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Adult Using Smartphone
Thinking of buying a new phone? You might find your best buy here that only cost less than 400 bucks. Pixabay

Thinking of buying a smartphone? There are plenty of options out there that costs more than $500 boasting incredible high-definition camera and long-lasting battery life. Some people would go for specs more than the price but others will take it on the practical side and go for an affordable one as long as it serves its purpose but with good core features. If you're one of the money smart folks, then read further. Whether it's an upgrade, a gift for your kid or a spare phone to fiddle with games, here are the best smartphones that cost less than $400.

1. New Apple iPhone SE 64GB

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This New Apple iPhone SE 64GB is Apple’s recent and most affordable smartphone in the brand’s lineup. For less than $400 you have an entry-level iPhone that boasts an incredibly fast A13 Bionic processor and with a 12-megapixel main camera and armed with a 7-megapixel front camera that supports Portrait mode perfect for your Instagram and Tiktok selfies. It’s powered by an 1821 mAh li-ion battery and rechargeable by wireless Qi charging. This smartphone offers great value with decent battery life.

2. Apple iPhone XR 64GB (Renewed)

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This Apple iPhone XR 64GB is fully-unlocked and refurbished and more affordable than the XS but still delivers almost the same features. It sports a 12-megapixel main camera and also 7-megapixels and just the right size for comfortable snapshots and videos in its 6.1-inch screen size. It’s powered by a 2942 mAH li-ion battery that can last up to 65 hours for music play as advertised. Wherever you go, and whatever you do, you’ll be confident enough that it won’t get scratches as it’s encased with scratch-resistant glass and oleophobic coating.

3. Apple iPhone XS 64GB

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This Apple iPhone XS 64GB is fully-unlocked and refurbished has received over 5,000 reviews on Amazon. It’s known for its improved dual camera, delivering excellent quality of images in 12-megapixels shots. You’ll enjoy watching videos thanks to its Super Retina OLED display that gives you richer videos when you use the maximum brightness. The XS has a smaller screen than XR, which measures 5.8 inches with a display resolution of 1125 x 2436 pixels. If you’re aiming for excellent quality photos even at night mode, XS Smart HDR makes your images look better even in limited light.

4. Apple iPhone 8 64GB

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If you're upgrading your iPhone but don’t want to let go of the classic home button, this Apple iPhone 8 64GB is the last ‘iPhone device’ standing as X and succeeding devices don't feature it. It has a smaller screen than XS and XR having 4.7 inches in 750 x 1334 resolution display, yet it sports almost the same camera features, having 12-megapixels on the main camera and 7-megapixels for your selfies. For anyone who’s using the iPhone 6 models, this is an excellent choice if you want a water-resistant unit and an improved camera and speakers.

5. Google Pixel 4a 128 GB

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This Google Pixel 4a is all you need the whole day for your selfies and HDR+ photos that can last for 24 hours as advertised. Take snapshots with HDR+ that automatically adjust the color and lighting. Enjoy the night sky with the Night Sight mode and take a photo of the stars. The Adaptive Battery is intuitive to know your most-used apps and reduces power to those you rarely open. Other features include the Pixel Recorder app that automatically transcribes speech and organizes them. Google uses the Titan M security chip that provides regular updates for your smartphone for at least three years.

6. Google Pixel 3A XL International Version

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This factory-unlocked Google Pixel 3A XL International Version has a 12.2-megapixel main camera with dual flash and 8-megapixels in HDR for your selfie shots. The 6-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen display sports 16M colors so you’ll enjoy watching YouTube videos with its robust battery that can last up to 10 hours at maximum brightness. Moreover, the 3,700 mAh battery can last up to a full day with regular use of apps. That said, for anyone who’s looking for a good camera and battery life, this Android device is a win.

