Technologies
Best Cheap Phones for 2023: Most Value for Money
These affordable-phone picks start at $160 and include choices from the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel lines.
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
You don’t need to splurge on the iPhone 14 or Galaxy S23 to get perks like multiple cameras, useful photography tools, the latest version of iOS or Android and access to your favorite apps and games. The best cheap phones provide plenty of value when it comes to the basics but cost noticeably less than their flagship competitors.
Our top picks come as cheap as $160, while more advanced models will run you $600 — which is substantially cheaper than top-of-the-line models from Apple, Samsung and Google. If you have a specific budget in mind, you can also check out our best phones under $200 and best phones under $500 lists for other affordable phone options.
Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Samsung’s Galaxy A03S at $160 (£139, roughly AU$240) includes plenty of great features and could 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 great for reading news, watching videos and playing games. Despite some performance lag found during our review, the phone is good at multitasking. But the phone’s tiny 32GB of storage space could fill up fast, so if considering this phone, it may be worthwhile to consider expanding 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 ships with Android 11 to start.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Apple’s new iPhone SE for 2022 is a mix of an older design with the latest smartphone features, including Apple’s latest A15 Bionic chip and 5G support, for $429. It’s also one of the few phones on the market that includes a smaller, 4.7-inch screen.
Yet it’s that throwback design, which continues the general shape that Apple has used since 2014, that could be what you will love or dislike most about this phone. If you want a larger iPhone in this price range, you can also consider the $599 iPhone 12 in order to get a bigger screen and Face ID.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The $449 Pixel 6A is the newest device in Google’s more affordable A series, replacing the Pixel 5A. CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco called it the «best Android phone under $500» in her Pixel 6A review, citing how it keeps the same Tensor chip seen in the $599 Pixel 6 and many of its best features.
The phone is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6, featuring an 6.1-inch OLED display and a refresh rate of 60Hz. It also has a similar camera system as the Pixel 5A, which includes a 12.2-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. But the Tensor chip brings additional benefits you won’t get on the Pixel 5A, such as Real Tone for more equitable skin tones, Face Unblur, Night Sight for low-light photography and the Magic Eraser for removing unwanted elements from a photo.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The Galaxy A53 gets you an abundance of Samsung features and power at a fraction of the S-series price. It boasts a far larger screen and more versatile camera cluster than the iPhone SE, though Apple’s budget model delivers snappier performance.
Still, Samsung fans will appreciate what they’re getting here considering the affordable price. The Galaxy A53 5G has an ultrawide lens for taking photos with a broader field of view and also supports night-mode photography. Image quality isn’t as good as what you’d get on a more expensive Samsung phone like the Galaxy S21 FE or Galaxy S22, but it’s certainly clear and colorful enough for basic shots. Other highlights include a long-lasting battery, four guaranteed generations of Android operating system updates and a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
Overall, the Galaxy A53 5G is a suitable choice for those who prioritize having a large screen and long battery life for less than $500. Just keep in mind, you might have to deal with some occasional lag, and the camera isn’t as advanced as those found on pricier phones. Read our Samsung Galaxy A53 5G review.
Google’s Pixel 7 refines the design formula introduced with last year’s Pixel 6, while also throwing in the company’s new Tensor G2 processor. The phone keeps the $599 price as last year’s Pixel 6, but new Pixel-exclusive features like Photo Unblur add even more value.
How we test phones
We evaluate phones based on overall performance, features, design, cameras, battery life and value. We accomplish this by assessing how phones perform in daily use and by comparing them against competing phones. When evaluating lower-priced phones, we pay attention to whether these devices include features and specifications typically seen at higher price levels, such as a brand new processor, a display with a high refresh rate or advanced camera features. We also look at how well these features are executed and what they bring to the experience.
We test phone cameras in a variety of situations, including outdoors, indoors and in both bright and dim scenarios. We also test specific settings and shooting modes, like portrait mode and night mode. To test performance, we run benchmark tests that evaluate the processor’s general competence and observe how well the phone is able to handle everyday tasks.
