Main points
- The rating includes four smartphones: Apple iPhone 16e, Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, OnePlus 12R and Google Pixel 7 Pro, which are rated for performance, camera quality, battery life and durability.
- Prices for models range from $380 to $600, with varying features such as battery life and display quality.
The four best smartphones under $600 / Collage by Channel 24 / Photo by Depositphotos
Flagship smartphones continue to get more expensive, but that doesn't mean you have to pay over a thousand dollars for a quality device. There are still plenty of popular mid-range models on the market that offer balanced specifications, good battery life, and reliability in everyday use.
Choosing a budget smartphone is not an easy task, as you often have to make compromises. Channel 24's rating presents four smartphones with an emphasis on such characteristics as performance, camera quality, autonomy, and resistance to damage.
Apple iPhone 16e (128 GB)
This smartphone appeared in early 2025 as the successor to the budget iPhone SE line. Despite the increase in price compared to its predecessor, the model received the highest rating among devices under $ 600. It is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a density of 460 ppi, HDR support and a peak brightness of 1200 nits.
Inside, the Apple A18 processor is running – the same one used in the base iPhone 16. It is enough for modern tasks, including Apple Intelligence features. A full list of technical specifications of the iPhone 16e on GSM Arena.
The smartphone has one 48-megapixel camera, which, although inferior in versatility to multi-module systems, does a good job of taking photos and videos.
According to the test results, the battery life reaches 37.5 hours. During the drop and water tests, the device did not suffer significant damage. The official price is $599.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (128GB)
The FE line traditionally offers flagship-level specs at a lower price. The Galaxy S24 FE features a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display with 1900 nits peak brightness and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
The smartphone is equipped with a triple camera: a 50 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8 MP telephoto camera. The quality of the images is not as good as more expensive models, but it is sufficient for everyday tasks.
The Exynos 2400e chip is not one of the fastest on the market, but it confidently copes with standard tasks. Full list of Samsung Galaxy S24 FE specifications on GSM Arena.
The 4700 mAh battery provides up to 29 hours of screen time. There is support for wired and wireless charging. The cost is about $569.
OnePlus 12R
This 2024 smartphone is primarily distinguished by its autonomy. The 5500 mAh battery allows you to get up to 46 hours of screen time – an indicator that is approaching the flagship level. At the same time, the model is equipped with a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a dynamic refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz, a peak brightness of 4500 nits and a density of 450 ppi.
The cameras are represented by a triple module: 50-MP main, 16-MP ultra-wide and 2-MP macro, as well as a 16-MP front camera. High quality photos and videos are provided primarily by the main unit. Detailed specifications of the OnePlus 12R on GSM Arena.
During tests, the device demonstrated good resistance to scratches, drops, and even water penetration. The company promises software support until February 2028.
The base version costs around $499, and the configuration with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage costs around $569-599.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Although this model debuted back in 2022, it remained Google's flagship and is being sold at significant discounts in 2025. The smartphone has a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED screen with a frequency of 120 Hz and a peak brightness of 1500 nits.
The 5000 mAh battery provides up to 32 hours of screen time. Wired and wireless charging up to 23 W is supported. The camera module consists of a 50 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide and a 48 MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom.
All the specifications of the Google Pixel 7 Pro on GSM Arena.
The smartphone is powered by the Tensor G2 chip and offers Pixel-branded features, including a free VPN. It will receive minimum updates for five years from the release date. It will be available in 2025 for around $379.99.
How was the rating formed?
Consumer Reports experts tested smartphones using the same methodology, evaluating speed, camera quality, battery life and durability. The final list included four models with the best average scores for quality and reliability.
When selecting smartphones, we also took into account the strengths of the devices and possible compromises, such as the update policy or the level of the cameras.