With true flagship phones costing (way) above $1000, intermediate models started to trickle around the $500 price range. Even then, there are still a couple of smartphones around $600 that still offer a true flagship-level experience, without the tradeoffs found in the intermediate segment.
Editor’s note: the prices highlighted in this article may vary depending on discounts offered by the manufacturers.
Editor’s pick
Apple’s alternative
Best camera
Long software support
Fast-charging option
Product
Picture
Review
Review: Google Pixel 7a
Review: Apple iPhone 13
Review: Google Pixel 7
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Review: OnePlus 12R
Display
6.1-inch OLED
1080 x 2400 pixels
90 Hz refresh rate
6.1-inch OLED
1170 x 2532
60 Hz
6.3-inch OLED1080 x 240090 Hz
6.4-inch OLED1080 x 2340120 Hz
6.78-inch OLED1264 x 2780120 Hz
SoC
Memory
8 GB LPDDR5 RAM
128 GB UFS 3.1 storage
No storage expansion
4 GB RAM
128 / 256 / 512 GB storage
No storage expansion
8 GB LPDDR5 RAM
128 / 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage
No storage expansion
8 GB RAM
128 / 256 GB UFS storage
No storage expansion
8 / 12 / 16 GB RAM
128 / 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage
No storage expansion
OS
Android 13
3 Android upgrades
5 years of security updates
Android 13
3 Android upgrades
5 years of security updates
Android 13
4 Android upgrades
5 years of security updates
Android 14
4 Android upgrades
5 years of security updates
Camera
Main: 64 MP, f/1.89, OIS
Ultra-wide: 13 MP, f/2.2
Main: 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS
Ultra-wide: 12 MP, f/2.4
Main: 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS
Ultra-wide: 12 MP, f/2.2
Main: 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Ultra-wide: 12 MP, f/2.2
3x telephoto: 8 MP, f/2.4
Main: 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Ultra-wide: 8 MP, f/2.2
Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4
Selfie Camera
Battery
4,385 mAh
18 W wired charging
5 W wireless charging
Charger not included
3240 mAh
20 W wired charging
15 W wireless charging
Charger not included
4355 mAh
20 W wired charging
20 W wireless charging
Charger not included
4500 mAh
25 W wired charging
15 W wireless charging
Reverse wireless charging
Charger not included
5500 mAh
100 W wired charging
–
Charger included
Connectivity
5G | eSIM | Wi-Fi 6E | Bluetooth 5.3 | NFC
5G | eSIM | Wi-Fi 6 | Bluetooth 5.0 | NFC
5G | eSIM | Wi-Fi 6E | Bluetooth 5.2 | NFC
5G | eSIM | Wi-Fi 6E | Bluetooth 5.3 | NFC
5G | Wi-Fi 7 | Bluetooth 5.3 | NFC
IP Certification
Dimensions and weight
6.0 x 2.8 x 0.4 in | 6.8 oz
152 x 72.9 x 9 mm | 193.5 g
5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 in | 6.14 oz
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm | 174 g
6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3 in | 6.95 oz
155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm | 197 g
6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in | 7.37 oz
158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm | 209 g
6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in | 7.3 oz
163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm | 207 g
Offers*
Table of Contents:
What to expect from a sub-$600 phone
Different from other price categories, sub-$600 phones don’t make specific tradeoffs to reach the price point. Each brand usually chooses different features to distinguish smartphones in this category from the true flagships.
Their software update support is usually on the same level as the high-end devices but you can expect to find sacrifices in camera versatility—e.g. fewer lenses—, slower or fewer charging options, slightly downgraded display, or older generation processors.
The best smartphones under $600
Google Pixel 7a: All-in-one package phone
A dual camera setup that functions like three! / © NextPit
Read the full Google Pixel 7a review
Our pick for the best smartphone under $600 is the newly released Google Pixel 7a. Although the A-series has seen a $50 increase in its initial price, it has also seen a significant improvement in camera quality, with a 72% increase in the size of the main camera sensor and overall enhancements to all lenses. The device now supports wireless charging (albeit at a slow 5W rate) and maintains the top-notch Google Tensor G2 SoC inside.
On the software side, the Pixel 7a comes with Android 13 out of the box and includes the feature drop over time. This means it will receive Google’s newest and sometimes Pixel-exclusive software features. The device is expected to be supported up to Android 16 and should receive at least five more years of security patches.
The Pixel 7a received a 5-star rating on NextPit because it redefines our understanding of the premium mid-range category. Priced at $499, this budget-friendly smartphone even makes us question the value of high-end devices with top-tier hardware specifications.
Summary
Buy
Good
Compact design
Top-notch performance
Versatile and trustworthy camera
All-day long battery
Wireless charging
Bad
Slow charging time
No power adapter in the box
Apple iPhone 13: Ecosystem ties
The iPhone 13 is still a very powerful phone / © nextpit
Read the full iPhone 13 review
Replacing the iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 is the best (and only?) Apple option in this price range. Of course, Apple offers the humble iPhone SE for even less, but while still very powerful, the SE is too firmly rooted into the iPhone 6 legacy, with its small screen, huge bezels, and a single camera.
