In today’s market, your smartphone may be the only thing in your pocket that gains value. While we’re used to electronics getting cheaper as they get older, the combination of Lack of RAMfluctuating prices and inflation are forcing old cell phones to experience unprecedented price hikes of up to $200.
Meanwhile, new phones that often get major upgrades each year don’t see meaningful quality of life improvements, yet we still pay a premium. New 256GB Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at $900, which raises the entry point for the company’s flagship phone line. The 256GB model of last year’s Galaxy S25 and get a price hike, like Samsung silently increasing internet costs of its folders and other devices.
It’s not just Samsung. Motorola has increased the prices of many of its products Moto G models only a few months after launch, although its devices are aimed at cost-conscious consumers.
Sticker shock in the mobile world is part of a wider contagion affecting the entire electronics market, incl PlayStation 5 again Xbox Series X/S consoles. But while pricey is the new industry standard, you don’t have to accept it. By getting a little creative and extending your terms, you can still secure a great phone without pinching your budget.
If you shop around, some retailers are still selling the Galaxy S25 at a lower price than Samsung itself.
1. Avoid buying a new phone
Many of us buy a new device to extend our phone’s battery life, get more storage or upgrade our camera. But in the last two years, most phones have seen little improvement in these areas. Phones from a year or two ago have the same cameras and batteries, and offer increased storage options, while gaining new features through software updates.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 seems to be very stable this year. In his own Galaxy S26 reviewCNET Managing Editor David Lumb didn’t find any specific improvements that would justify the phone’s higher starting price, other than a bump in storage and slightly improved battery capacity. While the phone’s cameras may benefit from its new, faster processor, Samsung is still using the same camera setup from the Galaxy S23: a 50-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
Most of the phones released in 2025 have not seen a price increase, but we will find out later in 2026 that their follow-up is very expensive.
If you’re coming from an older phone like the Samsung Galaxy S21 (or earlier), you might benefit from upgrading to a newer model, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 or S25. You can also save money by shopping with resellers rather than buying directly from Samsung.
You can also try to extend the life of your current phone. It can be very economical to replace your phone batteryback up old photos and videos to free storage then try new ways of taking pictures rather than relying on buying a whole new device.
The $500 Moto G Stylus gets three years of security updates.
2. Make sure the cheap phone gets software updates
I review a lot of low-cost phones, and the big trick most of them get away with is that they only offer two or three years of software and security updates.
As prices go up, especially for devices that cost $500 or less, you can end up buying a mid-range phone it should not be used beyond its third yearwhich doesn’t give you too much time. If the manufacturer does not provide security updates, that phone becomes vulnerable to data exploitation.
For example, when I like the new one $500 Moto G StylusI’m bummed for only having a three-year warranty for security updates when other companies offer at least twice that. I have the same problems with RedMagicwhich makes gaming-oriented phones at a premium price, but the company’s software and security support is also limited to three years. Likewise, TCL phones have lower prices, but the company only promises support for two years.
The Moto G 2026 was launched at a price of $200. After the recent price increase, it is now $300.
If hardware prices go up, I’d like to see phone makers focus on improving device longevity, especially since they know customers aren’t likely to spend $500 on a new phone every two or three years.
Samsung and Google phones under $500 often offer superior software and security support. Samsung, for one, confirms its Galaxy A phones six years of software updates, and $499 Pixel 10A he gets seven years. While I had issues with the Pixel 10A’s tight fit with the Pixel 9A (it keeps the same processor, camera and battery), if the Pixel 9A is discounted to $399, you’ll get a quality, affordable phone with six years of software updates.
Google’s $499 Pixel 10A gets seven years of software and security updates.
3. Hit the market again
Apart from looking at the sale of old devices, you can look at refurbished phones offered directly by Apple, Google and Samsung. While these phones are technically used, they are repaired by their manufacturer and sold as new. When I browse these stores, I don’t often see amazing discounts, but the devices are always marked down below their original price.
If you are particularly cost conscious, the used phone market is worth considering. When I tried a used iPhone 13 Mini, I found that it is important to have an open return policy so that the phone’s battery life and condition work for you. These phones will show visible wear and tear, and their batteries can be downgraded to use by their previous owner.
However, used devices are often cheaper than a comparably priced new phone and may even be worth the extra cost of replacing the battery and getting a case.
Watch this: I’m Trying a Used iPhone 13 Mini in 2025. Could It Be A Better Buy Than The iPhone Air?
