Considering the budget, figure out the best camera phone that suits your budget.
Technology is incredible. It seems like every day something new comes around that amazes us and nowhere is this more apparent than with camera phones. However, all the tech comes at a high price so finding the best budget camera phones out there can be tough.
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Thankfully, we love finding great deals for you. Let’s dive right in and find you one of the best budget camera phones in 2023.
10+ Best Budget Camera Phones in 2023
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro — The best budget camera phone in 2023 overall (Editor’s Choice)
- OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G — The best affordable budget camera phone
- Google Pixel 6a— The best value budget camera phone
- OnePlus Nord 2 — The best processing power budget camera phone
- Realme 9 Pro Plus — The best all-around budget camera phone
- Moto G200 — The best high-res budget camera phone
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G — The best slim design budget camera phone
- Honor 50 — The best battery life budget camera phone
- iPhone SE — The best cheap Apple camera phone
- SAMSUNG Galaxy A53 — The best Samsung budget camera phone
Have more money in your budget? Check out our full list of the best camera phones.
What is the best budget camera phone overall in 2023?
Every now and then, we all have to live according to our budget. This can make it hard to find a great, affordable camera phone. However, we think that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is the best budget camera phone in 2023.
Interested in some of our other top choices? Check out our comparison table below.
How to choose the right budget camera phone?
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Let’s be honest. Camera phones can be expensive so when you’re on a budget, looking for a great camera phone, there are certain points you should focus on. Here are the points we think you should consider.
Price
Price is going to be the first thing to consider before buying a great camera phone on a budget. While you can find a great camera phone at any price, make sure that the camera phone you choose fits your budget while still providing you with the features you’re looking for.
Autofocus
These days, autofocus seems like an afterthought when it comes to camera phones. It shouldn’t though. Surprisingly, there are camera phones out there that don’t have autofocus which can make things harder when you want great pictures.
Image stabilization
Image stabilization and autofocus really go hand in hand. While autofocus can help your photos look great, image stabilization helps keep them from looking shaky. While there are some options out there without image stabilization, it is becoming a more common feature amongst camera phones.
Megapixels
Megapixels continue to be a buzzword when it comes to camera phones. Many people see that a higher megapixel number, the better quality photos they will end up taking.
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This isn’t always the case though. Even with the most megapixels available, if the camera on your phone is of poor quality, then nothing will help your photos look incredible.
The point is, try not to focus on the number of megapixels but use it as a bonus in selecting the best budget camera phone for your needs.
10+ Best Budget Camera Phones in 2023
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Editor’s Choice)
The best budget camera phone in 2023 overall
With its large megapixel count, the Redmi Note 10 Pro is not like many other phones out there. With 108MP, the Note 10 captures beautiful photos and captures video in 4K.
Packed with an additional 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 5MP sharpshooter camera, the imaging credentials are top-notch. On top of all of this, is the beautiful 6.67-inch AMOLED screen that you would much more likely find on a higher-priced camera phone.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Incredible AMOLED screen | ➖ No 5G connectivity |
| ➕ Great value | ➖ UI can have issues |
- Factory Unlocked cell phones are compatible with most GSM networks. This phone is not compatible with CDMA networks like Verizon, Sprint, or Boost.
2. OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G
The best cheap camera phone
In an article featuring the best budget camera phones, finding the best “budget” budget camera phone can be tricky but we think that the Nord CE 2 5G from OnePlus is a great option. With a 64MP camera, the image quality you can get is superb, even at its affordable price.
With a brilliant AMOLED screen and powerful processor, the Nord CE 2 can stand up amongst many other budget camera phones on the market and even outperforms some as well.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Fast-charging | ➖ Design is bland |
| ➕ Great screen | ➖ Storage could be higher |
3. Google Pixel 6a
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The best value budget camera phone
While from the outside, the Pixel 6a from Google won’t exactly set the world on fire, on the inside, the changes that have been made are what make this a great choice. With a better battery than previous Pixel iterations, the 5a adds better protection from dust and water, which can alleviate many users’ concerns.
