10 Best Samsung Budget Phones 2025 in the United States

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G stands out as a budget-friendly phone with several appealing features. It boasts a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display, providing vibrant and clear visuals, which is great for everyday activities like browsing and streaming. The triple-lens camera setup offers versatility and decent image quality, making it suitable for casual photography enthusiasts. Additionally, its IP54 rating ensures improved durability, allowing it to withstand everyday dust and water splashes. The phone's battery life is further enhanced by Super Fast Charging, ensuring that you spend less time tethered to a charger.

With 128GB of internal storage and the option to expand up to 1.5TB, you have ample space for apps, photos, and videos. It also supports 5G connectivity, ensuring fast internet speeds. The 2.4 GHz processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM, should comfortably handle basic tasks, though it might struggle with more demanding apps and multitasking. The phone runs on Android 14 with Samsung's One UI, offering a user-friendly interface and six years of security updates to ensure longevity and safety.

The device's RAM might be a limiting factor for those who require intensive multitasking or gaming. All in all, the Galaxy A16 5G is a solid choice for users seeking an affordable smartphone with a large display, decent camera, and robust storage options, though it may not be the best fit for power users.

The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a strong contender in the budget phone segment, especially for users who want a large, vibrant screen and good performance without spending much. Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate delivers sharp and smooth visuals, making watching videos and scrolling feel pleasant. The 1080p resolution ensures images and text look clear, which is above average for budget phones. Battery life is impressive thanks to a 5000 mAh capacity, which should easily last a full day of typical use, and it supports 25W fast charging, so recharging won’t take too long. Camera-wise, it includes a 50 MP main shooter, which takes decent photos in good lighting, supplemented by ultrawide and macro lenses for variety. However, low-light photography may not be as strong as pricier models.

The processor is a 1.2 GHz Cortex A13, which is entry-level but paired with 8GB of RAM, it handles everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and light apps smoothly. With 256GB storage, there's plenty of space for apps, photos, and files, which is a notable plus in this price range. Build quality feels solid but is typical for budget phones—mostly plastic—which keeps costs down but may not offer the premium feel of higher-end models. On software, it runs Android with Samsung’s One UI, providing a clean and user-friendly interface along with useful features and security updates.

A drawback is the lack of a headphone jack, so you’ll need wireless headphones or an adapter. Also, while it supports many 5G bands, confirming carrier compatibility is important if you are in the US or abroad. Considering these features, the Galaxy A16 5G represents a solid choice for those seeking a budget phone with a big, bright display, long battery life, ample storage, and good performance for daily use, but with a basic processor and average camera performance in low light.

The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is a solid choice if you're looking for a budget-friendly phone with a few premium touches. It has a large 6.6-inch AMOLED screen with a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate, which means images and scrolling look sharp and fluid—great for watching videos or casual gaming. The 5000mAh battery is impressive, offering long use through your day, and it supports fast charging so you won't be stuck waiting long to recharge.

On the camera front, it offers decent photos with enhanced night mode and a good front camera for selfies, though it won’t compete with higher-end models in low light or detail. The phone uses a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, which handles everyday tasks and games fairly well without noticeable lag, but it’s not meant for heavy multitasking or intensive apps. With 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage (expandable via microSD), it has enough space and speed for most users who don’t store tons of files or run many apps simultaneously.

The build is rugged with water and dust resistance, meaning it should withstand daily wear and tear better than many budget phones. It comes with the latest Android 14 and Samsung’s One UI 6.0, so software feels modern and easy to navigate. The phone is unlocked for all carriers and supports 5G, which is a plus for faster internet speeds. The main downsides are that it’s a bit heavier than some might prefer and the camera, while good for its class, isn’t outstanding. If you want a dependable, affordable Samsung phone that covers all basics well with a sharp display and strong battery, the Galaxy A36 5G fits the bill nicely.