Best Phone Under $500 in 2026: Top Picks That Punch Above Their Price
The sub-$500 tier is more competitive than ever in 2026. You can now get a phone with a flagship-tier display, 7-year software updates, and competitive computational photography for less than half the price of an iPhone 17 Pro. We index this list against MKBHD's Best Value award — the picks below have all earned MKBHD recognition or the closest equivalent.
Updated · 5 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones currently selling under $500 that either won/placed at MKBHD's Best Value awards or are discounted last-gen flagships from companies with 5+ year update commitments.
- #1
Runner-up at MKBHD's 2024 Best Value awards. Tensor G3, Google's full computational photography pipeline, and seven years of OS updates at $499. The most rounded sub-$500 phone in 2026.
Pros
- Seven years of OS updates
- Best computational photography under $500
- Clean Pixel UI
Cons
- Tensor G3 isn't fast
- Plastic frame
- #2
Won Best Value at MKBHD's 2024 awards. Around $349 in 2026, with the most distinctive design in the budget tier (Nothing's Glyph interface) and a competitive dual-camera system.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Best Value winner
- Most distinctive design under $500
- Roughly $349 in 2026
Cons
- US availability remains beta-only
- Camera trails Pixel 8a in low light
- #3
Now widely available refurbished at $399–$499. USB-C, 48MP main camera, and four+ more years of iOS support remaining. The cheapest way into the iPhone ecosystem in 2026.
Pros
- Cheapest path into iOS in 2026
- Five+ years of iOS updates remaining
- Refurbished pricing $399–$499
Cons
- Does NOT support Apple Intelligence
- 60Hz display
- #4
MKBHD's 2023 Best Value winner. Now $249–$349. Samsung's four-major-Android-version update commitment means runway through 2027. IP67 rated and the only sub-$500 phone here with proper water resistance.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2023 Best Value winner
- IP67 water resistance — unusual at this price
- Bright AMOLED display
Cons
- Slow Exynos chipset
- Updates roll out slowly
- #5
Runner-up at MKBHD's 2023 Best Value. Now widely available used at $200–$300. The cheapest way to get Google's photography pipeline. Battery is the weak spot, but the price is hard to argue with.
Pros
- Best photography under $300 used
- Clean Android with fast Pixel updates
- Excellent display for the price
Cons
- Shortest battery life in this list
- Older Tensor G2 chip
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best phone under $500 in 2026?
The Google Pixel 8a — runner-up at MKBHD's 2024 Best Value awards. Strongest combination of camera quality, software longevity, and price under $500.
Pixel 8a vs Nothing Phone 2a — which is better?
Pixel 8a wins on camera and software updates; Nothing Phone 2a wins on design and price. The Nothing Phone 2a took MKBHD's 2024 Best Value award; the Pixel was runner-up.
Is it worth buying a $200 phone in 2026?
Used Pixel 7a or Samsung Galaxy A54 at $200–$250 are the strongest sub-$300 picks. Avoid sub-$200 phones unless you only need basic functionality — the camera and update gap to the Pixel 8a is large.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.