Best Phones for $500 or Less from 2017
Author: Xavier Green
Over the past decade, we have seen the how phones have transformed to ultimately be easier to use and also to be more convenient in the palm of our hands. Although we love having the latest gadgets in our hands every year, the fact is that they are not always affordable. The largest phone carriers Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are the first to get the best phones like the iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S8, Google Pixel 2, and the LG G6, while the same phones are not offered on prepaid services like Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and Simple Mobile. Instead, the prepaid carriers get cheap imitations of the best phones. Unless customers want to sign long contracts and enroll in extended payments to cover the phone and the bill, then they choose to go with a prepaid carrier and end up not getting a quality phone. In recent years, a little has changed. The prepaid carriers get the better phones, but they get them nearly a year or so later after the major carriers.
Although the best phones are always the most expensive and they are released later to prepaid customers, there are quite a few quality phones that are just as good that go under the radar for both customers of the large phone carriers and prepaid customers; we’re going to call them budget phones. The better phones on the larger carriers are always $600 and up, but the phones listed are great as well. Customers can get some of the best phones released within the past year just before the holiday season for $500 or less for both large carriers and prepaid.
Top Phones for $500 or Less
#5: Motorola Moto Z Play
Price: $340
Screen Size: 5.5", 1080x1920px
Build: Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Main camera: 16mp
RAM/Processor/Storage: 3GB RAM/ QUalcomm Snapdragon 625/ 32GB internal storage, plus microSD slot expandable up to 256GB
Battery: 3510 mAh
OS: Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), 7.1.1 (Nougat), planned upgrade to 8.0 (Oreo)
Carrier(s:) AT&T, T-Mobile, and other GSM networks
Colors: Black, Silver, Black Slate, White, Fine Gold, Sugar White
Special Features:
- Fast Charging
- 50 Hour Battery
- Fingerprint Sensor
- Water repellent
- Unlocked
#4: LG G6
Price: $500
Screen Size: 5.7", 1440x2880px Quad HD
Build: Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Main camera: Dual camera, 13mp, 125-degree wide-angle lens
RAM/Processor/Storage: 4GB RAM/ Qualcomm Snapdragon 821/ 128GB internal storage, plus microSD slot expandable up to 256GB
Battery: 3300 mAh
OS: Android 7.0 (Nougat)
Carriers: All major carriers
Colors: Mystic white, Astro Black, Ice Platinum, Terra Gold, Marine Blue
Special Features:
- Rounded corners
- Narrow bezels
- Gesture Shot
- Auto Shot
- IP68 Water resistance, up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes
- Dolby Vision
- FullVision Display
#3: Huawei Mate 9
Price: $400
Screen Size: 5.9", 1080x1920px
Build: Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Main camera: Dual camera, 20MP Monochrome+12MP RGB, F2.2
RAM/Processor/Storage: 4GB RAM/ Hisilicon Kirin 960/ 64GB internal storage, plus microSD slot expandable up to 256GB
Battery: 4000 mAh
OS: Android 7.0 (Nougat), planned upgrade to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Carriers: All major carriers
Colors: Agate Red, Topaz Blue, Space Gray, Moonlight Silver, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown, Ceramic White, Black, Obsidian Black
Special Features:
- Rear fingerprint sensor
- Fast charging
- Long lasting battery life
- USB-C
- 4K video
- Loud stereo speaker
- Unlocked
#2: Essential PH-1
Price: $449
Screen Size: 5.71", 1312x2560px Quad HD
Build: Titanium frame, ceramic back, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Main camera: Dual camera, 12mp
RAM/Processor/Storage: 4GB RAM/ Qualcomm Snapdragon 835/ 128GB internal storage
Battery: 3040 mAh
OS: Android 7.1 (Nougat), planned upgrade to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Carriers: Sprint
Colors: Stellar Gray, Ocean Depths, Black Moon, Pure White
Special Features:
- Rear fingerprint sensor
- Fast charging
- USB-C
- 360-degree camera (add on)
- Durable to sustain drops
- Small bezels, full display
- IP54 Water & dust resistant
#1: OnePlus 5T
Most people are not phone crazy. Most people just want a phone that works well and is reasonably priced. Most people also are not power users that will need the most cutting-edge display or camera tech. OnePlus makes superb phone for these users, because their phones are just about the perfect combination of value and new-enough tech. They’re not priced as high as an Apple or Samsung or even Huawei and LG, but they’re usually more powerful and usable than cheaper budget devices from Xiaomi or any of LG’s and Samsung’s “mid-tier” lines. In boxing, the terms “pound for pound” and “so-and-so is the best fighter on earth” are heard often?. Well, OnePlus phones have been, dollar for dollar, the best phones on earth.