With a pretty stable iPhone design since the 12th generation, the iPhone 13 still looks pretty much like any current Apple phone, with the exception of the display notch. Performance-wise, the phone packs a still very capable processor, with enough horsepower for all the latest apps and games.
The dual camera system is comprised of main and ultra-wide-angle lenses, with excellent image quality in photos, and especially videos. Media consumption happens in the bright and big 6.1-inch OLED display, with sharp colors and excellent viewing angles.
Summary
Buy
Good
OLED screen with deep blacks
Good battery life
Good quality main camera
IP68 certification
Smarter iOS 15
Bad
60 Hz refresh rate
FaceID is unwieldy to use while wearing a face mask
20W charging speed
Google Pixel 7: The best camera
The dual camera module of the Google Pixel 7 with its main lens can “simulate” a 2x optical zoom and up to x8 in digital. / © NextPit
Read the full Google Pixel 7
The Google Pixel family is well-known for its camera performance, and the Pixel 7 is no exception. The Android flagbearer is usually on top of camera comparisons and offers excellent results from both its main 50 MP camera and the 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens.
Being the Google reference phone, the Pixel 7 gets monthly security fixes and is first in line to receive new Android versions. Performance is top-notch, with the same processor used in the flagship Pixel 7 Pro. And all that with excellent battery life, without software bloat and exclusive software features thanks to the Pixel feature drops.
As a tradeoff, the Pixel 7 is limited to a 90 Hz OLED display—while its Android rivals go up to 120 Hz—and the performance of the Tensor G2 chip is not on par with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 8+ Gen 1.
Summary
Buy
Good
Well-calibrated 90Hz Full HD+ OLED display
Premium design (Gorilla Glass Victus, aluminum frame, IP68)
Efficient dual camera module
Android 13 with lots of exclusive features
Excellent battery life
Competitive price
Bad
No 120 Hz refresh rate
20W wired charging is too slow
Back design is less beautiful than last year
No significant performance gain between the Tensor G1 and G2
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Long-term support
Despite what the critics say, the Galaxy S23 FE is actually a really great smartphone… / © nextpit
Read the Galaxy S23 FE review
After testing the European model, my colleague Casi Drees actually had a lot of good things to say about the phone, despite some questionable choices made by Samsung. The North American version of the Galaxy S23 FE solves the main issue we had in general, replacing the power-hungry Exynos chip used globally with the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the US.
But what makes the Galaxy S23 FE an easy choice in this price range, especially when compared to similar options from Xiaomi and Motorola, is the much better software support provided by Samsung. The S23 FE is promised to receive five years of security updates, with four Android upgrades. And in the past years, Samsung has been delivering on its promise to past models, even retroactively extending support to some.
The result is that not only you will get a capable phone for 2024 in the S23 FE, but it will also stay usable for years to come. Even if your needs outgrow the phone, you will be able to use it as a backup phone, give it to a friend or relative, or even resell it.
Summary
Buy
Good
Great workmanship
Great AMOLED display
Versatile camera
Android 14 with One UI 6.0
Solid performance
Bad
Too expensive and released too late
Too much internal competition
Thick bezels
Only average battery life
No charger included
OnePlus 12R: The right compromises
The OnePlus 12R makes a few hardware cuts from the flagship model to reach its excellent pricepoint. / © nextpit
Read the OnePlus 12R review
The OG flagship killer, OnePlus slowly crept into flagship territory over the years. To counteract that, the company offers its T or R models, with some hardware compromises to reach the $500~$700 price sweetspot. And by all accounts, they nailed it with the OnePlus 12R in 2024.
You will find 2023’s flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a big and crisp OLED display, excellent battery life, and a capable main camera. In return, you will give up some water protection, and high-resolution secondary cameras.
But the main selling point for the OnePlus 12R in the sub-$600 category is probably the battery department. Not only does it come with a big 5500 mAh battery, but it also includes a powerful and fast 100W charger in the box which reaches full charge in less than 30 minutes.
Summary
Buy
Good
Sleek Design
Alert Slider Onboard
Bright and Vivid Screen
Dependable Performance Stability
Flexible Photography Options
Two Days Battery Life
100W Fast Wired Charging
Bad
Bulky Charger Adapter
Only IP64 rating
Tips to upgrade your phone and save money
Upcoming sales events
Amazon Prime Day
tbc
Black Week
25 to 29 November 2024
Black Friday
29 November 2024
Cyber Monday
2 December 2024
Contract discounts
Flagship and premium phones are the models with the biggest (and best) discounts when buying with a phone contract. That’s why we added contract options in the deals links above, in case you are a customer of one of the mentioned carriers, be sure to check them out!
Refurbished and used smartphones
If removing the protective film on your new device does not spark joy, you can pick up more expensive smartphones from the second-hand or refurbished market. It is particularly advisable to use devices that carry a refurbished guarantee.
These are used smartphones that have been checked and refurbished by reputable companies to ensure that they are in tip-top condition. Refurbished devices are particularly worthwhile to check out when they come with an extended warranty. This is how you protect yourself when picking one up just in case the handset gives up the ghost just a few weeks down the road.
Do you think we forgot a phone model? What would you change on this list? Share your opinion in the comments below!
Our ‘Best Smartphones Under $600’ list was updated in April 2024 to include new alternative suggestions.
