I've been spending a lot of time with some lower cost phones lately, so that I could complete both my Samsung Galaxy A54 and Google Pixel 7a reviews. All the testing and trials wasn't merely so that I could evaluate those individual phones in a vacuum — I'm also trying to assess how they compare to one another as prime candidates for the title of the best cheap phone under $500.
Since these two devices also happen to be among the best Android phones I've tested this year, it's a pretty even comparison. The Pixel 7a runs on a new Tensor G2 chip, adds a fast refreshing display along with wireless charging support and bolsters its cameras with a 64MP main shooter. The Galaxy A54 has a number of impressive features in its own right — a 120Hz display and a much improved main camera of its own — and it costs $50 less than the Pixel 7a.
