Our new favorite budget phones

iPhone 17E on a desk

The iPhone 17E is the best cheap iPhone, no surprises there. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Over the last few months, every phone maker under the sun has refreshed its lineups, especially at the affordable end, with no major budget phone launches now expected until next year. That made it the perfect time to go back and reassess The Verge‘s recommendations for the best budget phones you can buy right now.

You won’t be too surprised to hear that the iPhone 17E is now our recommendation for the best cheap iPhone, not least because it’s the only cheap iPhone. Still, this year’s addition of MagSafe charging makes it a much more well-rounded package than last year’s 16E, and with the same A19 chip as the flagship iPhone 17, you won’t f …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Read more @ TheVerge

Latest posts

If Google can’t make AI agents useful, maybe no one can

For years, tech companies have promised AI will give everyone a capable personal assistant but delivered something more like a clueless intern. Over the...

Trump is waging a silent war on legal immigration

When the member states of the United Nations reviewed their Global Compact on Migration earlier this month, one country was conspicuously absent from the...

Insta360’s Mic Pro uses a three microphone array for improved recordings

A small color E Ink screen lets you customize each transmitter’s appearance. | Image: Insta360 After initially revealing its unique design at NAB 2026 last...

Trump Mobile may be leaking customer addresses

The T1 Phone was meant to start shipping last week. | Screenshot: Trump Mobile Just as the T1 Phone is seemingly on the verge of...

It’s make or break time for AI labeling systems

If robust AI labeling was in place when these swagged out images of Pope Francis went viral, it may have been easier for people...

A feature-packed MagSafe power bank is 20 percent off for Memorial Day

Having personally recently tested a bunch of MagSafe power banks for an upcoming piece, let me tell you that it’s tough to find a...

The Verge’s 2026 high school graduation gift guide

High school graduation is a time of change that might be felt more deeply by family members than by the grads themselves. While some...

Anker’s travel-friendly Laptop Power Bank has returned to its best price of the year

Whether you’re heading out for a quick Memorial Day getaway or preparing for summer travel, a reliable power bank can come in handy when...

Google Search’s AI evolution includes more ads

Some ads will have chatbots built in. | Image: Google Google's AI-powered Search era apparently also extends to its ads. Now, when you search for...

Xbox hires game industry analyst Matthew Ball to lead strategy

Microsoft has recruited game industry analyst Matthew Ball as Xbox chief strategy officer. Ball publishes an annual state of video gaming report, which is...