Technologies

Best Phone Under $200: Cheaper Phones for Just the Basics

Devices that cost less than $200 should still be able to handle most apps, games and simple photography.

Smartphones can be expensive. But even if you’re on a budget, you can still find some great options. These are some of the best phones under $200 and they offer a mix of modern features alongside legacy ports you can’t find on today’s more expensive phones. For example, you can get a phone with a 6.5-inch screen and multiple cameras, plus a headphone jack and expandable storage with a microSD card slot.

However, there are trade-offs to keep in mind. Phones under $200 will likely run slower than their pricier counterparts, lack NFC for contactless payments and may receive only one software update. Most of them won’t support speedier 5G connections, either. But you can have peace of mind knowing that they can support most apps from the Google Play Store and will receive a few years of security updates.

What’s the best phone under $200?

Phones that cost $200 before any discounts are also phones that come with minimal features and many compromises. Of the devices we’ve tested and reviewed, the Samsung Galaxy A12 is our favorite. It nails the essentials, like having a 5,000-mAh battery, four average cameras, and years of software and security updates. There’s the newer Galaxy A13 and the just-released Galaxy A14 (which we need to test), but the A12 still hits that sub-$200 price and can often be found selling for less than $100, or even as a freebie.

Advertiser Disclosure

This advertising widget is powered by Navi and contains advertisements that Navi may be paid for in different ways. You will not be charged for engaging with this advertisement. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, this advertising widget does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We make reasonable efforts to ensure that information in the featured advertisements is up to date, each advertiser featured in this widget is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its offer details. It is possible that your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms in this advertising widget and the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser which will be presented to you prior to making a purchase. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

Best phones under $200 of 2023

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Samsung Galaxy A03S

Best for update support

Samsung’s Galaxy A03S at $160 (roughly £130, 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 the 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 at 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.

Read our Samsung Galaxy A03S review.

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

Samsung Galaxy A12

Most popular

Even though Samsung’s Galaxy A13 has succeeded the Galaxy A12, you can still find the $180 Samsung phone at some US carriers, although it is otherwise discontinued on Samsung’s website. For instance, the Galaxy A12 is available at Straight Talk wireless at a lower $130 price. According to Counterpoint Research, the A12 was the best-selling Android phone of 2021, even outselling Apple’s iPhone SE (2020).

In our Galaxy A12 review, we found the phone took nicer photos than the cheaper Galaxy A03S thanks to its four-camera array with a 16-megapixel main camera, but it was still hindered by the same 32GB of onboard storage seen across all of Samsung’s sub-$200 phones.

While we haven’t tested the Galaxy A13, it’s possible that the $190 4G-only version of that phone is worth considering for its 50-megapixel main camera. But if you do plan to buy the Galaxy A12, know that the phone’s 3GB of memory handled multitasking well during our review, but experienced some lag when shifting between horizontal and vertical screen orientations.

Read our Samsung Galaxy A12 review.

Michael Sorrentino/CNET

Samsung Galaxy A02S

Best budget phone

The $130 Samsung Galaxy A02S was released in late 2020, and is still listed on Samsung’s website along with some wireless carriers. The phone originally shipped with Android 10, but has since received an update to Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1. Even though the Galaxy A02S is the lowest-priced phone in Samsung’s Galaxy line, the continued software and security updates should provide buyers with feature refinements along with protection from vulnerabilities.

During our review, we found multitasking to be the phone’s main shortcoming, along with the tiny 32GB of storage space included. The phone also has no fingerprint sensor, which means a security PIN or pattern will be necessary in order to keep the phone secure.

But the phone does include a microSD card slot for adding additional storage, a headphone jack and a large 6.5-inch 720p screen. If you just need a simple phone primarily for phone calls, texting and taking the occasional photo, then the Galaxy A02S could be a worthwhile choice.

How we test phones

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. And 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. And we, of course, 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

Phones under $200 FAQs

Are cheaper phones worth it?

Phones that are 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. But you shouldn’t expect NFC for mobile payments, 5G connectivity or — unfortunately — much included storage space.

However, 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.

That said, 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 12 phones available, at $90. Though we haven’t tested this phone, I have noticed that it uses the 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 13 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 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 the Google Assistant, albeit in a more limited way compared with how these services function on a smartphone. The , for instance, is a flip phone running on the brand’s KaiOS, which supports downloadable apps and services.

More phone advice

Technologies

Iran reportedly says it can reopen Strait of Hormuz within 7 days if U.S. eases military pressure

The reports raised hopes of renewed U.S.-Iran diplomacy, with U.S. stock futures mixed and oil prices lower.

Iran has suggested it could reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the U.S. eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, according to media reports.

The prospect of renewed diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran comes after nearly seven months of war in the Middle East, with the Trump administration threatening to ramp up its economic pressure campaign against Tehran in recent days.

Reports from Reuters and Japan’s Kyodo news agency, which both cited an unnamed senior Iranian government official, said Tehran had laid out the necessary conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. CNBC could not independently verify the reports.

A senior Iranian government official told MS Now, CNBC’s Versant Media partner, that Reuters and Kyodo’s reports were not true.

The war has severely disrupted shipping through the strait, a narrow waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, sending shock waves through the global economy.

U.S. stock index futures traded mixed on the news, while oil prices reversed earlier gains.

