Best Phone Under $200: New Top Pick Checks All the Boxes

Yet these cheaper phones do have a number of noticeable trade-offs: They usually run slower than more expensive phones, and while they will usually ship with the latest version of Android, there might only be a short window of security update support. That last issue is particularly important to keep in mind when shopping in this price range, as it’s risky to use a phone that’s no longer being protected against security vulnerabilities by its manufacturer.

While we wouldn’t consider any of these picks to be productivity machines, these phones are likely going to be more useful than you would expect for the price. Plus, some of these devices might end up being “free” when signing up with a phone carrier’s subsidization program — usually requiring a two-year commitment in order to get the cost covered.

What’s the best phone under $200?

The $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is our current top pick for the best phone under $200. This is largely because of its inclusion of 5G support for faster data, NFC support for contactless payments and a fairly generous software and security support timeline when compared to other phones in this price range. Samsung will be providing two years of software updates and five years of security updates to the Galaxy A14 5G, making it a phone that can be safely used for several years if you choose to. 

However we’re not crazy about its photography, and if that’s more important to you than 5G, you should also take a look at the $200 Moto G Stylus for its better camera quality. 

If you need a phone that’s even cheaper, we’re also keeping around the $160 Galaxy A03S in this list. That device is still being supported by Samsung, but keep in mind that it only has a tiny 32GB of storage space.

Best phones under $200 of 2023

The $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is one of the most functional phones under $200 available right now. Even though it’s at a budget-friendly price, this Samsung phone includes 5G support for faster data and NFC for contactless payments using Google Wallet. While both of those inclusions are highlights for this price range, Samsung is also planning to support the Galaxy A14 with two years of software updates and five years of security updates, making it a phone that will be safe to use for several years.

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Samsung’s Galaxy A03S at $160 (roughly £130, AU$240) could still be a great fit for someone looking for the cheapest possible phone that can handle most essential tasks. The phone’s 6.5-inch screen, capped at 720p resolution, is capable for reading the news, watching videos and playing games. Despite some performance lag found during our review, the phone is good at multitasking. But the phone’s tiny 32GB of storage space could fill up fast, so if you’re considering this phone, it may be worthwhile to think about expanding the storage with a microSD card.

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How we test phones

Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s expert reviews team. We actually use the phone, test the features, play games, and take photos. We assess any marketing promises that a company makes about its phones. And if we find something we don’t like, be it battery life or build quality, we tell you all about it. 

We examine every aspect of a phone during testing:

• Display.
• Design and feel.
• Processor performance.
• Battery life.
• Camera quality.
• Features.

We test all of a phone’s cameras (both front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to dimmer indoor locales and nighttime scenes (for any available night modes). We also compare our findings against similarly priced models. We run a series of real-world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.

We take into account additional phone features, like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays, and other useful extras. And we, of course, weigh all of our experiences and testing against the price, so you know whether a phone represents good value.

Read more: How we test phones