With smartphone technology evolving each day and rates soaring higher than ever before, it has become increasingly difficult to decide on the best phone. A strange case of the paradox of choice, smartphone shopping can be an anxiety-inducing task for many. To help you avoid the stress of choosing the right smartphone, here is a brief list of the top five great budget Android smartphones in the market right now.

Google Pixel 6a
Priced at the higher end of the budget range, the Google Pixel 6a costs $450 and checks a lot of boxes for what you would expect from a smartphone; a Tensor chipset, a 6 GB RAM, 12 Megapixel rear camera with an ultrawide lens, an IP67 rating, and more. The phone offers 4,400 mAh of battery, along with 5G connectivity and hearing aid compatibility.

OnePlus N20 5G
The Nord N20 5G costs only $299, but offers a decent experience with its Snapdragon 695 Processor and 6 GB RAM. The 4,500 mAh battery on the phone gives it around 10 hours of screen time, and the 33W SuperVOOC ensures quick and efficient charging. The phone has a stellar design for its price range, and offers three years of bi-monthly security patches.

Samsung Galaxy A53
The Samsung Galaxy A53 has an Exynos processor and a 120 Hz OLED display with an under-display fingerprint sensor, a 64-megapixel primary camera and 12-megapixel ultra wide camera. Priced at $450, the phone is slated to get four years of OS updates and five years of security patches, implying that the phone will stay up to date and secure until 2027. It uses an Android 12 with One UI 4.1 operating system, 6 GB RAM, and offers 5,000 mAh of battery.

Moto G Stylus 2022
Miss using the stylus? The Moto G Stylus 2022 is one of the only phones in the budget range that offers a stylus that tucks into the device. The phone offers decent performance with its MediaTek Helio G88 SoC and 6 GB RAM, along with a smooth 90 Hz display, and a 5,000 mAh battery. The rear camera has a 50 MP primary, while the front camera has a 16 MP resolution. The phone is priced at $300, making it a rather affordable Android smartphone option among the best ones.

Nokia G50
The Nokia G50 has a 6.82 inch display, with a Snapdragon 480 chipset, and is available in two RAM sizes – 4 GB or 6 GB. It features Android 11 software and offers a 5,000 mAh battery, ensuring lasting excellence in terms of performance for casual usage. Priced at $299, the phone is extremely affordable, and has a 48 MP rear camera, for brilliant picture quality.

While some phones offer better specs than others, it is up to the customer to decide what they are looking for; lasting battery, excellent graphics, camera quality, or its gaming performance. While the best budget smartphones try to offer a little bit of everything, they may also sometimes lack in terms of build quality, processors, or storage options. For the smart buyers out there, it is all about choosing the right smartphone to match their needs and usage goals.