Our new favorite budget phones

April 17, 2026 Dominic Preston

iPhone 17E on a desk
The iPhone 17E is the best cheap iPhone, no surprises there. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Over the last few months, every phone maker under the sun has refreshed its lineups, especially at the affordable end, with no major budget phone launches now expected until next year. That made it the perfect time to go back and reassess The Verge's recommendations for the best budget phones you can buy right now.

You won't be too surprised to hear that the iPhone 17E is now our recommendation for the best cheap iPhone, not least because it's the only cheap iPhone. Still, this year's addition of MagSafe charging makes it a much more well-rounded package than last year's 16E, and with the same A19 chip as the flagship iPhone 17, you won't f …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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The best budget smartphones you can buy
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