​Top 10 best Android and Apple smartphones for around $700

SIM-free and unlocked smartphones that you can buy right now in 2022

Credit: Motorola

In 2022, it’s all too easy to spend too much money on a premium smartphone - especially if you’re only looking at throwing your money at the most popular brands on the market.

Thankfully, it’s much easier to find cheaper, more budget-friendly alternatives than ever before. The amount of overlap in features for mid-tier devices and premium ones continues to grow while the gap in quality continues to shrink. 

Nowadays, you can spend far less than the amount asked for by flagship devices and come away with more than just a phone that handles the basics. Here are our picks for the best Android and Apple phones you can find for around $700.

Google Pixel 6a 

Google Pixel 6aCredit: Google
Google Pixel 6a

The Google Pixel 6a has just been released in Australia so it's worth putting on your radar. 

As with the previous Google Pixel models that came before it, the Google Pixel 6a provides the benefit of a fast processor, attractive design and decent camera in a small and affordable package. 

The Pixel 6a sports a 6.1-inch display and powerful Google Tensor chip that should provide a welcome boost over the Google Pixel 5 when playing games and running apps. The resolutions of its 12.2MP rear-facing camera and 8MP front-facing camera look quite modest, but with intelligent AI modes like Night Sight, Panorama and Portrait, they promise to be highly versatile for shooting in a range of conditions. 

Pros:

  • Has the fast Google Tensor processor

  • Offers over 24 hours of battery life

  • Fast charge capability

Cons:

  • Display is only 60Hz

  • No wireless charging

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can pre-order the Google Pixel 6a outright through the following retailers:

The Google Pixel 6a is available to purchase on post-paid mobile plans via the major carriers Telstra, Optus and Vodafone via the widget below:

Oppo Reno4 5G

Credit: Oppo

The Oppo Reno 4 5G has a premium look and feel and comes with a zingy FHD+ (1080x2400) 6.4-inch AMOLED display. It was launched alongside the Reno4 Z and was the pricier of the two handsets sporting a slicker feature set but its price has finally dropped to make it a really temping offer. 

The Oppo Reno 4 5G is powered by the 5G-enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G with 8GB RAM. It also comes with 128GB storage. It has a highly capable 48-megapixel main camera and and 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. On the front side a 32-megapixel camera can take  selfies. 

Pros

  • 5G-enabled 

  • 32-megapixel selfie camera

Cons

  • No optical zoom

  • ColorOS can be an acquired taste

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can buy the Oppo Reno4 Z 5G outright at the following retailers:

You can't currently buy the Oppo Reno4 5G on a post-paid plan but you can pair it with a SIM-only plan using the widget below:

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

Credit: Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A90 was one of the first affordable 5G-enabled smartphones on the market and it was designed with a feature set to impress users. 

It's equipped with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 855 processor,  a triple-lens camera (48-megapixel + 5-megapixel depth sensor + 8-megapixel wide-angle lens), 32-megapixel front-facing camera, 128GB of storage, up to 8GB of RAM, a 4500mAh battery and an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

Pros

  • Great performance

  • Quad-lens camera

  • In-display fingerprint sensor

Cons

  • No wireless charging

  • No water resistance

Where to buy

In Australia, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy A90 outright at the following retailers:

You can no longer purchase the Samsung Galaxy A90 5G on a post-paid mobile plan but you can pair it up with a SIM-only plan using the widget below:

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Samsung Galaxy A53 5GCredit: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is an excellent phone  for budding photographers. The device has a 64-megapixel main sensor coupled with a 32-megapixel front-facing camera - more than enough to capture decent snaps.

The FHD+ AMOLED display measures a generous 6.5-inches and this is powered by a Exynos 1280 processor and 6GB RAM. It also has 128GB storage.

Few midrange smartphones on the market can claim to look as stylish as the A53 5G, the device available in black, white, peach or blue colours and showing off a smooth matt finish that you'd expect to see in substantially more expensive phones. 

Pros

  • Exceptionally stylish design
  • Very nice display

Cons

  • Processer power can be slow
  • No charger supplied 

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G outright through the following retailers:

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is also available on a postpaid mobile plan at Telstra, Optus or Vodafone via the widget below.

Oppo Find X5 Lite

Oppo X5 Lite 5GCredit: Oppo
Oppo X5 Lite 5G

Although the Oppo Find X5 Lite technically costs closer to $800, at $797 it just scraps into our comfortable midrange zone, hence why we included it in this round up. The device boasts a MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor, 256GB of on-board storage, 8GB of RAM and a 64-megapixel triple lens camera with up to 20x optical zoom.

Movies, games and images look fantastic on the device's generously sized 6.43-inch AMOLED display, which is kept smooth by a 90Hz refresh rate. A large 4500mAh battery capacity has plenty of juice to get you through approximately two days. Plus, thanks to the 65W SUPERVOOC fast-charging you can get a 2 hour power boost from just five minutes plugged into an outlet. 

Pros

  • Premium design

  • Up to two days battery

  • Speedy SUPERVOOC fast Charging

Cons

  • Speakers sound a bit tinny

  • Processor could be more powerful 

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can find the Oppo Find X5 Lite through the following:

The Oppo Find X5 Lite is available on postpaid mobile plans via Optus, Vodafone and Woolworths via the widget below:

Samsung Galaxy Note9

Samsung Galaxy Note9Credit: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Note9

Samsung's Galaxy Note9 didn't just build on the renewed momentum of the 'from the ashes' Note8, it arguably perfected the formula. The only catch? At AU$1499, that supremacy came at a pretty hefty cost. 

In our review, we said that the Note9 "is a device that offers the world. It’s got one of the best displays you can get on a smartphone. It’s got one of the best camera systems you can get on a smartphone. It’s got one of the best processors you can find in a smartphone. But so does the Note 8. And while the Note 9 is definitely the better device, savvy customers are probably wanna gonna opt for its discounted predecessor or wait for whatever comes next."

