Best budget camera phone in 2024: the best cheap camera phones right now

A photo of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli / Digital Camera World)

The best budget camera phones can represent a chance to have a capable camera in your pocket at all times without having to spend a fortune. Cheap phones used to have a reputation as being a prime example of false economy, but these days manufacturers have done a great job of filling out the cheaper ends of their offering with affordable, but capable handsets. 

And then there's also the option of buying an older phone, forgoing the latest tech in favor of a much more reasonable price tag, sometimes with just a good camera as the latest flagships.

If you have a sneaking suspicion that you don't actually need a triple camera array, more than 100 megapixels, a sophisticated optical image stabilization system, or whatever else, and you in fact just need a simple camera phone that works, then this is the guide for you.

As you might expect, there are plenty of cheap camera phones available for Android, but Apple users needn't miss out. Budget iPhones do exist, and we've included plenty of models in this guide. Indeed, the price difference between these and the absolute best camera phones you can buy is absolutely staggering. Need to go even cheaper than this? We've also got a guide to the best burner phones if you can forgo having a camera in your pocket wherever you go. And do also read our guide to the Best cell phone providers in the US, if you are looking to save on running costs.

Here, we've focused on cheap phones still capable of taking pictures that are decent. So here's the best of the budget camera phones you can buy right now... 

Best budget camera phone in 2023

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(Image credit: Bobby Hellard / Digital Camera World)
The best budget camera phone

Specifications

Screen Size: 6.1-inch OLED
Rear Cameras: 64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide
Front Camera: 13MP
Weight: 193g
Dimensions: 72.9 x 152.4 x 9.0 mm
Storage: 128GB
RAM: 8GB

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent camera system
+
Long battery life
+
Stunning design
+
Value-for-money

Reasons to avoid

-
Inconsistent fingerprint reader

We think the Pixel 7a is a fun little device packed with helpful features. It might not be the best overall phone of the year, but it certainly offers the most value for money right now; with outstanding camera software, heaps of processing power, and a low price, it is the best budget phone we believe you can buy right now. 

At 6.1 inches, the Google Pixel 7a is as small as a modern smartphone can be without overly reducing quality. It isn’t quite as little as the iPhone SE but it is still smaller than what most consumers will be used to. This might not be for those with massive hands or people that want a big bright screen for streaming.

Read our full Google Pixel 7a review

(Image credit: Basil Kronfli)
Best budget phone for those in the Samsung ecosystem

Specifications

Screen Size: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED (1080 x 2340)
Rear Cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide
Front Camera: 32MP
Weight: 202g
Dimensions: 152.2 x71.8 x 8.9 mm
Storage: 128GB - 256GB
RAM: 8GB

Reasons to buy

+
IP67 water resistance is great at the price
+
Stunning and smooth AMOLED display
+
Excellent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Clunky design doesn’t feel as rich as some competition
-
No native or third-party RAW capture support
-
Punchy photo processing won’t be to enthusiasts' tastes

We don't think Samsung’s A54 5G is the best phone around when it comes to style or power, and for photography enthusiasts, its camera system is hamstrung by some particularly heavy-handed processing. However, if you can appreciate Samsung’s very saturated, high-impact look, then it could be the best budget camera phone for you.

Photos are clear and sharp, with excellent resolution, and the fact it combines optical image stabilization with a large primary sensor means shots and videos look well held together, even at night. 

For anyone who is embedded in the Samsung ecosystem, and wants a new device without having to pay out for the much pricier Galaxy S22 range, then we think this might just be the best phone for you. 

Read our full Samsung A54 5G review

(Image credit: Apple)

4. iPhone SE (2022)

The best iPhone for under $500

Specifications

Screen size: 4.7" Retina HD 1334 x 750
Rear camera: 12MP (f/1.8)
Front camera: 7MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 144g
Dimensions: 138 x 7 x 67mm
Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
RAM : 4GB RAM

Reasons to buy

+
Cheap for an iPhone
+
Fast performer
+
Supports 5G

Reasons to avoid

-
Small display with big bezels
-
No Night mode for camera
-
Doesn't support mmWave 5G

If you want a cheap iPhone and don't mind a small (4.7 inch) screen, the latest update to the iPhone SE is our top recommendation. At a quite affordable price, you'll get many of the same advanced capabilities and performance you'll find in much more expensive iPhones. 

