You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a reliable unlocked smartphone under $200. Here are some of the best cell phones we recommend in 2024.
Why buy an unlocked phone?
When you purchase an unlocked phone, you can continue to use your old or existing voice, text, and data plan. This will save you money and keep you comfortable with your goals.
What features to look for when buying an unlocked phone under $200?
Most of us find a metal design, large screen, and excellent performance to run the most popular apps. The storage capacity may not be as large as the expensive phones.
However, you can transfer stuff into this slot if your device has space for a MicroSD card. The quality of the cameras at under $200 price point is also greatly improved.
So, for those who need top-of-the-line features like stunning picture quality in low-light environments and powerful graphics performance for gaming, our list of best-unlocked phones under $200 offers all of this and excels in value.
List of Best Unlocked Cell Phones Under $200 in 2024
1. Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Samsung’s Galaxy A15 5G unlocked smartphone costs under $200 and offers so many benefits that it’s worth stretching your budget just a little.
The Galaxy A15 5G offers 5G connectivity so you can enjoy blazing-fast speeds for video streaming, web browsing, and more on the go. The 6.5-inch display boasts a 90Hz refresh rate, but what sets it apart is its Super AMOLED screen, which is a significant upgrade over the LCD panel offered by the previous generation model.
Powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 6100+ chipset and 4GB RAM, the smartphone can handle everyday tasks with ease. It also comes with 128GB of internal storage that is expandable via a microSD card slot.
The Galaxy A15 smartphone features a triple-lens camera system on the back consisting of a 50MP primary sensor, a 5MP ultra-wide-angle unit, and a 2MP macro module. It certainly won’t compare to the best Android camera phones. However, it will be enough for taking a few photos now and then.
As far as software is concerned, you get the latest Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6 layered on top. The Samsung Galaxy A15 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that can easily last a day or two with moderate use.
- 6.5 inches Super AMOLED screen with 1080×2340 pixel
- MediaTek Dimensions 6100+ Processor
- 4GB of RAM with128G Storage
- Expandable storage via a microSD card slot
- Android 14 operating system with One UI 6
2. Moto G Play (2024)
While looking for the best unlocked Cell phones for under $200 Motorola comes at the top of our list. The newest model of the Motorola’s G Series delivers a truckload of features at a price that’s too good to resist. Moto G Play (2024) comes with a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with a refresh rate of 90Hz.
The resolution is still HD+ (720×1600 pixels), but the 90Hz refresh rate allows you to interact with screen content smoothly. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset along with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Although the SoC only offers 4G connectivity, it is a significant improvement over the MediaTek Helio G37 of the previous generation model.
Considering that the latest model boasts an extra amount of RAM and faster UFS 2.2 storage, the Moto G Play (2023) should perform quite well in everyday use. Interestingly, the Moto G Play (2024) only has a single 50MP lens on the back.
The lack of an ultrawide module is a bit disappointing, but it’s a good thing Motorola didn’t include one of those useless macro devices just to supplement the spec sheet. The smartphone runs Android 13 with Motorola’s minimal My UX on top and should feature at least Android 14.
The Motorola Moto G Play (2024) packs the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor, but the charging speed has now been upgraded to 15W.
- 6.5 inches larger IPS LCD screen with 720×1600 pixel
- With Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon 680 processor
- 5,000mAh battery of longer-lasting battery
- Android 13 operating system with My UX
3. TCL 40XL
For under $200, you can find a 6.75-inch LCD on a TCL 40 XL unlock phone. The waterdrop notch looks a bit dated, but overall it’s the overall package that supports the value of this phone.
TCL offers a good deal with all the screen real estate. With 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, you get ample memory that can be expanded up to 512 GB.
Adding to the aesthetics of the phone is also a fingerprint scanner. The TCL 40 XL has a generous 5,000mAh cell that charges very quickly thanks to the 18W charging speed.
You get a nice triple camera set with a 50MP primary lens. In terms of software, the TCL 40 XL is powered by Android 13. Under the hood is the Mediatek Helio G37 chipset that sustains the entire phone.
What keeps this phone from being our top choice is the lack of future platform upgrades or water resistance. TCL also promises two years of security updates.
