Best Inexpensive Smartphones Under $400
As technology improves, so have prices of high-end smartphones—many now breaking through that thousand-dollar price point. The good news is that today’s budget smartphones have nearly all the same technology and capabilities as their elite cousins—for less than half the price.
Apple iPhone SE
The NEW! Apple iPhone SE packs Apple’s most powerful chip into its most popular size—at a surprising budget price.
As pictured in red, also available in black and white, this new iPhone SE is available direct from Apple with fast, free, no-contact delivery. With 64GB, this model squeaks in right under $400.
Purchased from Apple, you have 14 calendar days to return an item from the date you received it, with a full no-hassle refund.
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Not new, this preowned Samsung Galaxy S10e with 128GB works and looks like new.
It has been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers. Comes with a full 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee, which covers replacement or refund.
In prism white, it is fully unlocked so you’re free to select your own carrier and data plan. “Pre-owned gently used” along with a satisfaction guarantee is a great way to get more while spending less.
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This NEW Google Pixel 3a smartphone takes amazing photos with its night sight, portrait mode and HDR+ camera. And it comes with a bonus—unlimited storage at high quality through Google photos! That means you can save every photo and never run out of storage space
Also comes with Google assistant that will screen your calls and help you get things done. Comes with your favorite Google apps built-in and a fast-charging battery with 7-hour life. The 64GB version beats our $400 mark, too!
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The Samsung Galaxy A50 just might be the extraordinarily affordable smartphone you’ve been looking for. It’s beautiful on every way.
This Galaxy A50 arrives unlocked by Samsung, so you can choose your carrier, data plan, services, features, and apps—set it up just the way you want it.
This very popular Samsung smartphone comes with a high-capacity, long-lasting, fast-charging battery. With 64GB, it comes in well under the $400 mark.
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While Motorola manufactures a lot of electronic parts including for smartphones, we’re not used to seeing its name on a smartphone of its own, but here it is Moto G7 Power. Amazingly it comes in under $200, which makes it a great option if you’re on a tight budget and or searching for a low-cost option for that young person in your life.
With its low price, Moto G7 Power comes with a reasonable 32GB, a fast-focus camera, 9-hour battery usage on a 15-minute charge and T-Mobile as the service provider. Reviews are great for this new smartphone, which makes us hope this is just the start for Motorola in the world of mobile phones.
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Xfinity is my internet and mobile provider. I have a new iPhone SE and love it! I used to have an Xfinity landline and was able to keep the same phone number when I dropped the landline and switched to an Xfinity mobile plan. The mobile plans are very reasonable, especially if you are an Xfinity customer for other services. Xfinity uses Verizon towers – the best reception in my experience.
I’ve been using Tracfone for years. I currently use a Samsung J7 Crown. I usually change cell phones every 2 years, and we’ll see how this phone goes, but if I can, I may stretch this one out to a third year. Tracfone uses Verizon. Verizon just bought Tracfone.
I bought a Moto G6 for travel to Canada (Tracfone cannot be used outside the US) and was very pleased with my purchase. It was purchased via Amazon. Motorola, BTW, manufactured and sold cell phones for a long time. The Motorola Razr was hugely popular at one time. Motorola was sold to Lenova about 6 years ago. I used Google Fi as my cell phone plan. Not as cheap as Tracfone but way cheaper than T-Mobile and Sprint.
I still have a “home” phone but it is no longer a landline. I switched from AT & T to Magic Jack.
Susan, thank you for posting an additional option. And, Mary for some of the options she posted too. There are still many of us that must function with landlines, at least at home. We came very close to being forced to end our current carrier relationship due to their new security rules that customer service didn’t know could be changed from text to email. Unfortunately, we are being forced to change phones for the third time due to tower changes that will no longer support our current phone.
These prices still are quite high considering that the phone is mostly used for emergencies while traveling. We don’t need, or have text although it seems many of the pandemic protocols seem to be unable to adjust to that fact, much less the absences of cell phone use in general.
Rest assured we are not alone in becoming more and more annoyed by companies that insist on using mobile phones. And, our resistance is not due to a fear of technology but rather a lack of coverage.
For example, we are unable to use Uber et al, or Chime simply because they rely on text! I’m sure there are others, and many more to come as security measures start to rely more and more on text. Who knew that in retirement we would be forced backwards in time, not just left behind!
Now if we could get some of the
I have some suggestions that might be worth checking out. I gave up my land line and went with Consumer Cellular but had to buy a phone from their website (they use the T-Mobile network). Then I learned more about prepaid MVNO mobile phone service plans. In 1918 I switched from Consumer Cellular to Tello (www.Tello.com) and pay only $14.40 / per month for unlimited talk, unlimited texts, and 2 GB data. They also have plans for $5 / month with no data! Unfortunately, I had to buy another cell phone that would work with Tello (Sprint network) so I went to Decluttr (www.Decluttr.com) to buy a refurbished cell phone under $200. I love my Samsung Galaxy S7 cell phone! They have GREAT bargains and ship for free. They BUY and SELL refurbished cell phones. I’m very happy with both and highly recommend Tello and Decluttr for saving money.
In 1918 … ? We know you mean 2018, Julie. Just struck me funny 🙂
I have been buying Tracfone for years from HSN for my daughter’s caregivers to clock in. The phones weren’t the best several years ago, but now they offer great phones. I just got the Moto G7 with 32G with the 1500 Talk/Text/Data and year of service on sale for $120. After the year is up, you can request Tracfone to unlock it so you can use it with another carrier. This came in handy when my other daughter ran over her phone with the lawnmower and she needed time to research which phone she wanted to purchase. I plan on using the G7 as my phone once this year is up and transfer it to Verizon.
The best buy I have found is on HSN/QVC. For under $100, you can get a smartphone, 1500 mins of talk, text and web with Tracfone, plus 1 yrs service, chargers, etc. I have been buying Samsung smartphones from them for years, great buy!! They run specials on occasion, $79.99 for the above!
Susan, I was just going to say that… you saved me the trouble!