The Best Cheap Phones You Can Buy in 2025

The 2025 cell phone market is awash with cheap options—devices from OnePlus, Motorola, Samsung, Apple, Google, and more—so much so, that it can be difficult to figure out which one to choose. In this article, we've narrowed down the list of the best cheap phones to four, which include: 

• Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
• Google Pixel 8a
• Apple iPhone SE
• Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)

All four of these phones offer a great balance of performance and affordability. Read on as we detail each of them, and explain why they're the best cheap phones you can buy in 2025.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

If you're looking for a good all-around cheap Android phone—one that you can pick up unlocked for a song on Amazon—then the Galaxy S54 5G should fit the bill. Taking inspiration from Samsung's S23 flagship design, the device features a rich display, excellent 50MP main camera, and reliable all-day battery life. Granted, the phone doesn't offer wireless charging, and video capture doesn't extend to 4K. However, in every other way, the A54 is a top-tier phone.

Google Pixel 8a

Google's Pixel phones have gotten steadily more technologically sophisticated—and more expensive—with each generation. Fortunately, you can get the Pixel experience far less cheaply by going for one of the manufacturer's "a" phones—in this case, the Google Pixel 8a.

The Google Pixel 8a bears many of the characteristics of the Pixel 8, including  an attractive design, brilliant display, powerful Tensor G3 processor, and best-in-class AI functionalities. It's a powerful phone, for not much money.

Side note: If you prefer to get the best of the newer Google Pixel 9 in a cheaper package, the Google Pixel 9a is set for release in March.

Apple iPhone SE

Apple's SE has proven an enduringly popular despite its age (it was released back in 2022), offering conveniently small form factor and some flagship-level specs.

The iPhone SE features a crisp 4.7-inch LCD display, the powerful A15 Bionic chip, and a nice array of cameras—and editing tools to go along with them—to help you capture just about anything in brilliant detail. Plus, the iPhone SE is capable of running the latest iOS 28 software. All of which is to say, the SE delivers a flagship iPhone experience for far less than you'd otherwise pay.

Note: A new iPhone SE model, the SE4, is rumored to be coming out in 2025. Stay tuned!

Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)

Motorola knows its way around budget phones, jamming them full of ingenious flagship features you'd typically find in far more expensive models. The 2024 version of the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G is impressive, sporting a brilliant 6.7" OLED display, a big and fast-charging 5,000 mAh battery, a snappy Qualcomm® Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, and 256GB of storage, which is expandable with a microSD card. Best of all, it features a handy stylus pen.

The Bottom Line

Any of the above mobile phones should be perfect for your needs, particularly if you are a bit strapped for cash and need a handset for a low price. Yet each phone has distinct advantages and disadvantages. You may not know which is precisely suitable for your preferences.‍

Our free, unbiased Phone Deal Finder could be just what you need to make a final decision. Our detailed service will help you find the perfect phone based on your carrier network, your budget, what you like in terms of phone features, and so much more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the world's least expensive phone?

The world's least expensive smartphones are typically found in the budget Android category, with devices priced as low as $100.

What is a budget phone?

A budget phone is a low-cost smartphone that offers essential features like calling, texting, and internet access at a lower price, typically between $100 and $350, while compromising on high-end specs to remain affordable​.

Which smartphones are the most reliable?

The most reliable smartphones tend to be from established brands like Apple and Samsung, known for consistent software updates, strong build quality, and extensive customer support.