If you’re looking for a great phone that won’t break the bank, you’re in luck, because there are some amazing devices that offer premium features for less than $500. Let’s take a look at the best smartphones in this price range!
Best Smartphones Under $500
1. Redmi K60 Ultra
Let’s start the list with the Redmi K60 Ultra launched a couple days back. The K60 Ultra is currently the most powerful Android smartphone in the world thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ processor (1,77mln on AnTuTu). The phone also comes with up to 24 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage.
The Redmi K60 Ultra sports a stunning display, which is a 6.67-inch pOLED screen with a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels and a refresh rate of 144 Hz. The display also has a fingerprint sensor under it and a punch-hole cutout for the 20MP selfie camera.
Additionally, the Redmi phone features a triple rear camera setup with a main 50MP camera with OIS, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP macro camera.
The Redmi K60 Ultra has a large 5000 mAh battery that can be charged quickly with 120W fast charging. It also has an IR emitter and it’s the first Redmi smartphone to feature IP68 rating, which means it is dust and water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
2. iQOO Neo8 Pro
Next we have the iQOO Neo8 Pro which also comes with powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ processor, though it lets less performance out of it. The chip is paired with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The iQOO Neo8 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with QHD resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate and 2160Hz PWM dimming.
The device also has a remarkable camera system. It has a 50MP main camera with OIS and Pixel Shift and an 8MP ultra wide camera for capturing more of the surroundings. For selfies, it has a 16MP front camera.
The iQOO Neo8 Pro packs a large 5000mAh battery that supports 120W fast charging and it has an IR emitter.
Best Smartphones Under $500
3. POCO F5 Pro
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Next, we have the POCO F5 Pro, a budget-friendly smartphone that delivers high performance and quality. The POCO phone is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 chip, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It also has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and a 480Hz touch sampling rate.
The camera department of the POCO F5 Pro includes a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens on the rear. On the front, it has a 16MP selfie camera.
The battery life of the POCO F5 Pro is also impressive as it has a 5160mAh battery that can be charged with 67W fast charging or 30W wireless charging. The phone also has some extra features, such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and an IR blaster.
Best Smartphones Under $500
4. Google Pixel 7a 
The Google Pixel 7a is a great choice for pure Android enthusiasts. The smartphone features the powerful Google Tensor G2 processor, along with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The Google device then sports a 6.1-inch OLED screen with Full HD+ resolution, a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and a fast 240Hz touch sampling rate.
The Pixel 7a also excels in photography as it has a 64MP Sony IMX800 main sensor with OIS, and a 13MP ultra wide angle sensor. The front camera is a 13MP sensor with a 20mm (ultrawide) lens.
Finally, the smart packs a 4385mAh battery that supports 18W wired charging and 7.5W wireless charging. It also has an infrared emitter.
Best Smartphones Under $500
5. Vivo S17 Pro
Last but not least, another excellent option for under $500 is the Vivo S17 Pro. The smartphone runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor, along with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage space.
The Vivo S17 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate.
The camera department of the Vivo S17 Pro is also impressive, with a dual rear camera setup that consists of a 50MP main sensor and a 12MP telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom. On the front, there is a 50MP selfie camera.
The Vivo S17 Pro has a large 4600mAh battery that can last for a whole day of moderate use. The battery also supports fast charging with the 80W wired charger.
Check out our sub $300 list if you’re on a tighter budget!
