Summary
The Finest Mobile Device for Less Than $200.. In comparison to the past, mobile devices that cost less than $200 are now more functional than they were. In this price range, the most recent smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, offer support for 5G, which allows for quicker data transfer, and NFC, which allows for contactless payments. Other mobile devices, such as Motorola’s Moto G Stylus, are superior media machines since they come equipped with stereo speakers that enhance the quality of the music and cameras that are capable of taking satisfactory photographs.
The Finest Mobile Device for Less Than $200
There are several obvious drawbacks to these more affordable phones: Generally speaking, they have a slower performance compared to more costly phones, and even while they will often come pre-installed with the most recent version of Android, there may be only a limited window of support for security updates. Given that it is unsafe to use a phone that is no longer being safeguarded against security flaws by its maker, this last problem is especially crucial to bear in mind while looking for a phone in this price range.
We would not consider any of these choices to be productivity machines; nonetheless, it is quite probable that these mobile devices will be more helpful than you would anticipate for the price that they are priced at. Additionally, some of these low-priced smartphones can wind up being “free” if you sign up for a subsidization program offered by a phone carrier. This program often requires a commitment of two years in order to qualify for the cost coverage.
Is there a phone that is the finest under $200?
The sum of $200 Right now, our top recommendation for the greatest phone that costs less than $200 is the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. This is mostly due to the fact that it supports 5G, which allows for quicker data transfer, NFC, which allows for contactless payments, and a rather liberal software and security support timetable in comparison to other phones that fall inside this price range. The Galaxy A14 5G will get software updates for a period of two years and security updates for a period of five years from Samsung. This results in a phone that can be used without risk for a number of years, if that is something that you feel comfortable doing.
What are the best phones that cost less than $200 in 2024?
We are not too enthusiastic about its photography, and if improving your photography skills is more important to you than 5G, you can also consider purchasing the Moto G Stylus, which costs $200 and has a higher-quality camera.
If you are looking for a phone that is even more affordable, we have included the Galaxy A03S, which costs around $160, in our list. Despite the fact that Samsung continues to provide support for that gadget, it is important to bear in mind that it only has 32 gigabytes of storage space.
A phone that costs less than $200
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
One of the most useful phones that can be purchased for less than $200 at the moment is the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, which costs $200. In spite of the fact that it is priced affordably, this Samsung phone has support for 5G, which enables quicker data transfer, as well as NFC, which enables contactless payments to be made using Google Wallet. While all of these elements are highlights for this price range, Samsung is also aiming to support the Galaxy A14 with two years of software upgrades and five years of security patches. This will make the Galaxy A14 a phone that will be safe to use for a number of years to come.
In spite of this, you should not forget that the phone does come with certain compromises in order to achieve its price of $200. This device has a dull design, a sluggish CPU, and a mediocre performance when it comes to photography. Nevertheless, in spite of its shortcomings, the features that it does have make it an easy suggestion to make whether you are shopping for the phone outright or if it is being provided free of charge as part of a carrier subsidy arrangement.
- NFC for contactless pay
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Good software and security update timeline
- Sluggish performance
- Mixed photography
- Single audio speaker
The best camera available
Motorola Moto G Stylus (2023)
Despite the fact that it does not have 5G connectivity, the Moto G pen, which costs $200, comes with a built-in pen in addition to a respectable 50-megapixel primary camera. During my time spent in a number of settings, including both inside and outdoors, the Stylus performed well in terms of shooting photographs. One aspect of the phone that I found especially appealing was its Portrait mode, which allowed me to shoot a clean picture of the plant wall in the New York office of tkgap, which I use for testing photographs. Additionally, the 6.5-inch 720p display is capable of operating at a steady refresh rate of 90Hz, which enables fluid animations to be shown when both reading webpages and navigating applications.
Aside from that, the phone is a disappointment due to Motorola’s policy on software and security upgrades for its G line of phones, which only covers one software update and three years of security patches. That, in conjunction with the absence of 5G or NFC, indicates that despite the fact that it is an excellent option for taking better images, there are a number of ways in which this phone may gradually become obsolete as time goes on. There is a significant amount of value that can be derived from this gadget if you want to use it for a period of time that is between two and three years.
