Top 10 Best Smartphones Under $500

Smartphones Under $500 – The best smartphones under $500 use the advanced CPUs and run the latest software, and some even offer features like nearly bezel-less displays, and facial recognition unlocks the system. Some of these smartphones also excel in flagship smartphones when it comes to stuff like RAM capability and software customization selections.

Smartphone makers are attempting to defeat one another by trying to add new, superior specs to their flagship smartphones, but these devices are not reasonably useful. Not everyone requires Face ID unlock, Animoji or iris scanning security? Some of us need a reliable, budget smartphone. Plus, not all of us can or requires spending around $1000 on something we’ll trade in after two years or so.

Although they cost less than their premium rivals, mid-range smartphones often highlight the identical (or comparable) specifications. For these people, there’s a boundary of options from genuinely standard $250 phones to more powerful mid-range smartphones that can be grabbed for around $500.

What you will miss, however, is flagship features like pressure-sensitive home buttons, depth-sensing camera setup and slow-motion video recording at maximum frame rates than other phones. Those can be exciting to have, but you’re going to miss them. All discussed you’ll discover the best $500 smartphones on our listing of Best Smartphones Under 500 Dollars.

Best Smartphones Under $500 List

Samsung Galaxy S8

PROS:

  • Awesome display
  • A phone that feels like the future
  • Stunning camera
  • Innovative design
  • Waterproof

CONS:

  • Awfully placed fingerprint sensor
  • Bixby is a tad slow

Last year the Samsung Galaxy S8 fell into a territory of $ 400 to $ 500. In the United States, you can buy the unlocked United States version and the bells and whistles, so we recommend you take a look at this phone.. It has a super AMOLED screen, one of the best cameras available and many wireless features in addition to the Samsung Experience interface.

The phone is equipped with a 5.8-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2960 pixels at a PPI of 570 pixels per inch. The Galaxy S8 is powered by a 1.9 GHz octa-core processor and comes with 4 GB of RAM. The phone contains 64 GB of internal memory expandable up to 256 GB through a microSD card. As for the cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S8 comes with a 12-megapixel main camera on the back and an 8-megapixel camera for selfies.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 works with Android 7.0 and is powered by a non-removable 3000 mAh battery. The device measures 148.90 x 68.10 x 8.00 and weighs 155 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G, and 4G. The sensors of the phone include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a gyroscope.

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OnePlus 6

PROS:

  • A huge leap in design
  • Seriously fast
  • Dash Charge is still great
  • Decent UI

CONS:

  • The camera still needs improvement
  • Missing a few ‘flagship’ features

OnePlus was one of the companies that popularized the concept of a “peak of $ 500,” and although the company has slowly and consistently increased prices, the new OnePlus 6 is still an incredibly affordable offer. You get the OnePlus 6 with its sleek glass and metal design, the powerful Snapdragon 845 system chip, a dual camera that in most conditions can match the best camera phones and a fast and reliable charging system than other phones.

The OnePlus 6 has a 6.2-inch Full-HD and works with Android 8.1 Oreo and is powered by a non-removable 3300 mAh battery. The phone measures 155.70 x 75.40 x 7.75 and weighs 177 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, 3G, and 4G. The device’s sensors include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a gyroscope.

All this makes the OnePlus 6 a phone that is still the first device that comes to mind when we talk about “affordable flagship.” The list of negatives is short, but the OnePlus 6 is still not a perfect phone: no full water protection, wireless charging, and navigation system are impractical. Overall, this is one of the best smartphones under $500.

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LG V30+

PROS:

  • Slick and lightweight design
  • Smooth, responsive performance
  • Excellent rear cameras
  • Quad DAC delivers phenomenal wired audio quality

CONS:

  • The glass back prone to scratches
  • Average selfie camera

The LG V30 + is a single piece of glass accented by a metal frame. Again, the V30 + does not give you the first impression of being a sturdy phone. It has this delicate tactile surface that will reaffirm your decision to put a case on. This is a drawback of having a glass on a smartphone. While you have a nice device in hand, the chances of it slipping and falling on the floor have increased.

The phone is equipped with a 6.00-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2880 pixels. The phone comes with an 8 GHz 1.9 GHz Snapdragon 835 processor and comes with 4 GB of RAM. The phone contains 128 GB of internal memory expandable up to 200 GB via a microSD card. As for the cameras, the LG V30 + includes a 16-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.

