Searching for a great Android phone on a budget? Samsung makes some of the best cheap smartphones on the planet, and nearly all of the company's budget smartphones have made their way to the U.S. this year. That means you can find Samsung Galaxy models at every price point widely available at retailers like Amazon or Best Buy. If you crave a stellar smartphone with a superb price-to-performance ratio, one of these cheap Samsung phones will last you for years to come.
Our best overall pick is the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G which packs plenty of premium features like a glass back, lighter design, more peppy SoC, and six years of software updates. You can now get all this for just $399, making it a great bargain. Samsung has plenty more best Android phones under or around the $500 mark, so check out the the full list below for all our favorites.
At a glance
Best overall
The Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is the best overall choice if you want a 5G phone for less. You get a vibrant Super AMOLED screen, powerful hardware, a 50MP main lens, IP68 water-proofing, and a battery that lasts two days with regular use. Combine that with six years of Android OS updates and you have a fabulous budget phone.
Best mid-range
The Samsung Galaxy A57 is good upgrade over the A56 as you get a faster processor, more RAM, and a slimmer and more refined design. You even get six years of OS upgrades and 45W charging.
Best battery life
It is powered by the Exynos 1380 chip, a 5,000mAh battery, and Android 15 out of the box. You even get an IP67 rating and six years of Android OS upgrades, which is amazing for a Samsung phone at just $299.
Best upgrade pick
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is what I'd suggest if you want a budget Samsung phone designed for long-term use. You get loads of premium features like a telephoto camera, wireless charging, and a flagship-grade processor. Plus, it launches with One UI 8 and will be getting seven major Android upgrades which makes it relevant for years to come.
Best entry-level
Need a basic phone that doesn't miss out on the essentials? You should take a look at the Galaxy A07. It doesn't have 5G, but you get a familiar design, decent hardware, a large battery, and good software features.
Best value
The Galaxy A17 5G proves you don't need to shell out a lot of cash to get a good phone. It has a modern design, doesn't lag in daily use, and the 50MP camera at the back is good in most situations. The best part is that you get 5G and six promised Android updates, which is unheard of for an entry-level phone.
Best overall
The Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is the 2026 follow-up to the A36 5G. It retains the best features of the A36 like a large display, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, and 45W fast charging. Samsung continues to promises six Android OS upgrades after the default Android 16 which it ships with.
Improvements over the last-gen version include more RAM options, a newer Exynos 1480 4nm processor, and faster UFS 3.1 storage. There's no noticeable lag in daily use, and the phone should be decent enough for gaming. The A37 has a Super AMOLED panel, offering better color vibrancy and contrast levels.
The 120Hz refresh rate ensures the screen feels smooth in daily use, and whether it's playing games or streaming videos, the screen is a delight. You also get a more modern looking hole-punch cutout for the front camera and slimmer bezels.
The Galaxy A37 5G gets IP68 dust and water resistance ensuring it can withstand the elements. It can be dropped in a meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. Other than that, the essentials are intact: the large 5,000mAh non-removable battery lasts nearly two days on a full charge with average use, you get a reliable camera at the back that takes excellent photos in any scenario, and the software is among the best in this category.
Sure, the phone misses out on a 3.5mm jack and expandable storage, and you don't get wireless charging, but if you want a solid budget Samsung phone right now, the Galaxy A37 5G is otherwise an all-rounder.
Best mid-range
The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is currently the best Galaxy A series phone there is, and it's a shame that Samsung isn't officially selling it in the U.S. (yet). You can still easily buy the unlocked version off Amazon though. The new model is similar to the A56, but it gets Android 16 out of the box, a newer processor, and an improved IP rating.
The Galaxy A57 5G covers the basics: it has a large 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, terrific cameras, outstanding battery life, and an excellent software package with plenty of features and six guaranteed Android OS updates as well as six years of security updates.
It is also marginally faster than the A56, and the design feels refined as it's slimmer and lighter. Outside of that, this is still one of the best overall packages you get in the mid-range segment.
Best battery life
The Galaxy A26 5G is an outlier in that it uses Samsung's own Exynos designs and is considered one of the best phones for Galaxy fans under $400. The result is that the Galaxy A26 5G offers stable performance to complete your day-to-day tasks. The 5G modem has global connectivity, ensuring the phone has adequate 5G. The phone also finally gets IP67 rating, which was missing from the A25.
The Super AMOLED screen on the Galaxy A25 5G goes up to 120Hz. With this technology, you get a more advanced technology that features touch sensors on a single layer. Unlike LCD screens, Super AMOLED uses less power and gives you more vivid images.
