Best Phones Under $500
Every device below is scored by the open Inno Score methodology — published specs and benchmark results, no sponsored placements. Prices are launch MSRPs (US, before tax); street prices are usually lower. Methodology
Best overall61POCO F6 Pro$499 — A 2K 4000-nit display and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for $499 - the F6 Pro is a benchmark-chart bargain.Best value for money27Redmi A3$89 — Xiaomi's 2024 sub-$100 entry with a 90Hz screen and a premium-looking glass back - unheard-of dressing at this price.
Records in this bracket
Every phone under $500, ranked
Full category ranking
2
OnePlus
OnePlus 12R
- ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Screen size6.78 ″
- Capacity5,500 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$500
9
Google Pixel 9a
- ChipsetGoogle Tensor G4
- Screen size6.3 ″
- Capacity5,100 mAh
- Main camera48 MP
$499
12
Xiaomi
POCO F5 Pro
- ChipsetSnapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Screen size6.67 ″
- Capacity5,160 mAh
- Main camera64 MP
$449
18
Google Pixel 8a
- ChipsetGoogle Tensor G3
- Screen size6.1 ″
- Capacity4,492 mAh
- Main camera64 MP
$499
26
Xiaomi
Redmi 15 5G
- ChipsetSnapdragon 6s Gen 3
- Screen size6.9 ″
- Capacity7,000 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$199
34
Xiaomi
Xiaomi 12 Lite
- ChipsetSnapdragon 778G
- Screen size6.55 ″
- Capacity4,300 mAh
- Main camera108 MP
$399
51
OPPO
OPPO A78 5G
- ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 700
- Screen size6.56 ″
- Capacity5,000 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$249
56
Apple
iPhone SE (2020)
- ChipsetApple A13 Bionic
- Screen size4.7 ″
- Capacity1,821 mAh
- Main camera12 MP
$399
60
Xiaomi
Redmi Note 9 Pro
- ChipsetSnapdragon 720G
- Screen size6.67 ″
- Capacity5,020 mAh
- Main camera64 MP
$269