LG V30 + works with Android 7.1.2 and is powered by a non-removable 3300 mAh battery. The device measures 151.70 x 75.40 x 7.30 and weighs 158 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, headphones, 3G and 4G. The phone sensors include the proximity sensor, accelerometer, fingerprint sensor, and ambient light sensor.

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Asus ZenFone 5Z

best smartphones under $500

PROS:

  • Gorgeous design
  • Incredible performance
  • Well-executed AI features
  • Great value for money
  • Decent camera

CONS:

  • Sizeable notch
  • No water resistance
  • No wireless charging

Of course, ASUS is looking for OnePlus with its marketing materials that make endless references to OnePlus 6. This is because ZenFone 5Z shares the same hardware as OnePlus 6 – it is powered by a Snapdragon 845 and comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage space.

The phone has a 6.20-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 pixels to 2246 pixels and is powered by an 845 Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core processor and comes with 6/8 GB of RAM. The phone contains 64/128/256 GB of internal memory expandable through a microSD card. As for the cameras, the Asus ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL) includes a primary camera of 12 megapixels in the back and one of 8 megapixels for selfies.

The Asus ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL) works with Android 8.0 and is backed by a 3300mAh. The Zenfone 5Z measures 153.00 x 75.65 x 7.70 and weighs 165 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, 3G, and 4G. The sensors of the phone include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, and barometer.

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Moto Z3 Play

PROS:

  • Good display
  • Strong performance
  • Great battery life
  • Simple, uncluttered software
  • Moto Mods can be handy

CONS:

  • The ugly, thick camera bump
  • Average camera
  • Uninspiring design

If you want to have a smartphone with long battery life, Moto Z3 Play is probably one of the best choices. It is not precisely the original battery sample, but it is not too far away. Now it’s even slimmer and sleeker, the Z2 Play runs on Android 8.1 Oreo and features the Moto cover with no space that works quickly and completely. Moto Z2 Play also supports Moto Mods, such as a magnetic cover that can add even more battery life.

The phone comes with a 6.01-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The Moto Z3 Play is equipped with a 1.8 GHz octa-core processor and comes with 4 GB of RAM. The phone contains 32 GB of internal memory expandable up to 200 GB via a microSD card. As for the cameras, the Moto Z3 Play includes a 12-megapixel main camera on the back and an 8-megapixel camera for selfies.

Moto Z3 Play works with Android 8.1 Oreo and is powered by 3000 mAh. Size 156.50 x 76.50 x 6.75 and weighs 156 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G, and 4G. The sensors of the device include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a gyroscope.

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Honor 10

best smartphones under $500

PROS:

  • Exquisite design
  • Insane value for money
  • Powerful hardware

CONS:

  • Ugly looking notch
  • Not rated for water resistance
  • No OIS

Well, just like the P20, the Honor 10 is equipped with a glass-covered back that moves its colors to an angle, introducing the so-called “Aurora” technology of the “radiant color” glass coating to the Honor line, but only in the Phantom Blue and Green color options. The carved front with a 5.8 “FHD + display is also here, as is the Kirin 970 processor along with 4GB RAM and 64 / 128GB configurations.

The high-quality dual camera (16MP RGB + 24MP monochrome) configuration is different from the P20. However, it has f / 1.8 aperture, PDAF (phase detection autofocus) as well as scene recognition with AI source and light stabilization Image. There is a 24-megapixel selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture housed in the notch and a fingerprint sensor inserted into the house key.

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Honor 10 runs on Android 8.1 and is backed by a 3400mAh. The phone measures 149.60 x 71.20 x 7.70 and weighs 153 grams. Honor 10 is a dual SIM smartphone that supports Nano-SIM and Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, 3G, and 4G. The sensors of the device include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a gyroscope.

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Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus

PROS:

  • Great AMOLED panel
  • Much better value
  • Water resistance
  • Decent camera
  • Samsung Pay

CONS:

  • Hardware isn’t the fastest
  • UI is still laggy

In all respects, the Galaxy A8 +, like its predecessors, is a flagship. It comes with appointments, but it is a great phone in many ways. Face up, the Galaxy A8 + is much like the Google Pixel 2 XL. The 18: 9 screen and the surrounding frame seem almost identical. That said, the phone follows Samsung’s glass and metal design language.

The phone is equipped with a 6.00-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 2220 pixels. The Galaxy A8 + is powered by a 1.6 GHz octa-core processor and comes with 4 GB of RAM. The phone contains 32 GB of internal memory expandable up to 256 GB through a microSD card. As for the cameras, the smartphones come with a 16-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 16-megapixel front-end camera for selfies.

