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.
Thankfully, we love finding great deals for you. Let’s dive right in and find you one of the best budget camera phones in 2022.
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10+ Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro — The best budget camera phone in 2022 overall (Editor’s Choice)
- OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G — The best affordable budget camera phone
- Google Pixel 5a — 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 A52 5G — 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 2022?
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 2022.
Interested in some of our other top choices? Check out our comparison table below.
How to choose the right budget camera phone?
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.
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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.
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 2022
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Editor’s Choice)
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The best budget camera phone in 2022 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 |
- 【65W SUPERVOOC】Accelerated charge velocity shall rocket the 4500mAh battery to a day's power in 15 minutes. Certified by TÜV Rheinland, one shall “Charge & Play” with an absolute peace of...
- 【Mediatek Dimensity 900】Powered by a 5G enabled, octa-core monster of a chipset that’s a tad more powerful than the previous CE, consider this the “Best in class” daily driver for...
- 【6.43 inch, 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED Display】Shielded by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, scroll, swipe, and enjoy all your entertainment effortlessly on this HDR10+ certified, OnePlus-worthy display.
- 【AI-infused Triple Camera】This amazing camera setup comprises a 64MP main sensor, 119° wide-angle, and a 16MP selfie shooter. Powered by an in-house algorithm, imaging in badly or unevenly lit...
- 【All Flexible】The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is equipped with triple card slots, meaning you have the flexibility to go dual SIM, with an additional micro SD that allows for up to 1TB extendable storage....
3. Google Pixel 5a
The best value budget camera phone
While from the outside, the Pixel 5a 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.
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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 |
- 6.34", OLED, HDR, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio, Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, 4680mAh Battery
- 128GB ROM, 6GB RAM, Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm), Octa-core, Adreno 620
- Rear Camera: 12.2 MP, f/1.7 + 16 MP, f/2.2, Front Camera: 8 MP, f/2.0, Bluetooth 5.0
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/38/39/40/41/42/46/48/66/71, 5G:...
- US model, the warranty, if any, will be honored by the manufacturer. Compatible with Most GSM + CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon,...
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 |
- International Model - No Warranty in the US. Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will NOT work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint, Boost
- Dual Nano sim 5G: : N1, N3, N7, N8, N20, N28, N38, N41, N78 NR SA: N1, N3, N7, N20, N28, N78, N41, N8 / 4g lte B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/26/28/38/32/34/39/40/41/66 3G; B1/2/4/5/8/19 2G Quad Band
- 128GB + 8GB RAM LCD Amoles 6.43 inch 2400x1080 90hz Refresh ratio
- Triple Camera Sony IMX766 50mp + 8mp + 2mp / 32MP Front Camera 4K video at 30fps
- Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) Mali-G77 MC9
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 |
- 6.57" 2340 x 1080 Pixels, OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 4300mAh Battery, Android 11, Magic UI 4.2
- 256GB, 8GB, Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm), Octa-core, Adreno 642L, Google Play Services
- Rear Camera: 108MP, f/1.9 + 8MP, f/2.2 + 2MP, f/2.4 + 2MP, f/2.4, Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.2, Bluetooth 5.2
- 2G: GSM B2/B3/B5/B8, 3G: B1/2/4/5/6/8/19, 4G LTE: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/26/28/34/38/39/40/41/66, 5G: n1/3/7/8/28/38/40/41/77/78 - Dual SIM
- International Model - No Warranty in the US. Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will NOT work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Cricket, Boost. - FCC ID:...
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 |
![2022 Apple 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 A52 5G
The best Samsung budget camera phone
To some, it might come as surprising to find a phone from Samsung on this list but the Galaxy A52 5G is a great budget camera phone from Samsung’s Galaxy line. With four lenses, each of which is high-res, and proprietary smart scene optimization, every image you capture can look immaculate.
With the same modes that are found in Samsung’s other Galaxy S devices, this makes the A52 an absolute steal of value. Beyond the camera, the A52 is still a solid phone backed by Samsung with a wonderful screen, great battery life, and 5G connectivity.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ High-res main camera | ➖ Not very powerful |
| ➕ Good looking display | ➖ Camera modes are few |
- 6.5" Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits, 1080 x 2400 (FHD+), 4500mAh Battery, IP67 water and dust resistant, On-Screen Fingerprint
- 128GB ROM, 6GB RAM, Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm), Octa-core, Adreno 618, Android 11, One UI 3.1
- Rear Camera: 64MP, f/1.8 + 12MP, f/2.2 + 5MP, f/2.4 + 5MP, f/2.4, Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.2, Bluetooth 5.0
- 2G GSM 850/900/S1800/1900, 3G UMTS B1(2100), B2(1900), B5(850), B8(900), 4G LTE B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B20(800), B28(700), B38(2600), B40(2300), B41(2500) - Dual SIM
- 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.
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10+ Best Budget Camera Phones in 2022
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 2022, we hope we’ve provided you with a wealth of options to choose from.