5 Best Android Phones Under $400

Thanks to the commoditization of smartphones, buyers looking for an affordable handset can get their money’s worth without breaking the bank. But, with so many options to choose from, you might be wondering about the best Android phones under $400.

Well, fret not, as we’ve scoured the interwebs and have come up with five compelling Android phones that will not leave budget buyers wanting more. The options that follow offer good-quality displays, capable camera arrays, and snappy processors. We’ve listed the pros, and the cons of each smartphone to aid you in your buying decision further.

But first, you might also want to read about the following topics-

• Do you dislike charging a pair of TWS earbuds every other day? You should get the top USB-C earbuds for Android smartphones.
• Do you drive to work often? You should get a PopSocket mount for your car to dock your Android smartphone.
• Most smartphones ship with a capable camera array. As such, you should get a smartphone gimbal if you plan to record vlogs with your phone.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the best Android smartphones on a budget.

1. TCL 40XL 2023

For starters, the smartphone comes with a big, 6.75-inch LCD display that refreshes at 90Hz. As such, the screen will appear much more fluid and smooth than what you’d experience with, say, a competing Android handset with a 60Hz panel. Additionally, despite its wallet-friendly MRP, the smartphone ships with a USB Type-C connector at the bottom. Moreover, the 40XL 2023 comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which, when paired with the handset’s HD+ display, should offer good battery backup.

In terms of performance, the TCL 40XL 2023 will not set any benchmarks on fire. That said, the smartphone’s Helio G37 SoC should suffice for casual usage, which includes sending emails or conversing with family and peers on social media apps. Speaking of which, the phone comes with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage. As such, you can download all your favorite apps without running out of storage.

We should add that the phone boots Android 13 and ships with a 50MP primary camera. Do note that the TCL 40XL 2023 is not a 5G smartphone. As such, you will have to contend with 4G LTE services when using the phone.

2. Moto G Power 5G

The Dimensity 930 SoC is a powerful octa-core processor that rivals Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 chipset in terms of performance. As such, not only can you run your favorite apps, but you can also enjoy casual gaming on the Moto G Power 5G. That’s not all, as the smartphone comes with a 6.5-inch Full HD display that refreshes at 120Hz! Now, the difference between a 90Hz and a 120Hz screen isn’t night and day.

That said, it is noticeable, and rest assured, you’ll revel in browsing through web pages and your social media feeds on the Moto G Power’s display. Moving on, the smartphone ships with a 50MP primary camera, which works in conjunction with a 16MP selfie camera. Per folks over at PCMag, the smartphone’s main camera clicks decent photos, especially in ideal lighting conditions. Furthermore, the smartphone features oodles of storage and comes with 256GB of built-in memory.

That said, you can expand the storage further via a microSD card. As for the battery backup, the Moto G Power 5G’s 5,000mAh battery should comfortably last a full day off a single charge. If anything, the smartphone ships with a 10W charger, which is a bummer as it can actually utilize up to 15W wired charging speeds.

3. Google Pixel 6a

Starting with the design, the Google Pixel 6a is the most compact phone on the list. To that end, the handset ships with a 6.1-inch OLED display and tips the scales at just 178 grams. Note that although the back of the phone is made out of plastic, the smartphone feels robust and sturdy. Since we’re on the subject, you should also know that the Pixel 6a comes with an IP67 rating, which makes it impervious to damage from dust and water.

In terms of performance, the Pixel 6a is backed by Google’s in-house Tensor SoC. The processor isn’t the snappiest SoC on the market, although it can comfortably juggle a handful of apps and play some casual games. The same holds true for the smartphone’s camera setup as well. Unlike most competing devices, the Pixel 6a doesn’t ship with a high-res sensor and, instead, comes furnished with a 12.2MP primary camera.

That said, thanks in no small part to Google’s computational photography chops, the Pixel 6a can click serviceable images during the day and even at night. If anything, we would’ve liked to see the phone ship with a high refresh rate display. Additionally, the smartphone’s 4,410mAh battery might not see you through the end of a heavy workday.

4. OnePlus 10T

The OnePlus 10T is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. For the uninitiated, the 8+ Gen 1 is a mighty chip that can seamlessly run graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and more at good graphics and FPS presets. The same is highlighted by numerous buyers, too. Additionally, the smartphone comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz and offers 10-bit color depth.

The panel boasts vivid colors, and it can even relay HDR media from OTT services like Netflix. Needless to say, the 10T is a godsend for folks who consume a lot of media on their smartphones. That’s not all, as the device comes with ample RAM and storage, too. To put it in numbers, the OnePlus 10T ships with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

As for the cameras, the OnePlus 10T ships with a 50MP primary sensor that clicks good-looking photos. That being said, the smartphone’s stand-out feature is its stupendously fast wired charging speed. To that end, the handset’s battery can be charged at 125W, which ensures you can top up the phone in the blink of an eye.

5. Nothing Phone 1

As can be seen from the product images, the Nothing Phone 1 ships with a transparent back that showcases a strip of LEDs. The company calls these the ‘Glyph Interface,’ and to cut a long story short, these LEDs can light up whenever you receive a phone call or a notification. It goes without saying that you can also customize the lighting patterns to your liking. That’s not all, as the smartphone ships with uniform bezels bordering the display, too.

The display is of the OLED variety, and it measures 6.55-inches. Additionally, the panel refreshes at 120Hz, and, as such, the UI animations glide on the screen. Powering the smartphone is the Snapdragon 778G+ processor, which is a mid-tier SoC from Qualcomm’s stables. The chipset can comfortably play demanding games, albeit at modest graphics settings. More notably, the handset boots a near-stock version of Android 13 from the word go.

Buyers will also get a pair of 50MP sensors at the back of the phone, which, per user reviews, click gorgeous photos. The handset comes with a 4,500mAh cell, which can fast-charge at 33W. Additionally, the smartphone supports wireless charging as well. Do note that the model we’ve shortlisted doesn’t work with Verizon or Sprint.

Go, Team Green!

And, that wraps up our list of the best Android smartphones under $400. Off the lot, the OnePlus 10T stands out, thanks to its flagship-grade specs and impressive wired charging speeds. That said, the Pixel 6a’s pint-size footprint deserves a mention too. Do let us know which smartphone you opted for in the comments below.