Cheap Android 9 Phones

7 Best Android Phones of 2026, Tested and Reviewed | WIRED

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Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money. Cheaper phones still use LCD, which won't have as deep blacks and poppy colors, but even phones under $300 can sport OLED. You'll see some variations, like AMOLED or Dynamic AMOLED 2X, but that's mostly marketing jargon. Screen size: You hold a smartphone all the time, so make sure whatever you pick fits your palms. Most small Android phones are around 6.1 to 6.3 inches (measured diagonally), whereas larger phones typically top out at 6.8 or 6.9 inches. Consider the Pixel 9a if you can find it for a good deal less, since it's nearly identical. Otherwise, the Pixel 10a is a handsome handset—especially in berry—and is one of the most well-rounded smartphone packages on the market for under $500. Google phones use the company's in-house Tensor chip, and some Samsung phones utilize Samsung's Exynos processor in select markets. It's hard to say how reliably a processor will perform without looking at reviews and benchmark results, so do your research. For reliable performance, try to stick to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 series or higher, or MediaTek's Dimensity 7000 series or higher. The 2026 flagship chip is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Best Android Phones of 2026: Our Experts Give Their Verdict - CNET

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Look for older phones: Companies typically keep previous models around at a discounted price. For example, you can buy the 2024 Pixel 9 Pro for $899 and the Pixel 9 for $599. Get more for less with cheap phones: For a fraction of the cost, you can get a solid phone that does almost everything a pricier flagship phone can do. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t a radical upgrade from the S25 Ultra, but there are improvements where it counts. It’s the thinnest and lightest Ultra, at 7.9mm thick and 214 grams — an admittedly minor slim-down that’s still noticeable. If you consider yourself more of a pro photographer, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL may be more appealing options. Also, if you have a Pixel 8 or 9, you’re probably fine holding onto your device for a few more years, as there aren’t any major differences between those older devices and Google’s latest baseline. When I first got my hands on Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 7, I was delighted to discover that it has a smaller crease, larger cover screen, thinner design and bigger battery compared to last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 6. But as I tested the new clamshell phone, I became enthralled by its inner screen. At 6.9 inches, this is the biggest screen on any Samsung phone aside from the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has an 8-inch foldable display.

The 4 Best Android Phones of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter

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The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro are cheaper and offer comparable features if you want a more compact phone. If you want a larger, more powerful device, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is worth the extra cost. Google still sells the Pixel 9a, which is almost identical to the Pixel 10a. After a new round of testing, Google’s Pixel 11 is our top pick, and the Pixel 11 Pro is our upgrade pick.August 2026 · Android phones are available in various sizes and at assorted prices, ranging from cheap handsets with modest screens to expensive foldable models that can turn from a tablet into a phone. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t all that different from its predecessor, with the same large 6.9-inch OLED screen, an S Pen stylus, and a 200-megapixel main camera that’s almost as good as what you can get from the Pixel 11 Pro. After taking the phone off the charger at 9:30 a.m., I used it to scroll through social media during the day, listen to an hour of music on Spotify, take almost three hours’ worth of phone calls, and shoot a few photos and videos throughout the evening, and it was only at 52% by 6:30 p.m.

The budget Android phone is quietly on its way to extinction

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IDC projects a record 16.7% drop in global smartphone shipments for 2026 due to severe memory shortages. Sub-$100 Android devices are disappearing as average selling prices jump 27.6% to $581. Buyers are shifting toward premium devices and foldables, with Apple’s September 9 event expected to accelerate growth in the category. According to IDC’s August 2026 report, worldwide smartphone shipments are expected to plummet by a record 16.7% this year. That marks a sharp downward revision from the 13.9% decline projected back in May. Total Android shipments are forecast to fall 24.3% in 2026, driven by a near-collapse at the entry level where sub-$100 device shipments sank almost 60% in Q2 alone. With overall smartphone shipments falling to historic lows, low-end brands operating on paper-thin margins are being priced out of the market. But if there is one category defying the overall market decline, it is foldables. IDC expects foldable shipments to grow 12.6% this year to 22.9 million units, propelled by impressive hardware like the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The Best Android Phones We've Tested for 2026 | PCMag

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Many of the phones available in the US cost $600 or more because most people buy them on monthly payment plans that hide the cost over 24 to 36 months. But there's also a thriving market of phones that cost $300 or less. For more, see our stories on the best cheap phones, the best cheap phone plans, the best eSIM, and our top tips to get the best price on a cell phone. People who want the best Samsung phone: The S26 Ultra’s specs are out of this world, with a 5x optical telephoto zoom, a 200MP main camera, a superfast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and an enormous 6.9-inch OLED. The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G is an excellent value for under $200. Highlights include a large 90Hz screen, a good camera system, an IP54 rating against dust and water, and a guarantee of six years of security updates. The Motorola Razr makes full use of both its outer and inner screens in a way competitors simply don't. The 3.6-inch outer display is large and bright, while the 6.9-inch inner screen provides ample space for entertainment and productivity. Motorola's approach to software means you can accomplish virtually anything you want on either display; there's no need to open the device if you don't want to, which can help you reduce screen time.

I test all the best Android phones every year, and these are the ...

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Motorola’s budget lineup has a bit of an identity problem right now with too many phones that look and feel alike, spread across too narrow a price range. The Moto G Power (2026) sits at the top of that pile at $299.99, and while it doesn’t dramatically distance itself from its cheaper siblings, it does enough of the right things to justify its place as Motorola’s best affordable Android phone. It's not hard to make a good Android phone, but these are the devices available in 2026 that have achieved greatness. I test and review dozens of them every year, and I’ve spent time with just about every phone you can get your hands on in the US (and even some that you can only buy elsewhere). And, across my many Android-fueled adventures, I’ve learned to pick the qualities that make a phone worth buying. So, with that in mind, here’s what I think are the best Android phones you can buy in 2026. Motorola's Moto G Power (2026) is the brand's most complete budget phone right now.