Your $600 budget could get you some of the premium and best mid-range phones in the market. Although your $600 budget is in the mid-range level, you can get a premium phone 2 years old or the smallest variant of the current premium phone if you can add between $50 to $100 to your budget.
Most mid-range phones under $600 have the best displays, processors, cameras, and other premium features. We have compared them based on the phone with the best camera in this category, the best value phone, the best for gaming, the best long-lasting phone, the best display phone, and much more.
Without further ado, here is a list of the best phones under $600 in 2024.
1. Samsung Galaxy S24
Overall Best Phone under $600
Released date: January 2024 | Display: 6.2 Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2340 pixels | CPU: Nona-core, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | GPU: Adreno 750 (1GHz) | RAM: 8/12GB RAM | Storage: 128GB/256/512GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 10MP + 12MP | Front camera: Single 12Mp | OS: Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Battery: Li-Ion 4000 mAh, 25W fast Charging | Dimension: 147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm | Weight: 167g
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is easily the best phone below $600, especially for those seeking a premium device. This premium phone, released in 2024, packs all the features you get in the latest model, the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
The phone features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with Adreno 750 GPU. The processor and GPU make gaming enjoyable, and you are sure to get a phone with one of the best processors in the market. The display you are getting here is 1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate less than the 1440p resolution of the Google Pixel 8 Pro. The Samsung Galaxy S24 starts at $629, though the base model now has 128GB of built-in storage.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 has one of the best cameras on a smartphone. Pictures taken on the device are crisp and clear, with good dynamic range, and the colors are the best you can get from a smartphone. The phone features a three-camera system with a 50-megapixel primary sensor that produces punchy, vibrant 12-megapixel photos. Portrait mode photos taken with the primary sensor or the 3x telephoto camera are stunning, with excellent subject isolation. Outside of portrait mode, the 3x camera is pretty average. It has a shorter focal length than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 5x telephoto, so it’s less useful for distant subjects.
The out-of-the-box software experience on a Samsung phone is our least favorite part. It includes many duplicate apps to replace or supplement Google’s stock apps like Messages, Google Calendar, and Google Assistant. Unless you’re a Bixby fan, you’ll have to spend some time de-Samsunging the S24. The Pixel 8 Pro provides a much more streamlined experience right away.
But there is some good news: the phone can be upgraded to Android 15 and One UI 7 when it comes out and will receive three more OS platform upgrades and five years of security updates. That means you can continue to use the phone safely in the future and make the most of your investment.
2. Google Pixel 8
Best Value Phone under $600
Released date: October, 2023 | Display: 6.2 inches OLED display, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels | CPU: Nona-core, Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) | GPU: Immortalis-G715s MC10 | RAM: 8GB RAM | Storage: 128/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Dual 50MP + 12MP | Front camera: Single 10.5Mp | OS: Android 14 | Battery: 4575 mAh, 27W fast wired and 18W wireless charging | Dimension: 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm | Weight: 187g
The Google Pixel 8 is a very nice phone to buy for under $600. The phone features a premium and stylish design that exudes elegance and sophistication. The device features a Gorilla glass Victus at the front and the back giving it a premium look and feel. The back camera arrangement is amazing and the front is all clean with little bezels and also houses the front camera cut-out.
The front of the device features a 6.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display has a refresh rate of 120Hz and supports HDR10+ technology, which provides a more immersive viewing experience.
The Google Pixel 8 is powered by an octa-core Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) processor, which is a powerful chipset that can handle demanding tasks with ease. The phone comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, which is more than enough to store all your photos, videos, and other files. This device runs on the latest Android version, Android 14.
The Google Pixel 8 boasts a dual-camera setup on the back, which includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The primary sensor uses a large 1/1.9-inch sensor and supports 4-axis optical image stabilization (OIS), which helps to capture sharp and clear photos even in low light conditions. The ultra-wide sensor has a 114-degree field of view, which allows you to capture wider landscapes and group shots. On the front, the phone features a single camera, a 10.5-wide camera. The front-facing camera also supports OIS and can record 4K videos.
As advertised by Google, you can charge this phone up to 50% in 30 minutes thanks to the 20W fast charger that comes with the phone. Although this is not that fast when compared to some other phones in its range this is a decent feature. The Google Pixel 7 is equipped with a 4575mAh battery, which is more than enough to last a full day of heavy usage. It also supports wireless charging up to 27W as well.
