While flagship smartphones boast impressive features, spending $1,000 is not a prerequisite for a satisfying Android experience nowadays. If you’re in need of a new smartphone and have a budget of approximately $200, there are numerous excellent options available. Surprisingly, some of the best Android phones under $200 come equipped with features like 5,000mAh batteries, multi-lens camera setups, and the promise of extended software updates.

We thoroughly evaluate various Android phones to ensure optimal performance without encountering unexpected issues down the line. If we were to recommend one Android smartphone in the sub-$200 price range, it would be the latest addition to Samsung’s lineup, the Galaxy A15 5G. Boasting a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, a sizable battery with 25W fast charging support, and more, it offers a compelling package. Alternatively, consider Motorola’s Moto G Play (2024) for a straightforward yet functional device.

  • FonsNihilo@lemmy.ca
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    8 months ago

    It does matter, and parts of them do stop working.

    Older devices that no longer security updates are vulnerable to exploitation.

    The Google play store won’t let you download certain apps if you are behind on andriod versions.

    The phone does slow down as it ages, solutions are time consuming to keep phone up to speed.

    The battery degrades and it gets harder and harder to replace a battery with each generation of phone that comes out.

    Cases/screen protectors are rare and expensive as they are no longer being produced.

    • aluminium@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Doesn’t have anything to do with updates, but yeah hardware might fail over time. Thats a risk you gotta take.

      Yeah thats partially true, but many cricital issues get patches with Google Play Protect Updates. Also at least I’m not aware of any big hacks that happened on old Android Versions.

      True yes, but id say 99% of Apps still support Android 9 which is 5 years old.

      No they don’t Software becomes more demanding and so things overall feel slower. There can be cases where stuff like the battery can’t supply the voltage and thus the CPU can’t reach its peak Clockspeed, but thats pretty rare

      No it became much easier since all phones now are made with glass or plastic. They now can be opened from the back which means you never have to touch the Display - the most fragile part.

      Yes thats an issue but if your phone was somewhat popular you can still easily get them. I for example replaced my Galaxy S6’s screen protector last year. Still was able to easily buy one.