One of the best due of its lower cost
Samsung Galaxy A03S
A person who is seeking for the most affordable phone that is still capable of doing the majority of vital duties may find that the Samsung Galaxy A03S, which costs $160 (about £126, AU$240), is an excellent option. With a maximum resolution of 720p, the 6.5-inch screen of the phone is suitable for a variety of activities, including reading the news, viewing movies, and playing games. Even though we discovered minor performance slowdown throughout our assessment, the phone is capable of doing many tasks at once. The 32 gigabytes of storage space on the phone might be quickly depleted, so if you are thinking about purchasing this phone, it could be a good idea to consider purchasing a microSD card in order to increase the amount of storage space available.
After being launched for the first time a year ago, the A03S is already receiving four years’ worth of security upgrades, which means that there are still three remaining. There is a lack of clarity on the number of Android version upgrades that are planned, and in contrast to the modern A14, it does not enable 5G or NFC networking. You may still get some mileage out of the A03S if you are merely seeking for the cheapest Samsung phone available. These two perks, together with the A14’s 64GB of internal storage, are worth the additional $30 price premium. However, if you are looking for anything else, the A03S is still a good option.
- 3GB of RAM helps phone multitask
- Blue color option
- Includes fingerprint sensor
- Small onboard storage
- Noticeable lag using the phone
- Indoor photos are hit-or-miss
Best for the longevity of the battery, but nothing else
Motorola Moto G Play (2023)
It is $170. The most impressive aspect of the Moto G Play is the fact that its 5,000-mAh battery may last for up to three days without needing to be recharged. In addition to that, it is essential to reveal that this particular smartphone is among the most annoying phones that can be purchased for less than $200.
Both the MediaTek Helio G37 CPU and the 3GB of RAM on the phone had a difficult time launching applications, and the 32GB of storage space on the phone rapidly became full. The phone comes come with a microSD card slot, which allows for more storage space. The picture was also continuously blurry, and the Moto G Play was easily outperformed by the A03S, which costs 160 dollars, in my photography test.
In spite of the fact that it will be released in 2023, the Moto G Play will use Android 12 out of the box and will only get a single firmware upgrade to Android 13. Additionally, it will get security upgrades for a period of three years, which is a normal feature for Motorola’s G line of mobile devices.
In the end, despite the fact that I have included this phone on the list because of its long-lasting battery, which may be a result of the fact that this phone has a feeling of being underpowered, I would rather recommend that you choose any other phone on this list than the Moto G Play.
How do we evaluate mobile devices?
The professional reviews team at tkgap has put each and every phone on this list through a comprehensive testing process. During our real usage of the phone, we put its functions to the test, play games, and shoot pictures. In this process, we evaluate any marketing claims that a firm makes about its mobile devices. We will let you know all there is to know about anything that we do not like, whether it be the build quality or the battery life.
During testing, we look at every single feature of a phone, including:
Exhibit the design and impression
Performance of the processor Battery life Quality of the photographic equipment Features
Each and every one of a phone’s cameras, both front and rear, are put through a series of tests in a number of environments, ranging from brightly lit outdoor settings to dimly lit interior environments and nighttime scenes (for any night modes that are available). In addition, we evaluate our results in comparison to models that are priced similarly. The battery life of a phone is evaluated using a number of real-world tests to see how long it can withstand regular usage.
Additional phone features, such as 5G, fingerprint and face scanners, styluses, rapid charging, folding screens, and other helpful extras, are taken into consideration by our team. We take into account all of our experiences and testing in addition to the price in order to determine whether or not a phone is a good example of value.
How should one go about purchasing a phone that costs less than $200?
It is one thing to look at something on a phone, but it is an entirely other thing to actually test it out in a shop before you decide to purchase it.
Do you have a large number of iPhone applications and Apple subscriptions? If so, you should choose between Android and iPhone. The iPhone is the best option. In a similar vein, if you have a significant amount of money invested in Android applications, you will want to remain on the side of the fence. If that is not the case, switching platforms is not difficult at all.
Identify the most significant characteristic: What is the screen size? What about the camera’s quality? How long does the battery last? Using this, you will be able to limit down your options.
