There are lots of great Android phones available in the market today. But most start from at least $1,000, which is expensive but fair considering their performance and capacity. So, getting a new phone with a $500 budget may be difficult— you may have to settle for a second-hand if you insist on getting powerful models. Fortunately, you can still find new units of the best Androids under $500.
Best Androids Under $500 Available In Today's Market
Despite the inflation rocking the smartphone industry lately, some new phones have mundane price tags. We have discussed about some of the best Androids under $500 for buyers with a tight budget. Let's review them together.Â
1. Honor 90 5G
The Honor 90 5G offers a 6.7-inch 120 Hz AMOLED that works with Full HD+. The Honor 90 is an outstanding Android phone. It has a Full HD+ supported AMOLED display screen measuring up to 6.7 inches, with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The screen supports Dolby Vision with 1,600 nits peak brightness and a 1200 x 2664 pixels resolution.
The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) processor to pair with an 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB RAM. Internal memory options are 256GB and 512GB, which cannot be expanded. At the rear, you get a tri-camera setup comprising a 200MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, and 2MP depth camera. Meanwhile, the front camera is a 50MP ultrawide selfie camera with HDR support. Both camera sets can shoot 4K videos.
The 13T weighs merely 183g with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating. Its battery is a 5000 mAh Li-Pro supporting 66W wired and 5W wireless charging. The phone comes with MagicOS 7.1 – Android 13 and can be upgraded with about four years of update support. The Honor 90 5G starts at $492.50 on Amazon.
2. OnePlus 12R
The OnePlus 12R offers outstanding performance and is one of the best Androids under $500. It's powered by a Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, placing it among the best Android phones for gaming. You get to choose between the 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB RAM options to go with 128GB or 256GB internal memory. It has no Micro SD slot for expansion and sports a crisp 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 12 Hz refresh rate. The screen resolution is 1264 x 2780 pixels and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The main camera setup at the rear comprises a 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MO macro camera. While you get a 12MP selfie camera at the front. The 12R weighs 207g and has an IP64 water and dust resistance rating. The OnePlus 12R boasts phenomenal battery life with 5,500 mAh non-removable battery. It supports 100W fast charging and is capable of providing a full charge in 26 minutes. It has a starting price of $459.99 for the cheapest memory configuration.
3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G is one of the best androids under $500. It sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and 1800 nits of peak brightness. The phone boasts a powerful MediaTek 7200-Ultra SoC processor that clocks up to 2.8 GHz. You can have an 8GB or 12GB RAM to run smoothly. For the 8GB option, you get 256GB internal space, while the 12GB pairs with 512GB memory.
The 5,000 mAh battery can be charged quickly with 120 watts using only the USB-C charger in the box as it does not support wireless charging. Also, the phone has a water and dust resistance rating of IP68, which is as impressive as it gets for a phone within its price range. Its exterior is stylish, built with lightweight materials that keep its weight at 204.5g. You get a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus screen with a resolution of 2712×1220 pixels that supports Dolby Vision.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G rear camera setup comprises a 200MP main, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro camera. Meanwhile, the front camera sports a 16MP selfie camera. The smartphone comes with Android 13 and updates support for four years. You can get the phone directly from the Xiaomi store or from Amazon and other top gadget stores. The pricing starts at about $385 for a new unit.
4. Google Pixel 7a
Google phones are not typically affordable, but this one is not as STOCK as the more expensive ones. The Pixel 7a, like Google says, is built to perform. It sports a 6.1-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz and plenty of nits of peak brightness. This model does not feature the usual eye-friendly PWM dimming function you find in top Pixel phones. However, users get to enjoy USB 3.2, 6 GHz WLAN, and wireless charging on this phone.
The processor is a Google Tensor G2 that pairs with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal memory to facilitate smooth multitasking. Also, the screen has Gorilla Glass 3 protection and a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. Pixel phones are known for offering superb imaging thanks to a clear screen and great cameras. The rear camera, comprising a 64MP wide and 13MP ultrawide setup, can shoot 4K videos. Meanwhile, the front camera is a 13MP selfie camera and can also shoot 4K videos.
