A mobile phone has become the most important tool right now, thanks to the evolution of technology. The set of features it offers has made it a part of our lifestyle, and thus, buying the right smartphone has become an important decision to make.
Nowadays, you don’t have to spend $1000 bucks for a new smartphone. Many great phones cost far less and offer you the same set of features as that of a high-end smartphone. You can easily grab a new device for under $700, and we are here to guide you through some of the best options that are available to buy right now.
We have included a list of four best smartphones in our lightly curated list picked that are the best smartphones under $700. Whether you are an Android or iPhone fan, big spender, or on a tight budget, there’s a choice for everyone.
Table of Contents
List of Best Phones Under $700
Note: All of the smartphones in the list have their own set of pros and cons, and hence the list is not arranged in any order. All of the phones on this list are carrier unlocked and can also be bought internationally.
1. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is the most affordable device from the premium S21 lineup. It is also the smallest device among all of them. There is not much of a difference between this and its expensive siblings. The main difference is the display and battery, but since it is driven by the device’s size, you are getting a lot of value for a lot less price.
The phone features a lovely design and has a plastic matte finish back. There are four color variants to choose from Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, and Phantom Pink. On the front, it has a 6.2inch Dynamic AMOLED display which supports up to 120Hz refresh rate. It has a Full HD+ resolution and is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
Despite the low price, you get high-end internal specifications. It runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Chipset, which also has 5G support for all bands. In terms of memory, you get 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of fast UFS 3.1 Internal storage. The software is also well polished; out of the back, you get One UI 3.1 based on Android 11.
Samsung has packed a highly-capable set of cameras. On the back, it has a triple camera setup with a combo of 12MP main sensor with OIS, 64MP telephoto lens also with OIS, and 1.1x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. You can record videos up to 8K@24fps. On the front, it has a 10MP camera for taking selfies and portrait shots.
The S21 has a 4000mAh battery inside along with 25W fast charging support. Fast 15W Qi/PMA wireless charging and Reverse wireless charging support are also present. The only major con of this device is the exclusion of the charger in the box. Lastly, there is an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, and face unlock to secure the device.
Technical Specifications
| SoC | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) |
| RAM and Storage | 8GB RAM + 128GB | 8GB RAM + 256GB |
| Display and Resolution | 6.2inch (1080×2400 pixels) |
| Camera | Triple Rear 64MP + 12MP + 12MP | Front 10MP |
| Battery | 4000mAh |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Bluetooth 5.0 | USB Type-C 3.2 |
2. Apple iPhone 11
The Apple iPhone 11 was introduced back in September 2019, and since then, the price has been drastically dropped, making it a good choice to buy even to date. There are many things to like about this phone, starting with the design; it has a gorilla glass back in an aluminum frame and an array of colors such as Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, and White.
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This compact design features a 6.1inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD with a screen resolution of 828×1792 pixels. It features a true tone and a wide color gamut, so you get amazing display quality with high color accuracy. It has scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating, and IP68 dust/water resistance in terms of protection.
Inside the iPhone 11, there’s the Apple A13 Bionic processor paired with Quad-core Apple GPU. It has 4GB of RAM, and you can choose between 64GB/128GB/256GB of fast NVMe Internal Storage. One of the main advantages of getting an iPhone is the clean and secure software experience. It runs on iOS 13 out of the box.
Cameras are another main selling point of an iPhone. The iPhone 11 camera setup features a standard 12MP wide-angle camera with OIS and a 12MP ultrawide camera. You can record up to 4K@24/30/60fps. On the front, it has a 12MP selfie camera that can also record up to 4K@24/30/60fps.
When it comes to battery life, the phone features a 3110mAh battery inside along with 18W fast charging support and Qi wireless charging feature. Despite having a smaller battery, the efficient processor and the optimized software make this phone last longer. In terms of security, it only has Face ID.
