Snapdragon processor, and even a telephoto camera which is not often seen in most budget-friendly devices. Like Nothing’s other smartphones, it also comes with the signature glyph interface at the rear which sets it apart from competing handsets and adds a bit of usefulness.
On the other hand, it’s this same design which might be a dealbreaker for some folks that might prefer a more moderate-looking or minimalistic look, although if we’re being honest the Nothing Phone 3a manages to excel in the areas where it matters most, especially for budget-conscious smartphone users.
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Samsung Galaxy A36
Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz | Chipset: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | RAM: 6-12GB | Battery: 5000mAh | Charging: 45W wired | Cameras: 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro + 12MP selfie
One of the main highlights of the Galaxy A36 is that it brings over a more premium design and build when compared to older A3X models, with a front and back that’s both made of Gorilla Glass Victus+. It also packs a large and vibrant screen that makes it ideal for content consumption and more immersive daily usage, as well as a large battery that should easily last a day and more for moderate users.
A notable downside however is the somewhat lacklustre camera performance, especially when you consider that Samsung’s more affordable A-series phones aren’t always the best when it comes to photographic capabilities. They’ll give you decent photos in general, but users expecting a more capable camera phone (for less cash) will no doubt want to stick to a Pixel handset instead. Additionally, while the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is a decent chipset, it’s not really ideal for intense gaming, something that potential buyers might want to keep in mind.
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Honor Magic 7 Lite
Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED display, 120Hz, 4,000 nits | Chipset: Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 | RAM: Up to 12GB | Battery: 6,600 mAh battery| Charging: 66W wired | Cameras: 108MP main camera, 5MP ultra-wide camera + 16MP front camera
Honor’s main selling point for the Magic 7 Lite was pretty simple—it’s a phone that’s designed to look good, be durable and pack a massive battery, and that’s exactly where its strengths are. It also helps that the handset looks a lot more expensive than it actually is, and you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a mid-tier smartphone from Honor’s lineup.
On the other hand, the Magic 7 Lite does come with some quirks—there’s quite a number of pre-installed apps on the device, its overall camera performance could be better, and the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 inside (much like the Galaxy A36 earlier) is more suited for moderate smartphone usage, with a bit of light gaming in the mix. Still, the large 6,600 mAh battery is something that’s not often seen on phones at this price, and will be ideal for users who value endurance and little need for constant charging.
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The post The Best Budget Smartphones You can Get in 2025! appeared first on Phandroid.
