CMF Cellphone 2 Professional for $279: I initially had this as a high choose for below $300 on this information; nevertheless, it has been practically not possible to purchase this telephone within the US for a very long time. Nothing’s web site simply lists the CMF Cellphone 2 Professional (9/10, WIRED Recommends) as “unavailable.” There is no level actually recommending a telephone you possibly can’t purchase, regardless of how nice it’s for the cash. If it someway comes again in inventory, the Cellphone 2 Professional is a superb worth, with stable efficiency, a pointy AMOLED display screen, and a triple-camera system that delivers first rate outcomes.
Samsung Galaxy A26 for $300: If you’d like a Samsung telephone however do not wish to spend a lot, I believe the Galaxy A26 (6/10, WIRED Evaluation) is the perfect bang in your buck. Efficiency is stable, battery life lasts a full day, there’s an IP67 water resistance score, and the digicam is OK. It even has expandable storage (although no headphone jack), and Samsung guarantees 6 years of software program updates, which is unparalleled at this value.
Samsung Galaxy A36 for $400: With the next value, you’d assume the A36 can be even higher than the A26, proper? Improper. The Galaxy A36 (6/10, WIRED Evaluation) hits many highs, together with a brighter show, good battery life, and stable cameras, however storage just isn’t expandable, and efficiency was bizarrely extra uneven. The 6 years of software program assist is good, but when the telephone is already annoying to function, I am unable to think about what it’s going to be like in 6 years. It is an OK telephone, however you are able to do higher.
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{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G for $250: TCL’s 60 XE (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has an anti-reflective matte display screen known as Nxtpaper to restrict the blue gentle coming into your eyes for higher sleep and decreased eye fatigue. There is no proof to counsel that blue-light blockers work, however when you ignore these claims, that is nonetheless a terrific funds telephone with a satisfying matte display screen. There’s a swap on the facet that permits you to flip between totally different show modes that flip the display screen nearer to a monochrome or shade E Ink expertise, nice for followers of e-readers. Efficiency is nice, the digicam is first rate, and there are extras like a headphone jack and microSD card slot. The one downside is that the display screen is tough to learn in direct daylight.
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Motorola Moto G Energy 2025 for $200: The Moto G Energy (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a rung under the Moto G Stylus 2025 above, and whereas I believe it is a good smartphone, efficiency is extra sluggish than rivals just like the CMF Cellphone 2 Professional. You do get among the identical perks because the Stylus, similar to an IP68 water-resistance score, headphone jack, microSD card slot, and wi-fi charging. Nonetheless, it options an LCD panel and comes with 128 GB of storage. Take into account that Motorola not too long ago introduced the Moto G Energy 2026. It’s going to go on sale in early January, and whereas the specs largely match these of the 2025 mannequin, it options an upgraded selfie digicam and a barely bigger 5,200-mAh battery capability. Sadly, Motorola has lower wi-fi charging from the newer mannequin, which is a disgrace. We’ll be testing it quickly.
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Moto G 2026 for $200: The Moto G 2026 comes on this attractive pink! It is a pretty-looking telephone, and an honest $200 handset. Efficiency is sluggish, which is why I believe you are higher off shopping for the Moto G Energy 2025 because it’s the identical value when on sale (or look forward to the upcoming 2026 mannequin to go on sale in a number of months). The cameras are barely satisfactory, however you may make contactless funds, entry 5G connectivity, and carry out day-to-day duties with a little bit of persistence.
Moto G Play 2026 for $180: Motorola’s new Moto G Play 2026 provides 5G connectivity for the primary time. Nonetheless, efficiency remains to be fairly sluggish, with apps and webpages taking a number of seconds to load. If you wish to pay little or no cash, this may do the job, however I believe you can purchase the Moto G Energy 2025 as a substitute, as a result of it is typically on sale for practically the identical value. Whereas the Energy’s efficiency is not wonderful, it is a lot better than the Play, and has stronger cameras and extra options.
Motorola Edge 2025 for $418: The Edge has a waterfall show, which is a cool impact the place the glass edges of the telephone bleed into the perimeters, making a bezel-less impact. It is a dying breed of telephone as a result of, seems, glass edges can interrupt the touchscreen and may make telephones annoying to make use of. It is not as a lot of an issue right here, however my essential problem is that efficiency is slightly too stuttery for a telephone at this value. The lackluster software program replace coverage additionally simply makes it onerous to advocate over rivals just like the Pixel 9a.
Minimal Cellphone for $499: Wish to cut back your reliance on a smartphone? The Minimal Cellphone (6/10, WIRED Evaluation) has an e-paper touchscreen and a bodily keyboard, nevertheless it runs Android. Which means you possibly can nonetheless entry each app you’d need by way of the Google Play Retailer, however the expertise goes to be inferior, because of the telephone’s low refresh charge (good luck watching movies on this factor) and the tiny monochrome display screen. Nonetheless, it is a first rate various (or possibly even a second telephone) when you simply wish to get away from doomscrolling.
Samsung Galaxy A16 for $200: Samsung’s Galaxy A16 nonetheless would not attain the highs of the Galaxy A14, and that is largely as a result of sluggish efficiency. Certain, Samsung is promising six years of software program updates, however that outstanding replace window would not matter when the telephone is frustratingly gradual, and also you wish to throw it out the window. In case you barely plan on utilizing this machine however need one thing from a dependable model that may keep safe, the Galaxy A16 is OK. Its efficiency simply is not aggressive with different equally priced telephones.
Nuu N20 for $130: Proper after I examined the Galaxy A16, I moved on to the cheaper Nuu N20. Shade me stunned. Sure, it could nonetheless be sluggish, however efficiency on this practically $100 telephone is much better and manageable. I used it for per week with no main issues. Properly, besides one: GPS on this machine is not nice. The few instances I used it for automotive navigation, it struggled to search out my location, and it was gradual to replace the map. The opposite large downside? The N20 presently runs Android 14, so it is already outdated, and the corporate tells me there is no such thing as a “actual schedule for software program updates.”
Sonim XP Professional 5G for $550: This rugged telephone is bought by way of Verizon solely, however I examined it on Google Fi and did not have any connectivity points. (Fi is powered by T-Cellular’s community.) I’ve dropped this Android telephone a number of instances on the sidewalk (on goal), and the display screen has not cracked. It is fairly sturdy, and that is largely the explanation to purchase it. By itself, it isn’t wholly spectacular—you should purchase extra highly effective, feature-rich telephones for the cash. The digicam is very unhealthy, persistently delivering blurry pictures until you keep as nonetheless as a statue. However efficiency is first rate, it comes with 256 GB of storage with a microSD card slot, and there is a customizable button you possibly can set to set off a shortcut or open an app.
Nothing Cellphone (3a) Lite for £249: Nothing’s Cellphone (3a) Lite (6/10, WIRED Evaluation) is a complicated smartphone in its lineup. The CMF Cellphone 2 Professional exists and is comparable in value (CMF is Nothing’s sub-brand), and on the whole, there are higher telephones you should purchase for the cash. The cameras are lackluster, and there is lots of bloatware, which seems like the alternative of Nothing’s philosophy. Efficiency is first rate, as is its battery life, however this telephone additionally is not launching within the US.
What Telephones Ought to You Keep away from?
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In case you’re eyeing a low cost telephone, attempt to stick to call manufacturers. There are a number of smartphones you will discover for dust low cost on Amazon, however you are about to load up no matter you purchase along with your private data and images—it is necessary to verify it is a respected model with good safety practices (or no less than some sort of report that it does problem safety patches).
