The cost of living crisis in 2022 has made paying month-to-month bills and purchasing things like a new mobile harder than ever before. On the off chance that your mobile needs a decent upgrade but you would rather not spend too much, this rundown is for you. Besides, for those headed back to school, you can find a budget mobile for your next few years of study at a fraction of the price.
If you already know which brand you need, you might find it easier to browse our lists of the best Android phones or best iPhones to find exactly what you’re looking for. In any case, let us guide you through our more affordable selections.
Take a look at the best cheap mobiles you can buy in 2022
1. APPLE IPHONE SE (2022)
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions & Weight: 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3mm / 148g
OS: iOS 13
Screen: 4.7 inches, 750 x 1334 pixels
CPU: Apple A13 Bionic, 3GB RAM
Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Battery: 2018mAh, 25W charging
Rear camera: Single: 12MP
Front camera: 7MP
REASONS TO BUY
+
Fast performance
+
Lower price point for Apple
REASONS TO AVOID
–
Average battery life
–
Dated design compared to flagships
2. ONEPLUS NORD CE 2
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions & Weight: 160.6 x 73.2 x 7.8mm / 173g
OS: Android 11 / Oxygen OS 11
Screen: 6.43 inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 900, 8GB RAM
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4500mAh, 65W fast-charging
Rear camera: Triple: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP
Front camera: 16MP
REASONS TO BUY
+
Excellent 6.43-inch FHD+ display
+
Long battery life and fast charging
+
Slim and compact design
REASONS TO AVOID
–
Average camera
–
Not waterproof
3. MOTO G31
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions & Weight: 161.9 x 73.9 x 8.6mm / 181g
OS: Android 11
Screen: 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels
CPU: MediaTek Helio G85, 4GB RAM
Storage: 64GB / 128GB
Battery: 5000mAh
Rear camera: Triple: 50MP + 8MP + 2MP
Front camera: 13MP
REASONS TO BUY
+
Very affordable price point
+
Impressive battery life
+
Vibrant display
REASONS TO AVOID
–
Display is 60Hz (older G30 was 90Hz)
–
Performance lags a little at times
4. SAMSUNG GALAXY A53 5G
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions & Weight: 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm, 189g
OS: Android 12, One UI 4.1
Screen: 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels
CPU: Samsung Exynos 12980, 6GB RAM
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 5,000mAh, 25W charging
Rear Cameras: Quad: 64MP + 12MP + 5MP + 5MP
Front Cameras: 32MP
REASONS TO BUY
+
6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, 120Hz
+
Fantastic three-lens rear camera
+
Astonishingly good battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
–
10x digital zoom is very grainy
–
Lacking in performance
5. OPPO FIND X5 LITE
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions & Weight: 160.6 x 73.2 x 7.8 mm, 173g
OS: Color OS 12
Screen: 6.43-inches, 2400x1080p
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 900, 8GB RAM
Storage: 256GB
Battery: 4,500mAh, 65W fast-charging
Rear camera: Triple: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP
Front camera: 32MP
REASONS TO BUY
+
6.43-inch FHD 90Hz screen
+
Long battery life and fast charging
+
Good camera system
REASONS TO AVOID
–
Limited zoom
–
Not waterproof