If you happen to be in a hurry and want to know what we think is the best $400 smartphone currently available, you can quickly read the table below, but if you want more information on our best $400 smartphones, then I recommend you read their entries below or their reviews (where available) before making a purchase.
Editor's note: the prices highlighted in this article may vary depending on discounts offered by the manufacturers.
The best smartphones for under $400
| Editors choice | Apple pick | Samsung pick | Under $300 pick | RAM tip | Stylus tip | |
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| Product | Samsung Galaxy A53 | |||||
| Picture |
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| Display |
6.1-inch OLED, |
4.7 inch IPS LCD, |
6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 120 Hz Infinity-O display |
6.43-inch AMOLED 1080 x 2400 (~409 PPI) |
6.6-inch Super AMOLED |
6.8-inch IPS LCD, 1080 x 2400 (~387 PPI) |
| SoC | Google Tensor | Apple A15 Bionic | Exynos 1280 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G |
| Memory | 6 GB LPDDR5-6400 RAM 128 GB UFS 3.1 |
4 GB RAM | 64 / 128 / 256 GB Storage | 6/8 GB RAM and 128/256 GB Storage | 6 GB RAM | 128 GB Storage | 4 / 6 / 8 GB RAM | 128 GB Storage | 4 / 6 GB RAM | 128 / 256 GB Storage |
| microSD | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Software | Android 13 | iOS 15.6 | Android 12 mit Samsung UI 4.1 | Android 11 | One UI 4.0 based on Android 12 | Android 12 |
| Rear camera | Main camera: 12.2MP, f/1.7, OIS, AF Ultrawide: 12.2MP, f/2.2 |
Main Camera: 12MP, f/1.8, PDAF, OIS | Main camera: 64MP, f/1.8, OIS, AF Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2 Macro: 5MP, f/2.4 Depth: 5MP, f/2.4 |
Main camera: 64MP | f/1.8 Macro: 2MP | f/2.4 Depth: 2MP | f/2.4 |
Main camera: 48MP, f/1.8, PDAF Ultrawide: 8MP, f/2.2 Macro: 5MP, f/2.4 Depth: 5MP, f/2.4 |
Main camera: 48MP, f/1.7, PDAF Ultrawide: 8MP, f/2.2 Macro: 5MP, f/2.2 Depth: 2MP, f/2.4 |
| Front camera | 8MP, f/2.0 | 7MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.2 | Main: 16MP | f/2.4 | 20MP, f/2.2 | 16MP, f/2.0 |
| Battery |
4410 mAh |
2.018 mAh Fast charging at 20W Qi wireless charging |
5,000 mAh Quick charging at 25W |
4,500 mAh Fast charging at 33W |
5,000 mAh Fast charging at 15W |
5,000 mAh Charging at 10W |
| Connectivity | 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Typ-C, NFC, GPS | 5G, 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC with Apple Pay | 5G, LTE, WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Typ-C, NFC, GPS | 5G, LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 | 5G, LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC |
| IP certification | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 | - | - | - |
| Colors | Charcoal, Chalk and Sage | (PRODUCT)RED, Black, White | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Mint | Blue smoke | Prism Dot White, Prism Dot Gray, Prism Dot Black | Blue Haze, Grey Sierra |
| Dimensions and weight | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm, 178 g | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm, 144 g | 159,9 x 75,1 x 8,4 mm, 189 g | 159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm, 173 g | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm, 193 g | 158.9 x 73.2 x 8.25 mm, 189 g |
| Prices (MSRP) | $399.00 | $429.00 | $349.99 | $299.00 | $399.99 | $399 |
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| Rating | Google Pixel 6a - Go to review
The perfect Pixel! Head of content |
Apple iPhone SE (2022) - Go to review
More than meets the eye! Head of Editorial |
Samsung Galaxy A53 - Go to review
The Galaxy A53 seems like a processor upgrade over the A52 and A52 5G, with better performance and similar battery life. Writer |
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Buying guide: What you can expect from smartphones up to $400
In this section, we summarize what you can expect from smartphones up to 400 USD. Mid-range phones manage a really good balancing act between price and performance in 2022, but in the US, the price point sits awkwardly between the budget phones and the upper mid-rangers and low-end flagships.
Considerable concessions need to be made for this price point, like purchasing devices from older years or with weaker specs. Thankfully all of these devices (except the iPhone SE 2020) feature 5G, but cameras, performance, and design lack features of the slightly more expensive $500 price range, where you can find newer technology.
- 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, like the Snapdragon 480 by Qualcomm that was released over a year ago.
- Cameras: The megapixel craze has long since found its way into the mid-range as well. Models like the Samsung Galaxy A53 offer main cameras with 64 megapixels, but they do not automatically provide Galaxy 22 Ultra-level photos. Beyond that, the biggest flaw of the mid-range is usually found in the cameras: "Quad cameras" that cheat with superfluous macro and depth sensors, often with 2 or 5 megapixels and thus hardly usable results. But you have to make sacrifices somewhere - it is a pity that the telephoto camera usually has to take the fall.
- Battery & charging: The batteries in this price range are not only large (often in the range between 4,500 and 5,000 mAh), but charging in this price range is lackluster! Quick-charging with over 60 watts is something that comes with devices from OnePlus and Xiaomi that unfortunately do not bring their devices to the US! Here anything over 10W and 15W should be considered alright. Wireless charging at this price range is difficult to find.
