Phone prices are getting outrageous. Top-tier phones from Samsung and Apple have moved from the $600-700 range all the way up to $1150 from the 256GB iPhone X. While the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone X are great phones, they are more than you really need, especially if the price is your most important factor in smartphone ownership. Throw in an unlimited data plan and you’re looking at spending more for your smartphone and service than you are for essential utilities like water, electricity, and gas.
You really don’t need to spend $1000+ on a smartphone these days. Smartphones have evolved so much over the past decade that you can get away with a device that is much cheaper. In fact there are quite a few phones under the $350 price point that should be good enough to satisfy most users who aren’t looking for the best of the best.
Here are our top 5 favorite phones under $350.
iPhone SE – $350
At $349 the iPhone SE barely squeezes under the $350 price point. It’s an old design that was once an Apple flagship, but it’s super pocketable and is easy to use with one hand. It doesn’t come with a massive display at just 4″, but it does come with the iOS software that so many have grown to love. That means it comes with iMessage and Facetime which are two of the most widely used communication apps across the globe. The iPhone SE is compatible with all major networks including Verizon and Sprint.
You can get the iPhone SE at Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy.
Honor 7X – $200
The Honor 7X is so popular that Amazon has barely been able to keep it in stock since it was released on January 25th. At $200 the Honor 7X sits atop the budget smartphone category as it comes with a gorgeous and massive 5.93″ display, a super slim build, dual cameras, and one of the fastest fingerprint readers regardless of price. Honor is a sub-brand of Huawei, the world’s second-largest smartphone manufacturer and I’m hoping it makes a larger push into the US market to bring some much-needed competition to Apple and Samsung. Unfortunately, the only downside to this phone is it is not compatible with the Verizon or Sprint networks.
Moto G5 Plus – $205
We’re big fans of Motorola budget phones. The G5 Plus is one of the best deals at just $205 at Amazon as it comes with 32GB of internal storage, a full 1080p 5.2″ display, Android 7.0 that’s pretty much unadulterated, and even comes with a 12MP shooter. Best of all, it’s completely compatible with all major networks in the US.
LG Q6 – $250
The LG Q6 is another unlocked Android smartphone that falls well under the $350 price point at just $249.99 at Amazon. It comes with a similar design to the Google Pixel 2 XL and the LG G6, but comes with a little less beyond the price tag. It still has more than enough to satisfy with a gorgeous 5.5″ 1080p display, 13MP rear camera, Android 7.1, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The Q6 is only compatible with GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile.
Nokia 6 – $200
Nokia is back and it’s looking to make a splash in the budget category with the Nokia 6. It’s an unlocked Android smartphone with a gorgeous build that punches above its weight class at just $200 at Amazon. This AT&T and T-Mobile compatible Amazon smartphone comes with a full 5.5″ 1080p display, a 16MP rear camera, Android 8.0, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. It’s built to last with an all aluminum build that won’t shatter on falls, and it won’t let you down when you want to watch movies, play games or make calls.