What Should Your Smartphone Budget Be? 7 Price Comparison Points

Smartphones come at various pricing points. There is something on the market for any budget, ranging from less than one hundred dollars to more than one thousand dollars. However, how much money do you think you should actually spend on a new phone? Which features should you anticipate receiving at each price point? And perhaps most crucially, at what price do you feel comfortable?

Let’s find out.

Under $100: Fit for Kids or Elders

It is not advisable to purchase a new smartphone for less than one hundred dollars unless you are purchasing it for a child or an elderly person. At this price point, there is no motivation for manufacturers to innovate, so the best phone you can get is one that will just about get you through the day if you use it in a medium-to-heavy capacity.

You may anticipate poor performance, a poor camera, a poor battery, poor build quality, a poor display, and average storage space. Because of this, rather to purchasing a new phone at this price, you would be better off purchasing a used low-cost phone that has at least some degree of dependability in its operation and will not be too much of an inconvenience.

Functions to be Anticipated:

$100–$200: Functions Considered Primordial

When you go from having less than $100 to having more than $200, you will notice a significant improvement. People who buy at this price are searching for devices with at least some fundamental features, most notably long battery life and sufficient storage space. However, the performance, build quality, and cameras continue to be subpar. If your use case is confined to online browsing, social media, light gaming, and light photography, then this price point is appropriate for you.

Functions to be Anticipated:

Hotspot for Good Value Between $200 and $300

The price range of $200–$300 is where you have the best chance of locating the item that offers the most value. The vast majority of the top-selling mobile devices in this category are manufactured by companies based in China. Your choices will be significantly more restricted in the United States, which is unfortunate because other parts of the world provide a considerably wider variety of options.

You may also find some great offers from Samsung no matter where you are in the world. Not only are phones available at this price bracket loaded with all of the most important capabilities, but they also frequently have unusual looks to set them apart from other available options.

Functions to be Anticipated:

$300–$500: Flagship Killers

The price range of $300–$500 is a really intriguing one because that’s where you’ll find the first “flagship killers.” The objective is straightforward: to provide flagship performance at a cost that is reasonable. This trend was made popular by OnePlus, but since then, additional companies have entered the market with their own versions of “flagship killers,” making this price bracket more competitive than it has ever been.

Phones in this price range are marketed at a more tech-savvy audience that is familiar with jargon and specifications; they are able to handle the majority of high-end mobile games satisfactorily but not flawlessly.

Functions to be Anticipated:

More Than Specs: $500–$700 (range)

When you pay between $500 and $700 for an item, you are not only getting a quality product but also paying a premium price for it. When compared to the value that they provide, flagship killers typically place a more emphasis on the core specifications and less emphasis on the features that aren’t listed in the product’s specifications.

You can therefore anticipate not only amazing performance, but also excellent build quality, an IP68 rating (indicating resistance to dust and water), louder and cleaner speakers, improved software optimization, incredible cameras, and enhanced haptic feedback. All of these features are in addition to the amazing performance.

Functions to be Anticipated:

Actual Flagships Cost Between $700 and $1,000

Even if you can definitely buy one for less than $700, the majority of contemporary flagships can be found in the price range of $700–$1000. Additionally, this is the point at which the battle between Android and iPhone becomes significantly more intense.

In this case, you are not only paying for the incredible specifications and hardware; in addition, you are paying for special features like as support for 8K video, QHD resolution, LTPO display, and a great deal of other cutting-edge technology. The smartphones in this market sector are extremely dependable, are equipped with high-end features, and take further precautions to protect their users’ privacy and safety.

Functions to be Anticipated:

Above $1000: On the Cusp of Collapse

When you spend more than a thousand dollars, you are entitled to the very best. You can obtain features that can’t be replicated at any other price point for the price that you pay for this product. This will result in spectacular cameras, one-of-a-kind designs, top-level performance, deeper integration with the ecosystem, and specialized functionality.

The level of convenience should be maximized here, and the necessity for additional technological devices should be eliminated. For example, computational photography has replaced the need for DSLR cameras, 1 terabyte storage has supplanted the need for external hard drives, foldable smartphones have taken the place of tablets, and durable construction has eliminated the requirement for back covers and screen protectors.

Functions to be Anticipated:

Which of These Prices Is Appropriate for You?

The appropriate price for you will vary according to the use case that you have in mind. It is important to keep in mind that the progression of features in smartphones does not follow a perfectly linear pattern; some high-end capabilities are more easily replicated in inexpensive phones while others are not. In addition, keep in mind that merely possessing a nice pair of eyeglasses does not always tell the complete picture.

If you’re just going to use your phone sometimes, there’s little point in purchasing a high-end model because you won’t be making extensive use of its more advanced functions anyhow. If this is the case, you will get the most bang for your buck by purchasing a phone in the price range of $200 to $300.

If you are a heavy user, you need a phone that can withstand the normal wear and tear that it will experience day to day, both internally and externally. That translates to excellent functionality, excellent battery life, and excellent build quality. In this case, you should look in the $500–$700 price range, but you should also keep an eye out for potentially effective flagship killers.

If you are a gamer, the performance, cooling system, and unique gaming-centric features of a device are more important to you than the camera and the water resistance of the device. If this is the case, you should consider purchasing a gaming-specific phone in the similar price range, which is between $500 and $700.

Look at flagship models that cost between $700 and $1,000 if you want a high-end phone that is packed with unique features and has a battery life that can easily last for about five years. Once you pass the $1,000 mark, the upgrades in specifications become less significant, but if you want the most cutting-edge experience or the absolute finest camera performance, you can get it.

Pick the Offer That Suits Your Budget.

When shopping for a new phone, you can nearly always find a decent offer, regardless of the size of your budget. Because of the rapid pace at which smartphone technology has advanced in recent years, it is no longer necessary to invest a significant sum of money in order to have an enjoyable experience overall with your device.

Try to stay away from both ends of the price spectrum; we wouldn’t suggest spending less than $200 or more than $700 for the ordinary consumer. You are more than welcome to consult our guide once more when you are in the market for a new phone so that you can more accurately evaluate your requirements.