Finding the best Android phones under $400 is not a big deal but there’s a catch it’s not that easy when there are dozens of options available on the market and which makes it quite difficult to find the right phone for you. There is no perfect smartphone exists in this world it fully depends on your needs and preferences. No problem, if your budget is limited to $400, there are a bunch of Android smartphone options available which offer decent features such as bright high-resolution AMOLED displays, great battery life, and much more. We have curated a list of the best Android phones at that price and it will help you to get the right smartphone.
Best Phones Under $400
OnePlus Nord N20 5G
Reason to Buy
- Gorgeous AMOLED panel
- Great software experience
- Smooth performance
- 5G support
- Good camera
Reason to Avoid
- Only one Andriod update
- No Alert slider
OnePlus Nord N20 is one of the most affordable 5G smartphones on the market which costs less than $400. OnePlus packs decent features in the OnePlus Nord N20 smartphone.
Starting with the display, you get the brighter 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with a standard 60Hz refresh rate which offers rich colors and a great viewing experience. In terms of performance, the smartphone is equipped with Snapdragon 695 processor under the hood which provides smooth performance during multitasking, gaming (casual), or web surfing. If you are a die-hard gamer, then this smartphone is not for you.
OnePlus Nord N20 has a decent camera system, a fast-charging battery, and a gorgeous design. You also get NFC support for contactless payments, which is rarely found on affordable phones.
OnePlus offers only one year of OS updates for this device means the device is limited to Android 12 that’s the one disadvantage. Overall the smartphone is great under the $400 price tag.
Moto G Stylus (2022)
Reason to Buy
- Excellent 90Hz display
- Clean UI experience
- Long-lasting battery life
- 3 years of security patch updates
- Built-in stylus
Reason to Avoid
- No 5G support
- Only One Android Update
- No NFC
Moto G Stylus (2022) comes with notable improvements such as a new design, a higher refresh rate display, and a long-lasting battery life compared to last year’s model. Motorola offers great features at affordable cost in the Moto G Stylus smartphone.
The Moto G Stylus sports a 6.8-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a versatile 50MP triple rear camera setup, and a large 5,000mAh battery. Inside is MediaTek’s Helio G88 processor paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The Moto G Stylus smartphone offers good performance in everyday tasks. Its camera captures great shots even in night conditions thanks to its amazing night mode feature.
Motorola’s smartphones are quite popular for offering a clean UI experience and many buyers preferred smartphones with a clean UI experience, and Motorola’s Moto G Stylus is no exception. The smartphone offers a nearly stock Android experience thanks to its MyUX UI and you get only one major OS update (to Android 12) and three years of security patch updates.
There is no NFC chip in the smartphone for contactless payments and it doesn’t have any IP rating for dust and water resistance. The Moto G Stylus comes with a built-in stylus which is perfect for editing, highlighting, sketching, or handwritten notes. If you are a person who likes to take notes and draw sketches, then this phone would be best for you.
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
Reason to Buy
- 120Hz display
- Smooth performance
- Decent Camera
- 5G support
- Big battery
Reason to Avoid
- Average cameras
- Only 64GB of internal storage
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G offers great value for its $299 price. It comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 processor, and a large 5,000mAh battery which easily lasts the entire day. The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G performs well in everyday tasks and it has only 64GB inbuilt storage but can be expandable up to 1TB. Considering the price, the smartphone offers great battery life and performance but its display is just average.
You’ll get the 50MP Quad rear camera setup on the back joined by depth, macro, and 5MP ultrawide shooters. The smartphone takes good shots in daylight and even in poor lighting conditions. In terms of software, Samsung offers 2 years of Major OS updates for this device which is great and it’s very rare, to get updates straight for two years for the budget range phones.
Google Pixel 6A
Reason to Buy
- Excellent Cameras
- 5G support
- All-day battery life
Reason to Avoid
- No wireless charging support
Google Pixel 6a smartphone costs more than $400 but thanks to the debit/credit offers, it brings the smartphone pricing below $400. Google Pixel 6a smartphone has a great camera system and it is powered by a Tensor G2 chipset that offers smooth and fast performance.
Unlike other affordable smartphones, the Pixel 6a really got great camera specs with 12.2MP dual rear camera setup that captures outstanding pictures in any scenario such as in low light, at Night. Google’s Pixel 6a smartphone offers a sturdy metal body design and attractive color options. It is backed by a massive 4410mAh battery which lasts almost a day long.
Redmi Note 11 Pro
Reason to Buy
- 120Hz AMOLED panel
- Smooth performance
- 67W fast charging support
- Splash-proof chassis
Reason to Avoid
- Bloatware
- Average cameras
Redmi’s prominent budget range Note series smartphones come with full power packed with features at an affordable price tag. The Redmi Note 11 Pro is a $299 phone and it boasts a bounty of specs including a big AMOLED display, and a large battery, and comes with the same boxy design as its predecessor.
The smartphone offers a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display of the device is brighter and produces true and very accurate colors and offers a great viewing experience.
Under the hood, the smartphone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor and a generous 8GB of RAM offering a good performance. The device boots Android 12 based on MIUI 13. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast wired charging support. Its battery offers day-long juice on a single charge and you can charge the phone from 0 to 100 percent in minutes thanks to its 67W fast charging.
Redmi Note 11 Pro features a 108MP triple rear camera setup that takes decent shots and it can record video at 1080p resolution though it doesn’t support 4K video recording. Overall, the smartphone has a good design, long-lasting battery life, and a decent processor which actually makes it a great performer.
The best Android phones under $400 in 2023: The bottom line
It’s quite confusing to pick the best budget Andriod phone specifically when the budget is limited to $400.
Overall, it’s safe to say that the OnePlus Nord N20 5G is the best Android smartphone under the $400 price tag. Compared to other Android phones (which we have listed above under $400) the OnePlus Nord N20 5G has a beautiful AMOLED panel, a great camera setup, and, a power-efficient processor that tackles almost every task you throw at it. Furthermore, the smartphone has an NFC chip for contactless payments which is very rare to get any budget-range Android smartphone. The device has long-lasting battery life, great software, and everyone’s favorite 3.5mm headphone jack. These features make the OnePlus Nord N20 5G the best Android Phone under $400. But there’s a catch, if you are looking for a camera-centric smartphone, then the Google Pixel 6a is your go-to option under the $400 price tag, the smartphone is capable enough to produce high-quality shots nearly in every scenario.
Abhinav has been writing about technology for over 2 years now. He holds a degree in Engineering and is obsessed about smartphones, Laptops, and wearables. He can always be seen scrolling on Twitter and Instagram while he isn’t working.