If you are looking for the best 5G phones under $400 here we have rounded up a list of the best budget-friendly phones you can buy without breaking the bank.
From impressive camera features to fast performance, these devices prove that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a high-quality smartphone. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just looking for a reliable device, there’s something for everyone on our list.
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Best 5G Phones under $400 in 2025
1. Google Pixel 8A
Google’s latest mid-range phone boasts a whopping seven years of software support and a bunch of minor upgrades, including Google’s speedy Tensor G3 processor, a 120Hz display, and a bunch of new AI features.
Google offers some very good high-end phones in the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL, but the company’s budget phones are the most reasonable. For $500, the Pixel 8A offers much of what makes its more expensive siblings great, but costs about half as much.
The Pixel 7A is still available, but the 8A gets one big upgrade over its predecessor: seven years of OS and security updates. If you’re a longtime user of a device, this is a big upgrade, especially in the budget segment where other phones only offer one or two platform upgrades.
The 8A is also Google’s first budget phone with a 120Hz display, making scrolling and animations look incredibly smooth. It also comes with wireless charging and IP67 water resistance.
The camera system is solid, but it’s the area where Google had to compromise to keep the price down. It’s a great camera overall, but upgrading to one of the latest Pixel models brings improved low-light performance, an updated ultra-wide camera, and a host of AI-driven features.
2. Nothing Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus
If you live in the US you’ll need to join Nothing’s developer program. Once approved (even if you’re not a developer), you’ll be sent a purchase link to buy the phone. This also applies to the latest Phone (2a) Plus, which costs $399 and is nearly identical.
The most attractive 5G phone under $400, aided by the fun Glyph LED lighting system on the back. The lights can blink when you get a notification or set a timer to visualize the end of the day.
You can customize how they work. The attention to design details translates into software, making it unique and really fun to use. A rare feature on a budget device.
Design aside, the Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s incredibly smooth, sharp, and bright. The 5,000mAh battery cell is big enough to last you more than a day with average use (I used it for two days).
Performance was no problem at all, but here you have to choose between the Phone (2a) and the (2a) Plus. The cheaper model has the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset, while the Plus has the Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G, which offers a slight boost in graphics, in particular. Both models were almost lag-free, even when running multiple apps simultaneously.
I used the (2a) while covering a large trade show in another country and had no issues. However, if you plan on playing a lot of games, the Plus model is the better option.
The main camera is adequate. It handles white balance well, but some detail can be lost, especially in nighttime environments. Some low-light photos can look flat, and the HDR capabilities aren’t amazing. Still, it’s under $399. The Phone (2a) Plus upgrades the selfie camera to 50MP, which is noticeably better, so there’s another reason to do so.
Nothing promises three Android OS upgrades and four years of security updates like OnePlus does. Unfortunately, there’s no wireless charging, no headphone jack, and water resistance is limited to IP54 (though it’ll be fine if you get caught in the rain). Oh, and the network experience can be a bit lackluster, too.
That’s not to say the handset will work perfectly on T-Mobile, but the Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus don’t support Verizon and AT&T’s 5G bands. I used it on AT&T, though, and had no issues connecting to 5G, so this may vary by region.
3. OnePlus 12R
The OnePlus 12R has a great screen and a top-notch processor that makes it feel much more expensive than its $400 price tag suggests.
The OnePlus 12R costs $500, but it may make you think it costs twice as much. It has a very large and very nice screen, and the refresh rate can be reduced from 120Hz to 1Hz, giving you a smooth scrolling experience when you need it and saving battery life when you don’t. It’s a rare feature on a phone priced under $800.
The 12R sports a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is a generation behind the 8 Gen 3, the latest processor of 2024. But the 8 Gen 2 is still powerful. It’s hard to throw anything at this phone that it can’t handle.
On the less-than-stellar note, the 12R has an IP64 rating, meaning it’s water-resistant like the Pixel 8A, but not completely submersible.
Fast charging is a OnePlus trademark, and the 12R stays true to the brand with fast wired charging of up to 80W in the US (up to 100W elsewhere). That’s great if you want to charge your phone on a more compressed schedule during the morning rather than at night.
Personally, I’d prefer the slower wired charging if I could get wireless charging, which the 12R doesn’t have. This is again what the Pixel 8A offers, but that’s where the 12R shines. You know what it is and what it isn’t. If you’re looking for a budget phone with a big, high-quality screen and great performance, the 12R is it.
4. Motorola Razr (2023)
The Razr (2023) has finally dropped to $400, and frankly, that’s an incredible price for a foldable phone. There’s no large external screen on this model. The small display here is only useful for checking the time, a few notifications, and the weather.
The hinge mechanism also doesn’t feel great when opening and closing (it’s a little noisy). But open it all the way and you’ll get a fully functional 6.9-inch smartphone with an OLED 144Hz panel and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset that delivers excellent performance. Close it and this phone will fit in almost any pocket. It’s really small!
There’s a 4,200mAh battery here that should last you a full day with average use, but heavy users will probably want to carry a power bank. At the very least, you get amenities like wireless charging and NFC for contactless payments.
Just know that the camera isn’t that great, and that Motorola is promising two OS upgrades (Android 16) and three more years of security updates.
5. Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
The Galaxy A35 5G has a 6.6-inch OLED panel, a solid IP67 dust and water resistance rating, and a best-in-class, robust software update policy.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G offers surprisingly powerful specs for its $399 price. It’s a feature you won’t really notice from the outside, but it’s worth noting that the IP67 rating for dust and water resistance is particularly important.
