Cliché but true: we can’t live without that glass slab in our pocket. It has become part and parcel of modern life. It is so tightly knitted into our lives that we do groceries, communicate, and entertain ourselves through it.
In simple words, it is essential.
Having said that, you don’t have to spend a fortune just to get a good phone because good phones are getting cheaper, and cheap phones are getting good.
If you want to upgrade your smartphone, what are the best options that won’t break your bank?
I have listed some of the best phones that are affordable and offer almost all the features that you’d get from a flagship phone (that costs at least $800).
If that sounds good to you, let’s dive right into that list.
CMF Phone 2 Pro
I know, I know, you probably haven’t heard of this phone before, so let me explain.
Do you remember the company called Nothing, which created phones with LED strips on the back and offered competitive pricing? Well, that company has created another sub-brand named CMF, which is even more affordable than Nothing.
And their banger is the Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro. It is priced under 300 bucks, and once you hold it, you won’t be able to count it as a cheap phone.
Why am I saying that?
The first thing you will notice is its 6.77-inch AMOLED display. It is a 120Hz display with 2160Hz PWM, which basically will ease up the eye strain among sensitive individuals. I have used it, and watching content on this display was a joy. I loved how the colors felt, and not just that it gets really bright outdoors, so you don’t have to find a shade just to read a text message.
Apart from that, its software experience has been great. It runs the same software as that of the Nothing Phone, and it is one of the best Android skins out there. It is a near-stock Android experience.
What I love the most about this OS is how clean it is. It skips the bloatware, and there are no gimmicks. It is as clean as it gets.
However, the only downside to this phone is the performance. If you are a mobile gamer and love a smooth, lag-free experience, it might not be the right choice. I was playing COD Mobile on it. Even though it was connected to my high-speed altafiber Internet that offered low and stable ping, the lag was still there.
It was because of the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro. It is a midrange processor with mediocre performance.
But to be honest, at this price range, you can not ask for more. I mean, you can, but that won’t be fair.
Samsung Galaxy A56
Next up in my list is the Samsung Galaxy A56.
Samsung’s A series line has been one of the best sellers not just for Samsung, but across the whole Android market. And it makes sense: this phone feels almost like a flagship without the price tag of one.
First of all, Samsung has finally put a reliable Exynos 1580 in it, which is their in-house chip, and it performs great for the price tag of 500 bucks. I have played games on it and run it through multiple stress tests, and it worked just fine.
Then there is the camera system: it is a triple camera setup at the back with a 50 MP main shooter, a 12 MP ultrawide lens, and an 8 MP macro lens for close-up shots. The pictures taken by this camera system look great. I think it is partly because of Samsung’s color science.
As for the videos, they are not great, but they are good. It struggles in the harsh light and gets the scene way too bright. Apart from that, it gets the job done, and the videos look nice.
Display is another aspect of the Galaxy A56 that can be praised. It is a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display that is just gorgeous. The colors look vibrant without looking inaccurate, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes things very smooth.
All in all, if you are on a tight budget but need the Samsung reliability, this is the phone to get.
Google Pixel 9a
Last but not least, Google Pixel 9a.
It is the most no-nonsense budget phone in the category of Androids. The only thing that it skips from its flagship bigger siblings is the premium design and some thicker bezels. The rest of the phone is just like the Pixel 9.
It has the same processor (Tensor G4), the same camera lenses (main shooter and ultrawide), and offers the same 7 years of software support.
There is nothing to dislike about this phone apart from its ugly design. If you can compromise on the design, this is the best phone that you can get for around 500 bucks.
In conclusion, if you’d ask me to pick one for you, I would say go with the CMF Phone 2 Pro. It offers so much at such a great price. So, yeah, choose that one over the other, and spend the rest of the money on a good pair of earphones.
