The best cheap Android phones

Enlarge / The camera bar returns but it's a lot shallower than the Pixel 6 version. (credit: Ron Amadeo)

So you want to buy a cheap Android phone, but you're overwhelmed by the countless options out there. Let us point you in the right direction.

First, though, you should figure out if you even want to buy a midrange or low-end phone. Getting a less-expensive device usually means giving up some features, like a higher-than-60 Hz display refresh rate, quick charging, mmWave 5G, and wireless charging. On the other hand, you won't be paying $1,000 for a top-of-the-line device.

You should pay close attention to the things some manufacturers skimp out on, like update plans, a decent camera, cutting-edge performance, NFC support, and support for newer versions of Wi-Fi.