Smartphones are a necessity in this day and age, but they’ve also become somewhat of a luxury. In the final quarter of 2025, the average smartphone price surpassed $400 globally. Although there are many smartphones worth splurging on, you may want to purchase a budget-friendly option for yourself.

That is why we decided to review the 3 best budget smartphones available now. Each of these phones belongs to a well-renowned brand, offering quality and reliability. Whether you search for high-quality cameras, a cutting-edge CPU, or impressive built-in memories, these smartphones have it.

Samsung Galaxy A25

The Samsung Galaxy A25 is one of Samsung’s most popular models of the past five years. This A-series flagship has dimensions of 161 x 76.5 x 8.3 mm (6.34 x 3.01 x 0.33 in), weighing 197 g (6.95 oz). With an Android 14 operating system and an Octa-core CPU, it is one of the most powerful smartphones in the budget category.

The Samsung Galaxy A25 has different variations, ranging from 128GB 4GB RAM to 256GB 8GB RAM. As one of the best budget smartphones, the A25 has three main cameras, with 50, 8, and 2 MP respectively. You can film 4K videos with the main camera. The selfie camera has 13 MP with 1080p video quality. The feature that truly makes the Galaxy A25 pop is the 3.5mm headphone jack, which has become a rarity. This smartphone has a price range of $170 to $200.

Motorola Moto G Power (2025)

The Motorola Moto G Power is a 2025 smartphone with an Android 15 OS. This smartphone has dimensions of 166.6 x 77.1 x 8.7 mm (6.56 x 3.04 x 0.34 in), with 208 g (7.34 oz) in weight. It has an Octa-core CPU, along with a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. Although the Moto G Power only has 128 GB and 8 GB RAM, it has a dedicated microSDXC slot.

This smartphone has two main cameras, one with 50 MP and one with 8 MP. These cameras have a video recording capability of up to 1080p, with 30fps. The selfie camera has 16 MP, with a video recording capability of up to 1080p at 30 fps, too. This phone has a 3.5mm speaker jack and a USB Type-C 2.0 jack. As one of the best budget smartphones, the Moto G Power (2025) has a price of around $250.

Google Pixel 9a

The Google Pixel 9a is undoubtedly the best budget smartphone on our list. It is a little pricier than its competition, with a price range of up to $499, but it is worth it. This smartphone has dimensions of 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm (6.09 x 2.89 x 0.35 in), with 186 g (6.56 oz) in weight. Its build has a Gorilla Glass front and an aluminum frame, making it quite sturdy.

Its operating system is Android 15, though it can be upgraded to Android 16. It also boasts an Octa-core CPU and a Mali-G715 MP7 GPU. The Pixel 9a has two variations: the 128 GB 8 GB RAM and the 256 GB 8 GB RAM. It has two main cameras, one with 48 MP and one with 13 MP, with a video capability up to 4K. This smartphone has a fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, and barometer sensors, making it quite handy.

Summary of the 3 Best Budget Smartphones

Whether you want to read up on the greatest architectural tourist spots or you want to take an HDR video, you need a quality smartphone. You can get your hands on a top-rate smartphone without breaking the bank, though. All you need to do is consult our reviews of the best budget smartphones and choose the best smartphone for your preferences.