Cheap phones that are worth having

Motorola Moto G5 Plus

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: The splash-resistant Moto G5 Plus has a near stock version of Android Nougat, a good camera and video, and a metal body — and it’s extremely kind to your wallet.

The bad: There’s no NFC on the U.S. model, and audio sounds tinny through the built-in speaker.

The cost: $220 to $230

The bottom line: With a long list of features you want and only a few that you don’t, there is no better budget phone.

Apple iPhone SE

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: A small, hand-friendly design. Solid speed. Good front and rear cameras. More built-in storage (up to 128 GB). The lowest priced iPhone you can buy.

The bad: Older giant-bezel design and limited screen size are love-it-or-hate-it. Hardware hasn’t changed since its 2016 release.

The cost: $160 to $349

The bottom line: The SE is getting older, but its added storage options and strong performance running iOS 10 still make it a great choice for small-phone fans.

Motorola Moto G5

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: The G5 costs little, but packs a full-HD screen, good cameras and enough power for your everyday essentials.

The bad: The dim screen can be difficult to read under bright lights and you’ll need to be careful if you want to get a whole day out of the battery. The cost: $160

The bottom line: The G5 is the phone to get if you want an everyday phone for as little as possible, but if you want higher-end features, go for the G5 Plus.

Alcatel Idol 5S

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: It has a premium body, amazing speakers and a fingerprint reader, and it runs Android Nougat — all while being affordable.

The bad: It has the shortest battery life of any phone we’ve tested in the past two years.

The cost: $199

The bottom line: The Idol 5S is an otherwise great budget phone, but the battery is its Achilles’ heel.