Technologies
Everything Announced at Samsung Unpacked: S24 Phones, Galaxy AI and One Surprise Reveal
Today’s Galaxy Unpacked event showed off Samsung’s premium new phones for the first time… as well as an unexpected new wearable.
Samsung kicked off its year with the first big phone event of 2024. The debut of Samsung’s newest smartphones — the Galaxy S24 series, which bring on-device generative AI along with upgrades to specs and cameras — was the main focus of today’s Galaxy Unpacked event. But Samsung had an unexpected product reveal at the end of Unpacked — the health-tracking Galaxy Ring, a new Samsung device with no official launch date yet.
As is usual for Samsung’s earliest event of the year, its S24 flagship phones took center stage. The company’s S-series phones rival Apple’s iPhones and are often the first to debut new mobile technology featured in other premium Android handsets that come out later in the year.
Galaxy S24 brings AI, brighter screens and more
In 2024, that new technology is generative AI, which made a splash on the global stage when ChatGPT arrived in late 2022 and tech companies have rushed to integrate in their own products and services. Late last year, Qualcomm revealed that its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip would come with on-device generative AI capabilities, and the Galaxy S24 series are some of the first phones to launch with that silicon.
The S24 series uses a combination of on-device and cloud-based generative AI, called Galaxy AI, to pull off new tricks. Some we’ve seen before, like live translation, suggesting different tones for text messages and expanding photos beyond their original backgrounds. Others are new, like turning a regular-speed video into a slow-motion one by generating frames in between what’s been recorded.
The S24 series also has more conventional upgrades on its predecessors, especially its top-tier model. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is more premium, trading its aluminum frame for a titanium body and swapping a 10-megapixel, 10x optical zoom camera for a 50-megapixel 5x optical camera to shoot sharper distance photos. It also only comes with 12GB of RAM (no 8GB option). For these improvements, the base price is $1,300 (£1,249, AU$2,199), up by $100 from last year’s S23 Ultra.
Read more: Best Galaxy 24 Preorder Deals
The standard S24 and S24 Plus haven’t received many upgrades, though the screens are 0.1 inches larger than last year’s (6.1 inches and 6.7 inches, respectively). The S24 Plus now has a Quad HD Plus resolution display (the same as the S24 Ultra) for a sharper picture than the HD Plus screen on its predecessor. Batteries are slightly bigger, with the S24 having a 4,000 mAh battery (up 100 mAh) and the S24 Plus a 4,900 mAh capacity (up 200 mAh).
Samsung has expanded its sustainability efforts, adding more recycled materials like cobalt in batteries and rare earth elements in speakers. Moreover, the Galaxy S24 phones will have seven years of Android and security updates, enabling owners to hold on to their phones into 2031.
Pricing
The Samsung Galaxy S24 starts at $800 (£799, AU$1,399), while the S24 Plus starts at $1,000 (£999, AU$1,699), which are the same prices as last year’s phones. The S24 Ultra starts at $1,300, which is up from last year’s S23 Ultra at $1,200 — a $100 price bump likely resulting from the switch in materials for more durability.
And in turn, Samsung has dropped the prices for its older phones, with last year’s Galaxy S23 now $700 and the Galaxy S23 FE down to $600.
And one more thing…
And to end the event, Samsung revealed a few new features coming to Samsung Health to improve sleep tracking and other health measuring — but the big tease at the end was a reveal of the Galaxy Ring, which presumably will be packed with sensors to monitor your health through the day.
Samsung didn’t share much about the gadget, including price or release date, so we don’t know much about how it compares to rivals like the Oura Ring, but we expect to hear more about the Galaxy Ring before long.
What happened at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event?
Samsung unveiled its next-gen Galaxy S24 phones on Jan. 17. The media invitation said to expect Samsung’s «most intelligent mobile experience yet» in a nod to the forthcoming AI-powered features. The in-person event happened in San Jose, California, and streamed on Samsung’s YouTube channel.
CNET had on-the-ground coverage of the event as well as our own watch party for reactions and analysis of the reveals and any surprises.
Technologies
Bloodborne Is My Favorite FromSoft Game. I’m Dreading Switch 2’s The Duskbloods
Though the new Switch 2 exclusive game has real Yharnam vibes, the main multiplayer gameplay loop has me raising an eyebrow.