The Samsung Galaxy A8 + works with Android 7.1.1 and is backed by a 3500mAh. The phone measures 159.90 x 75.70 x 8.30 and weighs 191 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and NFC. The sensors of the device include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and barometer.

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OnePlus 5T

best smartphones under $500

PROS:

  • Great design and build
  • Flagship performance at half of its price
  • Fast Face unlock

CONS:

  • Still runs Nougat
  • ‘Only’ Full HD resolution
  • No microSD card slot

The OnePlus 5T, as the name suggests, is not a brand new phone but an incremental upgrade to OnePlus 5. The only significant change to the OnePus 5T is the display, with the laptop featuring a 6.01-inch AMOLED Full HD panel with an aspect ratio of 18: 9 that follows this year’s trend of elongated screens on the iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the LG V30.

The phone is equipped with a 6.01-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels with a PPI of 401. The OnePlus 5T is equipped with a 2.45 GHz octa-core processor and comes with 6 GB of RAM. The phone contains 64 GB of internal memory that can not be expanded. As for the cameras, the OnePlus 5T comes with a 16-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 16-megapixel camera for selfies.

The OnePlus 5T works with Android 7.1.1 and is powered by a non-removable 3300 mAh battery. Size 156.10 x 75.00 x 7.30 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 162.00 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, 3G, and 4G. The sensors of the device include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a gyroscope.

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LG G6

PROS:

  • Great display
  • Unique wide-angle camera
  • Eye-catching look

CONS:

  • Old hardware
  • The camera isn’t a huge improvement

With the LG G6, the modular design of the LG G5 was in favor of a more traditional phone, which draws more elements from the best laptops, mixed to make the phone more prosaic (but still intriguing). The G6 is a much more refined design than its predecessor, taking the form factor of a sealed device that loses the removable battery, replacing it with a large battery and waterproof housing.

The phone has a 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 1440 by 2880 pixels at 564 pixels per inch. LG G6 is equipped with 4 GB of RAM. The phone contains 32 GB of internal memory expandable to 2000 GB via a microSD card. As for the cameras, the LG G6 includes a 13-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.

The LG G6 works with Android 7.0 and is powered by a non-removable 3300 mAh battery. It measures 148.90 x 71.90 x 7.90 and weighs 163 grams. The LG G6 is a single SIM (GSM) smartphone that supports a Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, 3G, and 4G. The sensors include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a gyroscope.

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Honor View 10

smartphones under $500

PROS:

  • Great value
  • Good screen
  • Long battery life

CONS:

  • Slightly loose camera exposure metering
  • Non-stabilized camera
  • No water resistance

The Honor View 10 is similar to many other phones. There is only a thin border strip around the screen; like its rivals, Honor pressed for less wasted space. It’s almost the only way to make a phone with a 6-inch screen that does not require extra-large pockets. However, Honor did not try to hide the small pieces of surround. They are ultra-bright blue in the model we reviewed, with the look of the excellent Honor 9 from last year.

The phone is equipped with a 5.99-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 2160 pixels at a PPI of 403. The Huawei Honor View 10 is provided with a 1.8 GHz octa-core processor and comes with 6 GB of RAM. The phone contains 128 GB of internal memory expandable up to 256 GB through a microSD card. As for the cameras, the Huawei Honor View 10 includes a 16-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 13-megapixel camera for selfies.

Huawei Honor View 10 works with Android 8.0 and is powered by a non-removable 3750 mAh battery. Measure 157.00 x 74.98 x 6.97 and weighs 172 grams. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, infrared, USB OTG, 3G, and 4G. The sensors include a compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a gyroscope.

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Final Words

This list of Best Smartphones Under $500 is often renewed according to the required products that land in the store and did well when tested. What do you think? Which phone would you like to see in our listing? What is the best smartphone according to you? Let us know your views on this Best Smartphones Under $500 list by commenting below.

Best Smartphones Under $500 Comparison Table

Best Smartphones Under $500
Name Rank Rating
Samsung Galaxy S8 1st 9.5 out of 10
OnePlus 6 2nd 9.4 out of 10
LG V30+ 3rd 9.3 out of 10
Asus ZenFone 5Z 4th 9.3 out of 10
Moto Z3 Play 5th 9.2 out of 10
Honor 10 6th 9.2 out of 10
Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus 7th 9.1 out of 10
OnePlus 5T 8th 9.1 out of 10
LG G6 9th 9.0 out of 10
Honor View 10 10th 8.9 out of 10