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 A36 5G is a solid choice if you're looking for a budget-friendly phone with a few premium touches. It has a large 6.6-inch AMOLED screen with a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate, which means images and scrolling look sharp and fluid—great for watching videos or casual gaming. The 5000mAh battery is impressive, offering long use through your day, and it supports fast charging so you won't be stuck waiting long to recharge.

On the camera front, it offers decent photos with enhanced night mode and a good front camera for selfies, though it won’t compete with higher-end models in low light or detail. The phone uses a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, which handles everyday tasks and games fairly well without noticeable lag, but it’s not meant for heavy multitasking or intensive apps. With 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage (expandable via microSD), it has enough space and speed for most users who don’t store tons of files or run many apps simultaneously.

The build is rugged with water and dust resistance, meaning it should withstand daily wear and tear better than many budget phones. It comes with the latest Android 14 and Samsung’s One UI 6.0, so software feels modern and easy to navigate. The phone is unlocked for all carriers and supports 5G, which is a plus for faster internet speeds. The main downsides are that it’s a bit heavier than some might prefer and the camera, while good for its class, isn’t outstanding. If you want a dependable, affordable Samsung phone that covers all basics well with a sharp display and strong battery, the Galaxy A36 5G fits the bill nicely.

The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G is a strong contender in the budget phone category, especially for those who want a big, vibrant screen and reliable performance without spending too much. Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate makes watching videos and scrolling through apps feel fluid and colorful. The 5000mAh battery is impressive and should easily last a full day of typical use, plus the included 25W fast charger helps quickly top up power when needed. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage, it offers plenty of space and speed for everyday tasks, apps, and photos, and you can expand storage further using a microSD card if you don’t mind sharing the second SIM slot.

The phone runs on the Exynos 1280 processor, which handles daily apps and light gaming well, though it might slow down with very demanding games or heavy multitasking. The camera setup is versatile with a 50MP main lens for clear and detailed pictures, an 8MP ultrawide for wider shots, and a 2MP macro camera for close-ups. The front 13MP camera can also record sharp selfies and videos, including 4K at 30fps, which is rare in this price range. Build quality is solid with the bonus of IP67 water resistance, meaning it can handle some splashes and dust better than many competitors.

The phone comes with the latest Android 15 and Samsung's One UI 7, promising a smooth and user-friendly experience, plus up to six major software updates, which is great for keeping the phone secure and up to date. The international unlocked model supports 5G and most global networks, but new activations are fully supported only on T-Mobile in the U.S., which might be a limitation for some users. The Galaxy A26 5G delivers excellent display quality, battery life, and cameras for a budget phone, with good software support and solid build, though it may face some network compatibility issues in the U.S. and isn’t designed for heavy gaming or extremely demanding apps.