I’m not the biggest player of FromSoftware’s notoriously tough Souls games out there, not by a long shot. I’ve dabbled in the original Dark Souls and the Demon’s Souls remake and I’ve conquered the Lands Between in Elden Ring. Let me tell you something though: There’s not a single PlayStation game that means more to me than the PS4-only title Bloodborne.
From the grisly streets of Yharnam to the tenebrous floating islands that make up much of the Nightmare Frontier, few games capture the futility of cosmic horror quite as well as FromSoft’s gothic action RPG. The interconnected layers of the world boggle my mind, and the rich lore that connects old gods, ancient humans and the modern Healing Church feels like it could’ve been ripped straight out of an H.P. Lovecraft story.
When The Duskbloods appeared in the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, my heart caught in my throat.
There was an establishing shot of a clocktower and a character yapping about the moonlight and the introduction of player characters who are a group of monster hunters that «transcended human strength thanks to their special bloods» — I wasn’t the only one baited into believing this was the Bloodborne sequel we’ve all been waiting a decade for.
When the more steampunk-y elements started appearing (a jetpack and automatic firearms weren’t on my bingo card), I was a tad deflated to see that this project didn’t have any direct connections to my favorite FromSoftware game. The aesthetic of The Duskbloods is still appealing to me, however, so I was still excited to see how the game would turn out.
Now that more details about FromSoft’s latest game are trickling out, I’m starting to suspect that this isn’t a game for me.
A player-vs.-player FromSoft game doesn’t inspire confidence in me
Your average Soulsbourne game is an epic singleplayer experience that encourages players to take advantage of their character’s strengths to overcome unforgiving challenges. They’re long, grueling campaigns that are, most importantly, solo quests into the dark unknown.
If you’re able to commit yourself to learning enemy attack patterns, figuring out how to attribute your stat points properly and master the game’s combat, you can conquer any legendary knight or towering monster the game throws at you.
Occasionally, players will invade your world, and for five minutes the gameplay loop degenerates into a chicken fight hack-and-slash or spell-dodging simulator until you win or you die. In my eyes, these are some of the low points in a FromSoft game.
Compare that to The Duskbloods, which is an eight player «PvPvE» experience that pits players against each other as well as the monsters throughout the map.
No single player mode has been confirmed for the game and this isn’t a cooperative experience with a more threatening Souls challenge like Elden Ring: Nightreign, at least as far as we can tell. There’s always the chance that FromSoftware sneakily puts some PvP element into its Elden Ring spinoff to make these games more alike than we suspect.
The Duskbloods will force players into PvP combat, and I have never enjoyed FromSoft’s brand of PvP. No matter how many cool things I spot in the trailer, I can’t get excited about what is essentially a FromSoft battle royale. It’s not the style of game that many Souls fans are used to, and I find the sudden shift in gameplay to be extremely alienating.
Don’t get me wrong, there are parts of this game that sound absolutely thrilling. FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that not every match will be a knockdown drag-out free-for-all, and between Nightreign and The Duskbloods, it will certainly be fun to see how the developer builds cooperative play between multiple players.
«Players may be tasked with teaming up to take down a powerful boss enemy, or find themselves in other special circumstances,» said Miyazaki in an interview on Nintendo’s website. In fact, part of the game’s character customization will see players choosing the type of goal they want to commit to during a match.
«In online play, roles give players special responsibilities and objectives that often lead to unique interactions and relationships between players based on their corresponding roles,» Miyazaki said. «[One] example is «Destined Companion,» where one player is required to seek out another designated as their companion, which results in a special reward if they form a bond with one another.»
I’m happy that there will still be an outsized focus on delivering some kind of co-op experience in The Duskbloods, but the forced PvP action still threatens to drive me away from the game. Like most of FromSoftware’s older Souls games, Bloodborne let you tag in friends for boss fights, but the main quest was — importantly — a solo journey.
Of all the games for FromSoft and Nintendo to partner on, why The Duskbloods?
Some FromSoftware fans have voiced their anger online that Duskblood will only come out on the Switch 2. Frankly, I don’t mind FromSoft partnering with Nintendo to create an exclusive game for the latter’s new console.
By early accounts, this is a far more powerful piece of hardware than the original iteration of the console. If the Switch 2 can run Elden Ring or Cyberpunk 2077 (albeit at 40 frames per second, even while docked) then it can likely run The Duskbloods perfectly fine. I fell in love with Bloodborne while playing it at 30 frames per second, so this isn’t exactly a problem for me.
