Mike Sorrentino Senior Editor
Mike Sorrentino is a Senior Editor for Cellular, overlaying telephones, texting apps and smartwatches — obsessing about how we are able to take advantage of them. Mike additionally retains a watch out on the film and toy business, and out of doors of labor enjoys biking and pizza making.
Experience Telephones, texting apps, iOS, Android, smartwatches, health trackers, cell equipment, gaming telephones, funds telephones, toys, Star Wars, Marvel, Energy Rangers, DC, cell accessibility, iMessage, WhatsApp, Sign, RCS
Why You Can Belief CNET
You will get good telephones beneath $200 as a result of they’re now extra purposeful than ever. As an example, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G helps quicker knowledge with its 5G connectivity and contactless funds over NFC — each of that are pretty new to telephones at this value vary. Different telephones, like Motorola’s Moto G Stylus, have gotten higher media machines, offering stereo audio system to enhance audio high quality whereas together with cameras that take first rate images.
But these cheaper telephones do have a number of noticeable trade-offs: They often run slower than dearer telephones, and whereas they’re going to often ship with the newest model of Android, there is likely to be solely a brief window of safety replace help. That final concern is essential to recollect when purchasing on this value vary, because it’s dangerous to make use of a telephone that is not being protected in opposition to safety vulnerabilities by its producer.
Whereas we would not take into account any of those picks to be productiveness machines, these telephones are probably going to be extra helpful than you’d count on for the value. Plus, a few of these units may find yourself being “free” when signing up with a telephone provider’s subsidization program — often requiring a two-year dedication so as to get the price lined.
What’s the very best telephone beneath $200?
The $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is our present prime decide for the very best telephone beneath $200. That is largely due to its inclusion of 5G help for quicker knowledge, NFC help for contactless funds and a reasonably beneficiant software program and safety help timeline when in comparison with different telephones on this value vary. Samsung will likely be offering two years of software program updates and 5 years of safety updates to the Galaxy A14 5G, making it a telephone that may be safely used for a number of years in case you select to.
We’re not loopy about its images, and if that is extra necessary to you than 5G, you must also check out the $200 Moto G Stylus for its higher digicam high quality.
In the event you want a telephone that is even cheaper, we’re additionally preserving across the $160 Galaxy A03S on this checklist. That system remains to be being supported by Samsung, however take into account that it has solely a tiny 32GB of space for storing.
Finest telephones beneath $200 of 2024
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The $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is likely one of the most purposeful telephones beneath $200 accessible proper now. Though it is at a budget-friendly value, this Samsung telephone contains 5G help for quicker knowledge and NFC for contactless funds utilizing Google Pockets. Whereas each of these inclusions are highlights for this value vary, Samsung can be planning to help the Galaxy A14 with two years of software program updates and 5 years of safety updates, making it a telephone that will likely be protected to make use of for a number of years.
It is best to nonetheless take into account that the telephone does have tradeoffs to hit its $200 value. It has a colorless design, a slower processor and blended images efficiency.
Regardless of its points, the options it does embrace make it a simple advice if you’re shopping for the telephone outright or if it is provided totally free with a provider subsidy deal.
Professionals:
- NFC for contactless pay
- 90Hz refresh fee
- Good software program and safety replace timeline
Cons:
- Sluggish efficiency
- Combined images
- Single audio speaker
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The $200 Moto G Stylus does not have 5G however as a substitute features a built-in stylus together with a good 50-megapixel major digicam. The Stylus did a pleasant job taking images whereas I used to be in a wide range of environments, together with indoors and open air. I loved the telephone’s tackle Portrait mode, and it captured a transparent photograph of the plant wall in CNET’s New York workplace that I take advantage of for photograph testing. The 6.5-inch 720p show can be in a position to run at a constant 90Hz refresh fee, offering clean animations whereas navigating apps and studying web sites.
The telephone is in any other case let down by Motorola’s software program and safety replace coverage for its G collection of telephones, overlaying just one software program replace and three years of safety updates. That, mixed with the dearth of 5G or NFC, implies that whereas it is an awesome alternative for higher footage, there are a variety of how this telephone might turn out to be left behind because the years cross. In the event you’re planning on utilizing this telephone for less than two to 3 years, you would get a number of worth out of this system.
Professionals:
- Good images for the value vary
- First rate efficiency for many duties
- Two-day battery
Cons:
- Stylus feels superfluous
- Brief replace timeline
- Lacks 5G connectivity as equally priced telephones begin to embrace it
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Samsung’s Galaxy A03S at $160 (roughly £130, AU$240) might nonetheless be an awesome match for somebody in search of the most cost effective doable telephone that may deal with most important duties. The telephone’s 6.5-inch display, capped at 720p decision, is able to studying the information, watching movies and taking part in video games. Regardless of some efficiency lag discovered throughout our evaluation, the telephone is sweet at multitasking. The telephone’s tiny 32GB of space for storing might refill quick, so in case you’re contemplating this telephone, it could be worthwhile to consider increasing the storage with a microSD card.
The A03S, first launched final yr, is getting 4 years of safety updates, that means that there are nonetheless three left. It is much less clear what number of Android model updates are scheduled, and in contrast to the newer A14, it doesn’t have 5G help or NFC. Whereas these two advantages together with the A14’s 64GB of inner storage are value the additional $30 value enhance, you possibly can nonetheless get some mileage out of the A03S if you’re merely in search of the most cost effective Samsung telephone doable.