The Google Pixel 8 is a high-end smartphone that offers impressive features and excellent value for money. The phone boasts a stylish design, a powerful processor, multiple cameras, and a long-lasting battery. If you are looking for a premium smartphone under $600 that can handle demanding tasks with ease then this should be your priority.
3. iPhone 13
Released date: September 2021 | Display: 6.1 inches, Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1170 x 2532 pixels | CPU: Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | GPU: Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | RAM: 4GB RAM | Storage: 128/256/512GB ROM | Rear camera: Dual 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: Single 12Mp | OS: iOS 15 upgradeable to iOS 17 | Battery: Li-Ion 3240 mAh, PD2.0 fast charging, 15W wireless Charging | Dimension: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm | Weight: 174 g
The iPhone 13 features a new design with a larger 6.1-inch display that covers the entire front of the device, with only a small notch at the top for the front-facing camera and sensors. The phone has a glass back and aluminum frame, giving it a premium look and feel. The device is also water and dust-resistant, making it more durable than previous models.
The iPhone 13 display is a Super Retina OLED screen with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The screen also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, providing a better viewing experience for compatible content.
Powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, which offers fast and smooth performance, you can be assured that the iPhone 13 can play many graphics-demanding games. The phone also features 4GB of RAM and is available with either 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of internal storage. The device runs on Apple’s operating system, iOS 15, and can be upgraded to the latest iOS 17 and later versions, which provides a smooth and user-friendly experience.
At the back of the iPhone 13, you’ve got a dual-camera system on the back, with a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. The camera offers optical image stabilization and 2x optical zoom, allowing for better zoomed-in shots. The device also features a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with advanced facial recognition technology, which enables features like Face ID and Animoji.
This device is powered by a 3240mAh battery, which provides a decent amount of battery life. The device also supports fast charging, which can charge the battery up to 50% in just 30 minutes.
4. Samsung Galaxy S23
Released date: February 2023 | Display: 6.1 inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2340 pixels | CPU: Octa-core, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | GPU: Adreno 740 | RAM: 8GB RAM | Storage: 128/256/512GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 10MP + 12MP | Front camera: Single 12Mp | OS: Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Battery: 3900 mAh, 25W fast charging | Dimension: 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm | Weight: 168 g
The Samsung Galaxy S23 was released last year, and it’s still the phone with the most beautiful designs from Samsung and also the perfect size. We prefer the designs of the phone compared to the latest Galaxy S24. The phone sports a 6.1 inches which funny enough is the same size as the iPhone 14s and 15s, it is super comfortable to hold with one and two hands and it fits in your pocket.
In terms of the internal components, it has the best of 2023, the snapdragon 8 Gen 2 optimized for Samsung to get the most out of the S23. No app doesn’t open instantaneously, no game can be played at maximum settings, and the phone has sphere performance.
The battery life of the phone is incredible and it will give you around 8 hours of use depending on the things you do which is more than enough for the majority of people. The phone packs a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED Plus display with a 120Hz refresh rate, extremely thin bezels, and a 1080p display. You can watch YouTube videos up to 1440p and the displays get as bright as 7150nits. One of the downsides of the phone is that it doesn’t have a 1440p panel like the S23 Ultra, but after comparing the phone to the S23 Ultra, we can say that it is impossible to distinguish between 1080p and 1440p on a smartphone with the naked eye.
The camera main camera spots a 50MP sensor and, incredibly, you’ve got a natural bokeh effect, great dynamic range, sharp videos with great colors, and it looks almost as good as a professional APS-C camera. There are two other cameras, a 10MP zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. The phone camera is also incredible even though the camera is only 12MP. You get a lot of details, 4K recording, dual video calls, and a lot more. This is a fantastic phone to buy if your budget is only $600.
5. Nothing Phone 2
Released date: July 2023 | Display: 6.7 inches, OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2412 pixels | CPU: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | GPU: Adreno 730 | RAM: 8/12GB RAM | Storage: 128/256/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Dual 50MP + 50MP | Front camera: Single 32Mp | OS: Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5.5 | Battery: Li-Ion 4700 mAh, 45W fast charging, 15W wireless Charging | Dimension: 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm | Weight: 201.2 g
Nothing Phone 2 is the upgraded version of the Phone 1 released last year by a new start-up company, Nothing. The phone comes in just two colors, black and white version and both have flat aluminum sides around the back. It comes in a simple design but is just nuanced and complex enough to appreciate it.
