We all remember when tech giants like Apple and Samsung were the only best mobile phone producers providing cutting-edge technology in 2023.
However, with innovative gadgets, every year that made their way up every consumer’s wishlist also came prices almost unaffordable for anyone on a tight budget.
As time passed and we made our way into the third decade of the 21st Century, a lot and the tech market changed. The once almost monopoly demand is now saturated with numerous consumer-friendly devices.
From a child looking for his first mobile phone to a student looking for an upgrade, anyone running on a budget can get a phone with all the newest features for under two to three hundred dollars.
To get the best value for your money, it is essential to research and determine your needs. Are you looking for a gaming phone? Do you work long hours and require a long-lasting battery?
Are you passionate about photography and need a camera phone? Or are you looking for something that provides you with a bit of everything?
All this research can be confusing and time-consuming, but don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Following are the top 10 best budget phones of 2023.
List Of Top 10 Best Affordable Phones and Smartphones in 2023
- OnePlus Nord N20 5G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
- Moto G Stylus
- Realme C35
- Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A13
- Oppo A54 5G
- Motorola Moto E7i Power
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
Best Affordable Phones and Smartphones in 2023
OnePlus Nord N20 5G
- Display: 6.43-inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080)
- Processor: Snapdragon 695
- Rear cameras: 64MP + 2MP + 2MP
- Front camera: 16MP f/2.4
- Storage: 128GB (UFS 2.2), microSD expandable
- RAM: 6GB RAM
- Battery: 4500mAh
- Operating System: Oxygen OS 11 (Android 11)
- Charging: 33W SuperVOOC
The N20 5G packs a punch at $282. It makes as few compromises as possible while providing you with almost all the functions you can get from a $1000 flagship mobile phone in 2023.
Its brilliant performance gives a great battery life paired with high-speed charging to uphold your consumer experience.
To top it all off, OnePlus Nord N20 5G provides a cutting-edge display and a fantastic software update commitment (compared to its price).
However, all budget phones compromise on something. In this case, it’s a mediocre camera. So if you plan on a more camera-oriented phone, this shouldn’t be your pick. It also provides no stereo speakers.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
- Display: 6.67 inches AMOLED (1080 x 2400)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G
- Rear cameras: 64MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP
- Front camera: 16MP
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB
- RAM: 6GB, 8GB
- Battery: 5050mAh
- Operating System: Android 11
- Charging: 33W Fast charging
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 provides a striking camera to fulfill all your photography needs. Furthermore, its sharp screen display, protected by Gorilla Glass, doesn’t let your world go dull and gloomy.
Its enormous battery allows you to go on for hours without worrying about charging, and even when it does, its fast charging does not limit your mobility for long.
Although the phone gives its user a classy design, its huge camera bump sometimes makes it look awkward. Lastly, the inability of 5G is one of the phone’s few drawbacks.
Moto G Stylus
- Display: 6.8″ 1080p IPS LCD, 90Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G88
- Rear cameras: 50MP Primary, 8MP Wide, 2MP Depth
- Front camera: 16MP
- Storage: 128GB, expandable by microSD
- RAM: 6GB
- Battery: Li-Po 4000 mAh
- Operating System: Android 10
- Charging: 10W wired charging
The Moto G Stylus gets its competitive edge over other budget phones from its built-in stylus. This (almost) complete package phone provides you with a fantastic 90Hz display.
Plausible performance thanks to its MediaTek chipset and long-lasting battery life at only $300 in 2023.
However, it’ll take some time to charge that big of a battery considering its 10W charging. The Selfie camera is as average as it can get, and the single speaker is also something where the phone loses points for many consumers.
Realme C35
- Display: 6.6 inches IPS LCD
- Processor: Unisoc Tiger T616
- Rear cameras: 50MP Primary, 2MP Macro, 0.5MP Depth
- Front camera: 8MP
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB
- RAM: 4/6GB RAM
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Operating System: Android 11, Realme UI 2.0
- Charging: 18W
If the Realme C35 stands out for anything, that’s its eye-catching flamboyant design in 2023. It’s not just all looks, though; C35’s 6.6 inches IPS LCD provides a vibrant display to pair with its above-average camera.
Before moving on, it’s important to note that the C35 isn’t the best for video capture. Plus, its 60Hz screen makes it a weak option if you’re planning on gaming.
Although the Realme C35 provides consumers with some good features, overall, it gives almost similar performance to its predecessor, the C31.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Display: 6.67in Full HD+ (1080×2400) 20:9 IPS LCD, 120Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 860
- Rear cameras: 48Mp PDAF main camera, 8Mp ultrawide, 2Mp macro, 2Mp depth sensor
- Front camera: 20MP
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB
- RAM: 6,8GB RAM
- Battery: 5160mAh non-removable battery
- Operating System: Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13
- Charging: 33W Fast Charging
It is almost unimaginable that a $300 phone can pack such all-rounding features in 2023. The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro has nearly everything. A massive battery that’ll last you longer than most flagship phones.
One of the top processors in the market on such a budget is unthinkable. Moreso, pairing that with its 120Hz display makes it an excellent pick for consumers who like spending their day playing games.
Lastly, along with many other plus points, the X3 Pro provides a decent camera.