What I can’t abide by is the fact that the one game FromSoft chose to partner with Nintendo on is its multiplayer-only project. Look, Switch Online is better than any of Nintendo’s other stabs at facilitating an online multiplayer experience, but it’s still one of my biggest pain points on the console.
Frustratingly, many Switch games still use peer-to-peer connections instead of dedicated servers — and FromSoft has historically done the exact same thing, so although we don’t yet have all the details on The Duskbloods, I don’t expect a break from tradition with this game.
I see the potential peer-to-peer networking, buggy netcode and exclusivity on the Switch 2’s hardware and it’s throwing up multiple red flags for me.
Will this game really be able to consistently handle putting eight people in one lobby and ensuring all of them are able to play at the same level of fluidity? I don’t know if I buy that.
Getting ganked by someone you effectively can’t hit never feels good: The main conceit of The Duskbloods is that you’re constantly at risk of getting jumped by another player. That’s just not my idea of a fun time.
Perhaps Nintendo and FromSoft will be able to pull this off and The Duskbloods will become one of their most lauded games yet. But I think I’ll stick to my co-op adventures in Yharnam and the Lands Between.
Technologies
Best Cheap Phone of 2025: Get the Most Value for Your Money
We tested dozens of affordable phones, from he $114 Samsung Galaxy A03S to the $500 Google Pixel 8A and $700 OnePlus 13R. Here are the best cheap phones in 2025.
Our Experts
- Shortlisted for British Photography Awards 2022, Commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022
- Patrick’s play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
What to Consider
iOS or Android
If your family and friends are on Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime, stick with an iPhone. If you’ve been deep on Samsung, stay on Android. Know that switching between the two has never been easier.
Size
Phones are big in general with the smallest ones having a 6.1-inch screen and large models topping out at 6.8 inches. That makes visiting a store and trying a phone out before you buy it quite important.
Cameras
Phone cameras have gotten better over the past five years, but don’t be fooled by how many cameras a phone has; more is not necessarily better.
Software support
Phone-makers promise varying lengths of long-term software and security support ranging from just one year to as many as seven. These updates not only ensure you get many of the latest features but also keep your phone secure.
In 2025 affordable phones come brimming with features and options from companies like Motorola, Google, Samsung and Apple. After testing and reviewing dozens of cheap handsets, we found there are two pricing sweet spots: $300 and $450. Phones that cost $300 tend to have NFC (for Google Pay), wireless charging and good screen — though cameras can be hit-or-miss, like the $300 Motorola Moto G Power (2024). In the $450 range are phones have solid cameras and features that rival pricier models like the $499 Google Pixel 8A, which won CNET’s Editor’s Choice Award. Out of everything we tested, here are our favorite cheap phones from both price ranges.
What is the best cheap phone?
The Google’s $499 Pixel 8A is our favorite cheap phone. Google delivers all the big features that matter on the Pixel 8A, like top-of-the-line cameras, a peppy processor and years’ worth of software support. And it even has Google’s new Circle to Search tool, which is a fast and fun way to trigger a search just by circling what’s on your screen. Google makes smart compromises to keep costs low making the Pixel 8A a phone that packs an incredible amount of value. We should note that Google announced the Pixel 9A which launches in April. We look forward to testing it and if you’re considering a Pixel 8A and can wait, it might be worth going for the new Pixel 9A instead.
Best cheap phones of 2025
Best Android phone under $500
Pros
- Great camera
- 7 years of software updates
- Many of the same features as the Pixel 8
- Good battery life
Cons
- 256GB storage not available on all models
- Zoomed and low light shots aren’t as clear as the Pixel 8’s
The Pixel 8A is so good and shares so much in common with its pricier siblings. From its selection of AI-powered features like Circle to Search to its cool aesthetic and powerful Tensor G3 processor, that it’s hard to see why anyone would not buy a Pixel 8A.
The Pixel 8 and 9 offer a marginally better camera system, a slightly larger screen and the ability to charge other phones and accessories wirelessly on the back of the device. But those features don’t feel significant enough to impact the buying decision for most people. As I wrote in my review, the Pixel 8A raises the bar for what a $500 phone should be. It also won a CNET Editor’s Choice Award.
Best phone under $300
Pros
- NFC/Google Pay
- Good battery life
- Wireless charging
- Moto shortcuts
Cons
- Short software support timeline
- Screen is too dim in sunlight
- Lacks IP rating for dust and water resistance
The Motorola Moto G Power 5G is the most versatile option in this roundup, offering wireless charging, a 120Hz high refresh rate screen, Google Pay for contactless payments and a fantastic vegan leather design. Combine that with a camera that takes decent photos in bright environments, and a processor that is capable for most daily tasks, and you have a phone that’s both fun to use without cramming itself with the extra bells and whistles we see in higher priced phones.
