Mashable Picks 5 Best Budget Smartphones Under $700 for 2026
Updated
Updated · Mashable · Jul 17
Mashable Picks 5 Best Budget Smartphones Under $700 for 2026
1 articles · Updated · Mashable · Jul 17
Summary
$699 OnePlus 15R topped Mashable's 2026 budget-phone picks, with the outlet calling it the closest option to a flagship at a high-midrange price.
The ranking targets buyers squeezed by rising costs and highlights five phones under $700 from Apple, Google, Samsung, Nothing and OnePlus.
$599 iPhone 17e and $499 Pixel 10a made the list for strong ecosystem and camera value, though both give up some premium features such as top displays, chips or full AI tools.
$549 Galaxy A57 5G and $499 Nothing Phone 4(a) Pro rounded out the picks, with Samsung favored for battery and display and Nothing for its 144Hz screen and 5,000mAh battery.