10 Best Samsung Budget Phones 2025 in the United States

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G stands out as a budget-friendly phone with several appealing features. It boasts a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display, providing vibrant and clear visuals, which is great for everyday activities like browsing and streaming. The triple-lens camera setup offers versatility and decent image quality, making it suitable for casual photography enthusiasts. Additionally, its IP54 rating ensures improved durability, allowing it to withstand everyday dust and water splashes. The phone's battery life is further enhanced by Super Fast Charging, ensuring that you spend less time tethered to a charger.

With 128GB of internal storage and the option to expand up to 1.5TB, you have ample space for apps, photos, and videos. It also supports 5G connectivity, ensuring fast internet speeds. The 2.4 GHz processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM, should comfortably handle basic tasks, though it might struggle with more demanding apps and multitasking. The phone runs on Android 14 with Samsung's One UI, offering a user-friendly interface and six years of security updates to ensure longevity and safety.

The device's RAM might be a limiting factor for those who require intensive multitasking or gaming. All in all, the Galaxy A16 5G is a solid choice for users seeking an affordable smartphone with a large display, decent camera, and robust storage options, though it may not be the best fit for power users.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a solid choice for anyone looking for a budget-friendly Samsung phone with a strong feature set. Its 6.7-inch display offers a sharp and smooth viewing experience thanks to a Full HD+ resolution (2340 x 1080) and a high 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations feel fluid. The screen also gets very bright (up to 1900 nits), which is great for outdoor use. Under the hood, it has a capable processor with speeds up to 3.1 GHz and 8GB of RAM, which means everyday tasks and multitasking should run smoothly without lag. Storage at 128GB is decent for most users, allowing room for apps, photos, and videos. The 4700mAh battery is quite large and supports fast and wireless charging, offering long usage times—Samsung claims up to 33 hours of talk time, so you can go a full day without worrying about charging.

Camera-wise, the phone shines with AI-powered features like Photo Assist to improve pictures, Night Portrait mode for better low-light shots, and easy slow-motion video capture. The inclusion of Galaxy Buds FE with noise cancellation and real-time translation features adds extra value, especially for travel or language needs. Running the latest Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1, the software experience is modern and user-friendly, with useful extras like AI-powered translation and photo editing. Build quality seems sturdy and comfortable to hold, weighing a reasonable 209 grams with water resistance for peace of mind.

One downside is that it uses a USB-C port without a headphone jack, so wired audio requires an adapter. Also, while the camera and AI features are great, those looking for professional-grade photography might find it less advanced than pricier models. The Galaxy S24 FE delivers a compelling package for users who want a reliable, stylish phone with a great display, long battery life, and smart software features without spending too much.

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a strong contender in the budget phone segment, especially for users who want a large, vibrant screen and good performance without spending much. Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate delivers sharp and smooth visuals, making watching videos and scrolling feel pleasant. The 1080p resolution ensures images and text look clear, which is above average for budget phones. Battery life is impressive thanks to a 5000 mAh capacity, which should easily last a full day of typical use, and it supports 25W fast charging, so recharging won’t take too long. Camera-wise, it includes a 50 MP main shooter, which takes decent photos in good lighting, supplemented by ultrawide and macro lenses for variety. However, low-light photography may not be as strong as pricier models.

The processor is a 1.2 GHz Cortex A13, which is entry-level but paired with 8GB of RAM, it handles everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and light apps smoothly. With 256GB storage, there's plenty of space for apps, photos, and files, which is a notable plus in this price range. Build quality feels solid but is typical for budget phones—mostly plastic—which keeps costs down but may not offer the premium feel of higher-end models. On software, it runs Android with Samsung’s One UI, providing a clean and user-friendly interface along with useful features and security updates.

A drawback is the lack of a headphone jack, so you’ll need wireless headphones or an adapter. Also, while it supports many 5G bands, confirming carrier compatibility is important if you are in the US or abroad. Considering these features, the Galaxy A16 5G represents a solid choice for those seeking a budget phone with a big, bright display, long battery life, ample storage, and good performance for daily use, but with a basic processor and average camera performance in low light.