Loaded with Google’s camera software, the pictures are tweaked and also balanced so that every shot is as close to perfection as possible. While the camera doesn’t come with zoom, if that’s not extremely important to you, then the Pixel 5a is a great choice.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Good battery life | ➖ Charges slowly |
| ➕ Appealing smaller size | ➖ Only two rear cameras |
- Google Pixel 6a adapts to you; it’s super fast and secure and powered by Google Tensor, the first chip designed by Google just for Pixel.Form_factor : Bar
- Unlocked Android 5G phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[1]; works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Pixel’s fast-charging all-day battery adapts to you and saves power for the apps you use most[2]
- Take amazing photos with Pixel’s 12 megapixel camera and tools like Magic Eraser[3], Motion Mode, and Portrait Mode
- With Google Tensor, your phone launches apps fast, pages and images load quickly, and everything runs smoothly
4. OnePlus Nord 2
The best processing power budget camera phone
Fans of OnePlus phones know that each phone they release is full of value and they are some of the best camera phones available at low prices. Their newest release, the Nord 2, continues that trend in grand fashion.
With a wonderful 50MP main camera, and while the ultra-wide and monochrome lenses are nothing to write home about, the main camera is a great option for low-light photography. Capturing images at night with this camera will help you keep a lot of the detail and contrast you’re hoping for.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Charges fast | ➖ No telephoto or macro lenses |
| ➕ Lots of processing power | ➖ Design could be better |
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- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility...
- Dual-SIM, SIM CARD 1&2 : [2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and/or 3G : WDCMA 900(B8) / 850(B5) / 800(B19) / 1700|2100(B4) / 2100(B1) / 1900(B2) and/or 4G : LTE 700(B12) / 700(B17) / 700(B28) /...
- 6.43 inches, Fluid AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, microSDXC
- Android 11, MediaTek MT6893 Dimensity 1200 5G (6 nm), Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
5. Realme 9 Pro Plus
The best all-around budget camera phone
While not really the biggest name in camera phones, the Realme 9 Pro Plus is a great option for anyone who does any kind of low-light photography. With the main camera that comes in at 50MP, the large sensor that it comes with it cements its place on our list.
While we are putting the focus on the camera, the phone itself comes with some novel features including a phone back that changes color in the sun as well as a heart rate monitor built into the fingerprint scanner. The Realme 9 Pro Plus is a great all-around phone at a great price.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Excellent for low-light photos | ➖ Some features are hard to use |
| ➕ innovative color-changing rear | ➖ Display is only 90Hz |
- NOTE: International Version. No Warranty. This device will work with GSM service providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, and most other GSM service providers. It will not work with CDMA service...
- Storage: 128GB 6GB RAM
- Display: 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
- Platform: Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G (6 nm)
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
6. Moto G200
The best high-res budget camera phone
Motorola has been part of the cell phone market for as long as anyone can remember, always releasing new innovations and great options for every user and the G200 is no different. With three rear cameras, including a great super high-res main camera, the G200’s real power comes from its AI scene optimization.
Low-light photos and selfies look great, and while it may be on the larger side for some, the camera phone from Motorola is a great camera phone for anyone on a budget, and with Motorola behind it, you know you’re going to get a quality product.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ High-res rear camera | ➖ Charges slowly |
| ➕ Phone is very powerful | ➖ Maybe too big for some |
- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility...
- Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility: SIM CARD 1&2 [2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and/or 3G : WCDMA 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1700/2100(B4) / 1900(B2) / 2100(B1) and/or 4G : FDD-LTE 700(B12) / 700(B13) /...
- 6.8 inches, LCD, 1080 x 2460 pixels
- 128GB Storage, 8GB RAM
- Android 11, Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm), Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Kryo 680 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 680)
7. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
The best slim design budget camera phone
We may have featured Xiaomi on our list already, the Mi 11 Lite 5G provides too much value to anyone looking for a great budget camera phone to leave it off our list. While the overall body is smaller than our top choice, this smaller size not only helps the user experience but their wallets as well.
This isn’t a case where Xiaomi cut everything and left a barebones, budget-friendly phone. Quite the contrary. Packing the same incredible macro camera as the Note 10 Pro, it also comes with a 64MP wide main camera and a great ultrawide lens to add to the party. While the battery life could be better, the Mi 11 Lite 5G is a great camera phone at a great price.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Great design | ➖ Software could be better |
| ➕ Capable camera | ➖ Battery life could be better |
- International Model - No Warranty in US. Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will NOT work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint, Boost. - FCC ID: 2AFZZK7BNY
- 5G NR:n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n40/n41/n77/n78/n66 4G: LTE FDD B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28 LTE TDD B38/40/41 3G: B1/2/4/5/8 2g Quad Band
- 64Mp Camera Quad Camera 64+8+5 / 20 mp front camera
- 6.55 inches, 2400x1080, 402ppi Aspect ratio: 20:9
- CPU: Qualcomm Kryo 670, octa-core CPU, up to 2.4GHz GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 642 GPU
8. Honor 50
The best selfie budget camera phone
Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard of a camera phone from Honor? After the Honor 50, they are a company we will start paying more attention to. Loaded with a 108MP main camera, along with an 8MP ultrawide and two 2MP that don’t add much, this isn’t the star of the show.
