Best Android Phones Under $400 (July 2021)

Best
Android telephones beneath $400
Android Central
2021

Best general Android telephone beneath $400: Google Pixel 4a

The Pixel 3a from 2019 stood out as probably the most perfect Android values for smartly over a 12 months, and to fill its spectacular sneakers, now we have the Pixel 4a. Google took what labored in regards to the 3a, stored it in position, and added a couple of enhancements to make the Pixel 4a as fully-featured as imaginable — all whilst promoting the Pixel 4a for lower than what the 3a value.

As with every Pixel telephone, the most efficient factor in regards to the Pixel 4a is its digicam. The 12.2MP unmarried rear digicam no doubt is not spectacular on paper, however it is remarkable in precise use. Photos are detailed, colours are super, and low-light images is a work of cake. As we stated in our Pixel 4a assessment, that is a type of telephones that you’ll whip from your pocket, press the shutter button with out an excessive amount of concept, and get a great-looking photograph each and every unmarried time.

Whilst the digicam is no doubt the primary draw to the Pixel 4a, it has many different issues going for it, too. The AMOLED show seems to be great; you’ll simply get via a complete day on a unmarried rate, the 128GB of garage could be very beneficiant, and also you get a blank construct of Android 10 that is sponsored through 3 years of assured updates.

There is not any denying simply how excellent of a telephone the Pixel 4a is, however we additionally perceive if it’s kind of more cash than you have been hoping to spend. Alternatively, in case you are looking to stay prices even decrease, you owe it to your self to imagine the TCL 20S. Fingers down, it has one of the crucial perfect specifications and contours you can in finding on this worth bracket.

For starters, the TCL 20S has a very good show. It is a 6.67-inch Complete HD+ LCD panel, with its secret weapon being TCL’s NXTVISION generation. This permits for a sharper symbol and extra colourful colours, growing a good canvas for video games, motion pictures, and extra. The internals for the TCL 20S are simply as super, with the telephone providing excellent efficiency, 128GB of expandable garage, and a big 5,000 mAh battery. Its 64MP major sensor dramatically improves the 48MP shooter at the 10L, and the 20S is assured to get up to date to Android 12.

We are satisfied that the TCL 20S comprises an NFC chip, which permits for contactless Google Pay bills, and you’ll additionally summon the Google Assistant by the use of a devoted key. It’s to be had in two beautiful colours, North Famous person Blue and Milky Means Black.

As 5G networks keep growing international, the generation may be beginning to make its method into ever extra reasonably priced telephones. As an example, the OnePlus Nord N200 5G isn’t just probably the most least expensive 5G-enabled telephones we’ve got ever noticed, however additionally it is probably the most perfect telephones you’ll purchase for only $400.

To begin with, the N200 5G stocks the similar design language because the a lot more dear OnePlus 9 collection and continues OnePlus’s custom of lovely blue gradient finishes. It can be made from plastic, however you’ll by no means are aware of it, because of the coloring and matte texture at the again. The display is a complete HD+ LCD with a 90Hz refresh price, and it even comes with NFC for contactless bills and 18W speedy charging (despite the fact that now not OnePlus’s Warp Charging). You additionally get a quick and responsive side-mounted fingerprint sensor and three.5mm headphone jack, despite the fact that you lose out at the alert slider on higher-end OnePlus units.

By means of a long way, the most efficient factor this telephone has going for it’s its 5G connectivity for this kind of low worth. That and the construct will have to make this telephone final a very long time for your hand, despite the fact that it’s restricted to at least one primary Android platform replace.

Just like the 7.2, the Nokia 5.4 gives a blank model of Android with nearly no bloatware and a promise of 2 years of tool updates, together with 3 years of per month safety patches. Whilst in no way probably the most tough or feature-packed telephone in this checklist, it’s greater than able to dealing with maximum of your day-to-day duties, from internet surfing to social media to video intake.

The massive improve from its predecessor, the Nokia 5.3, is in its cameras. The principle sensor made a large leap from 13MP within the 5.3 to 48MP within the 5.4. As well as, Nokia’s AI and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 permit for a quick digicam app revel in, with excellent colours and cinematic video recording.

The opposite 3 cameras did not seem to modify a lot from the 5.3, a minimum of on paper. You continue to get a 2MP intensity digicam, a 2MP macro digicam, a 5MP ultra-wide digicam, and a 16MP selfie digicam. You’ll take or depart the 2MP shooters, however our trying out discovered the 5MP ultra-wide very usable. On occasion the pictures could seem just a little washed out, however that used to be not anything {that a} elementary touchup in Google Pictures could not repair. All in all, we have been very happy with those cameras — particularly for the cost!