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus (2023) vs. Samsung Galaxy A03S vs. Motorola Moto G Play (2023)
| undefined | Samsung Galaxy A14 5G | Moto G Stylus (2023) | Samsung Galaxy A03S | Moto G Play (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD display, (2,408 x 1,080 pixels), 90Hz | 6.5-inch IPS LCD; 1,600×720; 90Hz refresh rate | 6.5-inch HD+ LCD (720×1,600 pixels) | 6.5-inch IPS TFT LCD; 1,600×720 pixels; 90Hz refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 399 ppi | 269 ppi | 269 ppi | 269 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.6 x 3.07 x 0.36 in. | 6.41 x 2.9 x 0.36 in. | 6.5 x 2.9 x 0.3 in. | 6.58 x 2.95 x 0.36 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 167.7 x 78 x 9.1 mm | 162.8 x 73.8 x 9.2 mm | 165.8 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm | 167 x 77 x 9.4 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 204 g (7.19 oz.) | 202 g (7.13 oz.) | 202 g (7.13 oz.) | 203 g (7.16 oz.) |
| Mobile software | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 11 | Android 12 |
| Camera | 50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth) | 50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro) | 13-megapixel (wide), 2-megapixel (depth), 2-megapixel (macro) | 16-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor) |
| Front-facing camera | 13-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 5-megapixel | 5-megapixel |
| Video capture | 1080p at 30fps | 1080p at 30/60 fps | FHD (1920×1080 at 30fps) | 1080p 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 | Yes | Yes | Up to 1TB | Yes |
| Battery/Charger | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh (15W charging) | 5,000 mAh (charger not included, does not support wireless charging) | 5,000 mAh (10W charging) |
| Fingerprint sensor | Side | Side | Side | Rear |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Special features | 5G-enabled, NFC, 15W charging | Stylus, Moto Gestures | 3-day battery life, Moto Gestures, Auto Smile Capture, Portrait Mode |
Is it worthwhile to get a cheaper phone?
Phones that cost less than $200 only concentrate on the most important features, which means that you will have to make some sacrifices. On these devices, you will be able to make phone calls, send and receive text messages, engage in video chats, surf the web, and run the majority of Android applications. NFC should not be expected to be used for mobile payments, access to 5G networks, or, sadly, a significant amount of storage capacity that is provided.
In all other respects, these phones perform well and can be just what you’re searching for if all you want is a reliable electronic communication device. In addition to this, they come equipped with features that are becoming more difficult to get in more costly phones. These features include a charger that is included in the package, a headphone port on the phone itself, and a microSD card slot that allows further storage space.
Should you discover that your phone requirements extend beyond the realm of simple communication, you may want to think about purchasing a phone that costs less than $300 or less than $500, provided that you have the ability to increase your budget.
What about mobile devices that are even more affordable, such as those that cost less than one hundred dollars?
There are phones that cost less than one hundred dollars, but they often come with major sacrifices.
For example, the TCL 30 Z, which costs $70, is one of the most affordable Android 14 smartphones now on the market. In spite of the fact that we have not yet put this phone through its paces, I have seen that it makes use of an obsolete micro-USB connector for charging.
Because the majority of other Android phones and wireless headphones, even those in the lower price category, now utilize USB-C for charging, you could find yourself in a situation where you have to scramble to locate a charger in the event that you lose it. On top of that, the phone will only get one major software upgrade to Android 15 and two years of security patches, which is a rather limited amount of time but is equivalent to that of several phones that are offered for less than $300.
Although we have not recently conducted a review of any flip phones, we believe that the majority of the current alternatives should be sufficient for anybody who is searching for a device that is designed exclusively for making phone calls. Flip phones are capable of receiving 4G signals and, more crucially, HD Voice, which allows for more articulate voice calls. Additionally, there are flip phones that are capable of supporting current applications such as WhatsApp and Google Assistant, but in a manner that is more restricted in comparison to how these services operate on a smartphone. Take, for example, the Nokia 2789 Flip, which is a flip phone that runs on the KaiOS operating system developed by the company and enables downloaded applications and services.