Battery life is monitored in two ways: Seeing how much power remains after a day of normal usage, and by seeing how much battery is depleted during a more intensive hour with the phone. For the latter test, we’ll see how the phone’s battery performs during a series of video calls, gaming, video streaming and web browsing.
Best cheap phones FAQs
Can you find cheap phones on sale?
Yes, many of the cheap phones included in this list are available at a discount during shopping events. For instance, Google’s Pixel 6A received a $150 discount that temporarily brought its price down from $449 to $299. So if you have a phone in mind but also have the flexibility to wait for a shopping event like Black Friday, it may be worth it to wait for a price reduction.
Are cheap phones available unlocked?
Yes, many cheap phones are available unlocked by the manufacturer. This allows you to use the phone with nearly any wireless carrier by inserting your SIM card. IF you want the flexibility to switch carriers, make sure you buy an unlocked model.
Are cheap phones good for kids?
Buying a cheap phone could be a great option when shopping for a kid or teenager, but that doesn’t mean the phone is customized to have a kid-friendly experience. Parents should still set up any necessary parental controls, restrictions or apps to help ensure a cheaper phone — whether its an iPhone or an Android — is set up appropriately for your kids.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Dec. 12 #649
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Dec. 12, No. 649.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle will appeal to literature lovers and English majors (like me). Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Shakespearean titles.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Famous plays.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- MUST, CANT, RANT, RACE, CARE, CHARD, CHANT, HARD, SIDE, HIDE
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- MERRY, SHREW, TEMPEST, TWELFTH, MERCHANT, MIDSUMMER
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is THEBARD. To find it, start with the T that’s four letters down on the far-left row, and wind across.
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Toughest Strands puzzles
Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.
#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.
#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.
#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.
Technologies
I Love Super Mario Bros Wonder and It’s at a New All-Time Low, but Only for Today
One of the most inventive Switch games made is down to just $40 right now.
The holidays are nearly here, and that means it’s time to lock in and sort out the gifts you need to get. If you’re looking to buy something the whole family can enjoy, then looking to the best gaming gifts makes perfect sense. There are some amazing deals on right now, and if you’re buying for someone with a Switch, this one is a must-have.
Woot has a deal that knocks the amazing Super Mario Bros Wonder down to $40, which is the lowest price it’s ever been. This is a whimsical and wonderful platform game that’s going to have you all laughing out loud in each level, but the deal is only on until the end of the day. So, if you want it, don’t wait around.
Super Mario Bros Wonder takes the classic platformer and puts an incredible twist on it in every single level. The story has you following Bowser as he causes chaos in a new kingdom, but with Wonder Seeds all over the place, reality itself often ends up changing. It’s a fun and intensely silly affair, and you can even play it with up to four players, making it the perfect game for the holiday season.
This being the lowest price we’ve seen for this amazing game easily makes it one of the best Nintendo Switch deals. It’s going to end tonight, though, so if you want it, get it quickly.
Why this deal matters
Super Mario Bros Wonder is undoubtedly one of the coolest Mario games we’ve had in a very long time, and one of the best games released for the Nintendo Switch. It’s rare to see first-party Nintendo games go on sale with this much off, so this is a very rare chance.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Dec. 12
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 12.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Bullet ___ (insect known for its painful sting)
Answer: ANT
4A clue: Setting for the children’s book «Good Night, Gorilla»
Answer: ZOO
5A clue: Mixed-breed dogs
Answer: MUTTS
7A clue: Language that gave us the words «democracy» and «philosophy»
Answer: GREEK
8A clue: Untidy
Answer: MESSY
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Brilliant shade of blue
Answer: AZURE
2D clue: Classroom jottings
Answer: NOTES
3D clue: «100%,» in slang
Answer: TOTES
5D clue: Longtime movie studio now owned by Amazon
Answer: MGM
6D clue: Chicago W.N.B.A. team
Answer: SKY
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