Best Smartphones Under $500 – September 2023


best smartphones

If you’re looking for a new smartphone, you might be overwhelmed by the number of options on the market. There are so many brands, models, features, and prices to choose from. How do you find the best smartphone for your needs and budget?

To help you out, we have compiled a list of the best smartphones under $500 that offer amazing value for money. These smartphones have premium features like powerful processors, stunning displays, impressive cameras, and long-lasting batteries. Read on to find out!

Best Smartphones Under $500

1. Redmi K60 Ultra

Starting with with the world’s most powerful Android smartphone – the Redmi K60 Ultra. The Redmi phone packs a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ processor that scores 1,77mln on AnTuTu, making it the fastest chip on the market. The phone also boasts up to 24 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage.

The display of the Redmi K60 Ultra is amazing, as it has a 6.67-inch pOLED screen with a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels and a refresh rate of 144 Hz. The screen also has an in-display fingerprint sensor and a hole-punch cutout for the 20MP front camera.

On the back, the Redmi phone has a triple camera system with a 50MP main camera with OIS, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP macro camera.

The Redmi K60 Ultra also features a big 5000mAh battery that supports 120W fast charging. It has an IR blaster and it’s the first Redmi smartphone to have IP68 rating.

2. iQOO Neo8 Pro

best smartphones under $500

The iQOO Neo8 Pro is another smartphone that features the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ processor. The phone then packs 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The screen of the iQOO Neo8 Pro is a 6.78-inch AMOLED with QHD resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate and 2160Hz PWM dimming.

The phone then comes with 50MP main camera with OIS and Pixel Shift and an 8MP ultra wide camera. For selfies, it has a 16MP front camera.

Finally, the iQOO Neo8 Pro packs a big 5000mAh battery that supports 120W fast charging and it has an IR blaster.

Best Smartphones Under $500

3. OnePlus Nord 3

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Next up, we have the recently launched OnePlus Nord 3 which can now be found for under $300. This device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, which offers fast performance and 5G connectivity. You can choose between 8GB or 16GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage space.

The OnePlus Nord 3 features a 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 1240 x 2772 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The OnePlus Nord 3 also has a remarkable camera system, with a triple rear camera setup that includes a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor. For selfies, there is a 16MP front-facing camera.

The OnePlus Nord 3 has a massive 5000mAh battery that can last for a day of heavy use. The battery also supports fast charging with the 80W wired charger.

4. POCO F5 Pro

best smartphones

Another smartphone that offers a lot of value for money is the POCO F5 Pro. This device has a Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 processor, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It also has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and a 480Hz touch sampling rate.

The POCO F5 Pro has a good camera setup, with a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera on the back. On the front, it has a 16MP selfie camera.

The POCO F5 Pro has a long-lasting battery, as it has a 5160mAh battery that can be charged with 67W fast charging or 30W wireless charging. The phone also has some additional features, such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and an IR blaster.

Best Smartphones Under $500

5. Nubia Z50

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Last but not least, you are looking for a gaming smartphone under $500, you might want to check out the Nubia Z50. This device runs on the very powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It also has up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage.

The Nubia Z50 features a stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with FHD+ resolution, a smooth 144Hz refresh rate and a high 480Hz touch sampling rate.

The Nubia Z50 also equips a dual rear camera setup that consists of a 64MP main sensor with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide sensor with AF. The front camera is a 16MP sensor with HDR.

Finally, he Nubia Z50 has a huge 5000mAh battery that supports 80W wired charging. It also has some extra features, such as a ring-LED flash, a fingerprint scanner under the display, and an IR blaster.

Check out our sub $300 list if you’re on a tighter budget!

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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