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Best phones under $400 for creators (2026)

US list prices up to about $400. Ranked for creators. Editorial scores, MSRP bands, and links to full guides—no sponsored picks.

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Top picks

Top pick

POCO X 5 (2023)

$299–$359

The POCO X 5 (2023) (2023) — a Xiaomi phone in the budget tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.

Catalog label: Upper middle

POCO X 5 (2023) guideCompare POCO X 5 (2023) vs POCO X 5 (2024)
Strong alternative

POCO X 5 (2024)

$349–$608

The POCO X 5 (2024) (2024) — a Xiaomi phone in the budget tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.

Catalog label: Upper middle

POCO X 5 (2024) guideCompare POCO X 5 (2024) vs POCO X 5 (2023)
Also consider

POCO X 5 (2025)

$399–$724

The POCO X 5 (2025) (2025) — a Xiaomi phone in the budget tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.

Catalog label: Upper middle

POCO X 5 (2025) guide

Side-by-side: POCO X 5 (2023) vs POCO X 5 (2024) →

Why these phones?

We start from every device in our catalog with validated US MSRP bands, apply your filters, then rank using the same 1–10 category scores documented in our methodology. “Top pick” is the highest composite for this page’s intent—not a paid placement.

Full ranked list

X(

POCO X 5 (2023)

Xiaomi · 2023

$299–$359
Upper middle
BatteryPerformance
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POCO X 5 (2024)

Xiaomi · 2024

$349–$608
Upper middle
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POCO X 5 (2025)

Xiaomi · 2025

$399–$724
Upper middle
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POCO X 6 (2023)

Xiaomi · 2023

$299–$329
Upper middle
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POCO X 6 (2024)

Xiaomi · 2024

$349–$608
Upper middle
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POCO X 6 (2025)

Xiaomi · 2025

$399–$724
Upper middle
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POCO X 7 (2023)

Xiaomi · 2023

$299–$359
Upper middle
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POCO X 7 (2024)

Xiaomi · 2024

$349–$635
Upper middle
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POCO X 7 (2025)

Xiaomi · 2025

$399–$666
Upper middle
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POCO X7 Pro

Xiaomi · 2025

$399–$695
Upper middle
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S5

Galaxy F56 5G

Samsung · 2025

$359–$593
Upper middle
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Galaxy F56 5G (Unlocked)

Samsung · 2025

$359–$467
Upper middle
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S5

Galaxy M56 5G

Samsung · 2025

$379–$699
Upper middle
BatteryDisplay
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Galaxy M56 5G (Unlocked)

Samsung · 2025

$379–$474
Upper middle
BatteryDisplay
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Galaxy A 15 (2024)

Samsung · 2024

$379–$671
Lower middle
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Galaxy A 25 (2024)

Samsung · 2024

$379–$671
Lower middle
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Galaxy A 35 (2024)

Samsung · 2024

$379–$615
Lower middle
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Galaxy A 45 (2024)

Samsung · 2024

$379–$699
Lower middle
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Galaxy A 55 (2024)

Samsung · 2024

$379–$699
Lower middle
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Galaxy A 56 (2024)

Samsung · 2024

$379–$643
Lower middle
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S5

Galaxy A34 5G

Samsung · 2023

$349–$661
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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Galaxy A34 5G (Unlocked)

Samsung · 2023

$349–$401
Lower middle
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S5

Galaxy A35 5G

Samsung · 2024

$399–$753
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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Galaxy A35 5G (Unlocked)

Samsung · 2024

$399–$439
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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S5

Galaxy A36 5G

Samsung · 2025

$399–$666
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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S(

Galaxy A36 5G (Unlocked)

Samsung · 2025

$399–$519
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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HX

Honor X9c

Honor · 2025

$399–$753
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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M(

Moto G 54 (2025)

Motorola · 2025

$329–$378
Lower middle
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Moto G 64 (2025)

Motorola · 2025

$329–$378
Lower middle
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Moto G 74 (2025)

Motorola · 2025

$329–$411
Lower middle
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Moto G 84 (2025)

Motorola · 2025

$329–$395
Lower middle
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Moto G Stylus 5G (2025)

Motorola · 2025

$399–$637
Lower middle
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N2

Nothing Phone 2a

Nothing · 2024

$349–$635
Lower middle
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O4

OnePlus Nord 4

OnePlus · 2024

$399–$637
Lower middle
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Redmi Note 12 (2024)

Xiaomi · 2024

$329–$362
Lower middle
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Redmi Note 12 (2025)

Xiaomi · 2025

$379–$643
Lower middle
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Redmi Note 13 (2024)

Xiaomi · 2024

$329–$395
Lower middle
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Redmi Note 13 (2025)

Xiaomi · 2025

$379–$671
Lower middle
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Redmi Note 14 (2024)

Xiaomi · 2024

$329–$428
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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X(

Redmi Note 14 (2025)

Xiaomi · 2025

$379–$671
Lower middle
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XP

Redmi Note 14 Pro

Xiaomi · 2025

$399–$666
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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X(

Redmi Note 15 (2024)

Xiaomi · 2024

$329–$411
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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X(

Redmi Note 15 (2025)

Xiaomi · 2025

$379–$727
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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NX

Nokia X60

Nokia · 2025

$399–$637
Lower middle
BatteryDisplay
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