Written February 2026
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Key Specs:
- Google Tensor G2 processor & 12 GB RAM
- 6.7″ QHD+ ~512 PPI 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display with up to 1500 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus protection, 212 g weight
- 50 MP Wide + 12 MP Ultrawide + 48 MP 5× Telephoto + 10.8 MP selfie camera
- 5000 mAh battery with 23W wired charging, 23W wireless charging
- Android 13 with 5 years of software support (including Android updates and security updates)
- IP68 dust and water resistance
The Google Pixel 7 Pro can be found for around $200 in good condition, used or refurbished, or for a little more in excellent condition, and for the price, it is a spectacular phone. It’s aged beautifully in almost every way, with the still premium-looking and feeling design and great water and dust resistance being the cherry on top. The Pixel 7 Pro has a 1440p AMOLED display capable of 120Hz, which looks beautiful and vibrant and looks smooth. One of my favorite combinations is a high resolution, high refresh rate, and a good processor to fully utilize it, and the Tensor G2 does the job here. It powers the phone to score about a million on the AnTuTu benchmark, meaning you shouldn’t see frequent slowdowns using the Pixel 7 Pro, especially combined with the handset’s generous 12GB of RAM. The best part about this phone is probably its camera setup, as Pixels are known for their great cameras with the 7 Pro being no exception. The general consensus of reviewers is that this phone takes beautifully vibrant and clear photos, without being too oversharpened due to image post-processing (I’m looking at you, Samsung). It also has a 48MP 5x optical zoom lens and an ultrawide that both get the job done, and provide exceptional value for $200. Everything else about this phone checks out, the Pixel 7 Pro has great speakers, decent battery life (depending on the battery capacity you get), great build quality, and more. It is known for overheating during intensive tasks like gaming or recording, but for $200, you can’t really complain. This is the budget refurbished phone that feels like a flagship through and through, and it’s a steal for the price it’s currently at.
Samsung Galaxy S23
Key Specs:
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor & 8 GB RAM
- 6.1″ FHD+ 420 PPI 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 1750 nits of peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, 168g weight
- 50MP Wide + 12MP Ultrawide + 10MP 3× Telephoto + 12MP selfie camera
- 3,900 mAh battery with 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging
- Android 13 with 4 major Android updates (and extended security updates)
- IP68 dust and water resistance
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a phone that I have loved ever since it came out and would take my top spot as the best Android phone under $200 in 2026, however, it can only be found here in the US in fair/poor condition for under $200, now you have to pay a bit extra, about $20-50, if you want it in good condition. However, even for $220-250, it is a spectacular phone for the price. Its highly efficient, blazing-fast, and flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, comparable to the Apple A16 Bionic (found in the iPhone 15), will handle your daily tasks, gaming, and more with virtually no lag or issues. Its amazing 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display feels snappy and looks great, and its 6.1″ screen size, while considered small by some, is the perfect size in my opinion. The S23’s 50MP main lens takes great shots, albeit with a bit of noise (in my experience) and can even record in 8k, with noticeably improved shots over the last generation under low light. The telephoto and ultrawide lenses are great added bonuses too, although the switching between the three lenses is a bit janky, as the colors and white balance vary a bit between them. The build quality of this phone, with its Corning Gorilla Glass 2 glass front (the same protective glass as the newer Galaxy S25) and back combined with an aluminum frame, gives the phone a sturdy and quality feel. This phone is still a premium phone that has just lost a lot of its value as Androids tend to do and will not feel like a cheap phone to you at all. I highly recommend getting it.
| Cons: | -Technically over budget if you want to get it in good condition. |