After 356 Days Stuck in a Month, January is finally saying goodbye! Jokes aside, a new season began for the smartphone market with a wide array of new devices set to come this year. Perhaps, you want to be on a new journey in 2025 with a new mid-range smartphone. You don’t need to break the bank to get a decent smartphone nowadays. Here are our picks for the best smartphones under $150; read on!
Best Smartphones Under $150
1. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G – $127 / £ 167.00 / € 176.00 / ₹ 17,349
We start the list of the best smartphones under $150 with the Galaxy A15 5G! It is a great budget smartphone that balances price and performance well. Compared to last year’s A14 5G, it offers better performance and 5G connectivity, making it the clear choice—especially in the US, where the 4G version isn’t available.
For under £200, it delivers solid fundamentals: a premium design, excellent battery life (up to two days with light use), and a smooth 90Hz display. While it lacks AI features and seven years of updates like the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung’s One UI is still the best software experience in the budget category. Plus, it promises four OS updates and five years of security patches, outshining most rivals.
Downsides include average performance, no official water resistance, and slow charging speeds. But if you can live with these, the Galaxy A15 5G is the best budget phone to buy.
2. Motorola G04 – £ 77.99 / € 88.46
The Moto G04 proves you can get a good smartphone for under £100. Priced at £89.99 in the UK (not available in the US), it covers the basics well—decent performance, a usable display, and excellent battery life, lasting up to two days with moderate use.
While it only gets two years of security updates, Motorola’s familiar software makes it easy to use. Downsides include no 5G, no official water resistance, and mediocre cameras, but at this price, these are easy to overlook. If you’re on a tight budget, the Moto G04 is an unbeatable deal.
3. Redmi 14C – $115 / ₹ 9999
Redmi launched recently the Redmi 14C as a super-budget offering in India. For less demanding people, this device can be a great option for daily tasks, social media usage, web browsing, and media content.
This 6.88-inch phone packs a 120Hz HD+ display with TÜV Rheinland eye protection, making scrolling smooth and easy on the eyes. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip and Adreno 613 GPU handle everyday tasks well, while 4GB/6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB storage (expandable to 1TB) give plenty of space for apps and media. Running Android 14 with HyperOS, it feels snappy and up to date.
The 50MP main camera takes solid shots, and the 8MP front camera is good for selfies. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor keeps unlocking fast, while the 5160mAh battery lasts long with 18W charging. The IP52 rating adds splash resistance, and extras like a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, and loudspeakers make it even more versatile. With 5G, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB-C, it’s well-equipped for daily use.
4. Vivo Y29 5G – $160 / ₹ 13999
The Vivo Y29 5G arrived costing about $160 which is slightly above our focus price, but for just $10 more you get some extra features has 5G ensures. Also, we don’t need to say that in a few months, we expect this price to fall slightly so it can easily reach $150. Possible promo campaigns can also bring its price down in India.
This slim and lightweight phone packs an 8.1mm minimalist design with a 6.68-inch 120Hz display that reaches 1000 nits of brightness. It’s TÜV Rheinland-certified for eye protection, and its Dynamic Light feature adds flair during music playback and reminders. Powered by the Dimensity 6300 chip, it offers 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, and an extra 8GB of virtual RAM for smoother performance.
The 5500mAh battery supports 44W fast charging and maintains 4-year battery health. With SGS 5-star drop resistance, military-grade durability, IP64 splash resistance, and shock-absorbing corners, it’s built to last. The 50MP dual rear camera and 8MP front camera handle photos well, while dual speakers with a 300% volume boost ensure loud, clear audio. Running Funtouch OS 14 with 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, and GPS, it’s packed with modern features.
5 – POCO C75 – $92 / ₹7,999
The last device on our list is the POCO C75 which arrives as a nice surprise. It’s cheaper than the Moto G04 and also brings a slightly better chipset. Once again, this is a super-budget smartphone for those looking for basic tasks and a smartphone that can get the job done. It’s decent for social media apps, messaging apps, some casual games, and multimedia.
This 6.88-inch smartphone features an HD+ 120Hz display with 600 nits of brightness for smooth visuals. Powered by the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chip and Adreno 611 GPU, it delivers decent performance with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, expandable up to 1TB via microSD. Running on Android 14 with Xiaomi HyperOS, it supports dual SIM and has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security.
The 50MP primary camera captures detailed shots, while the 5MP front camera handles selfies. A 5160mAh battery with 18W charging ensures solid battery life. With 5G, dual 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 5, and IP52 splash resistance, it covers all the essentials. Extras like a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, and USB-C port add to its versatility.
Conclusion – Best Smartphones Under $150
It’s easy to find good smartphones under the $150 mark. However, that may be difficult if you’re looking for more powerful hardware. This price range will usually cover devices that are good for social media apps, multimedia, and other basic tasks. Considering this, the five smartphones above are good representatives for the best smartphones under $150 in January 2025.