Even though this phone does suffer from having a shorter software and security support timeline (1 year of major Android OS, three years of security updates) than Samsung’s Galaxy A25 5G, it is a more useful device. And it’s this appeal that makes the Moto G Power 5G our top recommendation for a phone that costs $300 or less.
Best iPhone value
Pros
- Main camera is good
- Autofocus makes selfies look better
- Improved repairability is welcomed
- Action mode is smooth
Cons
- Ultrawide photos are a step down in image quality
- Videos recorded in low light look just OK
- Needs more iOS features for the Plus’ larger screen
At $599, the iPhone 14 is a great buy and solid upgrade, especially if you’re using an 11 or older. There are two models the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus that normally starts at $699. Both phones are identical and really the deciding factor comes down to screen and battery size as well as price. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a long battery life, fast performance, great durability and wonderful cameras as well as safety features like Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite.
Both phones came out in September 2022 originally but are still solid options today. In terms of drawbacks, neither phone has a high refresh rate screen, and always-on display or the newer Action button found on the 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series. But at hundreds of dollars less, we think that the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have the best value to the dollar that Apple currently sells.
Best midrange Android phone for a discount
Pros
- Big screen
- Loud speakers
- Long-lasting battery
- Fast wired charging
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Mixed photography
The $600 OnePlus 13R is one of the most useful phones we’ve tested, even if it’s playing second fiddle to the $900 OnePlus 13. Over his three-week testing period, CNET’s Mike Sorrentino consistently got two full days of use from its 6,000mAh battery. The phone’s big 6.78-inch screen and loud speakers are a joy to use when paired to my Xbox controller while gaming. Even though it runs on Qualcomm’s year-old premium processor used in 2024’s OnePlus 12 and the Galaxy S24, it’s still a very capable chip ready for intensive tasks and AI features. All in all, the OnePlus 13R packs a lot for its lower price. At $600 it’s a decent phone, but we included it on this list because you can often find it on sale for less. Read our OnePlus 13R review.
Low price, long update commitment
Pros
- 3GB of RAM helps phone multitask
- Blue color option
- Includes fingerprint sensor
Cons
- Very little onboard storage
- Some noticeable lag
- Indoor photos are challenging
Samsung’s Galaxy A03S at $160 (£126, roughly AU$244) includes great features and could be a fit for someone in need of a cheap phone that can handle essential tasks. The phone’s 6.5-inch screen, capped at 720p resolution, is great for reading the news, watching videos and playing games. Despite some performance lag during our review, the phone is good at multitasking. The tiny 32GB of storage space could fill up fast, so if you’re considering this phone, you might want to expand the storage with a microSD card.
Samsung also plans to support this phone with at least four years of security updates, which in this price range is as good as it gets. On the software side, it’s less clear how many Android versions are scheduled, but the phone initially ships with Android 11.
Best cheap phone design
Pros
- Vegan leather design
- NFC for contactless payments
- Decent cameras for the price
Cons
- Slow performance
- Dull-looking screen
- Only one software update planned
Motorola’s $200 Moto G 5G for 2024 arrived with a splash. The phone kept many highlights of the 2023 model like a 120Hz refresh rate screen and dual speakers while also getting a $50 price drop. The Moto G 5G also has an improved design and functionality with a new vegan leather look and NFC for contactless payments. And its cameras can take photos with decent color accuracy, despite soft details.
But performance and a short software update timeline both hurt the Moto G 5G. While the phone is capable of running all sorts of apps and games, multitasking on its small 4GB of RAM is challenging. Also Motorola has not budged from its policy of providing one major software update and three years of security updates to the Moto G line, which limits the number of years you can safely use the phone before needing to replace it.
Best Android phone on sale
Pros
- Excellent camera for the price
- Attractive design
- Wireless charging, face unlock and high refresh rate
Cons
- Screen is dim outdoors
- Only three generations of Android OS updates
Editor’s note: Google released the Pixel 8A, also $500. You can read our Pixel 8A review here. If you’re buying a Pixel 7A make sure it’s on sale.
