Choosing a new smartphone can be tricky. There are way too many features to filter through. And after you know which features you want, you are presented with an ocean of phones that have them. It is one reason people take so long to decide which smartphone is the right choice for them. Fixing a budget can help narrow down your options further. Here are four affordable smartphones on the market.

Google Pixel 6a
Priced at just $450, the Google Pixel 6a is one of those phones that ticks more than a couple of boxes on your new-phone checklist. Powered with the Tensor chip, it is possibly one of the fastest budget smartphones on the market. Though its camera is not as great as the Pixel 6, it delivers great photos and videos. The phone comes with Google’s own theme of Android and the promise of five years of security updates. It has a 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED screen and a 4,400 mAh battery. Some features we wish the phone had are a better wireless signal, wireless charging, and a speedy fingerprint sensor. It is available in three colors. 

iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Back in 2016, Apple launched its first iPhone SE model. In 2022, they released a third-generation version of the phone. The current iPhone SE is available in three colors at a starting price of $429. It has all the traditional iPhone features you might miss out on with the newer ones; for instance, you can enjoy the conventional front button that doubles up as a fingerprint sensor. For comparison’s sake, imagine it to be an iPhone 8 with a better internal setup. iPhone SE is an excellent pick for people who want the quality, security, and performance of the latest phones but packed in a smaller build and body. 

Samsung Galaxy A53
The Samsung Galaxy A53 is an enchanting upgrade to the A52. The phone has a 1080-pixel 6.5-inch OLED screen that makes series binging a treat. You will find that the company has replaced the Snapdragon processor in its predecessor with the Exynos processor. Another difference is the headphone jack that has gone missing. The phone features Android 12 with OS version upgrades for four years and security patches for five years. With 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage space, the phone can last you for more than just a few years. And if you run out of storage, it can expand up to 1 TB using an SD card. The Galaxy A53 costs around $499.

Samsung Galaxy A03s
Another offering by Samsung in the budget-friendly range is the Samsung Galaxy A03s. The newer descendant of the Galaxy A02s is not much different than its predecessor. However, some noteworthy upgrades, like a fingerprint sensor on the power button, deserve mention. Although its 3 GB RAM might seem like a step down compared to other phones in the same range, it is a definite upgrade from the 2 GB RAM on the Galaxy A02s. You also get access to four years of OS upgrades every quarter. If you are on an old phone and want to stay within the budget of $200 for the upgrade, this one is a great option. However, you will have to make do with the absent headphone jack and purchase wireless earphones.