Best Cheap Phone of 2026: Get the Most Value for Your Money

We tested dozens of affordable phones, from he $114 Samsung Galaxy A03S to the $500 Google Pixel 8A and $700 OnePlus 13R. Here are the best cheap phones in 2026.

Mike Sorrentino is a Senior Editor for Mobile, covering phones, texting apps and smartwatches -- obsessing about how we can make the most of them. Mike also keeps an eye out on the movie and toy industry, and outside of work enjoys biking and pizza making.

Expertise Phones |Texting apps | iOS | Android | Smartwatches | Fitness trackers | Mobile accessories | Gaming phones | Budget phones | Toys | Star Wars | Marvel | Power Rangers | DC | Mobile accessibility | iMessage | WhatsApp | Signal | RCS

Lisa Eadicicco covered mobile devices. Prior to joining CNET, she served as a senior tech correspondent at Insider, reporting on Apple and the broader consumer tech industry. She was also a tech columnist for Time magazine and got her start as a staff writer for Laptop Mag ...