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 overall74POCO X8 Pro Max$469 — The X8 Pro Max steps up to a 6.83-inch AMOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 9500s chipset and an 8500mAh battery with 100W charging, starting at $469.Best value for money47Infinix HOT 60 Pro+$150 — The Infinix HOT 60 Pro+ is a 4G budget phone just 5.95mm thick and weighing 155g, with a MediaTek Helio G200 chipset, a 6.78-inch 144Hz curved AMOLED display and a 5160 mAh battery with 45W charging.
Records in this bracket
Every phone under $500, ranked
Full category ranking
7
OnePlus
OnePlus 12R
- ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Screen size6.78 ″
- Capacity5,500 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$500
12
Xiaomi
POCO F7 Pro
- ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Screen size6.67 ″
- Capacity6,000 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$499
14
Google Pixel 10a
- ChipsetGoogle Tensor G4
- Screen size6.3 ″
- Capacity5,100 mAh
- Main camera48 MP
$499
21
Google Pixel 9a
- ChipsetGoogle Tensor G4
- Screen size6.3 ″
- Capacity5,100 mAh
- Main camera48 MP
$499
26
Xiaomi
POCO F5 Pro
- ChipsetSnapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Screen size6.67 ″
- Capacity5,160 mAh
- Main camera64 MP
$449
33
Google Pixel 8a
- ChipsetGoogle Tensor G3
- Screen size6.1 ″
- Capacity4,492 mAh
- Main camera64 MP
$499
55
nubia
nubia Flip 5G
- ChipsetSnapdragon 7 Gen 1
- Screen size6.9 ″
- Capacity4,310 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$499
59
Xiaomi
Redmi 15 5G
- ChipsetSnapdragon 6s Gen 3
- Screen size6.9 ″
- Capacity7,000 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$199
63
Doogee
Doogee S118
- ChipsetMediaTek Helio G99
- Screen size6.58 ″
- Capacity10,800 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$349
72
Xiaomi
Xiaomi 12 Lite
- ChipsetSnapdragon 778G
- Screen size6.55 ″
- Capacity4,300 mAh
- Main camera108 MP
$399
100
Doogee
Doogee Blade10 Max
- ChipsetUnisoc T606
- Screen size6.56 ″
- Capacity10,300 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$299
110
Oukitel
OUKITEL P1
- ChipsetMediaTek Helio G99
- Screen size6.7 ″
- Capacity5,150 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$230
112
OPPO
OPPO A78 5G
- ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 700
- Screen size6.56 ″
- Capacity5,000 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$249
123
Apple
iPhone SE (2020)
- ChipsetApple A13 Bionic
- Screen size4.7 ″
- Capacity1,821 mAh
- Main camera12 MP
$399
126
Xiaomi
Redmi Note 9 Pro
- ChipsetSnapdragon 720G
- Screen size6.67 ″
- Capacity5,020 mAh
- Main camera64 MP
$269
131
Doogee
Doogee Blade10 Ultra
- ChipsetUnisoc T606
- Screen size6.56 ″
- Capacity5,150 mAh
- Main camera50 MP
$260
134
Xiaomi
Redmi Note 9S
- ChipsetSnapdragon 720G
- Screen size6.67 ″
- Capacity5,020 mAh
- Main camera48 MP
$229
