What are the best phones for less than $400? With so many phones on the market and the gap between mid-range and high-end closing every year, finding the right phone for you takes time and effort. If you have $1000 to spend, getting the best of the best isn’t difficult; you can narrow your options down to a few phones.

However, if you’re on a budget but not aiming too low, the sprawling mid-range segment has so much to offer that it can quickly become confusing. There’s no need to get a flagship when one of the best phones under $400 is available.

What features do you look for most in a phone? Battery life that lasts long? A fantastic camera? Effortless performance? Is it a hybrid of the three? Whatever it is, you will undoubtedly find an affordable phone that checks most (if not all) of your boxes. To assist you in this endeavor, we have compiled a list of the best phones under $400. 

A summary of the best phones under $400

• Google Pixel 4a features the best camera and software.
• Samsung Galaxy A72 — best overall package and display
• Motorola One 5G Ace — the best phone for Android fans
• The OnePlus Nord N20 is the best value phone.
• Motorola G Stylus 5G has the most extended battery life.
• Samsung Galaxy A42 — the most affordable Samsung
• The Sony Xperia 10 III is the best budget compact Android phone available.

A comprehensive list of the best phones under $400

Google Pixel 4a

Google has delivered another excellent mid-range phone with the Pixel 4a! Google has improved the performance of its predecessor by using a 700-series chip, and the design still looked modern in 2021.

Apart from that, the plastic designs are not bad; the phones may lack wireless charging, but there doesn’t appear to be much difference in terms of look and feel compared to the Pixel 4 and 4 XL.

The only noticeable difference is the lack of multiple camera sensors, but the Pixel 4a more than makes up for it in terms of image quality. Best of all, the phone is even cheaper this year, making it an incredible value if you’re a fan of Team Pixel.

Samsung Galaxy A72

For a good reason, the Samsung Galaxy A71 was the king of mid-range smartphones. That’s why the task ahead of its successor, the Galaxy A72, was difficult. Samsung, on the other hand, managed to pull it off. The Galaxy A72 improves on everything good about its predecessor.

The phone has the same 6.7-inch AMOLED display as the Galaxy A71, but the refresh rate increased to 90Hz. Samsung improved the brightness, and the panel is now 15% brighter than the A71’s display.

The processor is also slightly improved, and the massive 5,000mAh battery makes this phone an endurance champion. Its price is slightly higher than our $400 budget, but with the right deals and discounts, and with time, it will quickly fall into this price range.

Motorola One 5G Ace

Motorola’s low-cost One 5G Ace phone is an excellent option. This device has a large 5000mAh battery and a 6.7-inch screen with FHD+ resolution. It does, as the name implies, have 5G connectivity. It has a Snapdragon 750G processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.

The Motorola One 5G Ace retains some previous features, such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and a MicroSD card slot. The phone’s camera has a triple-camera system that can take pretty good pictures.

The weight and thickness of this smartphone are both on the large side. The phone weighs 212g and measures 9.9mm thick. The One 5G Ace also has a plastic back, which may not be to everyone’s liking, but it still has impressive specs for under $400.

OnePlus Nord N20 5G

The OnePlus Nord N20 must be mentioned when discussing sub-$400 phones. With Nord, OnePlus returns to its roots of providing excellent value for money. What more could you want than an AMOLED display, a 5G-capable chip, fast charging, and a decent camera system? It also has a good, fast-charging battery and a stylish design. The Nord N20 also has a headphone jack and a MicroSD card slot, which is quite convenient. 

Motorola G Stylus 5G

Motorola’s G Stylus phone line carved out a niche for itself. If you have low-battery anxiety, this is the phone for you. This phone can easily last more than a day thanks to its 5,000mAh battery and energy-efficient chipset. Its display is also excellent. 

The Moto G Stylus 5G is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 480 processor with 4 or 6GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of internal storage space. The phone also performs well in the camera department, with a 48MP primary camera and the addition of 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors. Lastly, this phone comes with a stylus, which may be useful for those who enjoy taking notes.

Can $400 get you a decent smartphone?

$400 is enough to put a decent phone in your pocket. Compared to devices twice their price, the devices on this list make compromises in every area, but these compromises are nowhere near as severe as they were a few years ago. These phones should easily last you two years, and even if they become slow and outdated after that, you’ll know you didn’t spend that much money in the first place. 

Still, if you want a phone that excels in a specific area, you should consider more expensive options. However, these will suffice if you need a second phone or a device for a senior citizen. 

Final Thoughts 

This article lists the best phones under $400 available and helps you decide which phone meets your preferences. You can also buy used phones at a low price, under $400.