I understand that the latest Samsung Galaxy S, Pixel, and iPhone models are fantastic smartphones. However, they don’t offer much value in comparison to their price tag.
I would have said it differently in 2013; however, today, we have smartphones that can offer the best bang for your buck. They cut the luxury and focus on the mere fundamentals of a good smartphone: performance, cameras, and battery life. This will be our point of interest for today.
Are you looking for a smartphone that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket and offers just as much as a flagship? Yes, let’s hop in, and I will walk you through them. You can be confident in purchasing any of these.
Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro
This is the best value phone you can get today for under $300 – no doubt about it.
Let me elaborate on WHY!
This phone comes with a great display, satisfactory performance, a fantastic software experience, and acceptable camera quality.
Starting with the display, it features a 6.77-inch AMOLED screen that remains bright outdoors and is smooth, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re watching movies or browsing casually, you’re going to love the CMF Phone 2 Pro’s display. It will be perfect for you if you consume a lot of content on your phone. Just make sure to connect to a high-speed Wi-Fi network, such as Xfinity, to get the most out of this display. It is one of the top ISPs in the US, offering reliable network services, and the Xfinity Internet plans are quite affordable.
As for the performance, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro, and when coupled with at least 8 GB of RAM, it becomes a great performer for its price. I have casual games on this phone, and it holds up pretty fine.
The best thing I love about this phone is its software experience – it is clean and offers several customization options to suit your preferences.
All in all, for $279, this is the best value-for-money Android phone you can purchase.
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Google Pixel 9a
If you need a stock Android experience that doesn’t compromise on essential phone features, get the Pixel 9a. Although it comes under $500, you can find it for cheaper if you wait a bit for deals and discounts.
Specs:
It is powered by the latest Google Tensor G4, features a 6.3-inch AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz, a dual-camera setup on the back, and a front-facing camera. The back is made of plastic, while Gorilla Glass protects the front.
How does it perform in real life? First things first, let’s discuss the cameras. Google is known for its extraordinary photography, and rightly so. Although it is not a flagship phone, its cameras are still superior to most phones in this price range. Thanks to the post-capture processing, the photos from the Pixel 9a look stunning and are Instagram-worthy right out of the gallery.
As for the videos, they tend to be slightly over-processed, but that’s about it. The Pixel 9a can record videos up to 4 K at 60fps, and they look good. I wish there were more options at 4K, but 60fps is the maximum it can do.
Apart from the camera, the performance is acceptable too. However, I have observed that when subjected to excessive stress, it tends to overheat. Otherwise, it works just like its older brothers (Pixel 9 and above).
It comes with all the bells and whistles, including wireless charging, but this feature is rated at a maximum of 7.5 watts. The wired charging is limited to 23 watts. These charging speeds are relatively slow compared to the current standard. Apart from that, I don’t have any complaints about this midrange from Google.
Samsung Galaxy A56
Samsung has been riding waves with its A lineup, especially the A50s. I mean, look at the A53; it wasn’t even better than the A52s, and then they came out with the A55, which was a banger for its competition.
You might wonder what wave this Samsung Galaxy A56 is catching. It’s a high one, for sure.
It’s a superb phone for under 400 bucks. Previously, phones from the A series struggled with performance, but the Galaxy A56 has rectified that issue. The Galaxy A56 is powered by the Exynos 1580. Most mid-range chipsets from Samsung struggle, but not this one. It is based on the 4nm architecture and is one of the best performers in the mid-range segment.
Cameras are great, too. Samsung has finally eliminated the 2MP depth sensor that didn’t add any depth, except for the cost. It now features a triple camera setup that takes nice pictures and videos.
If you need a smartphone with One UI, and it’s overall good, then I’d say go with the Samsung Galaxy A56; you won’t regret it.
Editor’s Choice
If I had to choose only one of the three, I’d go with the CMF Phone 2 Pro due to its affordability and the features it offers. It indeed takes the first spot (and rightly so) in the best value-for-money smartphones.
