BUDGET SMARTPHONES 2021 FULL
BUDGET SMARTPHONES 2021 ANDROID

BUDGET SMARTPHONES 2021 ANDROID

Google's flagship Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends) are more polished than ever, and they're officially the only Android phones that will be supported for a whopping seven years of software updates. Once you have yours in hand, read our recommendations on what settings to change to get the most out of it. (I like using it as a Bluetooth remote for the camera.) Best of all, the lineup will receive four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, which is nearly the best you'll find in Android. It's the only phone in the trio with the embedded S Pen stylus, if you like to doodle. Speaking of, the S23 Ultra technically has four cameras-retaining the extra 10X optical zoom camera from its predecessor-providing versatility whether you want to photograph an ant up close or a kid far away on a soccer pitch. They also offer some of the most stable video footage you can capture on Android phones, particularly with the Ultra. The triple camera systems are the highlight, delivering remarkable results whether it's day or night, and there are plenty of modes and controls to get the look you want.

BUDGET SMARTPHONES 2021 FULL

Battery life has improved across the board, with the S23 comfortably lasting more than a day and the S23 Ultra hitting nearly two full days with average use. Whether you opt for the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23, the 6.6-inch S23+, or the massive 6.8-inch S23 Ultra, these phones are full of high-end features, from the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that keeps even the most demanding games running beautifully to the fluid and bright 120-Hz AMOLED displays.

If you want a no-compromises best-of-the-best kind of smartphone, then look no further than Samsung's Galaxy S23 range ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends). But even with these flaws, it's easily the best bang for your buck. And the fingerprint sensor isn't my favorite. The battery life is just OK on average it can last a day, but you'll need a power bank if you're a power user. It lacks a headphone jack and a microSD card slot, so if those are important to you, look elsewhere. Did I mention it costs just $499? It will even last a while, thanks to the five years of security updates and three Android OS upgrades. Don't forget the smooth 90-Hz screen too! Then there's wireless charging and the IP67 water resistance rating. The 6.1-inch OLED screen is a nice size that's not too large and not too small, and it gets decently bright. New in this model is an upgraded 64-megapixel camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide that take better photos than most other phones its price (and some pricier ones too). It has a powerful processor-Tensor G2-to run demanding games and zip through dozens of apps with ease. It looks gorgeous (especially in the flashy Coral color). The Pixel 7A ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes very close to being the perfect phone for everybody.

Budget smartphones 2021