- Display: In terms of display we can expect very good resolutions of HD and FHD+ but refresh rates are still at 60Hz, and OLED displays only come in some devices. Thankfully, this means that the brightness is quite good, with the top displays in this category being able to show HDR10+ content.
- Age and support: At this price point, it is imperative to be cautious for devices that are older than two years since their life-cycle will depend mostly on the software updates that they receive over the years. Most of those devices are expected to receive one or two Android updates from the one they shipped with, so Android 10 devices will be left behind after they get this year's Android 12.
- Carrier Compatibility: Something to always keep in mind when shopping in this price range is that not all devices will work with all carriers. Most of these devices are primarily made for GSM networks that are dominant outside of the US. So if you are using a CDMA operator, like Verizon, then you need to pay extra attention to this. Thankfully with 4G LTE and 5G connectivity, this is slowly becoming less of a problem.
Editors choice under $400: Google Pixel 6a
The Google Pixel 6a is available for purchase since July 21, 2022, but surprisely 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 2022.
On 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.
To the review of the Google Pixel 6a
The best smartphone under $400: Samsung Galaxy A53
Samsung is known to make the best displays in smartphones, and for this reason, it is the Galaxy A53 that we recommend to you in this category. Samsung's latest midranger shows you content on a brilliant 6.5-inch display with FHD+ resolution and a decent puch hole. The refresh rate of 120 hertz is as high as in the 5G version of the predecessor.
Besides the very good display, Samsung also scores with the longest update warranty for Android smartphones ever. If you buy the A53 in 2022, you can probably use it until 2027 thanks to five years of support for security updates. In addition, there are four major Android updates. All advantages and disadvantages of the A53 can be found in our detailed review.
To the review of the Samsung Galaxy A53
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 ocer the previous device. You get a 12MP camera inside a virtually similar casing with the iPhone SE 2022 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 at an affordable iPhone.
To the review of the Apple iPhone SE 2022
Best smartphone under $300: OnePlus Nord N20
For those looking to save a bit more money but won't settle (pun intended) with only 4G support, OnePlus offers the Nord N20 5G. The brand's mid-range model packs the Snapdragon 695 5G processor compatible with the major carriers (something that cannot be said about the Europe-spec Nords).
The Snapdragon 695 may not be the fastest SoC around, but it offers more than enough performance for daily tasks, at the same time it helps save battery. Speaking of which, the OnePlus Nord N20 not only supports up to 33W fast charging to top its 4500 mAh battery, but also includes the necessary charger on the box.
Other noteworthy features in the Nord N20 include an under-display fingerprint reader, expansible memory storage (something the category is abandoning), and a triple camera system led by a 64 megapixel sensor.
Best smartphone on RAM options under $400: Samsung Galaxy A42 5G
Samsung released the Galaxy A42 5G for the US market in November 2020. The phone, as evident from the name, is a 5G capable mid-range handset. The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G comes powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset and is offered in a great variety of RAM options: 4, 6 and 8 GB—coupled with 128GB of storage. Users so get the option to expand the storage further using a microSD card.
The camera setup on the Galaxy A42 5G includes a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The selfie camera is at 20MP. While the Super AMOLED display measures 6.6-inches across, it only supports HD+ resolution—something that would be unacceptable in any other smartphone market save the US. The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G gets a massive 5,000 mAh battery and it supports 15W fast charging as well.
Best smartphone with Stylus under $400: Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G
With the oddity of the sub-$400 market, nothing deserves the editor's choice position more than the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G. The device brings features similar to what the company used to offer about a decade ago. The Snapdragon 480 may not be on par with the Samsung A42 5G but comes ahead in other aspects. Firstly, you get 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, and the stylus is only something we find at super expensive devices like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The 2021 version of the phone also offers support for microSD cards. Like the other Motorola handset in this list, this phone also gets a humungous 6.8-inch display with FHD+ resolution. In that way, the Moto G Stylus 5G makes for a versatile handset that supports features like sketching and doodling with equally decent cameras.
As for the cameras, we're looking at a triple camera setup is a 48MP + 8MP + 2MB configuration with a 16MP front-facing camera. The battery capacity is 5,000 mAh, and the phone ships with a standard 10W charger in the box. So to conclude, the Moto G Stylus 5G may not be the best in any category but brings a balanced set of features and a novelty that is not found in smartphones anymore.
Alternatives to purchasing a more expensive smartphone
Getting a device with a plan, discounted or for free
Getting a device with financing is the easiest way to get yourself a good new device without breaking the bank. This is because carriers will go to great lengths to claim and maintain customers. Aside from the normal financing options that break in 24 or 36 installments (alongside an eligible plan), you can get a device either for a good discount when getting a new line in one of their plans or even completely free on some occasions. Here are some examples.
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.
These are used smartphones that have been checked and refurbished by reputable companies to ensure that they are in tip-top condition. Refurbished devices are particularly exciting to check out when they come with an extended warranty. This is how you protect yourself when picking one up just in case the handset gives up the ghost just a few weeks down the road.
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!
This article has been updated on October, 2022. Old comments have been maintained and may look out of context.
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