At this point in time, you just don’t need a flagship to get a good everyday Android experience. With initiatives like Android One, Android Go, and Google’s own step into the affordable market, Google has made mid-range and even low-range devices even more usable and enticing than ever. With so many options littering the market nowadays, it’s hard to tell which devices are even worth your time — and money. Let’s dig through and get to know some of the best affordable Android phones you can buy as of November 2024.
BEST AFFORDABLE ANDROID PHONES – November 2024
New for November:
- Pixel 7a
- Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Pixel 8a or Pixel 8
- OnePlus 12R
- Fairphone 5
Google Pixel 7a
Not the latest, but full of features at a great price point
Despite being over 12 months old at this stage of 2024, one of the defacto affordable Androids is still hanging around because it offers a small, accessible form factor tailored for anyone looking to get the best of the Pixel series without breaking the bank. Yes, it’s older, but it’s still worth a look.
We all know just how good previous A-series phones have been given their respective asking prices, but the 7a was the biggest step up. It offered high-end functionality and a bump in camera quality. Throw in the improved 5-year update cycle, and Google was really cooking with the Pixel 7a.
As for the specifications, the Google Pixel 7a measures in at 6-inches and has a 90Hz FHD+ OLED display at 1080 by 2340 pixels in a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. There is a punch-hole notch in the upper left, and this has the highest screen-to-body ratio of any Pixel to date.
Inside, the 7a comes with the one-flagship Tensor G2 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 4,385mAh battery. It was the first affordable Pixel to come with the updated 64MP main sensor, which is paired with a 13MP ultra-wide at the rear. The selfie camera is rated at 13MP.
The design is based on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, with the iconic camera bar downsized and made from a cheaper material. The in-display fingerprint scanner and software-based Face Unlock have also made the jump down the totem. Despite its age, this is a very premium A-series Pixel.
Why it’s still one of the best affordable Android phones you can buy today:
It’s tough to quantify what makes an “experience” but the Pixel 7a offers an experience that belies its price-tag. You can get Android 15 and it will soon be eligible for any upcoming Android 16 Developer Previews and Beta updates — something that many sub-$500 smartphones aer unlikely to get for a long time to come.
Like its predecessors, the Google Pixel 7a’s camera setup is more consistent than much of the competition at the same price point. If you value simple point-and-shoot photography, the 7a remains one of the best bang for your buck devices you can buy.
Where to buy the Google Pixel 7a:
Google kept the device around, and as it’s a year old, there are substantial discounts on the Pixel 7a. The updated retail price is listed at $499, but you can get the Pixel 7a for a much cheaper, unlocked for $329.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Clean Android at a palatable price
After a blockbuster start, Nothing is beginning to churn out competent Android smartphones with impressive specs and affordable compromises. The latest device to do so is the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, which is, for all intents and purposes, just a bigger Nothing Phone (2a).
Even so, it’s a remix of a solid package, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus doesn’t scrimp on the good stuff while offering a truly unique transparent backplate design. For those who missed previous announcements, it offers a 120Hz 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a hole-punch camera cutout, a 50MP selfie camera, dual 50MP + 50MP ultrawide rear camera system, 256GB of storage, 8/12GB of RAM, a 5,000 mAh battery, and Android 14 with Android 15 coming very soon.
This is one of the few smartphones to come with a MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chip, which is an upgraded version of the processor used in the Nothing 2a. For most people, this is going to be more than enough to do just about everything they need on a day-to-day basis with a little overhead for more intensive tasks.
You get all of the best portions of the similarly solid Nothing Phone 2 but at a lower price-point. Overall it’s a modest step up, but a great option if you want an Android phone that keeps the UI alterations lightweight and the hardware plays a core part in the package.
Where to buy Nothing Phone (2a) Plus:
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is available for $399 direct from Nothing.tech or Amazon. However, your mileage may vary with this affordable Android phone in North American markets. Some LTE and 5G bands may not work well with your carrier, so check the bands before even considering this device.
OnePlus 12R
All the bells and whistles without breaking the bank
The OnePlus 12R is arguably not that affordable, but it manages to strike an excellent balance if your budget it not set in stone. The important flagship specs to make the phone as fast as you could ever need are matched by sensible compromises to keep the Android device affordable.
In raw specifications, the OnePlus 12R is a truly incredible package thanks to the usage of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which, although not the most powerful, still keeps up with many flagship contenders. So, to summarize, it packs in last year’s best Snapdragon chip, 8, 12, or 16GB of RAM, plus 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. This is substantially better than almost all 2024 mid-rangers and is probably one of the best spec sheets on a phone for most people out there.
With a retail price of just $499, yes, that spec sheet that destroys the Pixel 8a can be had for less. In essence, the 12R is basically the OnePlus 11 without Hasselblad tuning, which makes it a premium device at a lower price than you are used to. The entire package even manages to exceed some handsets that cost twice as much.