Thankfully, the Note9 is now way cheaper and only a little less compelling. You still  gets you a pretty powerful Exynos processor, the ever-useful S-Pen and a gorgeous Infinity Display. You even get access to the new One UI Android skin that Samsung debuted alongside the Galaxy S10. Software updates and price-depreciation have helped the Note9 hold its edge over the years.

Pros

  • Great display & design

  • Water resistance & wireless charging

  • Still has a headphone jack

Cons

  • Camera hasn’t aged as well as it should have

  • Looks dated compared to modern Samsung devices

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can find the Samsung Galaxy Note9 through the following:

The Samsung Galaxy Note9 is no longer available on postpaid mobile plans via Telstra however it can be paired with a SIM only plan via the widget below: 

Nokia XR20 5G

Nokia XR20 5GCredit: HMD Global
Nokia XR20 5G

If you're prone to dropping your phone - and lets face it who isn't at times - then a smartphone that can stand up to a battering is a worthwhile investment. The Nokia XR20 5G is Nokia's ultra-tough device, designed to take whatever life throws at it. By that we mean it's made with an especially solid case and a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus display for scratch, drop and water resistance. 

The Nokia XR20 5G's large 6.67 inch FHD+ display is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G processor and 6GB RAM. Its 128GB ROM storage is plenty large enough for an extensive library of apps and images. It also packs a 48MP main rear-facing camera and 8MP selfie camera. 

Pros

  • Extremely tough design

  • 5G support

  • 3.5 mm audio jack

Cons

  • Google assistant button can't be customized

  • Camera quality doesn't match some competitors 

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can buy the Nokia XR20 5G through the following:

The Nokia XR20 5G isn’t available on any postpaid mobile plans via Telstra, Optus or Vodafone but you can always pair the device up with a SIM-only plan (see below).

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Apple iPhone SE (2022)Credit: Apple
Apple iPhone SE (2022)

The arrival of Apple's iPhone SE (3rd-gen) was keenly awaited by iPhone fans this year and for good reason - it offers exceptional functionality for a fraction of the price of Apple's iPhone 13. 

Among the upgrades you can expect to find over the previous iPhone SE model are 5G connectivity, a faster A15 Bionic processor and at least two hours of extra battery life 

All in all, it's a great smartphone, but it does have a small display, so if you prefer big visuals the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro will still be the better option. 

Pros

  • The A15 Bionic processor is quick and efficient

  • Longer battery life than previous model

Cons

  • Small display 
  • Has just one 12-megapixel camera 

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can find the Apple iPhone SE (3rd-gen) through the following:

The Apple iPhone SE (2022) is available on postpaid mobile plans via Telstra, Optus and Vodafone (see options below).

Motorola Edge 30 

Motorola Edge 30Credit: Motorola
Motorola Edge 30

With a snappy Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ processor, 8GB RAM, 5G support and a large 6.5-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate, the Motorola Edge 30 is ideal for gaming. 

It also has a very decent selection of cameras, including a 50MP main rear-facing Quad camera and 32MP selfie camera at the front. 

Being noticeably slender and lighter to hold than some smartphones, the Motorola Edge 30 feels compact and is a pleasure to carry. It features an in-display fingerprint scanner instead of a side mounted one, which is a lot easier to use.  

Pros

  • Large display 

  • 50MP rear-facing camera

Cons

  • The audio quality 

  • Battery life could be longer

Where to buy?

In Australia, you can find the Motorola Edge 30 through the following:

The Motorola Edge 30 is also available on a postpaid mobile plan via Vodafone (see the widget below).

Motorola Edge 20

Credit: Motorola

Motorola really focused on improving camera quality in the latest three additions to its Edge line-up and it's evident in the Edge 20's 108-megapixel main camera. The Edge 20 is also 5G-capable and features a large 6.7-inch FHD+ (2400x1080) OLED display powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 8GB RAM. 

The Edge 20 also comes with the Ready For platform that enables you to wirelessly access files from your phone and other devices - like from your PC - simultaneously on the same screen.  

Pros

  •  5G-enabled
  •  108-megapixel camera
  •  Weighs only 165g 

Cons

  •  4000mAh battery 
  • No headphone jack 

Where to buy?


The Motorola Edge 20 isn’t available on any postpaid mobile plans via Telstra, Optus or Vodafone but you can always pair the device up with a SIM-only plan (see below).



Join the newsletter!

Or

Sign up to gain exclusive access to email subscriptions, event invitations, competitions, giveaways, and much more.

Membership is free, and your security and privacy remain protected. View our privacy policy before signing up.

Error: Please check your email address.

Tags smartphonesMotorolaApplesonyhtcmobile phonessmartphonelgsamsungHuaweiLeicamobile phonemobile phoneMotorola Edge 20

Keep up with the latest tech news, reviews and previews by subscribing to the Good Gear Guide newsletter.
Dominic Bayley

Dominic Bayley

PC World
Show Comments

Most Popular Reviews

Latest Articles

Resources

PCW Evaluation Team

Cate Bacon

Aruba Instant On AP11D

The strength of the Aruba Instant On AP11D is that the design and feature set support the modern, flexible, and mobile way of working.

Dr Prabigya Shiwakoti

Aruba Instant On AP11D

Aruba backs the AP11D up with a two-year warranty and 24/7 phone support.

Tom Pope

Dynabook Portégé X30L-G

Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.

Tom Sellers

MSI P65

This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.

Lolita Wang

MSI GT76

It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.

Featured Content

Product Launch Showcase

Don’t have an account? Sign up here

Don't have an account? Sign up now

Forgot password?