Purchasing flagship smartphones is no longer prohibitively expensive, and there are plenty of options in the $500 range. Many smartphones in this price range now have 120Hz displays, capability for fast charging, and good cameras. Some of these phones even have Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset, which is seen in high-end devices such as the Mi 11 Ultra and the OnePlus 9 Pro. Here are seven phones to consider if you’re looking for a cheap flagship for around $500.
- OnePlus 9R
Let’s start with the OnePlus 9R, which was released in India earlier this year. It boasts a 6.5-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W rapid charging. Its 48-megapixel primary camera can record 4K films at 60 frames per second. The OnePlus 9RT 5G was recently announced by OnePlus, and it is expected to be released in India soon.
- iPhone SE 2020 128GB
The iPhone SE from last year is the cheapest handset in this class. Fortunately, further iOS updates are planned for the phone, and the A13 Bionic chipset should be able to handle jobs such as iPhone transfers with slight stutters. It has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7-megapixel front camera for taking selfies. We don’t have 5G support, however, we do have wireless charging. The phone is also dust and water-resistant, with an IP67 grade.
- Samsung Galaxy M52 5G
The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is the cheapest phone on the list, using a Snapdragon 778 SoC, a popular mid-range processor. On some e-commerce sites, the smartphone may also be sold at a discounted price. It has a big 6.67-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED screen, as well as triple cameras on the back. Fast charging is supported by the 5,000mAh battery unit at 25W.
- Realme GT 5G
Realme released the Snapdragon 888-powered Realme GT 5G earlier this year, which features a 6.43-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a Snapdragon 888 processor. The triple back camera system comprises a 64-megapixel primary camera, and users can choose from three color combinations. A 4,500mAh battery pack with 65W quick charging is included. Regrettably, the internal storage capacity is limited to 128GB.
- Vivo X60
The Vivo X60 5G comes with a 6.56-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, which is also included in the OnePlus 9R 5G. A 48-megapixel primary camera with OS is on the back panel, although there is no Gimbal stabilization.
- iQoo 7 5G
The iQoo 7 5G has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, just like the OnePlus 9R and Vivo X60, but a smaller 6.62-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display. A 48-megapixel primary camera is housed in its triple rear camera system, and there’s also a 4,400mAh battery with 66W FlashCharge fast charging capabilities.
- Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro
Xiaomi is OnePlus’ main challenger in India when it comes to flagship killer status, especially in the Android phone arena. The Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro has a 6.67-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a refresh rate of 60Hz. The triple rear camera arrangement holds a 108-megapixel Samsung HM2 sensor and is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC. A 4,520mAh battery is also included, which supports 33W rapid charging and 2.5W reverse charging.
All of the aforementioned devices would be excellent choices for consumers who want a flagship mid-range device.