Many buyers are attracted to the IP67 water and dust resistance rating, plus over five years of updates. You also get stereo speakers with no headphone jack. The battery is a 4,385 mAh Li-Pro that supports 18W wired charging and 7.5W wireless charging. The build comprises a glass screen, aluminum frame, and plastic back to weigh about 193.5g.
You can purchase the Pixel 7a directly from Google for a lower price than from Amazon and other retailers. The starting price for a new unit is $249.99, and it comes with Android 13 (upgradable to version 14).
5. Motorola Edge 40
Motorola phones are famous for slimness, and this is no exception. It is not up to 7.5 millimeters thick and weighs just 167g, making it the lightest among the best Androids under $500. The display is a 6.55-inch P-OLED, with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Also, you get Full HD+ support, 1,200 nits of peak brightness, and a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz.
A modern Mediatek Dimensity 8020 (6 nm) processor powers this phone, pairing with 8GB of RAM. Buyers get to choose between the 128GB and 256GB internal memory options. You also get a dual camera setup at the rear comprising a 50MP wide and 13MP ultrawide camera. The front selfie camera is a 32MP wide camera that can shoot 4K videos. It comes with an under-screen optical fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, and a 4,400 mAh battery.
This battery supports 68W wired and 15W wireless charging. Wired charging is facilitated by a USB 2.0 Type C charger in the box. In addition, the phone has a water and dust resistance rating of IP68. It comes with Android 13 (upgradable to 14), and has about four years of update support.
The Motorola Edge 40 can be purchased directly from the manufacturer's online store. It is also available on Amazon with a starting price of $437.49.
6. Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is Samsung's flagship mid-range device. It features the new Exynos 1380 processor with a minimum of 4GB of RAM, eSIM support, and a revised design similar to the Galaxy S series. Its dust and water resistance rating is IP67.
The Galaxy A54 comes with Android 13 (upgradable to Android 14) and One UI 6 OS.
The RAM options are 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB, and they pair with 128GB or 256GB internal memory. You can upgrade it using a Micro SDXC, but you have to sacrifice one SIM slot. A triple camera setup is featured at the rear, comprising a 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro camera. The low-light imaging quality has also been improved. Other impressive features are USB-C support, Bluetooth 5.3, Samsung NFC, and a hybrid SIM card that can accommodate either a memory card or a second SIM card.
The smartphone receives four major Android updates and five years of security patches. Voice quality during calls is good, and you can use an eSIM. A 5,000 mAh battery that supports 25W wired charging powers this phone. Lastly, along with a water and dust resistance rating of IP67, the body boasts a light weight of 202g.
The Galaxy A54 5G can be purchased directly from Samsung's online store or other stores with a starting price of $302.
7. Nothing Phone (2a)
The Nothing Phone (2a) is a top-tier offering on this list. The phone features a sleek 6.7-inch AM OLED display panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1080 x 2412 pixels screen resolution. This screen has 1,100 nits of peak brightness, featuring Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro (4 nm) processor. Buyers get to pick between 8GB and 12GB RAM to pair with 128GB or 256GB internal memory, which is perfect if you don't have too many demanding apps.
The main rear setup offers only two rear cameras— a 50MP wide camera and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. Meanwhile, you get a front 32 MP wide selfie camera at the front. The battery is a long-lasting 5,000 mAh cell that supports 45W wired charging. When using the right USB 2.0 Type C charger, it takes about 23 minutes to go from zero to 50%. The fingerprint sensor is an optical sensor integrated under the display.
Like all Nothing Phones, you get the LED lights at the back for notifications. This one has a water and dust resistance rating of IP54.