Unlike every other phone in this price range, the A35 5G is built to be submerged in water, so you won’t have to sweat if your phone gets dropped in a toilet or puddle.
Here’s another not-so-exciting spec: four years of OS updates and five years of security updates. That’s not the best in the budget category (the Pixel 8A takes that honor with seven years of updates), but it’s a lot better than the two or three years you typically see on 5G phones under $400.
The camera is washed out. It’s fine in bright light, but struggles in dark and mixed indoor lighting. It doesn’t have the most powerful processing power you’ll find under $400, and the Samsung-made Exynos processor occasionally stutters when switching between tasks quickly.
I had a real scare when I accidentally texted my husband one of my auto-generated replies because it popped out at the last minute when I was trying to tap something else. That doesn’t happen when everything loads so quickly.
But overall, it’s a compelling package, especially with its large, crowd-pleasing OLED display and solid battery life. If you’re a casual user and not fussy about camera quality, the A35 5G offers a few upgrades that will make a real difference in the long run.
6. iPhone SE (2022)
The 2022 iPhone SE is Apple’s most affordable phone, but its tiny 4.7-inch screen can feel cramped these days and difficult to use in an era where apps and web pages are designed to fit on larger screens.
If you have a budget of $400 and are looking for a new iPhone, the choice is easy. The 2022 iPhone SE is the only new iPhone under $400. It’s the cheapest way to enter the iOS ecosystem and will do its job, but anyone considering the SE would highly recommend spending a little more on the iPhone 14, which currently costs $599.
The important thing to know about the SE is that it comes with a very small and very old 4.7-inch screen. It’s the same size as the iPhone 6, and it’s starting to feel cramped in an era where apps and web pages are designed for larger screens.
The SE’s large bezels make the device look dated, but the usability of its small screen will be a bigger factor in the coming years.
It has IP67 water resistance and wireless charging, which are rare in this price range, and it uses an older 12-megapixel camera, but it takes very nice photos and high-quality video clips. The camera lacks a night mode, which is a strange omission.
7. Motorola Moto G 5G Power (2024)
Motorola’s Moto G Power 5G 2024 looks and performs better than you’d expect for less than $300 phone. It has a vegan leather back that feels more premium than the typical plastic on budget phones. The 6.7-inch LCD screen is large and clear, with a refresh rate of 120Hz, and I didn’t feel like it was lacking in maximum brightness even on a sunny day.
Inside is MediaTek’s Dimensity 7020 chipset with 8GB of RAM, and while there are a few stutters here and there, the phone’s operation is quite smooth. I’ve had it for almost a month now and overall I found it to be fast and sufficient.
As for the battery, this thin phone has a 5,000mAh cell, and with average use it usually lasted a full day, with a little more for the next day. Surprisingly, it supports wireless charging, which is a rarity in this price range, and I like the convenience of not having to fumble around for a cable.
There’s also NFC support, so you can make contactless payments. Motorola has been notorious for blocking NFC on its Moto G phones in the US for years, but that’s no longer the case with this model. You’ll also be happy to know that the Moto G Power has a headphone jack and runs the latest version of Android 14.
The camera isn’t great, but this handset can take decent photos, even in low light. The biggest flaw, though, is Motorola’s software policy. The Moto G Power 5G 2024 will only get one Android OS upgrade and three years of security updates.
That means when Android 15 comes out later this year (or early 2025), that’s it. At least security flaws will remain patched for a while. Oh, and this phone comes with a lot of pre-installed bloatware. Fortunately, a lot of it can be removed or disabled.
8. Google Pixel 6A
Google’s Pixel 6A comes with a relatively small 6.1-inch OLED screen, but it delivers great performance with a good camera and battery life.
The Pixel 6A probably won’t last long. Announced in 2022, Google no longer sells new ones, and with the Pixel 8A out the door, it’s now two generations behind.
But the 6A is still available from third-party retailers like Amazon, and if you can get it for $300, it’s a great deal. With another OS upgrade coming, and three more years of security updates, that’s a decent return on your investment.
The phone’s biggest asset is its Tensor, the custom chipset Google used in its 2021 flagships, the 6 and 6 Pro. Not only will it deliver great overall performance right now, but it also means the 6A will last for years to come.
It’s expected to receive security patches until at least July 2027. The 6A also has an IP67 water resistance rating, so it’s still a good choice overall if you want a budget phone that’s built to last.
The 6.1-inch 1080p OLED on the 6A offers a standard 60Hz refresh rate. That’s not all that impressive for a phone that originally retailed for $449, but for under $400, it’s one of the best screens you can get.
Unfortunately, the fingerprint sensor under the display is also a bit slow. It’s not unusable, but it’s noticeably slower than the best fingerprint sensors on the market.
The 6A uses the same 12-megapixel standard wide camera as many previous Pixel phones, and it’s still a very good camera, especially for a mid-range phone. The phone’s 4,410mAh battery is on the small side, but overall battery performance is better than its size would suggest.
Do I need a 5G phone?
5G is the current generation of cellular networks, and it’s widespread, so you’ll need to stick with a phone that supports it. It won’t completely replace 4G LTE, so you’ll see 5G in your status bar when you’re out and about. You can read more about it here , but in short, 5G comes in two main flavors: sub-6 and millimeter wave (mmWave).
The latter is usually only available on flagship phones and gives you access to super-fast speeds, while you’ll rarely encounter mmWave (think: some areas of major cities and specific locations like stadiums and airports).
Sub-6 isn’t much faster than 4G LTE, but it offers better range and greater accessibility. Most of the smartphones we recommend here support sub-6 5G, even the cheaper ones that cost around $200.