Motorola’s Moto G telephones ceaselessly constitute one of the crucial perfect values the Android panorama has to supply, and that is the reason no other with the Moto G Energy (2020). The G Energy used to be considered one of 3 Moto G telephones introduced within the U.S. in 2020, and it simply sticks out as the most efficient of the most efficient from the lineup.

The Moto G Energy (2020) impresses with its lengthy battery existence proper out of the gate. Thank you to an enormous 5,000 mAh battery, the Moto G Energy (2020) will get as much as 3 days of use on a unmarried rate. That is probably the greatest battery existence you’ll in finding on a telephone at the moment, making the Moto G Energy (2020) a very good selection if staying power is a peak precedence for you.

There are many different spaces wherein the G Energy stands tall, together with its speedy efficiency, triple rear cameras, blank tool, and the presence of a three.5mm headphone jack. The loss of NFC is a bummer, as is Motorola’s coverage of handiest handing over one primary tool replace, however they are now not sufficient to decrease the whole package deal.

Moto launched an up to date 2021 model of the Moto G Energy (2020), however in maximum respects, we see it as a downgrade to the 2020 model and are sticking with our unique pick out right here, for now. The Moto G Energy (2021) has a lesser processor and lesser display, it prices the similar, and it additionally nonetheless ships with Android 10.

Samsung’s Galaxy S collection will get probably the most buzz and a focus because the go-to lineup of Galaxy telephones, however they are a long way from the one ones the corporate makes. If you are desperate to get your palms on a formidable and putting Samsung handset with out going broke, take a look at the Galaxy A52.

As we famous in our Galaxy A52 assessment, this telephone has as regards to the whole thing you have to ask for, beginning with the design and show. Whilst it’s created from plastic, the strong construct high quality and beautiful colorways make the A52 feel and look like a a lot more dear telephone. Additional contributing to that is the 6.5-inch AMOLED show with a 90Hz refresh price. It is huge, colourful, and gives super visibility in direct daylight. It is even higher, paired with slender bezels (excluding for a small chin on the backside) and a small hole-punch cutout for the selfie digicam. The Galaxy A52 additionally delivers speedy efficiency, a big 4,500 mAh battery, and 4 rear cameras that may take very good pictures.

You’ll in finding the A52 for smartly beneath $400 at the moment, which makes it a really perfect high-end funds telephone. There may be a 5G variant to be had, however this is priced nearer to $500. Notice that this model underneath is a global variant. It will have to paintings simply superb on GSM networks like T-Mobile and AT&T, however now not on CDMA carriers like Verizon.

Talking of global telephones, we would like to focus on that some other one is not formally to be had within the U.S. in any capability. Now we have lengthy been fanatics of the Redmi Notice collection. The ten Professional is solely the most recent in that line. It is some other remarkable piece of tech that delivers a beautiful revel in at a fair higher worth.

Having a look on the spec sheet, so much goes for the Notice 10 Professional. The telephone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of garage, and a 5,050 mAh battery — even larger than the only discovered at the Moto G Energy. It additionally has a big 6.67-inch AMOLED with slender bezels, together with 4 cameras at the again.

Very similar to the Galaxy A52, the Redmi Notice 10 Professional has an identical global quirks. Now not handiest does it lack a U.S. guaranty, however Xiaomi’s customized Android interface additionally takes some being used to. Plus, the tool handiest works on GSM networks, so you are out of good fortune in case you are on Verizon. Assuming you are superb with the ones issues, then again, that is one heck of a deal.

Base line

The sub-$400 marketplace is each extraordinarily aggressive and just a little complicated, however there have by no means been extra choices on this worth level probably the greatest Android telephones readily to be had. The Google Pixel 4a obviously sticks out as the most efficient imaginable worth for the cash beneath $400 as a result of it is according to the similar ideas as Google’s higher-end Pixels. That suggests it has the similar tool, options, and digicam because the Pixel 4, however at a substantial bargain.

Positive it is made from plastic, and the display is not as great, however at this worth level, you are expecting the ones shortcomings. Alternatively, relating to the revel in of the use of the telephone on a day by day foundation, the ones lacking specifications and contours fade away, and also you revel in Google’s implausible tool and flagship-level digicam.