The cameras are also reliable with a 50MP (OIS, PDAF) wide lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. Under the hood, the A26's 5,000mAh battery should last two days between charges. You also get the latest software package along with six generations of OS upgrades on the A26 5G. Overall, it is a great option to consider if you want a good phone for $300.
Best upgrade pick
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is slightly more expensive than the other cheap picks on this list, but that makes it the perfect upgrade option. It bridges the gap between Samsung's Galaxy A series and the Galaxy S series. While it officially retails for $650, it will surely come down closer to the $500 price point shortly with deals and promotions. In fact, some carriers are already giving the Galaxy S25 FE away for free.
Samsung promises a solid seven years of Android updates as well as seven years of security updates, but that isn't all you get with the Galaxy S25 FE on the software front. The phone launches with One UI 8, based on Android 16, putting it ahead of the curve. And the best part is that Samsung rolls out monthly security updates to the phone, making sure that it gets all the essential patches on a timely basis.
On the hardware front, the Galaxy S25 FE has a brilliant 6.7-inch, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display panel. You also get a trio of rear cameras that take great photos, including a 50MP primary sensor. On the front, there's an upgraded 12MP selfie camera. This year, Samsung is finally beating the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 in terms of battery life, giving the Galaxy S25 FE a 4,900mAh capacity with 45W fast charging.
Compared to the last-gen Galaxy S24 FE, the Galaxy S25 FE now sports a better Exynos 2400 processor. Paired with 8GB of memory, this phone can take advantage of some of the best Samsung Galaxy AI features. It's the option for people who want the core Samsung Galaxy S25 experience on a budget.
Best entry-level
The Samsung Galaxy A07 is a decent upgrade from its predecessor, with a snappier 120Hz screen and an IP54 water and dust-resistant rating. There is also a new chipset, and you don't have to wait too long to top up your phone thanks to faster charging.
With this budget phone, you get a 6.7-inch 720p PLS LCD screen that retains the classic design of the screen and bezels without the home button. The Galaxy A07 will appeal to those who have a minuscule budget but still want something that looks familiar from Samsung.
The brightness is monumentally better than its predecessor, reaching 800 nits. Unlike the latest S Series models, the Galaxy A07 comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack. For biometric security, you get a highly responsive side-mounted fingerprint reader.
Unless you have to save large files constantly, the phone's onboard 128GB storage is a good option, but the A07 also offers expandable storage. The Mediatek Dimensity 6300 6nm chip performs well enough. You get a trio of 50MP, 2MP, and 2MP cameras as well, and an even larger 6,000mAh battery. This phone packs a punch at a very low price.
Best value
If you want a Samsung phone that delivers the essentials, the Galaxy A17 5G is one of the best Android phones under $200. The phone has 5G connectivity, so you can easily watch your favorite videos at lightning speed when streaming over mobile data, and it comes with reliable hardware that's decent for daily use. There is also a massive 5,000mAh battery that lasts two days between charges with average use.
The A17 sports a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. You'll love looking at this screen with its 800 nits of brightness at High Brightness Mode, and you can also count on high and standard Motion Smoothness modes. Even though it has an energy-efficient chipset, keeping the brightness to a standard also saves battery power.
Samsung has promised to deliver six Android OS updates to the phone, a guarantee that is nearly as good as its current flagships. The A17 5G also boasts an IP54 rating, making it reasonably resilient to water and dust exposure.
How to choose
If you want to live in the Samsung world without paying a premium price tag, then the Galaxy A37 5G is your best bet. It delivers all the essentials while still being affordable and is guaranteed to get long-term updates. If you want to spend less but still have amazing battery life, the Galaxy A26 5G is a great choice. It has the same 5,000mAh battery as the rest but is priced lower.
But if you're willing to cough up some extra cash, you can go for the Galaxy A57 5G and take advantage of its more premium features. If you need powerful hardware and better cameras, you should also turn to the Galaxy S25 FE. This phone gets seven years of updates, and has a more capable chipset with better hardware.
On the other side, if you want an entry-level option that nails the basics, the Galaxy A07 is a solid pick. Samsung improved a lot of the features from the previous model, making it more attractive to Samsung fans with very limited cash at hand. The Galaxy A17 5G improves on the features of the A16 by adding a faster Exynos 1330 5nm processor and running Android 15 out of the box, making it one of the best cheap Android phones you can buy today.