The Nothing Phone (2a) is one of the best Androids under $500, performing at the same level as most flagship phones. The Android 14 and Nothing OS 2.5.4 give users a smooth layout to navigate. A new unit ranges between $452 and $500, depending on the memory configuration.
8. Tecno Phantom X2 Pro 5G
The Phantom X2 Pro 5G is a cool, affordable phone from Tecno. It features an AMOLED display screen that measures 6.8 inches, with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. This screen is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, supports Dolby Vision with 500 nits peak brightness and a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
The phone features a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm) processor and pairs with 12GB RAM to perform. Buyers are stuck with only 256GB of internal memory, which cannot be expanded. At the rear, you get a tri-camera setup comprising a 50MP wide, 50MP telephoto, and 13MP ultrawide camera. While, the front camera is a 32MP selfie camera with HDR support. Also, the rear camera setup can shoot 4K videos.
The Phantom X2 Pro is built slim (9mm thick) with a Glass front, aluminum frame, and plastic back and weighs only 201g. It has a 93.3% screen-to-body ratio with dual SIM support. Its battery is a 5,160 mAh Li-Pro that supports only wired charging using a 45W USB-C charger in the box. Tecno claims the phone can charge from zero to full in 60 minutes using the correct charger. The phone comes with Android 12 and HiOS 12. A new unit of Tecno Phantom X2 Pro starts at $317.
9. Oppo Reno 10 Pro 5G
The Reno 10 Pro 5G is an Oppo flagship phone, and it offers lots of impressive features. Its amazing chipset and mundane price tag qualify it as one of the best Androids under $500. Regarding cameras, the main camera setup comprises a 50MP wide, 32MP ultrawide, and 8MP depth camera that can shoot 4K videos. Meanwhile, the front sensor is a 32MP wide camera for selfies.
The display is a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen offering perfect black levels, contrasts, and pleasantly high brightness. It has a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz, a 1080 x 2412 pixels screen resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and 950 nits peak brightness. This phone supports dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards but not eSIM. The RAM options are 8GB and 12GB, configured with 256GB of internal memory. It does not have a slot for a microSD card; hence, there is no memory expansion.
The CPU is a Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) processor to power the upgradable Android 13 & ColorOS 14. It sports a 4,600 mAh Li-Pro battery that charges using a USB-C charger with an 80W rating. The phone has no wireless charging support and is advertised to charge from zero to 50% in less than 30 minutes. Furthermore, It has stereo speakers offering 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio but no headphone jack. The optical fingerprint sensor is integrated under the display.
Depending on memory configurations, pricing for a new Oppo Reno 10 Pro ranges between $448.78 and $459.99.
10. Vivo T3 5G
This phone earned its spot on our list of best Androids under $500 due to its incredible performance. This phone boasts a mundane Mediatek Dimensity 7200 (4 nm) with up to 256GB internal memory and 8GB RAM options. This chipset and 5,000 mAh allow the phone to run for up to 20 hours. Also, it supports 44W wired charging using the USB 2.0 Type C charger in the box.
It also features a reliable dual camera setup comprising a 50MP main camera and a 2MP depth camera. You also get a 16MP wide front camera for selfies.
The 6.67-inch display combines with the plastic frame and plastic or silicone polymer (eco-leather) back to weigh just 185.5 grams. Its screen is an AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The screen resolution is 1080 x 2400 pixels, the aspect ratio is 20:9, and the peak brightness is 1,800 nits. Internal storage options are 128GB and 256GB, which can be upgraded using a Micro SD. However, you have to sacrifice the hybrid SIM slot for that.
Other cool sensors are an accelerometer, flicker, and virtual proximity sensing. The cheapest Vivo T3 memory configuration is 8GB/128GB, starting at about $219.99
Final Note
The phones we reviewed above are the best Androids under $500. Their mundane prices are not a result of poor performance or the absence of any critical features. They are built with the best hardware and can run just any software. We also ensured that we picked reliable options that would serve our readers perfectly for many years.
