While flagship smartphones boast impressive features, spending $1,000 is not a prerequisite for a satisfying Android experience nowadays. If you’re in need of a new smartphone and have a budget of approximately $200, there are numerous excellent options available. Surprisingly, some of the best Android phones under $200 come equipped with features like 5,000mAh batteries, multi-lens camera setups, and the promise of extended software updates.
We thoroughly evaluate various Android phones to ensure optimal performance without encountering unexpected issues down the line. If we were to recommend one Android smartphone in the sub-$200 price range, it would be the latest addition to Samsung’s lineup, the Galaxy A15 5G. Boasting a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, a sizable battery with 25W fast charging support, and more, it offers a compelling package. Alternatively, consider Motorola’s Moto G Play (2024) for a straightforward yet functional device.
My elderly clients tell me $200 is too much for a phone. They want it to be $50 max. It’s always a big hassle
$200 is too much for a phone. That’s why it’s also web browser, Walkman, gaming device, TV, recipe book, accountant, computer … of course, you know this.
Right, but to them it’s all worthless features. Except YouTube they like that
Flip phone
Surely they won’t complain then…
I got a flip phone for $20. They’re not wrong if all they need is calling and possibly texting.
Used Moto G then
There are plenty of feature phones for <$50. Many even have basic cameras, a web browser and even some games.
Got any solid recommendations?
Whenever I browse them they all look like a scam or don’t support LTE.
Nokia still produces feature phones, and newer models have LTE. But they are somewhat overpriced compared to the Chinese companies. They also make smartphones running KaiOS (much more efficient than Android, but cannot run Android apps) in the 50-100 USD range.
I’ll have to look into that.
In my country emergency broadcasts are only supported on lte enabled devices. I’m not sure about the os requirement for that either.
That’s horrible. Poor people with older phones don’t matter, I guess?
Yeah in North America they are in the process of discontinuing 3G service and older support all together as well.
If you’re familiar with the Hawaii missile alert incident. It’s that feature I’m concerned about for them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Hawaii_false_missile_alert
3G is switched off in Germany but providers are required to continue to support 2G specifically for emergency services so the dumbest and oldest phones can understand them.
I think RDS is or was mandatory in cars, too, the whole EU is switching over to DAB+ though and that’s the only thing I could find articles about. Much better anyway as RDS would simply send a signal saying “interrupt the cassette, a broadcast is coming in” and then someone would rattle off traffic jams or “people are throwing objects from a bridge”, while DAB+ broadcasts way more data which can then be interpreted by the navigation system, which can then rattle off everything that’s actually relevant to you.