10 Best Budget Android Phones 2025 in the United States

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G stands out in the budget Android phone category with its large 6.7-inch AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and clear details, making it ideal for media consumption and daily use. Its 5G capability ensures fast internet speeds, and being unlocked, it gives you the flexibility to choose any carrier. The 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1.5TB, provides ample space for photos, apps, and files, which is a significant advantage for those who need extra storage without paying a premium.

The 4GB of RAM and a 2.4 GHz processor deliver decent performance for everyday tasks, though it may struggle with more intensive applications or heavy multitasking. The triple-lens camera system allows for versatile photography, capturing group shots and close-ups with good clarity, although it may not compete with higher-end models in low-light conditions. The IP54 rating adds a layer of durability, making it resistant to dust and splashes, which is beneficial for everyday use.

One of its standout features is the promise of six years of OS and security updates, ensuring the phone remains secure and up-to-date for a long time, which is rare in this price range. Super Fast Charging is another plus, minimizing downtime when you need a quick battery top-up. However, the device's 4GB RAM might limit its future-proofing as apps demand more resources. The build quality is reliable, though the design might not feel as premium as higher-end models. In summary, the Galaxy A16 5G offers excellent value with its combination of a vibrant display, ample storage, durable design, and long-term software support, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious users looking for a reliable smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is a solid choice for anyone looking for a budget-friendly Android phone with some premium touches. It runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor paired with 6GB of RAM, which is good enough to handle everyday tasks smoothly and even casual gaming. With 128GB of storage, there's plenty of room for apps, photos, and videos, and you can expand it further if needed. The 6.6-inch AMOLED display offers vibrant colors and sharp detail with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, making viewing videos and scrolling feel nice and fluid.

Camera features stand out for this price range, especially the upgraded front camera for better selfies and the Nightography mode that helps capture clear photos even in low light—great for family moments or social media. Battery life is impressive thanks to a 5000 mAh capacity, which should last a full day of typical use, and the super-fast charging quickly gets you back up to speed when the battery runs low.

The phone arrives with the latest Android 14 and Samsung's One UI 6.0, ensuring you get a modern software experience with useful tools like Samsung Wallet for easy payments. Its rugged design adds a layer of durability with water and dust resistance, which is a nice bonus for everyday reliability. A minor downside is the slightly heavier build at 209 grams, which might feel a bit bulky for some. While the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is capable, power users looking for very high-end performance may find it limiting. For those wanting a dependable, feature-packed phone without breaking the bank, the Galaxy A36 5G offers great value with a vibrant display, solid cameras, and strong battery life.

The Google Pixel 8a is a solid choice in the budget Android phone category, offering a good blend of performance, camera quality, and software features. Powered by the A-Series CPU and 8 GB of RAM, it handles everyday tasks smoothly and is capable of multitasking without major issues. The 128 GB of internal storage provides ample space for apps, photos, and videos, though it does not support expandable storage, which could be a limitation for some users.

The 6.1-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 is bright and vibrant, making it great for watching videos and browsing the web. The advanced Pixel Camera, enhanced by Google AI, delivers high-quality photos and videos, with features like Best Take and Photo Unblur that are particularly useful for capturing clear images. However, it might not be on par with flagship phone cameras in low-light conditions.

The battery life is decent, with a 4492 mAh battery that can last up to 24 hours on a single charge, and the phone supports fast charging. The build quality is robust with a sleek design in an Obsidian color, though it's not as premium-feeling as higher-end models. The phone runs on Android, with regular software updates from Google, ensuring security and new features. Additionally, being unlocked, it offers flexibility in choosing carriers. For those looking for a budget-friendly phone with reliable performance and excellent software support, the Google Pixel 8a is a commendable option, despite some minor trade-offs in storage expandability and low-light camera performance.