The Nothin Phone 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, paired with 8GB of RAM and an option of either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. The Nothing Phone 1 does not feel slow by any means, and it performs well, and the Nothing OS 2.5 is fantastic.
The cameras of the phone look identical to the iPhone camera set-up, and the phone marketing wants you to believe the phone is an iPhone alternative. Well, they did very well in this aspect. The phone comes with a dual back camera with a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP Ultrawide lens. But when testing we kind of find that the main cameras come with better pictures than the ultrawide lens even though they are of the same pixels.
The Nothing Phone 2 is a dope piece of tech that comes with amazing designs, a better camera, and a processor at a lower price.
6. OnePlus 12R
Released date: January 2024 | Display: 6.78 LTPO4 Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1264 x 2780 pixels pixels | CPU: Octa-core, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | GPU: Adreno 740 | RAM: 12GB/16GB RAM | Storage: 128/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 8MP + 2MP | Front camera: Single 16Mp | OS: Android 14, OxygenOS 14 | Battery: Li-Po 5500 mAh, 100W fast Charging | Dimension: 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm | Weight: 207g
The OnePlus 12R brings flagship features to a phone that costs only $500. The phone is powered by the last year’s flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 coupled with a 12/16GB of RAM. You’ve also got a 5500mAh battery, 100W fast charging, gorilla glass Victus 2, an option of 128GB, and 256GB of internal storage. Just a few months ago, all of these were considered to be a flagship spec, but we now have all of those specs in a mid-range phone.
Although all of the features are top-tier level, that is not true for the camera. The rear of the device features a 50MP main camera, 4MP macro lens, and 8MP ultrawide camera. These are great cameras for a mid-range device which the OnePlus 12R is, but does not compete with cameras on high-end smartphones. Nevertheless, if your budget is only $500, the OnePlus 12R is your best spot.
7. Xiaomi 13T
Released date: September 2023 | Display: 6.67 AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1220 x 2712 pixels | CPU: Octa-core, Mediatek Dimensity 8200 Ultra (4 nm) | GPU: Mali-G610 MC6 | RAM: 8/12GB RAM | Storage: 128/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 50MP + 12MP | Front camera: Single 20Mp | OS: Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS | Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, 120W fast Charging | Dimension: 162.2 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm | Weight: 202g
Although the Xiaomi smartphone brand is not that popular in the US, most of the phones from the company are impressive. The Xiaomi 13T is one of the Xiaomi Mi 13 Lines but comes with a lower price. The phone features impressive designs and the cameras are amazing. You’ve got a 50MP wide camera lens here, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The other two cameras are not that good.
You’ve got 120W fast charging technology that charges the phone from 0-100% in less than 30 mins. The phone is great for gaming and you can play most of the graphics demanding games at the highest settings. This is a phone you want to buy if you are searching for the best phones under $600.
8. Galaxy S23 FE
Released date: October 2023 | Display: 6.4 Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2340 pixels | CPU: Octa-core, Snapdragon Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) | GPU: Adreno 730 | RAM: 8GB RAM | Storage: 128/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 8MP + 12MP | Front camera: Single 10Mp | OS: Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 | Battery: Li-Ion 4500 mAh, 25W fast Charging | Dimension: 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm | Weight: 209g
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the first SE phone from Samsung since 2021 and those two letters stand for “Fan Edition”. According to Samsung, it is the phone they built for fans of the Galaxy S23 by listening to what is important to them and adjusting their hardware accordingly.
The Galaxy S23 FE is a pretty inexpensive phone appearance-wise and comes in several colors very similar to the iPhone 15s. There is no camera bump which was present in the S21 FE, all you have on the back of the phone is just three camera protrusions coming out of the glass back. The phone design is pretty and the only negative thing about the design is that, although the phone comes rounded, the sides are a little sharp making it a little uncomfortable. Another bad side of the design is the large bezels in the display, which is off for someone used to flagship phones.
Inside the phone is a snapdragon 8 Gen 1 which is a top-tier processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB/256GB of internal storage making the phone as fast as other flagship smartphones released in 2023. The phone comes with a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and 8MP telephoto lens which captures good and detailed pictures. The Samsung S23 FE is a good option that checks all the boxes for a good phone under $600.
