Introduction
Planning to buy a new smartphone on a limited budget? Confused by all the options available in the market? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
In this post, we’ve covered the top 5 cheapest smartphones in the USA. We’ve also listed their detailed specs, pros and cons, and prices. So, go through the whole article to find the five best cheap smartphones.
Top 5 Cheapest Smartphones in the USA
Google Pixel 6A
Pros
- Great battery backup
- Smooth performance with the Tensor chip
- Up to 5 years of guaranteed security updates
- Features IP67 rating for water and dust resistance
Cons
- Lacks microSD card slot for storage expansion
- Display refresh rate capped at 60Hz
- Lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack
The Pixel 6a is the successor of last year’s Pixel 5a and brings specs like a Tensor chipset, OLED display, and more. This Google budget phone has a price tag of USD 449 for the sole 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model. Moreover, other specifications of the Pixel 6a are in the table below:
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 3, FHD+ Resolution |
| Processor | Google Tensor |
| OS | Android 12 |
| Back Camera |
Dual;
|
| Front Camera | 8MP f/2.0 |
| Battery | 4410mAh, Fast Charging, up to 24 hours of battery life |
| Color | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Pros
- Great battery backup
- Supports 5G and NFC
- 4 years of software updates
- Great 120Hz Super AMOLED display
Cons
- No charger in the box
- Exynos 1280 chip is not as powerful as the competitors
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a cheap 5G phone that you can buy in the USA. Its official price starts at $449.99. Moreover, some of the key specs of the Galaxy A53 5G are as follow:
| Display | 6.5-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 5, FHD+ Resolution |
| Processor | Exynos 1280, Octa-Core (2.4GHz, 2GHz) |
| OS | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Back Camera |
Quad;
|
| Front Camera | 32 MP F2.2 (Infinity-O notch) |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 25W fast charging |
| Color | Black, Blue, Peach, White |
Apple iPhone SE 2022
Pros
- Offers 5G connectivity
- Touch ID
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
Cons
- Outdated design
- No charger in the box
- Lacks a higher refresh rate
Apple has updated its iPhone SE with the latest A15 Bionic chip. However, the design elements remain the same as the older iPhone SE. Its official price starts at $429. Other features that come with the smartphone are listed below:
| Display | 4.7‑inch IPS LCD, oleophobic coating, P3, 625nits peak brightness |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) |
| OS | iOS 15 |
| Back Camera |
Single;
|
| Front Camera | 7MP f/2.2 |
| Battery | Up to 15 hours of video playback, 20W adapter, Qi wireless charging |
| Color | Midnight, Starlight, (PRODUCT) RED |
Motorola Edge 2022
Pros
- Supports mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G connectivity
- Support for wireless charging
- Fast 144Hz OLED display
Cons
- No charger in the box
- Very average camera performance
Motorola Edge 2022 is the successor of last year’s Edge 2021 with a few upgrades. It is also the world's first smartphone to feature MediaTek's Dimensity 1050 Processor. Moreover, this 5G Motorola phone costs USD 498 for the base 8/128GB model.
Other specifications of the Motorola Edge 2022 are in the table below:
| Display | 6.6-inch OLED, 10-bit DCI-P3 color space, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, FHD+ Resolution |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 1050 (6nm) |
| OS | Android 12, My UX |
| Back Camera |
Triple;
|
| Front Camera | 32MP f/2.45, Quad Pixel Technology |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 30W fast charging, 5W wireless charging, 5W reverse charging |
| Color | Mineral Gray |
OnePlus Nord N20 5G
Pros
- Good battery life
- Supports 5G connectivity
- Supports fast charging with a compatible charger in the box
- Features MicroSD card slot for storage expansion
Cons
- Display refresh rate capped at 60Hz
- Runs on the old Android 11
OnePlus Nord N20 5G is the successor of the OnePlus Nord N10 and brings upgrades like Snapdragon 695 SoC and AMOLED display. The phone has a price tag of USD 282 for the sole 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model. Furthermore, other specifications of the OnePlus Nord N20 5G are in the table below:
| Display | 6.43-inch AMOLED, 60Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (6nm) |
| OS | Android 11, OxygenOS 11 |
| Back Camera |
Triple;
|
| Front Camera | 16MP |
| Battery | 4500mAh, 33W fast charging |
| Color | Blue |
Conclusion
Here, we have listed what we think are the top five cheap smartphones in the USA. All these smartphones offer a perfect balance of all the features.
Certainly, it is up to you to study the features before buying one. However, while buying a budget smartphone, always prioritize the features that are important to you.