Pixel 5a is the iPhone SE of the Android world, only better. This is a stripped-down version of Google’s flagship phone, that still carries the two major features you probably care most about: the epic camera, and the AMOLED display. The 5a sports a 6.4-inch display and a dual-camera setup.

In fact, the Pixel 5a might have the best camera of any smartphone under $500. While it lacks features like a high-refresh-rate display and optical zoom lens, it’s still a great value overall. Plus, as this is a Google phone, you can rest assured it will receive future security and feature updates for some time (something that you can’t take for granted with other Android devices).

Moto G Stylus is the upgraded version of the popular Moto G Power smartphone. As the name suggests, it comes with a built-in stylus, making it a much cheaper alternative to Galaxy Note and Galaxy Ultra.

What makes this smartphone a really great budget pick is how much it packs in at its $300 asking price. You get a full HD 6.8-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate; a massive, two-day 5000 mAh battery; plus a 50MP camera at the back. Moto is doing a great job with the software as well, delivering an almost pure Android experience, plus some extra apps here and there.

Affordable 5G smartphones are suddenly becoming a thing, and Samsung’s Galaxy A32 5G is leading the pack. At under $300, this one is quite a bargain. It offers a large 6.5-inch screen, a 5000 mAh battery, and a 90Hz refresh rate.

One reason to stay away from Samsung budget phones in the past was their lackluster update cycle, but the company is now actively working to improve that, promising three years of Android updates and four years of security patches for the A32. That’s not iPhone level quite yet (Apple is still providing updates for the 6-year-old iPhone 6S), but it’s the best you can get in the Android world.

The only real downside is the mediocre display—surprising, as Samsung is known for its vibrant, punchy screens. But if you’re okay with 720p, this phone might be the right choice for you.

Moto G Power offers a lot of phone for $199, and was just updated for the 2022 edition, meaning it’s now faster and better than ever. For your money, you get a decent MediaTek Helio F37 processor, 4GB RAM, and a massive 5000 mAh battery that promises three-day battery life.

Of course, the $200 price tag comes with tradeoffs, including the screen. The Moto G Power has a huge 6.5-inch screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, but it’s only a 720p panel. At this size, and in 2022, it should be at least 1080p. But if you’re okay with that, the rest of the package makes for quite a good smartphone.

OnePlus doesn’t just make $900 smartphones. The company that started off as a flagship killer is also going back to its roots with budget smartphones that look and feel good. And with their Nord series, they’re doing quite well.

The Nord N200 is a $200 smartphone with a 6.5-inch 1080p screen with 90Hz refresh rate (better than the Moto G Power at the same price). It’s also one of the few budget phones to come with 5G, although it only works with T-Mobile and Google Fi. There’s the massive 5000 mAh battery, and 18W fast charging support. You get a decent enough Snapdragon 480 processor, 4GB RAM, and a triple camera setup (13MP + 2MP + 2MP), too.

You might find it weird to see TCL on this list (or not recognize the company at all). But over the past couple of years, TCL has created some fantastic budget Android smartphones, and this is one of the few smartphones period that supports Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network.

You get a mid-range Snapdragon 765G processor, 6GB RAM, 48MP main camera, and 4500 mAh battery. Plus, there’s a 6.5 inch full HD display panel. While the screen size and resolution are great, it’s quite a dim display, unfortunately.

Another huge downside? The phone is a Verizon exclusive.

There’s no shame in buying a refurbished smartphone. In fact, if you buy a refurbished iPhone directly from Apple, you’re getting a functionally nearly new iPhone at a huge discount. Apple happens to sell refurbished iPhone XRs and iPhone 11s for around $430, and you can find cheaper options from third-party vendors.

If you can only spend $450 on a smartphone and you don’t like the iPhone SE for some reason, buying a refurbished iPhone 11 might be your best option. While the SE’s A15 chip is superior to the 11's A13, and the latter lacks 5G support, the 11 sports a 6.1-inch edge-to-edge display with Face ID, two rear cameras, plus night mode. Food for thought.