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Best Phone Under $200: Our Top Pick Checks All the Boxes [CNET]
Our Experts
Mike Sorrentino is a Senior Editor for Mobile, covering phones, texting apps and smartwatches — obsessing about how we can make the most of them. Mike also keeps an eye out on the movie and toy industry, and outside of work enjoys biking and pizza making.
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Phones that cost under $200 are more functional than they were in the past. Phones in this price range, like the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, have 5G support for faster data and NFC for contactless payments. Other phones, like the 2023 Motorola Moto G Stylus, are better media machines, providing stereo speakers to improve audio quality while including cameras that take decent photos.
These cheaper phones have noticeable trade-offs: They usually run slower than more expensive phones, and while they will usually ship with the latest version of Android, there might be only a short window of security update support. That last issue is particularly important to keep in mind when shopping in this price range, as it’s risky to use a phone that’s no longer being protected against security vulnerabilities by its manufacturer.
We wouldn’t consider any of these picks to be productivity machines, but these phones are likely going to be more useful than you would expect for the price. Plus, some of these cheap smartphones might end up being “free” when signing up with a phone carrier’s subsidization program usually requiring a two-year commitment to get the cost covered.
What’s the best phone under $200?
Like with any phone choice, the best device is going to depend on what you are valuing the most from your phone as a communication device and as a camera. However, if device cost is the most sensitive issue, then the $200 Samsung Galaxy A15 5G is the option I can most recommend. Samsung provides the A15 with four major software updates along with five years of security updates, making it a secure phone to use for several years. That said, the device is a little sluggish in performance and the camera isn’t great, but if cost is the highest priority then the A15 is otherwise a great entry-level option for a prepaid phone plan
We’re not crazy about its photography, and if that’s more important to you than 5G, you should also take a look at the $200 Moto G Stylus (2023) for its better camera quality. If you need a phone that’s even cheaper, we’re also keeping around the $160 Galaxy A03S in this list. That device is still being supported by Samsung, but keep in mind that it has only a tiny 32GB of storage space. The phones on this list are often heavily discounted.
Best phones under $200 of 2024
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The phone is otherwise let down by Motorola’s software and security update policy for its G series of phones, covering only one software update and three years of security updates. That, combined with the lack of 5G or NFC, means that while it’s a great choice for better pictures, there are several ways this phone could become left behind as the years pass. If you plan on using this phone for only two to three years, you could get a lot of value out of this device.
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The Moto G Stylus has a menu that pops up when ejecting the stylus.
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The $200 Moto G Stylus doesn’t have 5G, but instead includes a built-in stylus along with a decent 50-megapixel main camera. The Stylus did a nice job taking photos while I was in a variety of environments, both indoors and outdoors. I particularly enjoyed the phone’s take on Portrait mode, and it captured a clear photo of the plant wall in CNET’s New York office that I use for photo testing. The 6.5-inch 720p display is also able to run at a consistent 90Hz refresh rate, providing smooth animations while navigating apps and reading websites.
The phone is otherwise let down by Motorola’s software and security update policy for its G series of phones, covering only one software update and three years of security updates. That, combined with the lack of 5G or NFC, means that while it’s a great choice for better pictures, there are several ways this phone could become left behind as the years pass. If you plan on using this phone for only two to three years, you could get a lot of value out of this device.
The A03S, first released last year, is getting four years of security updates, meaning that there are still three left. It’s less clear how many Android version updates are scheduled, and unlike the newer A14, it doesn’t have 5G support or NFC. While those two benefits along with the A14’s 64GB of internal storage are worth the extra $30 price increase, you can still get some mileage out of the A03S if you’re simply looking for the cheapest Samsung phone possible.
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Samsung’s Galaxy A03S at $160 (roughly £126, AU$240) could still be a great fit for someone looking for the cheapest possible phone that can handle most essential tasks. The phone’s 6.5-inch screen, capped at 720p resolution, is good for reading the news, watching videos and playing games. Despite some performance lag found during our review, the phone is good at multitasking. The phone’s tiny 32GB of storage space could fill up fast, so if you’re considering this phone, it may be worthwhile to think about expanding the storage with a microSD card.
The A03S, first released last year, is getting four years of security updates, meaning that there are still three left. It’s less clear how many Android version updates are scheduled, and unlike the newer A14, it doesn’t have 5G support or NFC. While those two benefits along with the A14’s 64GB of internal storage are worth the extra $30 price increase, you can still get some mileage out of the A03S if you’re simply looking for the cheapest Samsung phone possible.
Try it before you buy it: It’s one thing to ogle over a phone, but it’s another to actually try it out in a store.
Decide on Android or iPhone: Do you have a lot of iPhone apps and Apple subscriptions? Stick with an iPhone. Likewise, if you’ve invested in loads of Android apps, you’ll want to stay on that side of the fence. Otherwise, it’s simple enough to switch platforms.
Pick the most important feature: Is it screen size? Camera quality? Battery life? This will help narrow down your choices.
Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s expert reviews team. We actually use the phone, test the features, play games and take photos. We assess any marketing promises that a company makes about its phones. If we find something we don’t like, be it battery life or build quality, we tell you all about it.
We examine every aspect of a phone during testing:
- Display
- Design and feel
- Processor performance
- Battery life
- Camera quality
- Features
We test all of a phone’s cameras (both front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to dimmer indoor locales and nighttime scenes (for any available night modes). We also compare our findings against similarly priced models. We run a series of real-world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.
We take into account additional phone features, like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays and other useful extras. We weigh all of our experiences and testing against the price, so you know whether a phone represents good value.
Read more: How we test phones
Are cheaper phones worth it?
Phones under $200 just focus on the essentials, which means you’ll have to make some compromises. You’ll be able to make phone calls, text, video chat, browse the web and run most Android apps on these devices. You shouldn’t expect NFC for mobile payments, 5G connectivity or — unfortunately — much included storage space. Though in 2024, we’re starting to see more of those features appear on sub-$200 phones.
These phones otherwise function well and could be what you’re looking for if all you need is a good communication device. They also include features that are becoming increasingly harder to find in more expensive phones, such as an included charger in the box, a headphone jack on the phone and a microSD card slot for adding more storage.
If you’re finding that your phone needs go beyond basic communication, you may want to consider phones that are under $300 or phones under $500, if you can expand your budget.
What about phones that are even cheaper, like under $100?
Phones under $100 do exist, but they usually come with significant compromises.
For instance, the TCL 30 Z is one of the cheapest Android 14 phones available, at $70. Although we haven’t tested this phone, I have noticed that it uses an antiquated micro-USB port for charging.
Most other Android phones and wireless headphones, even those in the budget price range, now use USB-C for charging, meaning you might find yourself scrambling for a charger if you misplace it. The phone is also getting only one major software update to Android 15 and two years of security updates, which is short but comparable to some phones sold under $300.
We haven’t reviewed any flip phones recently, but anyone looking for a device made specifically for phone calls should be well-served by the most available options. Flip phones support 4G signals and — more importantly — HD Voice for clearer voice calls. Some flip phones even support modern apps like WhatsApp and Google Assistant, albeit in a more limited way compared with how these services function on a smartphone. The Nokia 2789 Flip, for instance, is a flip phone running on the brand’s KaiOS, which supports downloadable apps and services.
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