If you’re short on time and just want our top recommendation for a $400 smartphone, glance at the table below. For a more detailed insight into our top picks, continue reading the descriptions below or check out the available reviews before making your decision.
Editor’s note: the prices highlighted in this article may vary depending on discounts offered by the manufacturers.
The best smartphones under $400 in 2024
Editor’s choice under $400: Google Pixel 6a
The Google Pixel 6a has been available for purchase since July 21, 2022, but surprisingly the device can be found on Amazon for $399 with 128 GB. Packed with Google’s custom Tensor processor for better performance of Machine Learning-based features, the Pixel 6a seems to be the best option for those who want a more compact Google phone in 2024.
In my review of the device, it was already pretty clear that this phone was unbeatable among the smartphones under $400, even though it only offers one internal storage option and a 60 Hz refresh rate. More than that, the 6a is the most cost-effective smartphone out of the entire Pixel 6 series.
When it comes to the camera suite, the Pixel 6a offers a fairly basic module, but it doesn’t really lag behind the competition, given that Google’s big asset here is in the camera software. So you can be sure that the photos taken with the 6a will bear the Pixel series’ stamp of quality.
Good
- Premium smartphone performance
- Balanced image post-processing
- Optimum size
- Clean software
- Up to five years of updates
- IP67 certification
Bad
- Screen refresh rate of only 60 Hz
- Only one internal storage option
- No wireless charging support
A friendly tip: Consider checking the Google Pixel 7a (review) prices before making a purchase. The device might be available at a similar price on your preferred e-commerce platform.
Best iPhone under $400: Apple iPhone SE (2022)
As an Apple alternative, we recommend the iPhone SE (2022) without any second thought. Coming two years after the iPhone SE (2020), the new budget iPhone sports a powerful A15-bionic but sees little improvement over the previous device. You get a 12MP camera inside a virtually similar casing to the iPhone SE 2020 (and iPhone 8/7/6s) and IP67 resistance.
The real upgrade aside from the SoC (and the extra GB of RAM at 4GB) is the 5G connectivity, which makes the device finally capable of enjoying the latest connectivity technology like the rest of the sub-$400 devices you see in this list. We already tested the iPhone SE (2022) and, of course, it is a great solution for anyone looking for an affordable iPhone.
Good
- Insane performance level
- High-quality workmanship
- Surprisingly good photo and video performance
- Solid battery life that lasts up till late at night
Bad
- Display is simply outdated
- Too few camera functions
- Low storage space in the base model without expandable memory
- More expensive than predecessor at market launch
The best alternative under $400: Samsung Galaxy A35
For 2024, Samsung curiously opted not to offer its best-selling Galaxy A55 model in the US. In its place, the South Korean brand placed the cheaper A35 model as an alternative for the mid-range market.
Truth be told, both phones are very similar in terms of performance and specifications, with a well-rounded package in terms of cameras, software support, and battery life. The A35 inherits the Exynos 1380 chip used in our previous recommendation, the Galaxy A54, promising smooth performance for daily tasks and even some games.
On the software front, the Galaxy A35 is the phone on this list that will keep receiving security updates for longer, with Samsung promising patches until sometime in 2029. More recent phones are starting to promise even longer support, but none at this price range (yet).
Good
- Stylish and above all high-quality new look
- Solid performance in everyday use and in mobile games
- Useful cameras
- Up to five years of security updates
- Water and dust-proof
Bad
- Slow quick charging
- No wireless charging
- Cameras not well coordinated
The best battery life for less than $400: Nothing Phone (2a)
The Phone (2a) is Nothing’s latest affordable smartphone. It offers a well-balanced technical specification but stands out above all for its design, judged by my colleague Antoine Engels to be the best-looking mid-range smartphone of 2024.
The Phone (2a) offers a pleasant experience with its Nothing OS 2.5 interface and promises to be durable with its 3 Android updates promise and a 4-year policy on security updates. Performance is decent and stable, although the smartphone is not equipped with the latest Snapdragon SoC.
With its 5000 mAh battery supporting 45 W fast charging, the Phone (2a) is the autonomy champion in its price range. In our battery benchmark, the smartphone lasted an impressive 17 h 02. You can easily go two days without recharging your Phone (2a). It also offers the added advantage of recharging not too slowly.
