This is the best Samsung phone under $500 in 2026

Prices are increasing at stores across the country, while the purchasing power of your dollar is decreasing. This is especially true in the tech world, where RAM and SSD prices are increasing even more due to the demand for AI. This constraint is particularly relevant for those of us who, for example, only have $200 to spend on a new phone. But if you are planning to buy a Samsung device and have a budget close to $500, the good news is that you can still find affordable and decent deals.

For several years, Samsung’s Galaxy A series phone tiers have targeted different price points, and the Galaxy A37 5G released in 2026 is intended to attract those with $450 to $500. The phone is also BGR’s top recommendation between Motorola and Samsung budget Android phones. It’s an Android 16 device with OS and security support until March 2032 with a 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh battery that can charge at an acceptable 45 watts, a triple rear camera system with a 50MP star sensor, and a half-decent 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Unlocked and direct from Samsung, you’ll pay $490 before tax, but Amazon has the A37 for as little as $350 when it’s on sale. Meanwhile, many carriers charge around $450, aside from free phone promotions if you switch.

If you want more phones while staying on budget, the second-hand and refurbished markets may be worth a look. Samsung has a certified program, meaning it’s tested and comes with a one-year limited warranty, but its options aren’t as competitive as third-party retailers. Also note that you should never buy refurbished products without asking for certain things first.

That being said, retailers including Amazon are offering what they often call “renewed” older phones, like an unlocked Galaxy S23 Ultra from Amazon for $408 at the time of writing. You get a 6.8-inch 1440p AMOLED display, a handy S Pen, a 200 MP camera, and decent performance with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. That said, the S23 Ultra is only eligible for Android updates until 2027, and another year of security patches on top of that.

On the second-hand market, Swappa offers Galaxy S24 Ultra units in the upper $400 range. There are plenty of year-over-year spec updates between the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra that we can discuss, but the biggest improvement is Samsung’s extensive software commitment. The Korean tech giant has promised seven years of OS and security updates with its S24 Ultra, meaning you’ll be covered until January 2031. That said, there’s one downgrade to consider: If you’re a fan of zoom shooting, the S24 Ultra offers a 5x unit, while the S23 Ultra has a 10x zoom.