Google’s budget phone took a leap forward in 2023 with the Pixel 7A, which offers many of the same benefits as the Pixel 7 but at a cheaper price. Like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7A runs on Google’s Tensor G2 processor, meaning it has many of the same photo editing and language translation features as its pricier sibling. The Pixel 7A’s 64-megapixel camera also takes excellent photos that rival the Pixel 7’s in quality.
While we still like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7A’s lower price makes it a better deal for most people. Otherwise, the main differences between the Pixel 7 and 7A come down to the former’s more durable build, slightly faster charging and its ability to wirelessly charge compatible accessories. The Pixel 7 also has a larger camera sensor that’s more sensitive to light, according to Google, but CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco didn’t notice much of a difference.
Best ultra cheap T-Mobile phone
Pros
- Great screen for $160
- NFC support for Google Pay
- Decent multitasking for the price
Cons
- T-Mobile exclusivity
- Battery drains fast
- Weak cameras
The TCL 50 XL 5G includes an impressive amount of specs for $160. This is one of the cheapest phones I’ve seen so far that includes a 120Hz refresh rate display and NFC for Google Pay and contactless payments. It also includes 6GB of memory, which made the phone breeze through multitasking during my testing. But the TCL 50 XL 5G does show compromises from its low price in other ways.
Even though it has a big 5,010-mAh battery, it drains quickly — possibly because it’s powering a large 6.78-inch 1080p display with a low-end processor. Cameras struggle to take photos with clean, crisp details, in both well-lit and lowlight situations. It’s carrier-locked to T-Mobile as well, making it only useful when running on the magenta carrier or its Metro prepaid brand. And it’s also only set for one software update and three years of security updates, which matches what Motorola provides but is still low compared to Samsung. But if you’re on T-Mobile, the TCL 50 XL 5G is a serious value for its $160, and helps excuse some of its faults. But you should still be aware of them.
Best ultracheap phone for long-term use
Pros
- Excellent software and security support
- 25-watt wired charging
- Eye-catching Light Blue color option
Cons
- Slow performance
- Single audio speaker
- Mediocre photography
Editor’s Note: Samsung has also released the Galaxy A16.
Samsung’s $200 Galaxy A15 5G is an easy choice for someone looking to buy a phone that will last for years. Samsung provides it with four years of software updates and five years of security support, which in this price range is unparalleled. Plus the phone supports 25W wired charging that in my testing was able to charge half of its big 5,000-mAh battery from empty in 30 minutes. I also like the eye-catching light blue option.
A $200 phone has to have some compromises. The Galaxy A15 5G feels sluggish compared to competing phones like Motorola’s $200 Moto G 5G, and as an entertainment machine falls short with its single audio speaker that is blocked by accident when you hold the phone sideways for games and video. Photography, which is typically a weak point on phones in this price range, is similarly mixed with decent photography in outdoor environments while struggling to photograph lowlight spaces. Read our full Samsung Galaxy A15 5G review.
Pixel 9A specs vs. Moto G Power 5G, iPhone 14, OnePlus 13R, Galaxy A03S, Moto G 5G, Pixel 7A, TCL 50 XL 5G, Galaxy A15 5G
| Google Pixel 9A | Moto G Power 5G (2024) | Apple iPhone 14 | OnePlus 13R | Samsung Galaxy A03S | Moto G 5G (2024) | Google Pixel 7A | TCL 50 XL 5G | Samsung Galaxy A15 5G | |
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate | 6.7-inch LCD; 2,400 x 1,080 pixels; 60-120Hz refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.78-inch AMOLED; 2,780×1,264 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate | 6.5-inch LCD; 720×1,600 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate | 6.6-inch LCD; 1,612 x 720 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 60 -90Hz variable refresh rate | 6.78-inch; 2,460 x 1,080 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate | 6.5-inch AMOLED; 2,340 x 1,080 pixels; 90Hz refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 422 ppi | 391 ppi | 460 ppi | 450 ppi | 269 ppi | 269 ppi | 361 ppi | 396 ppi | 420 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 in. | 6.6 x 3 x 0.3 in. | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in. | 6.36 x 2.98 x 0.32 in. | 6.5 x 2.9 x 0.3 in. | 6.5 x 3 x 0.3 in. | 6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in. | 6.6 x 2.9 x 0.32 in. | 6.3 x 3.02 x 0.33 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm | 167.2 x 76.4 x 8.5mm | 147 x 72 x 7.8 mm | 161.72 x 75.77 x 8.02 mm | 165.8 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm | 164.4 x 75 x 8.2 mm | 73 x 152 x 9.0 mm | 167.6 x 73.6 x 8.1mm | 160 x 76.7 x 8.4 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 186 g (6.6 oz) | 201g (7.09 oz.) | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 206g (7.26 oz.) | 7.13 oz; 202g | 194g (6.84 oz.) | 193g (6.81 oz) | 195g (6.9 oz) | 201g (7.09 oz.) |