Professionals:
- 3GB of RAM helps the telephone multitask
- Blue coloration choice
- Consists of fingerprint sensor
Cons:
- Little or no onboard storage
- Some noticeable lag
- Indoor images are difficult
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The $170 Moto G Play’s finest function is how its 5,000-mAh battery can stretch itself to 3 days of battery life. Past that, it is necessary to reveal that this system is likely one of the extra irritating telephones for beneath $200.
The telephone’s MediaTek Helio G37 processor and 3GB of RAM had a difficult time loading apps, and its 32GB of area stuffed up rapidly. The telephone does embrace a microSD card slot for storage enlargement. Images was additionally persistently fuzzy, and the $160 A03S simply outdid the Moto G Play in my images take a look at.
Regardless of being launched in 2023, the Moto G Play ships with Android 12 and can obtain just one software program replace to Android 13. It can additionally obtain three years of safety updates, which is normal for Motorola’s G collection of telephones.
Finally, I’m together with this telephone on the checklist as a consequence of its long-lasting battery, however its limitations might lead you to contemplate different choices on this checklist.
Professionals:
- Lengthy battery life
- Clear model of Android 12
- Three years of safety updates
Cons:
- Frequent lag, points loading software program
- Questionable refresh fee
- No “twist to open digicam” gesture
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These cheaper units are likely to reduce considerably in a single space or one other so as to obtain these low costs. Mostly, these drawbacks embrace restricted software program help, provider help or bloatware (preloaded apps that you simply by no means requested for). These trade-offs usually imply that these units shouldn’t be used after two to 3 years, particularly after safety replace help ends.
It is also notable that whereas these telephones retail for $200 or much less, a lot of them are sometimes accessible at a deep low cost — and even totally free — as a part of a provider subsidy deal. In case you are planning to stay with the identical wi-fi provider for 2 years, these telephones might simply turn out to be a part of the price of your service.
Each telephone on this checklist has been totally examined by CNET’s professional opinions workforce. We truly use the telephone, take a look at the options, play video games and take images. We assess any advertising and marketing guarantees that an organization makes about its telephones. If we discover one thing we do not like, be it battery life or construct high quality, we inform you all about it.
We look at each facet of a telephone throughout testing:
- Show
- Design and really feel
- Processor efficiency
- Battery life
- Digital camera high quality
- Options
We take a look at all of a telephone’s cameras (each back and front) in a wide range of situations: from open air beneath daylight to dimmer indoor locales and nighttime scenes (for any accessible night time modes). We additionally evaluate our findings in opposition to equally priced fashions. We run a collection of real-world battery checks to see how lengthy a telephone lasts beneath on a regular basis use.
We bear in mind extra telephone options, like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, quick charging, foldable shows, and different helpful extras. We weigh all of our experiences and testing in opposition to the value, so you understand whether or not a telephone represents good worth.
Learn extra: How we take a look at telephones
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus (2023) vs. Samsung Galaxy A03S vs. Motorola Moto G Play (2023)
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| Samsung Galaxy A14 5G | Moto G Stylus (2023) | Samsung Galaxy A03S | Moto G Play (2023) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show dimension, decision | 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD show, (1,400 x 1,080 pixels), 90Hz | 6.5-inch IPS LCD; 1,600×720; 90Hz refresh fee | 6.5-inch HD+ LCD (720×1,600 pixels) | 6.5-inch IPS TFT LCD; 1,600×720 pixels; 90Hz refresh fee |
| Pixel density | 268 ppi | 269 ppi | 269 ppi | 269 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.6 x 3.07 x 0.36 in. | 6.41 x 2.91 x 0.36 in. | 6.5 x 2.9 x 0.3 in. | 6.58 x 2.95 x 0.36 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 167.6 x 77.9 x 9.1 mm | 162.9 x 74.1 x 9.2 mm | 165.8 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm | 167 x 77 x 9.4 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 203 g (7.19 oz.) | 195 g | 202g (7.13 oz.) | 203 g (7.16 oz.) |
| Cellular software program | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 11 | Android 12 |
| Digital camera | 50-megapixel (major), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth) | 50-megapixel (major), 2-megapixel (macro) | 13-megapixel (vast), 2-megapixel (depth), 2-megapixel (macro) | 16-megapixel (major), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor) |
| Entrance-facing digicam | 16-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 5-megapixel | 5-megapixel |
| Video seize | 1080p at 30fps | 1080p at 30 fps | FHD (1920×1080 at 30fps) | 720p at 30 fps |
| Processor | MediaTek MT6833V | MediaTek Helio G85 | Octa-core processor | MediaTek Helio G37 |
| RAM/Storage | 4GB + 64GB | 4GB + 64GB; 4GB + 128GB | 3GB/32GB | 3GB + 32GB |
| Expandable storage | Sure | Sure | As much as 1TB | Sure |
| Battery/Charger | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh (15W charging) | 5,000 mAh (charger not included, doesn’t help wi-fi charging) | 5,000 mAh (10W charging) |
| Fingerprint sensor | Facet | Facet | Facet | Rear |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Particular options | 5G-enabled, NFC, 15W charging | Stylus, Moto Gestures | 3-day battery life, Moto Gestures, Auto Smile Seize, Portrait Mode |
Are cheaper telephones value it?
What about telephones which are even cheaper, like beneath $100?