Best Phones Under $800

You don't need a $1,200 flagship to get a genuinely fast, capable phone in 2026. A handful of models now pack flagship-tier chipsets, high-refresh displays, and strong cameras while staying under the $800 mark.

The OnePlus 13R is the clearest example: it carries over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a 6000mAh battery from OnePlus's own flagship line, only trimming the telephoto zoom range and wireless charging speed to hit its lower price. If raw endurance matters most to you, the 13R's battery capacity alone puts it ahead of most phones at any price.

Apple's iPhone 17 is the other standout in this range, launching at $799 with a 120Hz LTPO display for the first time on a base-model iPhone, plus the A19 chip and a dual 48MP camera system. It is the most balanced pick if you want iOS without stepping up to the Pro tier.

The Nothing Phone (3) also lands at $799 and takes a different approach entirely, leaning on its transparent Glyph-lit design and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset rather than chasing spec-sheet supremacy. It is the pick for buyers who want their phone to look and feel different from the rest of the market.

Whichever you choose, all three prove that sub-$800 no longer means compromise on the fundamentals — chipset, display, and battery life are all genuinely competitive with phones costing hundreds more.