| Mobile software | Android 15 | Android 14 | iOS 16 | Android 15 | Android 11 | Android 14 | Android 13 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide) | 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 50 megapixel (wide), 8 megapixel (ultrawide), 50 megapixel (2x telephoto) | 13-megapixel (wide), 2-megapixel (depth), 2-megapixel (macro) | 50-megapixel (wide), 2-megapixel (macro) | 64-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 5-megapixel (ultrawide), 2-megapixel (depth) | 50-megapixel (wide), 5-megapixel (ultrawide), 2-megapixel (macro) |
| Front-facing camera | 13-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 16 megapixel | 5-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 13-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 13-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 1,080p | 4K | 4K | FHD | 1,080p | 4K | 1,080p | 1,080p |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Mediatek Dimensity 7020 | Apple A15 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | MediaTek MT6765 Helio P35 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Google Tensor G2 | MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus | Mediatek Dimensity 6100 Plus |
| RAM + storage | 8GB + 128GB, 256GB | 8GB RAM + 128GB | RAM NA; 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 12GB + 256GB | 3GB + 32GB | 4GB RAM + 128GB | 8GB + 128GB | 6GB RAM + 128GB | 4GB RAM + 128GB |
| Expandable storage | None | Up to 1TB | None | None | Up to 1TB | microSD | None | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 5,100 mAh | 5,000 mAh | Undisclosed; Apple claims 20 hours of video playback | 6,000 mAh | 5,000mAh | 5,000 mAh | 4,385 mAh | 5,010 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under display | Side | None (Face ID) | Under display | Side | side | Side | Side | Side |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | Lightning | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | Yes | None | None | Yes | Yes | None | Yes | Yes |
| Special features | 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass; IP68 dust and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio; 23W fast charging (charger not included); 7.5W wireless charging Qi certified; Wi-Fi 6E; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (nano SIM + eSIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor; Photo Unblur; Super Res Zoom; Circle To Search | 30W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, Dolby Atmos, NFC (Google Pay), water repellent, gesture controls, Moto Secure, RAM Boost, Moto Gestures, 1 major Android update | 5G (mmw/Sub6); MagSafe; water resistant (IP68); wireless charging; eSIM; satellite connectivity | 55W SuperVOOC wired charging with included power adapter, alert slider, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, IP65 certified, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Aqua Touch 2.0, 4 years of software updates, 6 years of security updates, LTPO 4.1 display | Charger not included, supports wireless charging | 18W wired charging, Dolby Atmos, NFC, water repellent, gesture controls, Moto Secure, RAM Boost | 5G (5G sub6 / mmWave), IP67 rating, 18W fast charging, 7.5W wireless charging | NFC, 5G connectivity, TCL NxtVision, 18W wired charging | 25W wired charging, 800-nit brightness |
| US starting price | $499 (128GB) | $300 (128GB) | $599 (128GB) | $600 (12GB + 256GB) | $160 | $200 (128GB) | $499, $549 (mmW) | $160 (128GB) | $200 (128GB) |
Recent updates
In January 2025, we added the OnePlus 13R to our list. The new phones replace last year’s OnePlus 12R and is a decent midrange Android phone that is best bought when on sale.
Factors to consider when buying a cheap phone
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.
How we test phones
Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s expert reviews team. We 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 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 the 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 have a series of real-world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.
We account for additional phone features like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays and other useful extras. We weigh all our experiences and testing against the price so you know whether a phone represents good value.
Read more: How We Test Phones
Other phones to consider
At $700, the iPhone 15 isn’t necessarily considered cheap. Compared to the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, it’s much more affordable. In 2025, the iPhone 15 is still one of the best Apple phones you can buy. It has a 6.1-inch screen, great dual-rear cameras and an outstanding battery life. It’s worth a look if you can work it into your budget.
Best cheap phones FAQs
What to look forward to in 2025?
We are in the middle of «budget phone season» with new affordable phones being released by Google, Motorola and Samsung. We look forward to testing them all once we can get our hands on them. Otherwise, later this summer we’ll see the start of «flagship phone season» with major releases from Apple and Google.
