(Credit: Eric Zeman)
The "lean phone" is on track to define the moment. The fastest-growing phone category right now is the economy set. Budget devices and "accessible flagships" have become major market share holders. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36, according to a recent Counterpoint Research report, were all selling as well as Apple's iPhone as 2025 came to a close.
We're in an era where the proliferation of AI data centers has taken precedence over all else, the cost of memory has risen nearly 50%, and storage is surging nearly twice its usual price. We were promised a future where the smartphone would be all we'd ever need. But then came the memory crisis, which has driven prices up across the board. Samsung, for example, has already raised prices on its premium devices, with more increases to come. If you're in the market for a new smartphone, a cheaper phone is a better option right now. Let me explain.
Simpler Is Better
You don't need all that phone, do you? Admittedly, even I carry a smartphone that I don't need. The Google Pixel 10 Pro has it all: brawn, brains, and three camera lenses with up to 5x optical zoom. But for most of the week, it sits on my desk while I tap away at the computer and get my work done.
I can do everything I need with a computer and the cheaper Pixel 10a, which costs half as much. This includes screening bots that constantly call me, transcribing a frantic meeting into something understandable, and questioning Gemini Live so I can solve the dishwasher problem for the millionth time. The 10a even has the Pixel 10 lineup's satellite connectivity for emergency assistance.
Cheaper phones deliver the basics in our highly connected world. They receive consistent software updates, have nice screens, and (sometimes) include bigger batteries that last longer in day-to-day rundown tests than flagships do, powering all the features you need.
In our review, the economical Pixel 10a and its 5,100mAh battery were on par with the Pixel 10 Pro's 4,800mAh battery, despite the differences in silicon and screen resolutions. The two devices lasted within half an hour of each other. What's more, the flagship tops out at 30W wired charging compared with the Pixel 10a's 45W fast wired charging. The experience is almost identical.
The Flex Is Over
Owning a specific, highly priced smartphone model isn't the status symbol it used to be. According to a recent research report, around 73% of smartphone users say they plan to keep their phones until they stop working entirely, while 76% of folks are waiting for a "clearly worth it" upgrade. Many people have realized that upgrading every other year or two isn't actually netting them a better handheld experience.
Analysts are also noticing the changing math in consumer behavior. When asked about the possibility that Samsung's base-model Galaxy devices could sell more units than the ultimate Ultra, Carolina Milanesi, president and principal analyst at Creative Strategies, says the Ultra model is mostly popular with "users who really care about the camera." However, Milanesi still expects the sales gap between the base model and the Ultra to narrow: "As prices are on the rise, I do expect more consumers to pick the base models."
Years of Support Matters
People are holding onto their phones longer because they can. There really isn't a reason to upgrade every year now that many major phone makers offer steady software updates. Google and Samsung have both committed to seven years of software updates for their flagship devices. The latest generations of Samsung's Galaxy A-series devices get six years of support. Apple typically supports its iPhones with major software updates for five to 10 years.
Not all phones get the latest features when they're long in the tooth. For instance, the Pixel 10a's Tensor G4 chip will encounter incompatibilities as Google releases more Gemini features that rely on specific hardware for on-device processing. But if you don't care for AI, the basic phone capabilities remain, with apps you can use just as you always did.
These phone updates include security fixes, too, so you're not running around with a backdoor open on a device that's always with you. The house may be aging, but the fence remains strong.
Lean on What You Have
I challenge you not to update your phone every year. See if you can make it at least two or three years, if not more.
As someone who reviews phones for a living—which means I have to be on the bleeding edge all the time—I personally find this a difficult proposition. But for most people, the "ultimate smartphone" is complete overkill. The ultimate smartphone is actually the one that works for you the longest. Phone makers know you see it, too, which is why they're boosting the baseline models with each successive generation.
As device prices fluctuate along with the market, you might have to decide which features you're willing to compromise on. I could have dialed back on the camera capabilities and picked the Pixel 10, which has the same maximum 5x optical zoom, rather than the full-blown Pro with up to 100x digital zoom that I hardly ever use (and when I do use it, it's not life-changing).
Most of the time, the price you pay is for a feature set that's special and new. It's not always worth it, especially if what you want is longevity out of a device.
It's time to adopt what you need, not what you want. And stick with it.