This Is The Best Samsung Phone Under $500 In 2026

Prices are going up in stores across the country, all while your dollar's buying power is going down. That's particularly true in the tech world, where RAM and SSD prices are rising even higher from AI demand. That squeeze is especially pertinent for those of us who, say, have only $200 to spend on a new phone. But if you're looking to buy a Samsung device and have a budget closer to $500, the good news is that you can still find decent affordable deals out there.

For several years, the various tiers of Samsung's Galaxy A series phones have targeted different price levels and the Galaxy A37 5G released in 2026 is meant to attract those who have $450 to $500. The phone is also BGR's top recommendation between budget-friendly Motorola and Samsung Android phones. It's an Android 16 device with OS and security support through March 2032 with a 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery that can charge up at an acceptable 45 watts, a triple rear camera system with a 50MP star sensor, and a half-decent 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Unlocked and direct from Samsung, you'll pay $490 before taxes, but Amazon has the A37 for as low as $350 when on sale. Meanwhile, many carriers charge about $450, aside from free phone promos if you're switching.

If you want more phone but still within budget, the used and refurbished markets might be worth a look. Samsung has a certified program which means it's tested and given a 1-year limited warranty, but its options aren't as price-competitive as third-party retailers. Also note, you should never buy refurbs without asking a few things first.

All that being said, retailers including Amazon offer what they often call "renewed" older phones, such as an unlocked Galaxy S23 Ultra from Amazon for $408 as of writing. You're getting a 6.8-inch 1440p AMOLED display, a handy S Pen stylus, a 200MP camera, and decent performance with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That said, the S23 Ultra is only eligible for Android updates into 2027, and another year of security patches on top of that.

In the used marketplace, Swappa offers Galaxy S24 Ultra units in the upper $400s. There are a bunch of year-to-year spec updates between the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra we can discuss, but the biggest improvement is Samsung's expanded software commitment. The Korean tech giant promised seven years of OS and security updates with its S24 Ultra, meaning you'll be covered through January 2031. That said, there is one downgrade to consider: If you're a fan of zoomed-in shooting, the S24 Ultra offers a 5x unit, while the S23 Ultra has a 10x zoom.