A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Budget Smartphones in 2017

If you’re looking for a new smartphone but don’t want to break the piggy bank, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Pixel Spot, we have rounded up a number of ways to get a little bling in your life for a significantly less hunk of dough than you may have thought possible. Towards the conclusion of the article, look out for a few warnings I felt compelled to share.

Old Flagships

It wasn’t so long ago that people bought phones and… well, kept them—for several years. Now, many people, myself included, upgrade at least once a year, whether they need to or not.

Some of the most expensive phones from two or three years ago are still decent choices for most people. And the best part is they drop in price significantly. You can roughly expect every high-end phone to drop anywhere from $100-$200 annually. And that’s brand-new!

Nobody should judge you for your choice of phone or how much you paid for it. If they do, get new friends (not included in this article).

Our recommendations:

LG G5Samsung Galaxy S7Apple iPhone 6

International Phones

It didn’t take China long to realize that making decent cell phones could drastically influence sales in international markets. Companies in East Asia make devices capable of running on US GSM carriers such as T-Mobile and AT&T. Each model is unique, and some makes have a more prestigious reputation than others. Most of your Android friends will probably tantalize over your new flagship, even if just for the uniqueness.

Our recommendations:

Xiaomi Mi A1, Huawei Honor 8, ZTE Axon 7 Mini

Budget Phones

Guess what! You don’t have to spend $700+ to get a brand new device. In fact, in some cases, it may be a better bang for your buck to go ahead and chomp at a more affordable smartphone in the $300-$500 range. You may be missing some features with the buy, but we know from Pixel 2, iPhone 8, and Essential phones that even if you’re paying a premium price, your device still may be lacking some necessities (erhm). That said, some of the wishlist items your budget device may lack may be unimportant to you, anyway.

Our recommendations:

Motorola Moto E4 PlusAsus ZenFone 4OnePlus 3T

Used Phones

I started to get used or refurbished phones on Amazon or other trustworthy sites because, well, they’re affordable. Facebook Marketplace, eBay (if you’re daring), Swappa, and even some manufacturers’ websites sell fairly reliable phones, sometimes with a warranty. Beyond these internet options are garage sales, pawn shops, and user electronics shops. Personally, however, I don’t trust any of them. I stick with reputable companies so I can get my money back if something goes south (PayPal and other third-party payment services make getting scammed far less likely these days).

Our recommendation:

Amazon Certified Refurbished

Hand-me-Downs

You don’t have to scroll through endless pages online if you’re not a picky phone person. Often, a friend or family member will have a device they’re either wanting to sell or for which they simply have no need (especially if they switched carriers and the original device is no longer compatible). These folks are kinda beneficial to know since their retiree is probably trustworthy and if there’s an issue, you can bring it to their attention immediately. And honestly, they’ll probably feel guilty and sell it for a good price, so it’s a win-win, here.

Sales

I bought a Galaxy S8 earlier this year. Keeping my eyes on market sales found me drooling when the Korean tech company offered a one-day deal for a BOGO and also threw in tons of goodies. Of course, you don’t have a long time to think about these, usually, so you should only take advantage of them if you know you like the phones and they work on your carrier network.

These kinds of things happen pretty frequently, and it’s worth noting that during the holiday season, especially Black Friday, deals will be rampant and your wallet will be frequently tempted to vomit on demand.

Whatever way you choose to upgrade your cellular life, keep in mind that there is no right or wrong when it comes to a phone. You can change your mind later, and there’s room for forgiveness if you fall prey to Apple. 🙂

On the flip side, if you can only afford a less expensive phone, or simply don’t think you can justify the big bucks, I’ve created a handy little list of things to consider so you don’t get mad at me later.

Warnings

There is a performance difference

Smartphones are pocket-ish-sized computers. They get better and faster every year. This means the older ones and cheaper ones will absolutely perform with less gusto. Is this noticeable? Depends on what you do and who you are. Pages may simply load slower, games may lag a little, and switching between apps may stutter. If this doesn’t bother you, you’ll be fine.

Software updates

I like fast software. I like the fastest software. Pixels and iPhones are some of the few that can deliver that experience. Even brand new (and very expensive) releases like the Note 8 and V30 do not have the newest software. The older the phone you get, the more ancient the software is likely to be. Furthermore, the performance of that software may significantly suffer (iOS 11 on an iPhone 5S is a nightmare!). If you don’t need the newest software, keep the old stuff: it’ll work faster for sure.

Hardware limitations

Sometimes older phones cannot download newer apps and games. This is usually a hardware limitation, or in some cases, it can be because of OEM licenses or preferences. Do your research if you’re about to buy a Motorola and you’ve always had Samsung: things could be a little rocky in transition.
Other hardware deficiencies to look out for include camera quality, screen resolution, battery life, scratch-resistance, water-resistance, and fun features like wireless charging, retina-scanning, and… uh, a headphone jack? You seriously get what you pay for. But that doesn’t mean paying several hundred dollars won’t get you some decent specs.

Coolness factor

There’s absolutely an element to consider for some people: bragging rights. I can list a hundred people by name who will only buy Apple devices, (and many of them will buy all Apple devices). Anyone who doesn’t fall in the latter category may buy a $50 iPhone and turn their nose up at an HTC U11 owner.

Others may mock people’s decisions or deride their lack of funds as shameful. Harken to me! Let no one judge your choice of a device if it’s what you can afford or prefer. Choosing a phone should be like selecting what you like on your burger: tailor it to you and your needs and desires. But if you do give in to peer pressure, don’t worry: I’ll be the first to call you out. 😉