This latest iteration of the iPhone SE features 5G, longer battery life, and improved durability. It also features an all-new camera system powered by A15 Bionic, with a 12MP f/1.8 aperture wide camera on the rear that offers great tools like Portrait mode and the same Smart HDR 4 tech as the iPhone 13. The rear camera (7 MP, f/2.2) isn't half bad, either.

The iPhone SE (2022) is rated IP67 for water and dust resistance features the familiar Home button, and supports Touch ID – an easy, private, and secure alternative for logging in to apps, authorizing purchases, and making Apple Pay transactions. 

(Image credit: Basil Kronfli)
The best budget OnePlus phone

Specifications

Screen size: 6.43-inch AMOLED 2400x1080
Rear cameras: 50MP (f/1.88), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.25), 2MP mono (f/2.5)
Front camera: 32MP (f/2.45)
Weight: 6.67oz / 189g
Dimensions: 58.9 x 73.2 x 8.25 mm
Storage: 128GB, 256GB
RAM: 8GB, 12GB

Reasons to buy

+
Fast charging
+
Stable performance
+
Restrained photo processing
+
Striking design in green

Reasons to avoid

-
No ultra-wide camera
-
Weak macro camera
-
LCD screen, not OLED
-
Dated hardware

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is perhaps one of the worst-named phones of the year, however, don't judge a book by its cover, or a phone by its unesessary acronyms. 

Practically speaking, we found the Nord CE 3 Lite has been great to use. Its camera immediately impresses. OnePlus's pared-back photo processing and its software optimization really are the CE 3 Lite's saving graces, as is its fun, zingy styling in green. 

We know there are better value options elsewhere packing superior camera mixes and AMOLED screens with more punch and brightness, but we think the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is fun to use and is a phone that looks set to be greater than the sum of its parts.

Read our hands on OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G review

(Image credit: Basil Kronfli / Digital Camera World)

6. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

An extremely solid mid-range phone

Specifications

Release date: March 2021
Rear cameras: 64MP f/1.8, 12MP f/2.2, 5MP f/2.4
Front camera: 32MP f/2.2
OIS: Yes
Weight: 189 g
Dimensions: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm
Storage: 128GB

Reasons to buy

+
High-quality camera array
+
Solid future-proofing

Reasons to avoid

-
Some over-zealous smoothing
-
On the pricey end of "budget"

Buying a budget phone doesn't just mean putting up with tech that's a few years old. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G was announced in March 2021, and it sits pretty much perfectly in the middle of the smartphone offers: neither dirt-cheap nor prohibitively expensive. It's good to see Samsung continuing to cater to users who can't afford the latest models.

And "continue" is the operative word here; one of the great things about the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is that Samsung has committed to keeping it on the list for monthly OS updates, major Android updates, and security updates or at least three to four years. So you know you won't be buying a lemon and that nothing will work within a year's time.

The camera array on the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is very solid for a phone at this price, a three-camera setup that produces punchy bright images at a range of distances. The standard photo modes perhaps smooth things out a little too much – you can detect the hand of an algorithm at work – but it probably won't bother most users, and it certainly doesn't look bad. The 120Hz screen also looks the business, and the 4,500mAh battery will comfortably last the day for all but the heaviest of users. This ticks absolutely loads of boxes, and while it's a more expensive budget smartphone, in terms of value for money it's right up there. 

