These Are The Best Cheap Smartphones You Can Buy

Motorola’s Moto G is one of the best budget phones you can buy.

It’s hard to find a phone cheaper thanthe Moto G. Motorola’s second-generation model starts at $179, comes with a clean version of Android, and runs pretty smoothly, even though it’s powered by components that are older than those in today’s more expensive phones, according to reviews fromCNETandEngadget.

If you want something that costs even less, try the Moto E.

TheMoto Eis even cheaper than the Moto G at $129 without any carrier subsidies. If you can get by with a basic phone and mostly care about using Android apps, the Moto E is a good choice.

Inmy review, I found its camera and lack of 4G to be the biggest weak points, but it’s exactly what you would expect for a phone so cheap.

Google’s Nexus 5 is a sharp, thin, and fast Android phone that’s affordable.

The Nexus 5 starts at $349, which is still much cheaper than most popular phones like the Galaxy S5 or iPhone 6, which cost anywhere between $500 and $800 without a carrier contract.

The best benefit from owning a Nexus phone is that you’ll always get the most important Android updates before anyone else does. The Nexus 5 is a slim, attractive phone with a soft-touch back, a thin design, and a 1080p screen.

You can only use it on T-Mobile’s network, but it’s a great choice if you’re on a tight budget. (Note: In Canada, it can be used on Rogers, Bell, Fido, Telus, WIND and Koodo)

Amazon’s Fire Phone comes with some fun apps and is insanely cheap.

You can now buyAmazon’s Fire Phone for just $199.99without a two-year contract, which is ridiculously cheap for a new phone. If you opt for a two-year contract with AT&T, you’ll get the phone for just 99 cents — which is basically a giveaway.

TheFire Phonecomes with a sharp screen, a 13-megapixel camera, a fast processor, and Amazon’s own apps and services. Firefly, for example, gives you information about object around you by scanning it with the phone’s camera. There are tons of cameras on the front of the phone which creates a 3D effect for some images. The phonehasn’t been selling well, which is a large part of the reason it’s so cheap, but it’s an excellent value for the price. (Note: Currently not available in Canada.)

The OnePlus One is among the best Android phones you can buy, and it’s really cheap.

The OnePlus One comes with many of the same components you’d find in most high-end Android phones, but it costs about half the price. The OnePlus One, which features a roomy 5.5-inch 1080p screen, a fast processor, and a comfortable yet attractive build only costs $300 off contract. It’s pretty tough to find, but if you can snag an invite from someone you know who has the phone, it’s totally worth your time.

HTC’s Desire 816 is a nice-looking phone with a great screen and plenty of power.

The HTC Desire 816 is an attractive phone with a large, crisp screen. It also has boisterous front-facing speakers just like HTC’s flagship One phone. You can grab a prepaid version of the phone for as low as $200 on Amazon.

Apple’s iPhone 5C is basically free if you sign up for a two-year contract.

If you’re OK with keeping Apple’s previous generation iPhone for two years, you can get it for free throughAT&TandVerizon. Off contract, it still costs about $450, which is about $100 cheaper than newer flagship phones. The iPhone 5C comes in multiple colors and features a 4-inch Retina Display. It’s not the greatest phone you can buy, but if you’re tight on cash and love Apple’s iOS ecosystem, it’s a worthwhile choice. (Note: The iPhone 5C is free on select 2-year plans through Rogers, Bell, Telus and other Canadian carriers.)

The iPhone 5S is relatively cheap on a two-year contract, too.

You can get the iPhone 5S for $99.99 on a two-year contract. It’s not Apple’s newest phone, but it still comes with a gorgeous design, fast processor, excellent camera, and Touch ID fingerprint sensor. If you don’t care about having the newest Apple product but want an iPhone, you should consider the iPhone 5S.

The Lumia 830 is a cheap Windows phone with an impressive camera.

As is the case with most Lumia phones, one of the 830′s selling points is its camera. It comes with a 10-megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens, and only costs $99 on a two-year contract. AT&T also bundles a free Fitbit with the phone, which is a great value. Off-contract, the phone costs about $400. (Note: The Lumia 830 is available through Rogers, Bell, Telus and other Canadian carriers for $0 with select 2-year plans.)