Are you on a budget? Looking for a good phone for under $250? I’ve got you covered!
I’ve listed my four favorite phones under $250. Not all phones work with all carriers, so I made sure to include carrier details, so you can find the right phone for your situation!
Here’s my list:
Moto G7 Power:
Available at: Amazon, Best Buy
Carrier compatibility: Any US carrier (including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and most prepaid carriers)
Specs:
- Display: LCD display with 720×1570 resolution
- Processor: Snapdragon 632
- RAM: 3 GB
- Storage: 32 GB
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
- Extra Specs: headphone jack, storage can be expanded via MicroSD card
Software:
Android version 9.0
Pros:
- Incredible battery life. The battery is 2,000 mAh bigger than the Moto G7 Play, and almost 2,000 mAh bigger than the LG G6, and the battery is bigger than every flagship phone that recently released
- Comes preloaded with Android 9.0, and should receive some software support
- 3 GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 632 should give this phone decent performance, and much better performance than phones under $200
Cons:
- This phone has a worse display than the LG G6, and the Moto G7 (which can be had for only $50 more)
- For only $50 more, you can get the Moto G7 which has an extra GB of RAM to help with multi-tasking (warning: The Moto G7 does not have a huge battery like the Moto G7 Power)
- Due to this phone’s large battery, it is heavier than the Moto G7 or the LG G6
- No NFC for Google Pay
Summary:
This phone has a very unique niche. Most phones come with a battery between 3,000 and 4,000 mAh, so for this phone to have a 5,000 mAh battery is HUGE. This phone has terrific battery life and good performance at this price point. You have to ask yourself what you value. If you value decent performance, but you value battery life above everything, this phone is for you. If you value performance above battery life, the LG G6 or the Moto G7 might be better options.
Sale Details:
This phone is currently on sale on Amazon and at Best Buy. If you are with Verizon, you can get this phone for $79 as a new line at Best Buy, or if you are upgrading with Verizon, you can get this phone for $79. Sprint customers can activate this phone through Best Buy for $129.99. If you want a carrier-specific discount through Best Buy, simply hit “activate today”. Just be warned: this typically includes an activation fee from your carrier, but it is still worth it to get the extra discount.
LG G6:
Available at: Best Buy
Carrier compatibility: AT&T, T-Mobile, or certain prepaid carriers like Cricket Wireless, Tracfone, Net10, H2O, Metro PCS, AT&T Prepaid, and Simple Mobile (does not work with Verizon or prepaid carriers that use Verizon towers)
Specs:
- Display: 5.7″ LCD Display with 2880 x 1440 resolution, and with Dolby Vision HDR
- Processor: Snapdragon 821
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 32 GB
- Battery: 3,300 mAh
- Extra Specs: Water resistant, NFC capable (for Google Pay), headphone jack, storage can be expanded via MicroSD card
Software: Android version 8.0.0
Pros:
- Faster than most phones under $300, including the G7 Power and G7 Play
- The camera is better than rival phones under $300
- Water resistance, NFC, and microSD card slot are all great perks
Cons:
- Battery life is so-so. In my experience, many phones with smaller batteries (even 300 mAh less) perform better than the G6
- The LG G6 is still on Android 8.0, and who knows when it will get Android 9.0 (LG is slow with updates)
- The LG G6 released in 2017, so future software updates will be minimal (phone should still function just fine)
Summary:
Simply put, this is probably the best phone you can get for under $300, especially considering it is brand new. Once it gets updated to Android 9.0 (hopefully by September) it will at least be on the same operating system as its rivals. But this phone will not get Android Q, and will probably stop receiving security updates soon. If new software features or security updates are important to you, I would look elsewhere, but if you want a new phone, and the best performance for your money, this is it.
Sale Details:
This phone is currently on sale at Best Buy for $239 ($160 off). This discount is available to all with no exceptions.
If you want an extra $50 off, there is a way for some people to get that, but it might not be worth it to you. You click here, then you can click “Save $50 with phone, SIM and refill card” and you can get $50 off if you purchase the phone with AT&T Prepaid service and a sim card. If you don’t plan to use AT&T Prepaid service, you can always try to re-sell the service or give it to a friend to make a little extra money back.
Moto G7 Play:
Carrier compatibility: Any US carrier (including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and most prepaid carriers)
Available at: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart\
Specs:
- Display: 5.7″ LCD Display with 720 x 1512 resolution
- Processor: Snapdragon 632
- RAM: 2 GB
- Storage: 32 GB
- Battery: 3,000 mAh
- Extra Specs: headphone jack, storage can be expanded via MicroSD card
Software Version: Android 9.0
Pros:
- This phone retails at $200, which is a great price
- The G7 Play has the same processor as the $300 Moto G7, and the $250 Moto G7 Power, so you should get decent performance for the price
Cons:
- Only 2 GB of RAM, so it will be tougher to multitask on this phone
- The Moto G7 Power is a slightly better value
Summary:
If you can’t afford the Moto G7 Power or the LG G6, the Moto G7 Play is a great option. For only $200, this phone will give you a decent overall package, and if you typically get a cheaper phone, this is a really good option for you. If you are looking for the best overall value, I recommend spending an extra $50 to get the G7 Power. The G7 Power not only gives you a much larger battery life, but it also gives you an extra GB of ram for multitasking.
Sale Details:
This phone is currently on sale at Best Buy for $239 ($160 off). This discount is available to all with no exceptions.
If you want an extra $50 off, there is a way for some people to get that, but it might not be worth it to you. You click here, then you can click “Save $50 with phone, SIM and refill card” and you can get $50 off if you purchase the phone with Simple Mobile service and a sim card (they use T-Mobile towers). If you don’t plan to use Simple Mobile service, you can always try to re-sell the service or give it to a friend to make a little extra money back.
Nokia 4.2
Carrier compatibility: AT&T, T-Mobile, or certain prepaid carriers like Cricket Wireless, Tracfone, Net10, H2O, Metro PCS, AT&T Prepaid, and Simple Mobile (does not work with Verizon or prepaid carriers that use Verizon towers)
Available at: Amazon, Best Buy
Specs:
- Display: 5.71″ TFT LCD Display with 720 x 1520 resolution
- Processor: Snapdragon 439
- RAM: 3 GB
- Storage: 32 GB
- Battery: 3,000 mAh
- Extra Specs: headphone jack, NFC capable (for Google Pay), storage can be expanded via MicroSD card
Software Version: Android 9.0
Pros:
- Great price, since this phone can be had for $170 right now
- 3 GB of RAM means smoother multitasking than the Moto G7 Play
- The only phone under $200 that I know of that is NFC capable, which is great if you want to use Google Pay
Cons:
- Snapdragon 439 is still slightly slower than the Snapdragon 632 found in the Moto G7 Play
- Average battery life
Summary:
For the price, this may be a better option than the Moto G7 Play, even though it is a tight race. Even though the Nokia 4.2 has a slightly slower processor, the extra GB of RAM will even things out and make performance pretty smooth. This phone also comes with NFC and can be had for a cheaper price. I would say this is the best phone to buy for under $200. Still, if you want a bigger battery, I would go with the Moto G7 Power, and if you have the money and want a better overall package, I would get the LG G6.
Sale Details:
This phone is currently on sale at Best Buy for $170 ($20 off). This discount is available to all with no exceptions.
If you want some more money off, you have to do one of two things:
First, you can buy it with AT&T prepaid service (to get $50 off), by clicking here, and then clicking “Save $50 with phone, SIM and refill card”. You can also get an extra $50 off if you add a new line to your AT&T account by clicking “activate today” when you are checking out at Best Buy.
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