7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

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The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a mid-range Android smartphone that’s armed with top-notch features suitable for gaming and it also sports a quad-camera in 64 MP, 8 MP, and 2MP in macro shots, and 2MP in depth. If that’s not enough, you’ll surely score high definition selfies using its 20 MP camera with HD and panorama features. If you’re looking for a phone that gives you a new level of gameplay without the hiccups, the Mediatek Helio chipset and Octa-core CPU will deliver it. If you’re not going to use it for gaming, the 4500 mAh battery will last through the day.

8. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S

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The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S is a dual-sim with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 display for protection against scratches and spills. If you’re looking for a bigger display screen, you’ll have a 6.67-inch in size with 1080 x 2400 pixels for browsing your feeds, videos and even eBooks. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is located o the power button that lets you unlock it swiftly. The camera offers high-quality images with zooming features. The massive 5020 mAh battery will last up to 20 hours screentime. For folks looking for powerful battery life, Note 9S is an excellent choice.

9. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite

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The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is a dual-sim Android smartphone armed with a quad-camera in 64 MP, 8MP for ultra-wide shots, 2 MP for macro, and 5 PM for depth. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, which operates on MIUI 11 based on Android 10 OS, is a powerhouse for smooth and efficient performance, whether you’re watching videos or playing mobile games. When it comes to images, this phone is superb and if you’re a mix of a medium to heavy user, the 5260 mAh battery will last for about a day or so.

10. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is one of the brand's phones that has joined the dual-camera bandwagon with 12 MP on wide and 12 MP for telephoto that supports 2x optical zoom. That said, with an additional camera and upgrade features, you can take beautiful photos with depth. Moreover, the front dual camera sports 8 megapixels and 2 MP for dedicated iris scanner camera feature, ideal for your video calls and selfie shots. If you’re geared towards phablets — it’s not too big but not too small for grip, this phone is a stunner.

11. Samsung Galaxy A20e

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The Samsung Galaxy A20e is compact with a sleek design smartphone with a 5.8-inch screen and sporting 1560 x 720 pixels. It’s one of the most affordable handsets with a good Octa-core processor and Exynos chipset to sustain your gaming hours. This is a good choice for budget-conscious folks who need a spare phone or buy it as a gift for a family member.

12. Samsung Galaxy S9

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The Samsung Galaxy S9 has a dual pixel front camera with 8MP and 2MP perfect for selfies and video calls. The main camera has 12MP with LED flash and features auto-HDR and panorama options for those epic Instagrammable shots. The sexy-curvy yet sleek design makes it easy for you to hold, whether texting, browsing your feed or watching the news.

13. Motorola One Action

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The Motorola One Action is a stunner when it comes to the camera that won’t make your pocket bleed. This affordable entry-level Android phone sports a unique feature that photographers and hobbyist will love — a super stabilized ultra-wide-angle camera that lets your record thrilling videos that fit 4x more in the frame. Once you’re done, watch your video using the CinemaVision (21:9) FHD + display on a 6.3-inch screen. With One Action’s triple-camera that has 12 MP, 16M, and 5PM, you will capture those best moments in depth.

14. Moto G9+ Plus

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The Moto G9+ Plus has an unashamedly gigantic 6.84-inch display with 2400 x 1080 screen resolution powered by a fast processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, the same processor in Mi Note 10 Lite. If you love taking photos, this monster can deliver that with its quad-camera equipped with 64 MP, 8MP, 2MP for macro, and 2MP for depth. What’s more, selfies won’t be the same with its 16 MP front camera with HDR features. If you love big phones that work like phablets, you’ll always notice that it’s inside your pocket or bag.

15. OnePlus 7T

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The OnePlus 7T is a feature-packed smartphone that won’t the bank yet sports a lightning-fast Snapdragon 855 processor. Whether you’re watching videos or want an immersive gaming experience, the FLUID AMOLED 90Hz display gives you the richness and true colors of graphics. It’s equipped with a triple camera, giving it 48 MP, 12 MP with 2x optical zoom, and 16MP for your desired depth and recording for excellent stills.