Running through the stats, the OnePlus 12R comes with a superb 6.7-inch, 1264×2780 pixel display with a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This is one of the best screens within its price bracket and has an impressive 1600 nit max luminance level.
The camera is one of the few downsides, but it packs in a competent 50MP main sensor, 8MP ultrawide, plus 2MP macro lens. The selfie camera isn’t the best at 16MP.
Why it’s one of the best overall Android phones you can buy:
While the OnePlus 12R is — in some cases — double the entry price of many other budget devices on this list, it includes some serious hardware that will only increase longevity and ensure everyday performance remains fluid and consistent. That means that in the long run, you’ll potential save money by upgrading your phone less.
You’ll get 3 years of software support, clean design, a beautiful screen, a big battery, and it doesn’t break the bank. OnePlus has offered some very impressive hardware this year and the OnePlus 12R is no exception.
Where to buy OnePlus 12R:
There are lots of places to get the OnePlus 12R, but it is just $429 right now at Amazon – making it one of the best bang for your buck Android phones on the market today.
Pixel 8 / Pixel 8a
The best of 2023, but now at a lower price-tag
It’s hard to choose between the Pixel 8 and 8a when you’re looking at affordable Android phones. This duo share 95% of the same DNA but with some minor tweaks to help separate their respective target price segments.
The Pixel 8a is a tough sell at the base $499 asking price as the Pixel 8 has more in the tank for just $100 more. However, these handsets have been on sale for a little while and the release of the Pixel 9 has decreased the cost significantly.
You’re getting all of last year’s best hardware, including 120Hz displays, the more approachable bubbly aesthetic, plus the incredibly 7-year update promise thrown in. The displays are the same size and the software is also indentical. The Pixel 9 does get a slightly better 50MP main camera, but the 64MP main sensor on the 8a is very impressive.
Spec highlights include 120Hz FHD+ OLEDs, Tensor G3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage. There are some deviations as the Pixel 8 comes with a larger 4,575mAh battery with 27W charging, plus IP68 rating. The 8a has IP67 water and dust resistance plus 4,492mAh battery with 18W charging.
Why they are incredible affordable Google Pixel phones:
Very few Android phones can provide the same cohesive experience and update promptness of the Google Pixel series. The camera quality on offer will undoubtedly be second-to-none within the sub-$500 price bracket, too, without needing to stack in unnecessary additions such as macro lenses or enhanced zoom options.
The Pixel 9 is newer and comes with many upgrades. However, it has a higher entry price, and the “core” experience is almost identical. If you can stomach the higher pricing, it might offer more of what you want.
Where to buy the Pixel 8 and 8a:
The Pixel 8 is the better buy for most people and can be grabbed either directly from the Google Store at an overpriced $699 or at bigger discounts on stores like Amazon for just $499. The 8a retail price at the Google Store is also slightly high at $499, but can be purchased from Best Buy, Amazon, and more for as low as $399.
THE BEST AFFORDABLE ‘SUSTAINABLE’ ANDROIDS
Fairphone 5
A higher-end sequel to the Fairphone 4, the Fairphone 5 might not be considered the most “affordable” Android phone on this list with a retail price €579. However, this is one of the very best (and few) sustainable phones you can buy right now.
Unlike the previous generations, the internals are a substantial leap in terms of performance and prominence. The unibody design definitely looks more premium but none of the modularity is lost here.
Measuring 6.4-inches, the Fairphone 5 uses the Qualcomm QCM6490 processor, 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128/256GB of internal storage that can even be expanded via microSD card. The removable battery has a 3,905mAh capacity and can be charged at speeds up to 20W. NFC is also included for wireless payments, while security is provided via a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Fairphone has shrunk the bezels on the device removed the dewdrop notch and improved the panel. The FHD+ screen now AMOLED rather than LCD and is clocked at 90Hz. One slight sore point is the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, but this means that an IP55 rating is present for protection against splashes and minor water ingress. It manages this even with its removable backplate!
The rear camera is another area where big strides and upgrades have been made on the Fairphone 5. A 50MP main sensor is paired with a 50MP ultra-wide while a 50MP selfie camera is found in the dewdrop notch on the display. Fairphone says that the main rear camera also includes OIS for smooth video recording at up to 4K in 30fps.
In terms of software, the Fairphone 5 shipswith Android 13 but has been promised Android 14 and up to 5 major Android updates within its lifetime. This could mean that Fairphone’s flagship smartphone for 2028 will be supported all the way up to Android 18 – something many phones sold today will never see officially. While this isn’t guaranteed, Fairphone does have a good track record with previous devices.
The downside is that the Fairphone 5 is tough to get outside of European markets. It can be pricey at sites like Amazon due to import fees. In Europe it’s available at a more modest €549 for the 6/128GB model, and €629 for the 8/256GB model.
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