The very first Apple iPhone hit stores in 2007, only 11 years ago. Since then the company, in particular, and the smartphone industry, in general, have captured the imaginations -- and pocketbooks -- of consumers in this tech-driven digital era. Consider these statistics that demonstrate just how pervasive smartphones have become these days:
Of course, smartphones come at different price points, which is a good thing since this means that you should be able to find one that meets your needs and your budget. It can be all the more affordable if you’re willing to enter into a multi-year contract with your wireless services provider -- in which case you might not have to pay for your smartphone at all. But if you dislike the idea of being tethered to your wireless carrier, buying a phone at full retail price may be your only other option.
The global average price for a smartphone is $363, which is actually 10% more than it was a year ago. In fact, smartphone prices, overall, are actually up 6% from 2016 to last year. So while you can get the newest flagship model phones for around $1,000 or more, you don't really have to pay nearly that much to obtain a smartphone that will meet your needs in a cost-effective way.Even if you plan to get a new smartphone soon, chances are you’ll be at it again in around two years. People tend to change their smartphones frequently, which is yet another reason why it makes sense to avoid spending too much on something that you might have for, according to Recon Analytics, only around 21 months.So that you can find a great deal on a great smartphone for however long you end up keeping it, check out the following list for some of the most popular smartphones priced at under $500.
One of the first things you'll notice about this Android smartphone is its mammoth 18:9 display, which is made possible because of, among other things, the move to eliminate the bezels. In order to go with a full screen, the phone changes up its fingerprint sensor. No, it does not eliminate the front-facing technology altogether. Rather, it moves the sensor from the front to the back. It seeks to make amends for this move by adding a Face Unlock feature, which might appeal to you if you like fresh, new features based on innovative, smartly thought out technology. Battery life is important to all smartphone users, and the OnePlus 5T, while good on that front, doesn't exactly wow that way that some of its competitors do. Some sources suggest that you can get around 11 and a half hours of juice. It features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 6GB of RAM, which makes the phone pretty fast. While there's a lot to love about the smartphone, there are some negatives to keep in mind in the event that they're dealbreakers for you. The smartphone is not water resistant, does not support wireless charging, does not offer optical zoom, and does not feature microSD card slots. But what it does have makes it a keeper.Pros:
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The Moto Z2 Play sure knows how to pack a lot of high-end technology into what is billed to be a mid-level smartphone. A unique selling point for this mobile device is the modular construction that you can take advantage of to swap features on your smartphone. For instance, you can give your mobile device more capabilities, courtesy of something called Moto Mods that are modules you can slide into your smartphone. So you can use Moto Mods to transform your mobile device into, among other things, a speaker or a projector. There aren't a lot of modular smartphones available right now, so the Moto Z2 Play will give you the chance to get an affordable smartphone that has a modular construction that most other smartphones simply don't have. This mobile device offers not only wireless charging, but also great battery life so that you won't have to worry about the phone going dead on you anytime soon. The 6mm body offers a nice, sleek design, but some reviews say that the design won't satisfy everyone. The selfie-camera is only 5 megapixels, which is also underwhelming.Pros:
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If you're an Apple devotee who wants an iPhone on a budget, then the iPhone SE may be tailor made just for you. Released in March of 2016, the smartphone supports operating systems of 9.3.2. all the way up to 11.4.1, and it offers a range of storage options from 16GB, to 32GB, to 64GB, to 128GB. It's a good idea to choose a storage option that will meet present and future needs since the iPhone SE offers no card slot for added capacity. It's a fairly small phone -- the display area is four inches with resolution of 640 x 1136 pixels -- so it's a good option if you want a smaller smartphone rather than a smartphone the size of a small tablet. With the battery, you can depend on stand-by time of as much as 240 hours, talk time of as much as 14 hours, and music play of as much as 50 hours. It also features, among other things, a fingerprint sensor on the front and a selfie camera with face detection.Pros:
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If you want a smartphone that is well below the $500 barrier, then you'll want to consider models like the HTC U11 Life. The photo quality is not the best, the speakers won't pump out the sound like ou might want, and the plastic body might come across as a bit cheap. But the HTC U11 Life is a good smartphone at a very reasonable price. As for technology, it has a fingerprint scanner, a 5.2 inch full HD LCD screen, and pressure-sensitive sides that activate certain functions -- like the camera -- depending on how you squeeze the smartphone. You should also know that some reviews say that the battery life is miserable and there is no headphone jack.Pros:
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The ASUS ZenFone 4 boasts a sleek design, a camera that is better than most, and sufficient (though not great) battery life. It has a 5.5-inch screen, a fairly generous 64GB of storage capacity, and a microSD card slot if you require more storage capacity. The dual speakers are good enough for most users' needs, though you might find them a bit underwhelming if you are a heavy music listener. On that note, the smartphone features a 3.5mm headphone jack, a feature that some smartphone manufacturers are starting to phase out. If you hate to see smudges on your phone, you might not be thrilled of the smartphone's glass screen that some reviews refer to as a smudge magnet. The 5.5-inch screen features FHD resolution. While not as good as QHD resolution, FHD resolution will be more than enough for most users' needs.Pros:
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As you can see, there are lots of options if you want a functional smartphone for under $500. These models will give you an idea of what you can expect if you’re in the market for a new smartphone and want to avoid signing a contract with a wireless carrier. Yes, it can be nice to get a new or greatly subsidized phone as part of a multi-year data and voice service agreement with a wireless carrier. But sometimes it’s nice to own the phone outright and to not be tied to a wireless carrier for years at a time. Let this list be your springboard towards getting an affordable, usable, and tech-rich smartphone!
