The 10 Hottest Budget Smartphones Of 2019

Device makers including Samsung, Google and Motorola launched an array of affordably priced new smartphones this year.

Hot Phones, Cool Prices

In the smartphone world, the concept of a "budget” smartphone is quickly being redefined. As smartphones have continued to get better, there are now a large number of affordably priced devices that closely resemble higher-end phones on design and performance. In the list that follows, just three of the smartphones are priced above $300. All of them having starting prices below $500. (Pricing reflects the current prices for unlocked versions.)

What follows is our roundup of the 10 hottest budget smartphones of 2019, ranked from highest to lowest price.

Get more of CRN's 2019 tech year in review.

Apple iPhone 8

Unlocked Price (Apple Store): $449

True, this isn't a "new" smartphone for 2019, but the budget pricing certainly is new for the iPhone 8. This fall, Apple announced that it would continue to offer the iPhone 8 but would make the smartphone available starting at $449, down from $599 previously (and $699 when it originally launched in 2017). The iPhone 8 features a 4.7-inch LCD Retina display with resolution of 1,334 x 750 and True Tone colors, Touch ID authentication, the six-core A11 Bionic processor and a 12-megapixel rear camera. On battery life, the iPhone 8 offers up to 12 hours of Internet use, according to Apple estimates.

Google Pixel 3a

Unlocked Price (Google Store): $399

Google's Pixel 3a differs from the Pixel 3a XL in just a few ways. The Pixel 3a comes with a 5.6-inch OLED display with resolution that is actually a bit higher than that of the Pixel 3a XL, at 2,220 x 1,080 (441 ppi). The battery is smaller on the Pixel 3a at 3,000 mAh, however. Otherwise, the Pixel 3a offers many of the same features as the larger model including on the camera, Call Screen capabilities, headphone jack and ability to trigger Google Assistant by squeezing.

Google Pixel 3a XL

Unlocked Price (Google Store): $479

Amid rising prices for premium smartphones, Google announced the launch of two new Pixel-branded smartphones this year that feature a lower price tag. The Pixel 3a XL offers the larger screen of the two, at 6 inches, with OLED display technology and resolution of 2,160 x 1,080 (402 pixels per inch ppi). The phone comes with a 3,700 mAh battery and is available in three colors (black, white and "purple-ish"). The Pixel 3a XL also comes with many of the key features of the higher-end Pixel devices, including camera capabilities such as Night Sight, Portrait Mode and Super Res Zoom; Call Screen (which automatically transcribes calls from unknown callers); and the ability to trigger the Google Assistant by squeezing the sides of the device. Notably, the Pixel 3a XL includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is omitted from the higher-end Pixels.

Motorola Moto G7

Unlocked Price (Motorola.com): $299.99

With the Moto series, Motorola has been making a name for itself as a provider of affordably priced smartphones that still boast premium features. That trend continues with the Moto G7, which offers a large display (6.2 inches) with strong resolution (FHD+, 403 ppi). The phone also includes a powerful camera with its 12-megapixel dual camera setup, which offers capabilities such as blurring and Google Lens. Meanwhile, the Moto G7 provides good performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor (octa-core) and 4 GB of RAM. Other specs include a 3,000 mAh battery (with fast-charging capabilities) and 64 GB of internal storage.

Motorola Moto G7 Power

Unlocked Price (Motorola.com): $249.99

Motorola's emphasis for the Moto G7 Power is on battery life. While the standard Moto G7 model offers a 3,000 mAh battery for "all-day" battery life, the Moto G7 Power goes up to a 5,000 mAh battery for up to 60 hours of battery life, according to Motorola. As on the G7, the G7 Power includes fast-charging "TurboPower" capabilities, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor and a 6.2-inch display. Where the phone differs—allowing the price to be even lower than that of the G7—is in areas such as RAM (3 GB on the G7 Power); display resolution, which is HD+ (270 ppi); internal storage, which is 32 GB; and the inclusion of a single, 12-megapixel rear camera.

Motorola One Hyper

Unlocked Price (Motorola.com): $399

For the Motorola One Hyper, the smartphone maker is targeting users who are looking for a powerful smartphone camera and large display with a minimal price tag. The Motorola One Hyper features a 64-megapixel rear camera with "laser autofocus" technology for fast focusing, as well as a 32-megapixel pop-up selfie camera (which is concealed behind the display and pops up when in use). The phone display measure 6.5 inches and offers FHD+ resolution, while the device is powered by an eight-core Qualcomm processor, the Snapdragon 675.

Nokia 2.2

Unlocked Price (Walmart.com): $139

As the most affordably priced smartphone on our list, the Nokia 2.2 offers just the basics in an Android phone. That means a 5.7-inch HD+ display, MediaTek Helio A22 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 3,000 mAh battery. The phone does include a 13-megapixel rear camera, however, as well as offering 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot supporting up to 400 GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy A20

Unlocked Price (Walmart.com): $249.99

Samsung still manages to offer a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display for the Galaxy A20, though the resolution is reduced to HD+. The Galaxy A20 sticks with the same battery size as the A50, at 4,000 mAh, but the phone sees a reduction in RAM (to 3 GB) and internal storage (to 32 GB). The device also offers the Exynos7904 processor and a dual camera (13 megapixels and 5 megapixels).

Samsung Galaxy A50

Unlocked Price (Walmart.com): $287

The Samsung Galaxy A50 is just a bit of a step down from the A70, with a still-sizable 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display (with FHD+ resolution). The A50 also offers a 4,000 mAh battery; a triple rear camera system (25 megapixels, 8 megapixels and 5 megapixels); 64 GB of internal storage; an in-display fingerprint reader; Exynos9610 processor; and 4 GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy A70

Unlocked Price (Walmart.com): $367

With the Galaxy A70, Samsung says it has introduced the largest display in the company's Galaxy A series line thus far—with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen featuring FHD+ resolution. The Galaxy A70 also doesn't skimp on the battery (4,500 mAH with fast-charging capabilities) or camera system, with a three-camera setup on the rear offering 32 megapixels, 8 megapixels and 5 megapixels. In terms of other specs and features, the phone provides a Qualcomm SM6150 processor and an on-screen fingerprint reader, along with a generous 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.