The only real concession you’ll have to make, in my opinion, concerns the photo quality, which isn’t very convincing, especially at night. Apart from that, the Nothing Phone (2a) is a well-balanced mid-range smartphone with a beautiful screen, decent performance and, above all, remarkable battery life.
Good
- Beautiful OLED LTPO 120 Hz screen
- Almost unchanged but still very cool design
- Glyph interface a little less gimmicky
- Three Android updates + four years of security updates
- Excellent autonomy
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
Bad
- Average photo quality
- IP54 certified only
- Aggressive thermal clamping
- No charger included
Best phone with Stylus under $400: Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
Motorola offers many options in this price range—some might argue too many—but a standout is the Moto G Stylus line. It brings some productivity features of the Galaxy Note family to a broader market.
Despite not launching a 4G model in 2024, Motorola kept the “5G” moniker on the full model name. The specifications are broadly similar to the previous generation, though, with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chip running the show and a surprisingly large 8 GB of RAM.
The 2024 model fixes one of the issues we had with the previous model, which only offered 8 megapixels on the ultra-wide camera. Now, your landscape and wide vistas can have 13 megapixels of resolution for better image capture and maybe even some printing action.
In conclusion, while the Moto G Stylus 5G might not excel in every category, it offers a balanced set of features and a uniqueness not commonly seen in today’s smartphones.
Buying guide: What you can expect from smartphones up to $400
In this section, we outline what smartphones under $400 offer in 2024. While mid-range phones provide a decent balance of price and performance, in the US, this price sits between budget models and high-end mid-rangers.
At this price, you might find older devices or ones with lesser specs. Though most have 5G, they may lag in camera, performance, and design compared to the $600 range with newer tech.
- Power and performance: Investing in a sub-$400 device will at least guarantee that the SoC can tackle the most recent games. Here, you should expect SoC’s that are at least one to two years old and offer good performance for daily tasks.
- Cameras: In the mid-range, models like the Samsung Galaxy A35 have 50-megapixel main cameras, but don’t match the Galaxy Ultra’s photo quality. The primary issue in this range is with the cameras, especially “Quad cameras” that use low-quality macro and depth sensors. Unfortunately, the telephoto camera often gets compromised.
- Battery & charging: Batteries in this price range are typically between 4,500 and 5,000 mAh, but charging speeds are subpar. Devices from Honor and Xiaomi offer over 60W fast-charging, but they aren’t available in the US. Here, 10W to 15W is decent. Wireless charging is rare at this price point.
- Display: In terms of display, we can expect FullHD+ screens with high refresh rates (except for Apple), and OLED displays are getting increasingly popular, with nice color reproduction and impressive contrast levels.
- Age and support: At this price, be wary of devices older than two years due to limited software updates. Most will receive only one or two updates beyond their initial OS. Hence, Android 10 devices will become outdated after the launch of Android 14 in 2023, for example.
- Carrier compatibility: In this price range, not all devices are compatible with every carrier. Many are designed for GSM networks, common outside the US. If you’re on a CDMA network like Verizon, ensure compatibility. However, with 4G LTE and 5G, this issue is diminishing.
Alternatives to purchasing a more expensive smartphone
Getting a device with a plan, discounted or free
Financing a device is an affordable way to obtain a new one, as carriers offer incentives to attract and retain customers. Typically, payments are broken into 24 or 36 installments with an eligible plan. Additionally, discounts or even free devices are available when starting a new plan.
Refurbished and used smartphones
If removing the protective film for the first time on your new device does not cause you to jump for joy, you can pick up more expensive smartphones from the second-hand or refurbished market. It is particularly advisable to use devices that carry a refurbished guarantee.
Refurbished smartphones are inspected and restored by trusted companies to ensure quality. They’re especially appealing when accompanied by an extended warranty, offering protection against potential issues shortly after purchase.
What do you think of this selection? Which models do you think we have forgotten and which deserve to be included? Do you find the advice sections and our testing process useful? What do you think of this new format? We look forward to your feedback!