16. LG V35 ThinQ

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The LG V35 ThinQ is made of Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back with an aluminum frame and a solid OLED display, making it a serviceable phone for anyone who needs a sleek, lightweight device. For those who are always on the go and a bit clumsy on the side, this 6-inch phone is water-resistant and also sports a long battery life and rechargeable using USB and wireless charging.

17. LG Stylo 6

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The LG Stylo 6 has a 6.8-inch display with 1080 x 2460 pixels and armed with a triple-cam in 13 MP, 5 MP ultra-wide and 5MP in-depth, just perfect for decent shots and recorded stills. If you’re looking for big screen size, the Stylo is a phablet for keeps with a built-in stylus that you can use at work or school for taking down notes.

18. Huawei P40 Lite Dual-SIM

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The Huawei P40 Lite is impeccably designed inside out. It’s armed with an AI selfie beauty camera, so for Tiktok, Snapchat, and Instagram users, you can level-up your selfies with this babe. The 6.4-inch display has 1080 x 2310 pixels with 398 ppi density. The LTPS IPS LCD provides you higher resolutions on photos and videos while saving power consumption while browsing.

19. HUAWEI P30 Lite New Edition

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The HUAWEI P30 Lite New Edition won’t fail you if you’re into smartphone photography on a budget. The screen is smaller than P40 Lite, which is 6.15 inches in 1080 x 2312 pixels. If you’re looking for a low-cost phone with a decent camera, this is a good choice.

20. Huawei Y9s

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This Huawei Y9s is equipped with a triple-camera and features an ultra-wide-angle lens and supports a pop-up AI selfie in 16 MP. If you love bigger screens with good performance chipset, Y9s delivers that and performs well from your day to day app browsing and a few games. With its 4000 mAh battery, you can enjoy 80 hours of music playback while 9 hours for watching videos.

21. Huawei Nova 5T

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The Huawei Nova 5T is one of the brand's mid-range phones that sports a quad AI camera delivering impeccable beauty shots and videos. If you’re used to large screens, the 6.2-inch display may feel a little bit small, but there’s plenty of room to enjoy when watching videos in a 1080 x 2340 resolution with its IPS LCD display that offers natural colors. The Kirin 980 chipset provides full performance, increasing its power capacity, so you can enjoy watching videos and playing games.

22. Motorola Moto E

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The Motorola Moto E is Amazon's Choice under the unlocked smartphones category that’s super affordable. It cost less than $150 but has a fast-focused 13 MP dual-camera system and armed with a long-lasting battery that can last up to 42 hours. If you love exploring filters and depth, you can play around with depth of field and add that bokeh effect.

23. Nokia 6.2

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Heads up! Nokia phones aren’t dead. In fact, this Nokia 6.2 is powered by Android 9.0 Pie and sports a triple camera. If you’re after a decent camera, this device delivers a 16 MP main sensor along with 8MP for an ultra-wide lens, and 5 MP for depth. This unit has 4GB of RAM with 64 GB of storage, but if that’s not enough, it has an SD slot that can accommodate up to 512 GB of storage. It also supports Google Assistant, so you can manage your life and tasks in a single touch.

24. DOOGEE N30

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The DOOGEE N30 has a large, longer screen but thinner on the side. As an entry-level smartphone, you have everything you need for daily activities like browsing social media, watching videos, and listening to your favorite audiobooks that can last up to 8 hours. The camera has a 16 MP AI quad-cam, aimed for wide-angle, portrait and macro shots. It has 128 GB storage, but can be expanded up to 256 GB.

25. OUKITEL WP8 Pro Rugged Smartphone

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Are you after durability and performance? The OUKITEL WP8 Pro Rugged Smartphone deserves a spot in your pocket or backpack. It’s an excellent choice for outdoorsy folks and even for moms who hang out with their babies. It’s dust-proof and drop-resistant so you don’t need to worry about broken screens and dents. It has a three-proof anti-compression and anti-fall structure to protect the body. While most rugged smartphones are quite bulky and heavy, the WP8 Pro has a big screen, yet sporting a thin, sleek design.