Price: $500
Screen Size: 6.01", 1080x2160 pixels
Build: Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Camera: Dual camera, 16 mp(f/1.7, 27mm, 1/2.8", 1.12 µm, gyro EIS) + 20 mp(f/1.7, 27mm, 1/2.8", 1 µm), 16mp secondary camera
RAM/Storage: 6GB RAM Snapdragon 835/ 64GB internal storage
Battery: 3300 mAh
OS: Android 7.1.1 (Nougat)
Carriers: AT&T/Cricket Wireless & T-Mobile/Metro PCS
Colors: Midnight Black
Special Features:
- Rear fingerprint sensor
- Dash charging; 35-minutes of charging gets it to 65% battery life
- Dual SIM for connection up to 35 networks while traveling
- USB-C
- 4K video
- Dirac HD sound
- Dual LED flash
Top Budget Phones for 2017
#5: Nokia 6
Price: $230
Screen Size: 5.5", 1080x1920px Full HD
Build: Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Main camera: 16 MP (f/2.0, 1.0 µm), phase detection autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama, HDR
RAM/Processor/Storage: 4GB RAM/ Qualcomm Snapdragon 430/ 32GB internal storage, 64GB internal storage (Arte Black)
Battery: 3000 mAh
OS: Android 7.1.1 (Nougat), planned upgrade to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Carriers: All GSM networks; AT&T and T-Mobile
Colors: Matte Black, Tempered Blue, Silver, Copper (32GB) and Arte Black (64GB)
Special Features:
- Front fingerprint sensor
- Stereo speakers
- Dolby Atmos sound enhancement
- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
#4: ZTE Blade V8 Pro
Price: $200
Screen Size: 5.5", 1080x1920px Full HD
Build: Metal frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Main camera: Dual camera, 13 MP, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, Auto-HDR
RAM/Processor/Storage: 3GB RAM/ Qualcomm Snapdragon 625/ 32GB of internal storage, plus microSD slot expandable up to 256GB
Battery: 3140 mAh
OS: Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
Carriers: All GSM networks
Colors: Black
Special Features:
- Front fingerprint sensor
- Fast charging
- USB-C
- Dolby audio support and a dedicated HiFi audio chipset
- Dual SIM
- NFC
#3: Sony Xperia XA1
Price: $300
Screen Size: 5", 720x1281px HD
Build: Aluminum frame, plastic back, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Main camera: 23mp, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR, panorama
RAM/Processor/Storage: 3GB RAM/ MT6757 Helio P20/ 32GB internal storage, plus microSD slot expandable up to 256GB
Battery: 2300mAh
OS: Android 7.0 (Nougat), planned upgrade to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Carriers: All major carriers
Colors: White, Black, Gold, Pink
Special Features:
- Fast charging
- USB-C
- Advanced battery saving modes
- Bezel-less sides
#2: Motorola Moto G5 Plus
Price: $230 (32GB) or $300 (64GB)
Screen Size: 5.5", 1080x1920px Full HD
Build: Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Main camera: Dual camera, 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama, auto-HDR
RAM/Processor/Storage: 4GB RAM/ Qualcomm Snapdragon 625/ 32GB internal storage or 64GB internal storage
Battery: 3000 mAh
OS: Android 7.1 (Nougat), planned upgrade to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Carriers: Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and other GSM networks
Colors: Lunar Gray, Fine Gold
Special Features:
- Front fingerprint sensor that also acts as a cursor for easier swiping
- Fast charging
- Loud speaker and active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
- Splash resistant
- 8mp wide-angle selfie camera
#1: Apple iPhone SE
Yes, Apple tops the list for budget phones. Many my be surprised, but Apple actually released a phone that’s not worth an entire paycheck. This phone was actually released in 2016, but since it’s the only iOS, it just had to be added. Most people may want the latest iPhone 8 or iPhone X, but truthfully, of course they’re both very expensive. The iPhone SE is not only a budget phone, but it’s the #1 budget phone because although it only has a 4" screen size, its performance matches that of the iPhone 6S. So if someone who is a fan of the 6s but did not get the chance to buy it when it came out, this may be their chance to grab a “miniature 6s” and save a lot more money. Also, the iPhone SE records 4K video, uses Touch ID, and it has a HEADPHONE JACK! It is also available for activation with some prepaid carriers like Boost Mobile for a lower price. The iPhone SE may not be the best for mass users, but it is the perfect holiday gift for a teen or for someone who just wants a quality phone at a low cost.
Price: $350 (32GB on major carrier), $450(128GB on major carrier), $160(32GB on prepaid carrier), and $260(128GB on prepaid carrier)
Screen Size: 4", 640x1136 pixels HD
Build: Aluminum frame
Main camera: 12mp, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash, Geo-tagging, simultaneous 4K video and 8MP image recording, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama)
RAM/Processor/Storage: 2GB RAM/ Apple A9/ 32GB or 128GB internal storage
Battery: 1624 mAh Li-Po
OS: iOS 9.3.2, upgradable to iOS 11.1
Carriers: All major and prepaid carriers
Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
Special Features:
- Front fingerprint sensor
- iCloud Photo Library
- FaceTime HD camera
- Live Photos
- Touch ID
- Headphone jack
With 10 phones to choose from, all $500 or less, customers will definitely be able to treat themselves or a loved one to a great phone this holiday season. Many retailers may even offer lower discounts to some of these phones if they are in surplus in order to sell out and make more room to promote the newer phones. These phones definitely give customers a choice for saving more money. Customers can also get great underrated phones that are capable of performing at similar levels to that of their larger counterparts.
