**Budget Smartphone Showdown: Why the “Best” Picks Are Anything But “Best”**

When you’re hunting for a budget phone, the internet loves to slap a glossy sticker on the latest “best” device and hope you won’t notice the fine print. The Verge’s roundup tries to convince you that the iPhone 16E, Pixel 9A, and OnePlus 13R are the holy trinity of affordable power. Spoiler alert: they’re not. Let’s tear through each claim, sprinkle in some sarcasm, and—most importantly—show you why you might be better off spending your hard‑earned cash on something that actually makes sense.

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### 1. “The Best Cheap iPhone” – iPhone 16E (aka the $599 Not‑So‑Cheap)

**Claim:** The 16E is the cheapest brand‑new iPhone, offers “flagship‑level performance,” and is a solid budget pick.

**Reality Check:**

– **Price Tag:** $599 is barely a discount; it’s more of a “I’m still paying premium for an Apple logo” tax. If you’re truly budget‑conscious, a refurbished iPhone 14 or even a used iPhone 13 drops that price by at least $150.
– **Missing MagSafe:** Apple has been touting MagSafe as a core accessory ecosystem since 2020. Removing the magnetic charger from a brand‑new phone is like selling a car without a steering wheel. You’ll need a pricey magnetic case just to attach a charger—talk about a “budget” gimmick.
– **Camera Compromise:** One 48 MP sensor without an ultrawide feels like Apple gave the Pixel a one‑eye exam and said, “Good enough.” Low‑light performance still lags behind cheaper Android rivals that ship ultrawide lenses for $20 less.
– **Spec Typos:** The article lists an “IP6” rating—nothing exists beyond IP68 or IP69. It’s either a typo or a marketing sleight‑of‑hand to make the phone sound water‑proof. Either way, the omission underscores the sloppy vetting of “budget” claims.

**Better Option:** Grab a certified refurbished iPhone 14 (often $480 on Apple’s own store) or wait for the upcoming iPhone SE 4, which promises the same A‑series chip in a genuine $299 package.

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### 2. “The Best Cheap Android Phone” – Google Pixel 9A

**Claim:** The Pixel 9A is the ultimate mid‑range bargain, boasting IP68, a 120 Hz OLED, and seven years of updates.

**Reality Check:**

– **Price Inflation:** The price slashed from $499 to $399 is a nice headline, but the Tensor G4 is still a budget chipset that can’t keep up with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Lite in real‑world multitasking.
– **AI Feature Gaps:** Google’s greatest selling point—its AI tricks—are missing. The article casually notes “AI is occasionally handy, usually weird,” which is a thin veil for “we stripped out the good stuff to save a couple of dollars.”
– **Camera Competition:** While the 48 MP primary sensor is respectable, the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens makes it a step behind Samsung’s A56 (also $499) that offers a true 3x optical zoom.
– **Battery Reality:** A 5,100 mAh cell sounds impressive, but the Tensor’s power‑hungry AI cores drain it faster than a Pixel 8. Expect real‑world endurance of about 19 hours of mixed use—hardly “all‑day” for power users.

**Better Option:** The Samsung Galaxy A56 delivers a comparable price, a true Exynos‑1580 performance tier, and a functional telephoto lens. Or, if you’re invested in the Android ecosystem, the Moto G Play (2026) hits $179 with a 5,200 mAh battery and a solid 120 Hz screen—hardly a “budget” in the pejorative sense.

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### 3. “The Budget Phone With a Big, Beautiful Screen” – OnePlus 13R

**Claim:** The OnePlus 13R offers an excellent 6.78‑inch 120 Hz OLED, massive 6,000 mAh battery, and six years of security updates for $599.

**Reality Check:**

– **Price vs. Value:** At $599 (or a fleeting $499 sale), the 13R is essentially a flagship‑sized device masquerading as a budget phone. Competing Samsung Galaxy A36 (just $399) gives you a 6.6‑inch OLED, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, and comparable battery life without the OnePlus “premium‑only” pricing.
– **Missing Essentials:** No wireless charging, only splash‑resistance (the article mistakenly calls it IP6), and fewer OS updates than Google or Samsung. It’s like buying a luxury car that only gets oil changes every two years.
– **Processor Overkill?** The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is over‑engineered for a $599 device, driving up the cost without delivering perceptible performance gains over a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in daily tasks.

**Better Option:** Stick with the Pixel 9A for a cleaner Android experience, or consider the Motorola Moto G Power (2025) at $299, which packs a 5,000 mAh battery, a 3.5 mm jack, and IP68/69 ratings—features the 13R selfishly omits.

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### 4. “Other Budget Phones To Consider” – A Quick Roast

– **Motorola Moto G Power:** The article praises a 6.8‑inch LCD, wireless charging, and a 3.5 mm jack—all at $299. Yet it glosses over the fact that an LCD panel can’t compete with the OLEDs listed elsewhere, and the “IP68/69” claim is a marketing mash‑up that no real device currently holds (IP68 and IP69 are mutually exclusive).
– **Samsung Galaxy S24 FE:** Priced at $649, it’s not a budget phone; it’s a “premium‑ish” device that drags the guide’s price ceiling up just to fill space. If you can swing $649, why not buy the actual Galaxy S24?
– **TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper:** A 5G phone with a “matte LCD” that reduces blue light? That sounds like a cheap e‑ink tablet, not a serious smartphone. The “Max Ink Mode” that turns the screen monochrome is a gimmick for people who want a device that looks like a calculator.
– **Nothing Phone 3A/3A Pro:** The guide mentions a “Essential Space” button for screenshots—a feature that feels more like a novelty than a genuine productivity boost. At $379–$459, you’re basically paying for a quirky design language, not superior performance.

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### 5. “What’s Coming Next” – The Future Is Already Full of Missed Opportunities

The article teases upcoming Moto G Play ($179), Pixel 10A (rumored), and OnePlus 15R. While the prices look tempting, they also signal a pattern: manufacturers are repeatedly shoving “budget” specs into “premium” price brackets. The Moto G Play’s IP52 rating and the Pixel 10A’s likely reuse of flagship internals at a slashed price may please the marketing department, but they’ll still leave you with compromises that trounce genuine value.

**Takeaway:** If you truly want a *budget* smartphone that respects both your wallet and your expectations, look beyond the glossy checklist. Prioritize:

1. **Real‑world performance** over nominal benchmark scores.
2. **Actual water‑dust ratings** (IP68 is the minimum you should accept).
3. **Longevity of software updates** (seven years is impressive—Google and Samsung deliver it more reliably than OnePlus).
4. **Transparent pricing** (avoid “sale” prices that only appear on affiliate links).

In 2025, a $300–$400 phone can still give you a solid OLED, respectable camera system, and a full day of battery life—no need to waste $600 on a watered‑down flagship. Put the money you’d spend on a “budget” iPhone 16E toward a better camera, a weekend getaway, or—dare we say it—actual savings. The smartest budget‑phone buyer knows that *cheaper isn’t always cheaper* when you factor in the cost of missing features, future upgrades, and that inevitable “I wish I’d bought something else” regret.

Happy hunting, and may your next budget smartphone actually be a bargain.