International benchmark Brent crude

The reports came just before U.S. President Donald Trump is due to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, amid mounting domestic pressure over his decision to launch a war against Iran, a conflict that has rattled the global economy.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to “shut down” all Iranian airlines from as soon as Wednesday.

Speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday, Bessent said: “How do we do that? That if they land, you cannot provide them with fuel. You cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system.”

The Treasury secretary said that Washington was pressuring Iran “like never before,” saying that the U.S. was putting a stop to Iran’s “enablers” around the world, such as sanctioning banks.

Last week, the Treasury announced new sanctions on Russia’s state-controlled VTB Bank as part of its effort to economically isolate Iran by targeting its business partners and other financial enablers.

G7 condemns Houthi strikes

Separately, the G7 group of nations has called for an end to attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against Yemen and Saudi Arabia on Monday stateside, condemning the “unacceptable continued strikes” by the group.

The bloc also called on the Houthis to cease all military actions, attacks against civilian shipping and for Iran to end its support for the rebel group.

The Houthis reportedly said they attacked “sensitive” sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the weekend, with fire and smoke seen near the city’s airport.

Houthi rebels also recently seized Yemen’s Perim Island on the Red Sea, tightening their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which puts Iran and its proxies on course to exercise control over two critically important oil choke points: that and the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is an important alternative for oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, especially for Saudi Arabia, whose East-West pipeline allows the kingdom to divert some crude flows to be exported from the Red Sea.

The G7 statement comes after the U.K. reportedly said it will support Saudi Arabia against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, with the Royal Air Force providing air-to-air refueling of Saudi planes.

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham told reporters that the arrangement will be for a matter of weeks, and will be kept under review.

The move comes as Trump refused Riyadh’s request for help against the rebels on the weekend, reportedly canceling a planned airstrike.

Burnham said he was “acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region, because of course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing attack, is looking at potential further disruption, and we need to keep those pathways (for oil) open,” according to The Associated Press.

Last week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte signaled that European nations could also provide support to Saudi Arabia, telling a BBC interview that “I would not be surprised if some phone calls were taking place between European allies — ‘hey, how are we going to deal with this?’”

Correction: Mark Rutte is secretary-general of NATO. An earlier version misstated his title.

Technologies

In pictures: Major developments from day one of the UN General Assembly

Nearly 130 world leaders gathered in New York as the UN General Assembly opened amid conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. Trump weighed an Iran deal, while leaders pushed new proposals for peace and energy protections.

World leaders gathered in New York this week for the annual United Nations General Assembly, with discussions covering the U.S.-Iran war, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Gaza’s fragile ceasefire and the dangers of artificial intelligence.

Nearly 130 presidents and prime ministers began addressing the assembly on Tuesday, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Also in attendance were Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Visiting delegations brought motorcades, street closures and extensive security operations that snarled traffic across midtown Manhattan. At UN headquarters, delegates face a week of consecutive speeches and side meetings as the already-stressed international order reaches a critical juncture.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will not attend the assembly, instead traveling to Washington for a high-level summit with Trump on Wednesday. Leaders from India and Russia are also absent.

Speaking to world leaders on Tuesday, Trump said he must make a “big decision”: reach an agreement with Iran or “annihilate” the Islamic Republic. He later told reporters that U.S. officials had held a “very good” three-hour meeting with Iranian representatives on the sidelines, renewing cautious hopes for a diplomatic path out of the seven-month war.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung unveiled a three-part strategy for “peaceful coexistence” with North Korea. The proposal urges Pyongyang to “first halt the advancement” of its nuclear program before beginning to reduce it.

Brazil’s Lula delivered the opening speech, following his country’s tradition of speaking first. “Brazilian democracy belongs to Brazilians,” he said. “Brazil is nobody’s backyard.” He argued that the UN “is failing in one of its highest missions: to save humanity from the scourge of war.”

Trump also signed a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland expanding U.S. military access in Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Trump then met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for approximately 40 minutes. He urged a Russia-Ukraine energy truce and supported a ban on U.S. diesel exports as fuel prices reached record levels ahead of the midterms.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered his address to the UN, stating, “There can be no peace without justice.” Following his meeting with Trump, he promised to advocate for a halt to attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Gaza as “the most inhumane, most shameful concentration camp of our time,” leading Israel’s delegation to leave the chamber. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to address the assembly by video after being refused a U.S. visa.

Technologies

Oil Declines as U.S. and Iran Hold Hours-Long UN Talks

Oil prices dropped as U.S.-Iran talks at the U.N. boosted hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the Middle East conflict. Analysts said a major near-term price surge was unlikely.

Oil fell Wednesday as optimism grew that supply disruptions could ease after U.S.-Iran talks at the U.N. raised hopes for a diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict.

Futures for the international benchmark Brent crude for November delivery dropped 0.75% to $98.51 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for November fell 1.03% to $89.59 per barrel.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that U.S. officials held a “very good meeting” with Iran’s delegation that lasted about three hours. Earlier in his address to the U.N., Trump said he faced a “big decision” over whether to reach a deal with Tehran or “annihilate” the country.

“Pakistan’s mediation efforts with Tehran could also reduce the risk of a broader escalation,” said Paolo Broccardo, chief executive officer at private digital bank BankPro.

He said oil prices were also unlikely to jump sharply for now.

“Over the past five consecutive sessions, the price has fallen by almost 12%, retreating once again from the ‘intervention zone’ above $100, where we have repeatedly seen intensified peace-building efforts from both sides,” Broccardo said.