- 6.75 inches larger IPS LCD screen with 720×1600 pixel
- With MediaTek Helio G37 processor
- 4GB of RAM with 128G storage
- With the latest Android 13 OS with TCL UI
- 5,000 mAh of battery
4. Blackview BV5200 Pro
If you’re clumsy or work in a physically demanding environment, the BV5200 Pro is a solid choice. The BV5200 Pro is one of the best unlocked rugged phones for under 200 dollars. It has IP68 and IP69K dust/water resistance ratings as well as MIL-STD-810G certification. This means the BV5200 Pro has been tested to withstand drops of up to 5 feet.
The BV5200 Pro has many features beyond its design. It features a large 5,180mAh battery, USB-C charging, Mediatek Helio G35 chipset, and NFC for contactless Google Pay payments. It also has 4GB of RAM along with 3GB of virtual RAM, which can be added for a total of 7GB, and there is also 64GB of storage that can be expanded up to 1TB.
You’ll miss out on any platform upgrades beyond Android 12 that come pre-installed, and there’s no fingerprint sensor, but you’ll get face unlock. The BV5200 Pro’s design certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth a look for anyone who appreciates the benefits of a solid handset like this. The Blackview BV5200 Pro makes a lot of compromises, but its rock-bottom price makes it a very attractive deal.
- 6.1 inches of IPS LCD screen with 720×1560 pixel
- MediaTek Helio G35 processor
- 5,180mAh long-lasting battery:
- IP69K/IP68 dust/water protection
- Comes with NFC features
5. Motorola Moto G Power
- Excellent battery life
- Solid build
- Good value
- One year of software updates
- Android 10 Operating System
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The power of the Moto G Power comes from a large-capacity 5,000mAh battery that will last you two days. The design of this phone isn’t bad either. It has an intelligent punch-hole camera and a large 6.6-inch LCD.
The Moto G Power also has an excellent Snapdragon 662 processor combined with 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage. It has a triple camera system with a 48MP primary shooter that can produce great pictures.
The Moto Battery Champion also has a headphone jack and a MicroSD card slot for convenience. The basic version of this phone sells for $179.99, but you can often find it at a discount, making it one of the best phones under $200.
6. Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho
- 6.5 inches display 720 x 1600 pixels
- Camera 48MP + 5MP + 2MP + 2MP with 8MP front Camera
- Exynos 850 Chipset
- 4GB Of RAM with 128GB Storage
- Android 11 OS with one UI
The Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho smartphone has a 6.5-inch PLS IPS display with 720 x 1600 pixel resolutions. The Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho is powered by an Exynos 850 (8nm) chipset: Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 and 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55).
The smartphone has 32GB of internal storage and 3/4GB of capacity, allowing the smartphone to run smoothly with multiple applications simultaneously.
The Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho runs on Android 11, One UI 3.1 operating system, and is powered by non-removable Li-Po 5000mAh.
7. Motorola Moto G Fast
- 6.4 inches display with 60Hz refresh rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
- 3GB RAM with 32GB of ROM
- Unique features
- Android 11 operating system
This Motorola mobile is over a year old but has a competitive edge. In terms of design, it’s modern enough, so you don’t have to worry about age. Motorola’s second product on this list has an excellent 6.4-inch LCD and a 4,000mAh battery.
The Moto G Fast, along with the following phones on this list, has the Snapdragon 665, the best processor for a phone under $200. It also has a nice triple camera setup and a 16MP primary camera that can produce great photos.
Where this phone’s age is displayed is its memory size. It only comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, both on the low side.
The good thing about this phone is that the storage and headphone jack are expandable. The Motorola Moto G Fast is currently at Amazon for $169.99 as of 2024.
8. Moto G7 Play
- 5.7 inches max vision screen
- 1.8 GHz octa-core Processor
- With the expandable stoagre of up to 512GB
- Android 9.0 Pie Operating sys
The Moto G7 Play is the best-unlocked handset in Motorola’s Moto G series in this range and the best cell phone under $200.
The software experience of this phone is perfect. The interface is clean and fast. You can also use Motorola’s Motorola’ssoftware add-ons, including Moto Display and Moto Actions. In everyday use, Moto Actions are fun and truly useful.
One of the best unlockable cell phones, the G7 Play, also works with Amazon Alexa. This integration allows users to directly access the intelligent voice assistant whenever they want by pressing and holding the power button.
The phone uses a USB-C port. All major US carriers are supported. It comes with expandable storage of up to 512GB.