That lies with the Honor 50’s front-facing camera that comes with a 32MP lens, a great choice for selfies or self-portraits. Providing incredible contrast, great colors, and highlights and shadows that are balanced, the lens shines whether you’re using standard or Portrait mode. This is the best budget camera phone for selfies because beyond that, the Honor 50 is a standard, Android-based phone.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Great selfie camera | ➖ No headphone jack |
| ➕ Great battery life | ➖ Cameras with 2MP don’t do much |
9. iPhone SE
The best Apple budget camera phone
in 2020, Apple announced the iPhone SE to offer consumers an iPhone that wouldn’t obliterate their budget but still offer features found on other iPhones such as water resistance, processing power, and wireless charging. Even with its dated design, the performance is great for a market looking for a budget camera phone.
One place where the iPhone SE doesn’t budget itself is the camera, it may not be best-in-class, but the 12MP main camera can capture high-resolution images, great portrait mode photos, and can even record 4K video. With a much lower price than some of Apple’s newest releases, if you can look past the dated design, you’ll have a great budget camera phone.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Waterproof | ➖ Design is dated |
| ➕ Wireless charging | ➖ Battery life is lackluster |
![Apple 2022 iPhone SE (64 GB, Starlight) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31AUcMGV1jL._SL160_.jpg)
- 4.7-inch Retina HD display
- Advanced single-camera system with 12MP Wide camera; Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, Portrait mode, and 4K video up to 60 fps
- 7MP FaceTime HD camera with Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles, Portrait mode, and 1080p video recording
- A15 Bionic chip for lightning-fast performance
- Up to 15 hours of video playback
10. SAMSUNG Galaxy A53
The best Samsung budget camera phone
Screen size: 6.5 Inches | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | CPU: Exynos 1280 | RAM:6GB RAM | Storage: 128GB | Rear camera: 64MP, Ultra Wide: 12MP
With an impressive design and quality, the phone is a great pick for Samsung lovers. The phone is efficient for casual use and entertainment. With a screen size of 6.5 inches, the display is made of Super AMOLED screen with a Gorilla glass.
The phone features a low light performance preventing the image noise. Along with the four cameras, the Samsung Galaxy A53 features various modes like night mode, Pro mode, Samsung’s Single Take mode. In addition to the snapchat lens and augmented reality effects, you can easily take videos with 4k and 30 frames per seconds. The phone has a great battery life that will not interrupt your workflow.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Excellent design | ➖Not an upgrade to A52 |
| ➕ Brilliant screen | |
| ➕ Impressive battery life |
- LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Your busy life deserves a battery built for busy; Whether you’re taking a video call on your commute, catching up on your favorite show or with friends and family, your...
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: The very best of Galaxy A Series gives you awesomely smooth streaming of your favorite content with the most powerful performance in its series and awesomely fast speeds to...
- EXPANDABLE STORAGE: Galaxy A53 5G*** gives you the A Series’ biggest built-in storage and lets you enjoy more memories and entertainment; With an additional 1TB of expandable storage with a microSD...
- INTELLIGENT CAMERA: Capturing content is as easy as pose, shoot and share with A53 5G’s*** intelligent camera; Single Take***** lets you capture video, pictures and more with just one tap, while...
- INFINITE DISPLAY: Whether you’re streaming short videos or kicking back to complete a whole series, the Galaxy A53 5G*** Super AMOLED display****** is built to keep you entertained, with incredible...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best camera phone with great quality and affordable price?
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is the best overall camera phone with an affordable price.
Which is the best camera phone among samsung?
SAMSUNG Galaxy A53 is the best camera phone among Samsung.
Which is the best slim camera phone at a budget friendly price?
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is the best slim camera phone at a budget-friendly price.
Related Posts
10+ Best Budget Camera Phones in 2023
Camera phones, especially high-tier options, can be very expensive. However, sometimes we all have to live on a budget but that doesn’t stop us from wanting a great camera phone to capture all of those important moments. With our list of the best budget camera phones in 2023, we hope we’ve provided you with a wealth of options to choose from.