Though it’s surprising how Xiaomi is even pulling this off on such a tight budget in 2023, the phones have some drawbacks. Its big battery makes it heavier than most people are willing to carry.
Furthermore, other phones give better cameras and AMOLED displays, which the X3 Pro lacks, in the same price range. Lastly, MIUI 12 will hold you back to an extent, so don’t be surprised.
However, it’s safe to say that even with all these things, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is one of the best.
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G
- Display: 6.6in FHD+ (2400×1080), 90Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 810
- Rear cameras: 50Mp main, 8Mp ultrawide
- Front camera: 16Mp selfie camera
- Storage: 64GB/128GB internal storage
- RAM: 4GB/6GB RAM
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Operating System: Android 11, MIUI 12.5
- Charging: 33W
Poco M4 Pro 5G provides users with what most budget phones don’t in 2023! The ability to use 5G on a budget phone is nothing less than a miracle.
We get that this phone isn’t all that better than its predecessors, the M3 Pro or the M4 Pro 4G, but it is undoubtedly an excellent pick for people looking for 5G.
Its high-performance battery will last you nearly two days. On the other hand, the 90Hz refresh rate is the cherry on top.
But like we said, all budget phones will lack somewhere. The Poco M4 Pro 5G does that in the arena of cameras that are average at max.
We’ll admit that even though the M4 Pro 5G looks like it packs a punch, it doesn’t. For good or worse, there are better phones out there in the same price range for people who aren’t concerned with 5G.
Samsung Galaxy A13
- Display: 6.6in 20:9 1080×2400 IPS LCD
- Processor: Octa-core Samsung Exynos 850
- Rear cameras: 50MP (main), 5MP (ultra-wide), 2MP macro, 2MP depth
- Front camera: 8MP
- Storage: 32GB, 64GB
- RAM: 3GB RAM, 4GB
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Operating System: Android 12 with OneUI 4.1
- Charging: No charger supplied
Samsung is a flagship name in the mobile phones market in 2023, and it is understandable why one might want to go for one of the company’s options.
They usually don’t target the budget market, but things have changed with the Galaxy A13. Its classy design is precisely what you would expect from a Samsung phone.
The same goes for its superb camera, allowing you to flex the fact that you own a Samsung. Last but not least, A13’s Samsung OneUI is one of the best Operating Systems out there.
However, it is essential to note that this is Samsung we’re talking about. A flagship brand that doesn’t lead the budgeted market, and it shows.
While buying the A13, you will have to come to terms with the fact that there are better-performing phones in the market with better features.
Some of those features are a 90Hz AMOLED display, a charger supplied with the phone, and fast charging.
Oppo A54 5G
- Display: 6.5in 20:9 FHD+ (2400×1080) LTPS-LCD, 90Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G processor
- Rear cameras: 48Mp main, 8Mp ultrawide, 2Mp macro, 2Mp Depth
- Front camera: 16Mp
- Storage: 64GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Operating System: Android 11
- Charging: 10W
The Oppo A54 5G stands out for its 5G availability at only $250 in 2023. In addition, it provides a pretty fantastic performance that is further leveled by its strong battery life. Lastly, its 90Hz FHD+ keeps your experience vibrant and full of colors.
The problem with A54 is that its faults get in the way of its plus points. Yes, it has a great battery, but only 10W charging will be slow and hold you back.
The display is outstanding, but the camera is as average as it gets. Plus, the user experience of taking pictures needs a serious upgrade.
Motorola Moto E7i Power
- Display: 6.5in Max Vision HD+ display, 60Hz refresh rate, IPS
- Processor: UNISOC SC9863A with octa-core
- Rear cameras: 13 MP (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro)
- Front camera: 5Mp
- Storage: 32GB built-in
- RAM: 2GB
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Operating System: Android 10 (Go edition)
- Charging: 10W
The Motorola Moto E7i Power is one of the cheapest budget phones available at a shocking $110 in 2023. It offers a chic design and a great battery life.
Regarding its price, the performance is mind-blowingly amazing, thanks to its UNISOC processor. Without a doubt, the Moto E7i power is the best you’ll get in this price range.
It should not be surprising that the cameras aren’t that great, nor is the display eye-catching. The phone offers no USB-C charging.
All over the phone provides pretty basic specs, but those are easy to outlook if this is the price range you’re standing at.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
- Display: 6.42in, FHD+, AMOLED, 90Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G
- Rear cameras: 50Mp main, 8Mp ultra-wide, 2Mp Depth
- Front camera: 13Mp
- Storage: 64GB/128GB
- RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR4
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Operating System: Android 11
- Charging: 33W
The Redmi Note 11 is a good deal at a fantastic budget phone of only $180 in 2023. It is among the few phones that provide an outstanding 90Hz AMOLED display.
It doesn’t compromise on its performance either, plus it allows you more extended hours of use thanks to its herculean battery.
Xiaomi provides its users with 33W fast charging when things couldn’t get any better. Lastly, its beautiful design is a cherry on top.
Though it’s reasonable considering this phone’s price, the cameras are possibly something potential buyers would drop Note 11 for.
There are not many things to complain about in this phone, but its MIUI is undoubtedly something that feels like a pebble in the shoe.
That wraps up our top 10 best-budget phones of 2023 list. Hopefully, you will find something worth your money to fulfill your requirements. Happy shopping!