9. Samsung Galaxy A10e
- 5.7 inches PLS TFT capacitive screen
- Exynos 7884B Processor
- 2GB of RAM with 32GB storage
- Expandable storage of up to 512 GB
- Android 9.0 Pie OS
The Samsung Galaxy A10e is worth considering if you’re looking for the best unlockable phone under $200. This phone has a large display that will impress anyone. The screen moves from edge to edge, from the rightmost to the leftmost frame of the device.
The lower bezel is small. If you consume a lot of media, this smartphone will make your games and movies stand out more.
Works with all US carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint. It has expandable memory storage of up to 512 GB and a sound processor. We’re only concerned about Samsung’s inconsistent software updates and a tiny 2GB RAM.
10. Motorola Moto One
- With 5.9 inches of lagre sceen
- Snapdragon 625 Processor
- Expandable storage of up to 256GB
- Android 8.1 Oreo OS
The Moto One is an affordable mid-range phone for under 200 dollars. It provides an excellent design and no-frills software. Some key features include a fingerprint scanner, trim bezels, and a glass back.
It comes with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. This phone supports USB-C Turbo fast charging, and you can use the Moto Experiences app.
The Moto One’s battery life is fantastic, making the gadget worth considering. For the average user, these convenient features make the Moto One the best-unlocked smartphone for under $200.
11. Motorola Moto E6 Plus
- 6.1 inches IPS LCD capacitive screen
- 2.0 GHz octa-core Processor
- 2GB RAM, 32GB ROM with microSD up to 512 GB
- Android 9.0 (Pie) OS
The Motorola Moto E6 Plus features a 6.1-inch display with a 2.0 GHz Octa-core processor. RAM is 2GB 32GB and 4GB 64GB. Motorola has finally refreshed the Moto E series of affordable ultra-low-end smartphones with the new Moto E6 Plus.
After you get your hands on this, the first hook is a superior design. You can get a nice shiny glass finish. However, it is not scratch-resistant, so use it with a case.
12. Nokia G20
- Up to 3 days of battery life
- camera 48MP quad-camera with 8MP front
- MediaTek G35 Processor
- With the latest Android 11 OS
- Up to 2 years of OS updates
Look at the budget king; this HMD global Nokia phone has the best specs for the price. At a retail price of under $200, the Nokia G20 has a pretty good 6.52-inch display and an excellent 48MP camera setup. With a large capacity of 5,050mAh, the battery life is also good.
The design of the Nokia G20 is the best on this list. This phone looks fresh and well-made. This is another central selling point. It has a powerful MediaTek Helio G35 processor combined with 4GB RAM and 64GB or 128GB storage.
This phone supports a MicroSD card slot, headphone jack, and dual SIM. The Nokia G20 is recommended for an unlocked smartphone under $200.
13. Motorola Moto G Pure
- 6.5 inches scree with 60Hz refresh rate
- MediaTek Helio G25 Chipset
- With Water repellent design
- Android 11 OS
Considering the less than $200 price tag, the unlocked Motorola Moto G Pure offers good value. This phone has a large 6.5-inch display and a 4,000mAh battery, lasting up to two days on a single charge.
The MediaTek Helio G25 processor powers this phone, so it’s not the best performance, but the chip does the job. Moto G Pure’s unlocked cell phone has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage.
This phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a back-mounted fingerprint scanner. A 13MP dual-camera system should be great for daylight photography. Motorola’s Moto G Pure has a 5-megapixel selfie camera, which is disappointing.
Still, the Moto G Pure should offer good specs and build quality for the pricey. It’s an excellent phone for grandparents and young children and a perfect secondary or backup phone.
14. Ulefone Armor X8
- Great rugged waterproof Phone
- MediaTek Helio A25 Chipset
- 4GB of RAM with 64GB storage
- Android 10 Operating System
The Ulefone Armor X8 cell phone has a 5.7-inch IPS LCD with a 720 x 1440 pixels resolution. Ulefone Armor X8 is powered by MediaTek Helio A25 (12nm) chipset.
The smartphone has 64GB of internal and 4GB of storage, allowing the smartphone to run smoothly with multiple applications simultaneously.
Ulefone Armor X8 runs on the Android 10 operating system and is powered by a non-removable Li-Po 5080mAh.
It’s not as good as the Moto G Fast, but it’s cheaper due to the Moto E’s lower price tag. Currently priced at $70, it has a 6.2-inch screen, Snapdragon 632 processor, and dual-camera setup in a modern and stylish design.