Technical Specifications
| SoC | Apple A13 Bionic (7nm+) |
| RAM and Storage | 4GB RAM + 64GB | 4GB RAM + 128GB | 4GB RAM + 256GB |
| Display and Resolution | 6.1inch (828×1792 pixels) |
| Camera | Dual Rear 12MP + 12MP | Front 12MP |
| Battery | 3110mAh |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
3. Google Pixel 5 5G
The Google Pixel 5 is an affordable flagship device from the tech giant Google which comes with a Gorgeous and compact design, excellent set of cameras, amazing battery life, and clean software experience. Starting with the design, it has an aluminum back with a matte color finish. It has two color options Just Black and Sorta Sage.
On the front, it has a 6.0inch OLED display that supports Always-on display, HDR10+, and up to 120Hz variable refresh rate. It is Full HD+ in resolution and has a punch-hole notch solution for the front-facing camera. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 and is IP68 dust/water-resistant.
The only thing that will make you think twice before buying this device is the underwhelming performance it offers. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 Internal Storage. It can easily keep up with all day-to-day tasks, but it won’t be as snappy as other smartphones on this list.
If you love taking still photos, then this device is a great choice for you. The Pixel 5 features a dual rear camera setup with a 12.2MP primary sensor with OIS and a 16MP ultrawide lens. The phone takes amazing pictures and can record 4K videos up to 60fps. On the front, it has an 8MP single camera for taking selfies.
The Pixel 5 runs on Stock Android 11 out of the box. You get a clean software experience with fast software and security patch updates. The battery life is also great. It has a 4080mAh battery inside along with 18W fast charging support. It also supports 12W wireless charging and 5W reverse charging support.
Technical Specifications
| SoC | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7nm) |
| RAM and Storage | 8GB RAM + 128GB |
| Display and Resolution | 6.0inch (1080×2340 pixels) |
| Camera | Dual Rear 12.2MP + 16MP | Front 8MP |
| Battery | 4080mAh |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Bluetooth 5.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
4. OnePlus 8 Pro 5G
The OnePlus 8 Pro is the brand’s flagship device from last year. Now the price has dropped slightly and is a great value for money phone for this price range. It has a class-leading display, Smooth performance, premium build quality, a decent set of cameras, and a clean software experience.
The phone has a 6.78inch Fluid AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 1440×3168 pixels. It supports HDR10+ certification and a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The display quality on this device is amazing. It has a punch hole notch for the front camera. It is also well protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
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The OnePlus 8 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor paired with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of fast UFS 3.0 Internal Storage. Although it is a last year’s flagship processor, it is still very capable for all day-to-day tasks and heavy gaming. In terms of software, it runs on Android 10 out of the box with OxygenOS 11 skin.
Moving on to cameras, it has a quad-camera setup on the back with a combo of 48MP main sensor with OIS, 8MP telephoto lens also with OIS, 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP Color filter camera. On the front, it has a 16MP selfie camera. The phone is well secured by an under-display optical fingerprint scanner and face unlock.
You can expect great battery life out of this device. It has a 4510mAh battery inside, which supports 30W fast charging, 30W Fast wireless charging, and 3W Reverse wireless charging. Overall, the OnePlus 8 Pro is a great device; if you are looking for a phone that doesn’t have many compromises, this device deserves a closer look.
Technical Specifications
| SoC | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) |
| RAM and Storage | 8GB RAM + 128GB | 12GB RAM + 256GB |
| Display and Resolution | 6.78inch (1440×3168 pixels) |
| Camera | Quad Rear 48MP + 8MP + 48MP + 5MP | Front 16MP |
| Battery | 4510mAh |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Bluetooth 5.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
Final Words
So, this wraps up our list for the best smartphone under $700. Hopefully, this list was helpful for you to find the right smartphone that fits all your needs. If you are still facing a problem picking the right smartphone, then decide what the main purpose of getting a new smartphone is and where you will spend most of the time using the smartphone.
If you love watching entertainment content, then spend it on a smartphone with a good display and an amazing battery life. If you love playing games, then go for the high-end processor and if you only take pictures and record videos, then buy the smartphone with the best cameras.
