If you’re seeking the very best budget smartphones in 2025, you’ve come to the right place. Each year there are new models released, and it can be challenging to find an inexpensive smartphone that offers decent performance, battery life, and decent camera.

We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best budget smartphones 2025 that you can buy right now, and they all represent great value, for an affordable price, and offer decent features. Whether you’re a student, a traveler, or just someone who wants a smart bargain, there’s something here for you.

Google Pixel 9a – Best Overall Budget Smartphone

The experience it delivers is premium, thanks to Google’s Tensor G4 chip, which assists it with great performance and smart AI features. You can rely on its speed for day-to-day tasks really well! Plus, the phone comes with a stock Android experience, that is clean of bloatware, and gets updated straight from Google, regularly.

What is impressive about the Pixel 9a is the camera quality. With its 48MP main sensor, the photos you take are crisp and full of detail; there are flagship phones with worse cameras than the Pixel 9a. Add to this an OLED display, long battery life, and 7 years of software support, and you have one of the most future-proof phones at its price point!

Pros:

• Flagship-level Tensor G4 processor 
• Fantastic 48-megapixel main camera with AI improvements 
• Wonderful 6.3-inch OLED display 
• Good battery life (around 57 hours for light use) 
• Good water resistance (IP68 rating) 
• Seven years of software updates 

Cons:

• Limited on-device AI due to RAM limitations 
• No optical zoom No wi- 

The Pixel 9a is a one-of-a-kind device that offers exceptional features at a mid-range price. It is the best recommendation for someone who is on a budget, while still wanting to enjoy a premium smartphone experience.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro – Best Design and Display

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro has a flair for design and innovation that will be outdone by none of the The Phone has a fabulous display with a 6.77 LTPO AMOLED,120Hz screen that is delightful for streaming movies or playing games, or simply scrolling.

and this is the key differentiator between the Nothing Phone 3a Pro out and many other phones that are virtually identical and  `cheap` in the same product category. Add in the techno-chic transparent back and signature Glyph lighting and it becomes an instant conversation piece. 

Alright, but at the end of the day, you want performance, or at least a clean fast UI and this whole Phone is distinguished by one last performance layer of Nothing OS 3.1 on Android 15. If you want a product that is going to stand out from everyone you know, is functional, performance oriented, and looks like nothing else on the shelf, I particularly recommend this Phone as a surefire hit. If you’re looking for something that is as unique, dependable, fast, and won’t break the bank, the Nothing Phone 3a 

Pros:

• Unique transparent design with LED Glyph interface
• Excellent 120Hz AMOLED display
• Clean, fast software experience
• Solid triple-camera system

Cons:

• No wireless charging
• Only 3 years of Android updates
• No expandable storage

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G – Long-Lasting Software Support

This is the best budget smartphone of 2025 on my list because I was incredibly impressed with the software longevity and performance. The 6.7 Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate produces rich and vibrant colors with seamless scrolling. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and up to 12GB RAM delivers magnificent performance when switching between tasks. Samsung also offers 6 years of Android OS and security support for the Galaxy A36, which means it will be fresh and safe for a long time to come. ​

Pros:

• Lively and reactive 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display
• Impressive Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor in terms of performance
• Good software longevity – 6 years of OS and security updates
• Rugged design with Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an IP67 rating

Cons:

• No expandable storage option
• No wireless charging available

OnePlus Nord N30 5G – Best for Fast Charging

Price: $299

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G makes the list of the 10 Best Budget Smartphones 2025 You Can Buy Now for its great fast-charging abilities. With 50W SUPERVOOC charging, the Nord N30 5G can charge its 5,000mAh battery from 0 to 80% in just 30 minutes, giving users little downtime during the day. ​

The Nord N30 5G has more to offer than rapid charging. It also has a 6.72-inch LCD display that features a 120Hz refresh rate for a fluid and responsive screen for everyday usage. It carries a 108MP main camera with a variety of camera operations, and is powered by OxygenOS 13.1, so you get a stock android experience that feels seamless and direct.

Pros:

• 108MP main camera
• 6.7-inch display at 120Hz
• 67W fast charging
• Pure OxygenOS experience

Cons:

• Limited software update commitment
• No official IP rating

Motorola Moto G Power (2025) – Best for Battery Life and Durability

The Motorola Moto G Power (2025) does not feature on the list of 10 Best Affordable Smartphones 2025 You Can Buy Today without reason. Everything about this phone shines because of its great battery life and durability. A 5,000mAh will give you no battery anxiety at all, as it even supports wired charging at 30W and wireless charging at 15W. Rated IP68/IP69 and MIL-STD-810H, it’s waterproof, dustproof and resistant to extreme environments. The display is a 6.8 inch LCD at 120Hz. Again, this display is not OLED; however, it is buttery smooth. All these features do not end there, as there’s also a 50MP main camera with OIS, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, microSD and NFC for contactless payment.