The Motorola Moto E unlocked phone is very convenient and reasonably priced, with a great capacity removable battery.
15. Motorola One Macro
- 6.2 inches large display
- 4×2.0 GHz octa-core Processor
- 4GB of RAM with 64GB ROM
- 4000mAh of removable Li-Po battery
The Motorola One Macro is a good choice if you’re looking for a smartphone primarily for cameras. This is the only smartphone on our list with an AI-powered macro camera.
This means you can get better visual effects on objects with up to 5x more accuracy than traditional low-end smartphones. With the AI-powered camera with autofocus.
This unlocks phone has a more prominent display with a better resolution, a satisfying audio quality, and a fast processor for multitasking.
16. Samsung Galaxy A12
- 6.5 inches screen with 1600 x 720 pixels
- Exynos 850 Processor
- 4GB of RAM with 128GB Storage
- Android 10
The Galaxy A12 comes at a beautiful price. We must admit it’s made of cheap materials, but it has a lot of specs you might consider buying. The Galaxy A12 has an excellent 6.5-inch LCD and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery. For a phone under $200, this product offers excellent value.
And the MediaTek P35 processor is more than capable of handling everyday tasks. The downside to the Galaxy A12 is that it only has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
The storage space is expandable, and like the other phones on this list, it also comes with a headphone jack. The phone’s 48MP primary camera produces excellent photos with vivid colours. If you are a fan of Samsung One UI, this is for you.
17. Motorola Moto G4
- Unlocked phone with carrier-friendly
- Wide-angle selfie camera
- Very sharp HD video
Your life will always be fantastic with this less than 200-dollar excellent phone. It is equipped with a wide-angle selfie cam. It’s unlocked and carrier-friendly, so it works better. You can also sign up as a member and get unlimited access to major movies and TV.
Remember that, like never before, just getting a short HD video is a pleasure. We don’t just bring you the good; we bring you something unique and better to use.
FAQs
Are any Android phones under $200 good?
Yes, an uncooked $200 Android phone can be suitable for many different types of people. Buying an Android smartphone for under $200 is a bit like buying a cheap car to commute to work. The entire goal of that car is to get you to and from home, work, or school, and nothing more
Likewise, a phone under $200 will meet your everyday needs, but probably not much more. Don’t buy a smartphone under $200 thinking you’ll get the world. In both scenarios, if you decide to save money, you’ll have to give up some cool features and other extras.
Don’t buy a smartphone without expecting a very bright screen in direct sunlight or expecting to admire every photo you take with the camera. Very cheap cars don’t even come with autopilot or backup cameras.
Make sure you are setting performance expectations when moving into either category. Cheap cars can’t hit highway speeds right away, and you shouldn’t expect them to race. Likewise, phones under $200 aren’t good at gaming or multitasking between apps.
In short, whether you’re listening to music, scrolling through social media, watching movies on Netflix or videos on YouTube, or just browsing on the go, you should expect an overall good experience from one of these phones. Almost all phones offer battery life that lasts for days, which is a big plus in this budget, low-power category.
Is it worth buying an unlocked phone?
Unlocked phones have less bloatware. And even if you unlock a carrier model phone and switch carriers, you will still be stuck in bloatware. This is not the case with factory-unlocked phones. They’re still running the manufacturer’s Android version, but at least they aren’t burdened with carrier apps. However,r unlocked phones are worth buying than looked phones.
Will unlocked calls get worse?
According to the communications resource PrivateLine.com, these substances block cell phone signals. Using an unlocked phone only gets worse if your chosen network doesn’t support it.
Can I buy a phone from Best Buy & activate it on Verizon?
Yes, you can activate it at Verizon. However, if you keep your phone and add a line to your existing phone, Best Buy doesn’t have a SIM card to switch to, so you’ll have to go to a Verizon store.
What is the best unlocked Samsung phone?
Here are the best unlocked Samsung phones currently available for under $200. Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho, Samsung Galaxy A10e, and Samsung Galaxy A12.
At the End of best-unlocked smartphones under $200
As always, we strive to put the best smartphones on the table. The above-listed top 10+ unlocked cell phones under $200 are the best for their price and a complete compromise due to their efficient performance and features. They are suitable for everyone, including seniors/older.