(Image credit: Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)
A budget phone so good it puts flagship handsets into question

Specifications

Screen size: 6.67-inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080)
Rear camera: 108MP (f/1.9) main, 8MP (f/2.2) ultrawide, 5MP (f/2.4) macro, 2MP depth
Front camera: 16MP (f/2.5)
Weight: 193g
Dimensions: 164 x 76.5 x 8.1 mm
Storage: 64GB, 128GB, microSDXC slot
RAM : 6GB, 8GB

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic value camera system
+
Best-in-class 120Hz AMOLED screen
+
Sleek design

Reasons to avoid

-
In-interface adverts
-
No autofocus on ultra-wide
-
No telephoto lens

No stranger to fantastic budget camera phones, Xiaomi hasn’t always nailed user experience, but it tends to get value very right, and its cameras are also competitive. This has never been more true than with the Redmi Note 10 Pro.

Its 108MP camera system is best-in-class by a wide margin, its screen sounds like something that fell off a flagship spec sheet, and with a huge battery, sleek design and enough power to deliver smooth performance, it really should cost more! Make no mistake, this is one sensational budget camera phone.

Read our full Redmi Note 10 Pro review

(Image credit: Basil Kronfli / Digital Camera World)
Low-cost and pixel-packing with its 108MP main camera

Specifications

Screen size: 6.67" 2400x1080
Rear cameras: 108MP (f/1.9), 64MP (f/1.8), 8MP Ultrawide (f/2.2), 2MP Macro (f/2.4)
Front camera: 16 MP (f/2.5)
Weight: 7.23oz / 205g
Dimensions: 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm
Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
RAM: 6GB, 8GB

Reasons to buy

+
Brilliant 120Hz AMOLED screen
+
Impressive battery life
+
Impressive value

Reasons to avoid

-
Good, not great cameras
-
Weak gaming performance
-
Huge camera bump

The Poco X4 Pro 5G is a low-cost, high-impact phone that's big in every way – from its styling to its pixel count, screen size, and that battery – all big. Bang for the buck is therefore the name of the game here, but that isn't necessarily the case specifically when it comes to the camera. The Redmi Note 10 Pro actually outperforms the X4 Pro 5G's camera, despite costing less. 

With 5G connectivity, and an across-the-board competent feature set matched with good, not great photography capabilities though, Xiaomi's Poco X4 Pro 5G can still take excellent photos and is generally pretty easy to recommend at the right price. 

Read our full Poco X4 Pro 5G review

(Image credit: Hannah Rooke / Digital Camera World)
Honor returns with a stylish mid-range smartphone with a 108MP camera

Specifications

Screen size: 6.57-inch OLED, FHD (1080 x 2340)
Rear camera: 108MP main (f/1.9), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4), 2MP depth (f/2.4)
Front camera: 32MP (f/2.2)
Weight: 6.17oz / 175g
Dimensions: 160 x 73.8 x 7.8 mm
Storage: 28GB, 256GB
RAM : 6GB, 8GB

Reasons to buy

+
High-res front camera
+
Fast charging
+
Sleek, lightweight design

Reasons to avoid

-
Both 2MP cameras are poor quality

If you're looking for a mid-range smartphone that has a good front and rear camera, looks stylish, and has excellent battery life, the Honor 50 is a good choice. It might not have the processing power of some of the latest iPhones, but it is considerably cheaper.

Features such as the curved screen, the OLED display, and the 4,300mAh single-cell dual circuit battery capable of reaching full charge within an hour you'd expect to see in pro series phones, so for the price you do get some nice features.

Living in a world where we document our entire lives on social media, it's nice to have both a front-facing camera and a rear camera that produce high-quality images. However, both 2MP cameras could've been left out and it still would've been a solid phone – perhaps even a little cheaper. 

Read our full Honor 50 review


How we test camera phones

As a photography website, we pay special attention to the photo and video quality of camera phones. We rate resolution, noise and color rendition in the context of what rival cameras can do, and where there are any special features, such as ‘night modes’ or ‘portrait modes’, we check that these perform as the makers describe.

Camera phones are all-round digital assistants too, of course, so we also check general handling, usability, and practicality – such as battery life.

Sebastian Oakley
Ecommerce Editor

For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.


He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing.  He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association. 


He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.