Pros:

• Long-lasting 5,000mAh battery with both wired and wireless charging
• High durability with IP68/IP69 ratings and MIL-STD-810H certification
• Inclusion of headphone jack, microSD slot, and NFC
• Clean Android 15 interface with two years of OS updates and three years of security patches​

Cons:

• Performance lags behind predecessor due to MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset

• LCD display lacks the vibrancy of OLED screens
• Pre-installed bloatware may require manual removal

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G – Best Budget 5G Smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a great selection in the 10 best budget smartphone 2025 you can buy right now, and it has a ton of features for such a low price. The smartphone has a massive 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate which produces excellent colors for the daily use. The Galaxy A16 5G is powered by the Exynos 1330 and runs Android 14 with One UI 6.1. You get smooth performance for your daily tasks. It has a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor to take detailed photos. The smartphones battery is 5,000mAh with 25W fast charging to keep you connected throughout the day. It is worth noting that Samsung is promising six years of software updates so you have some longevity and security.

Pros:

• Brilliant 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate
• Dependable performance with the Exynos 1330 chipset
• Longevity of software support (6 years of OS and security updates)
• Expandable storage with microSD card slot

Cons:

• No wireless charging functionality
• Plastic constructions may not appeal to every user

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – The Pinnacle of Android Innovation

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a prime example of Samsung’s innovation and excellence as a brand in smartphone technology. It comes with a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display that boasts a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and a stunning 120Hz refresh rate while also including a solid titanium frame. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset not only provides the Galaxy S25 Ultra with great power and capabilities across all apps, but the quad-camera system with a massive 200MP main sensor also packs great photographic abilities and the S Pen also allows for more productivity and creativity. The included 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging can get you through the day with ease. Android 15 with One UI 7, is on the Galaxy S25 Ultra providing 7 years of software updates.

Pros:

• Premium titanium construction with Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 protection
• Expansive 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate
• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor
• Versatile quad-camera setup with 200MP main sensor
• S Pen for productivity purposes
• Big, 5,000mAh battery with fast charging
• Seven-years of promised software updates​

Cons:

• Premium pricing may be a barrier for some users
• Large form factor may not suit all preferences

iPhone 16 Pro Max – Apple’s Most Powerful and Feature-Rich Smartphone

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is Apple’s most advanced mobile technology with all of the great features to match! The phone features a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering color and detail unlike anything you’ve experienced before. The new iPhone’s A18 Pro chip provides top-end performance and power efficiency. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a triple camera setup including a 48MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, making it great for photography and videography. Possibly most importantly, the battery lasts! The iPhone 16 Pro Max is rated for up to a 33 hour video playback battery, it goes as long as you need it! Finally, the titanium frame is a solid and very durable material for a phone that will look great!

Pros:

• Huge 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
• A18 Pro chip for premium performance
• Pro grade triple camera with 5x optical zoom
• Excellent battery life with up to 33 hours of video playback time
• Strong titanium construction that looks amazing

Cons:

• High retail price may keep some users away
• Big size may not work for everyone

vivo X200 Pro 5G – Flagship Performance with Exceptional Camera Capabilities

The vivo X200 Pro 5G is the only smartphone to feature shipping on the 10 Best Budget Smartphones 2025 You Can Buy Right Now due to great flagship performance and stand out camera system. It ships with a 6.78 inch LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 4500 nits peak brightness with stunning colors and buttery smooth scrolling. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chip and ships with up to 16GB RAM to make multitasking and mobile gaming quick and easy. The camera system is insane with a triple camera array; 50MP with a 200MP periscope telephoto with 3.7x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide lens for stunning photos. Suffice it to say the vivo X200 Pro 5G is equipped with a gigantic 6000mAh battery with 90w wired and 30W wireless charging. Shipping with Android 15 and Funtouch OS 15, you’ll enjoy an easy clean and responsive experience.

Pros:

• Bright and responsive 6.7 inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh going
• Robust performance with the Exynos 1580 chipset
• Long software support (6 years of OS and security updates
• Durable design (Gorilla Glass Victus+ and IP67 water resistance)

Cons:

• No expandable storage option
• No wireless charging featur

REDMAGIC 9S Pro 5G – Ultimate Gaming Performance

The REDMAGIC 9S Pro 5G is designed for gamers who demand the very best performance for the price. With a 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a 120Hz refresh rate, it has a slick 960Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring you get as smooth of visual and touch feedback as possible. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version chipset, ensuring it is fast and efficient throughout, with a battery capacity of a cool 6,500mAh along with 80W fast charging ensures your game time is maximized. With ICE 13.5 cooling it manages to keep performance good during those long gaming sessions without thermal throttling. In addition to all these technical details, it also looks good, with a very cool design that has customizable RGB lighting and accents. ​

Pros:

• AMOLED screen with a high refresh rate to give you a buttery smooth experience.
• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading version processor for uncompromising performance. 
• Big battery and 80W fast charging. 
• Better cooling for great sustained performance for gaming. 
• Gamer-like shape with custom RGB options.

Cons:

• Camera performance is not competitive with rivals.
• Software updates are also a little limited.