The growing smartphone market with numerous brands one better than the other in terms of price, features, and availability has made it difficult for users to decide. Most mid-range buyers have a limited budget and don’t want to exceed that when they are buying a smartphone. However, with new smartphones coming to the market with advanced and improved features, it becomes quite a headache to either wait for a smartphone to release or buy something that’s already on the market. The people who waited to buy iPhone 13 are again waiting to buy iPhone 14 considering the new features it brings and this goes on and on.
However, if you don’t want to wait months and years for a smartphone of your choice to release, you could choose the one mentioned in this review. Smartphones under $600 are most suitable for people looking to get a decent performance, camera quality, battery backup, design, and sensors. Read on and find the best smartphone that fits your needs below!
5 Best Smartphones under $600 in 2022
Samsung S21
If you want a smartphone with a super smooth display, there is no better option than Samsung S21 in the $600 range. The Samsung S21 is known for its 120Hz display that you can keep scrolling all day and still feel like using it. With its super-fast touch response rate and seamless visuals, the phone is superior with its dynamic AMODED 2X display that delivers vibrant colors. You could easily tell the difference between the S21 and any other smartphone when you compare the display. The 12MP ultra-wide camera is capable of delivering high-quality photos and videos. The 8MP telephoto camera is another amazing feature of S21’s camera setup that captures amazing high-res images.
Furthermore, the one camera feature that attracts most users is the capability of a 30X space zoom that combines a 3X hybrid optical zoom for close-up photos and videos. Capturing videos for your YouTube, or TikTok is much more efficient with the Samsung S21. The power-efficient Exynos 2100 processor takes performance to the next level. The S21 is suitable for graphics-heavy gaming experiences as well as multitasking. The 4000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging is capable of charging the phone from 0 to 50% within 30 minutes. For all the features Samsung S21 offers including the camera quality, battery capacity, performance, and sensors, the phone is undoubtedly the best in the segment.
Realme GT Neo 2
The Realme GT Neo 2 is one of the most-selling flagship smartphones from Realme in 2021. Promoted as the 65W super dart fast charge, the smartphone was able to capture the attention of millions with its sleek design, 6.62-inches 120Hz display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 octa-core processor, and a huge 5000mAh battery. Protected with the Corning Gorilla Glass 5, the smartphone is able to take normal fall damage quite well and doesn’t break that easily.
However, the back glass can break easily if you put pressure. We have seen the back glass breaking easily in various Realme phones including the mid-range Realme X2 series. Other than that, the phone is an absolute steal with a range of unique features and sensors including a Magnetic Induction Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Gyro-meter, Acceleration Sensor, and on-screen optical fingerprint. You can purchase Realme GT Neo 2 in European markets for around $500 based on the location.
OnePlus Nord 2
The OnePlus Nord 2 is clearly a winner when it comes to providing features for the value. Performance-wise, you will never raise a complaint with OnePlus Nord 2. The phone is extremely smooth and is able to run any app including mobile games that consume high RAM and processor. We tested by simultaneously running 10 apps at once, and we didn’t experience any lag whatsoever.
Feature-wise, the smartphone is equipped with 6.43-inches fluid AMOLED 90 Hz display, MediaTek MT6893 Dimensity 1200 5G octa-core processor, and a huge 4500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging, and a triple camera setup that captures crystal-clear photos and videos at 4K. As for the sensors, the smartphone offers an optical fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, proximity, and compass. If performance is what you crave, OnePlus Nord 2 is what you should consider.
Apple iPhone 11
![Apple iPhone 11 [64GB, Purple] + Carrier Subscription [Cricket Wireless]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41xcc9p33XL._SL500_.jpg "Apple iPhone 11 [64GB, Purple] + Carrier Subscription [Cricket Wireless]")
Apple’s 2019 flagship phone still makes its way to the top as the best value-for-money iPhone in 2022. Equipped with 6.1-inches Liquid super-smooth retina display, the iPhone 11 competes with the latest iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 in terms of performance and features. Capable of capturing 4k videos at 60fps with its dual-camera setup of a 12MP primary ultra-wide camera, the smartphone can capture high-resolution images a day, night, or under any weather conditions. Although iPhones cameras receive very less criticism in terms of quality, the iPhone 11 provides the same level of images like that of its newer models. The phone is dust and water-resistant and can provide water protection for up to 30 minutes and 2 meters deep. As for the processor, the iPhone 11 is equipped with Apple’s A13 Bionic chip with 3rd-gen neutral engine. Additionally, the phone provides various other features and sensors including face ID, fingerprint, gyro, compass, and many more. If you are looking to buy an iPhone for $600, the iPhone 11 is clearly the best choice to make. You could never go wrong with an iPhone.
Samsung A73
Samsung Galaxy A73 should be one of the most value-for-money Samsung smartphones, probably after the Samsung S-series. With features of a top-range phone, the A73 is performance-heavy for gaming, and any other use. The Samsung A73 is equipped with 6.7-inches super AMOLED 120Hz display, Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G octa-core processor, Adreno 642 GPU, and a quad-camera setup with a 108 MP primary camera that is capable of recording videos at 4k at 30fps. A 32MP selfie camera is capable of recording videos at 4K at 30fps. However, the smartphone doesn’t offer a 3.5mm jack. However, you can buy a pair of wireless earbuds for audio transmissions. With its huge 5000mAh battery that supports 25W fast-charging and is priced at just $525, the A73 is clearly a deal to steal.
Buyers Guide – Features to Consider While Buying a Smartphone under $600
Processor
The primary feature you look into while buying a mid-range phone is the processor. Performance is very crucial while playing processor-heavy games, and multitasking. Although the processors offered by mid-range phones under $600 are optimized for all your needs, it’s important to double-check the specs before you buy.
RAM & Storage
You need enough storage for all your images and videos. To avoid getting memory full errors on your smartphone, it’s crucial to check if the phone you are buying has enough storage or not. We recommend at least 128GB storage capacity and 8GB of RAM for a decent performance.
Display
The phone is superior in Processor, RAM, ROM, and performance, but if the display is not good enough, you will end up regretting it. The displa is where you’ll spend all your time on your phone and if the display doesn’t provide comfort to your eyes and hands while scrolling, it’s a waste of money. The smartphones reviewed in this list offer AMOLED displays that are known to be the best in the market. You could never go wrong with the AMOLED and retina(iPhone) display.
Battery
It’s frustrating when you have to frequently charge your phone due to the low capacity of your battery. Getting a smartphone with sufficient battery storage that gives you at least a day or two of backup is necessary when you are on a trip or far from a charging point.
