I would not claim to know which is the best option under $500.

Have recently purchased two Xaomi MI A1 (64gb) phones that seem to meet your critera for just $300.

I purchased from Dicksmith NZ (Kogan Australia), and they added a good generic AU/NZ pin dual USB charger. The only downside is the shippping time, about a week.

THey look quite good for an inexpensive phone. Do you find the USB-C port a pain? I find there's always an old fashioned USB-micro charger lying around but not a type-C...

I would also miss wireless charging.

kotuku4:

 

I would not claim to know which is the best option under $500.

 

Have recently purchased two Xaomi MI A1 (64gb) phones that seem to meet your critera for just $300.

 

I purchased from Dicksmith NZ (Kogan Australia), and they added a good generic AU/NZ pin dual USB charger. The only downside is the shippping time, about a week.

 

A2 is out now. and still no NFC :(

I bought 2 x Xiaomi Mi A1's last year in from china, think each cost me then around $350. Great battery life, would buy another. And as above I see Mi A2 is out now (not sure what changes there are.) No issues really having USB-C, just buy a spare cable or two to keep in the car or house, and generally if you go somewhere overnight and forget teh cable you likely still have heaps of charge left, I would get couple of days average use if I needed to.

The Nokias with Android One are hard to beat. 

Mrs is going to get one when her contract is up in December, and I would've last month if my contract didn't just give me a Pixel 2XL.

https://www.harveynorman.co.nz/phone-and-gps/mobile-phones/spark-nokia-6.1-smartphone.html

In the end went with a Meizu Pro 7. Was over budget but not too much and specs were pretty impressive. Wanted a Mate 10 after a recommendation but couldn't justify the extra cost this time around.

Thanks for the tips.

networkn:

In the end went with a Meizu Pro 7. Was over budget but not too much and specs were pretty impressive. Wanted a Mate 10 after a recommendation but couldn't justify the extra cost this time around.

 

 

 

Thanks for the tips.

 

 

kryptonjohn:

 

THey look quite good for an inexpensive phone. Do you find the USB-C port a pain? I find there's always an old fashioned USB-micro charger lying around but not a type-C...

 

I would also miss wireless charging.

 

USB-C is great because you can't plug it in upside down. I use these USB-C adapters from Amazon, which let things charge at the same rate they would anyway. I have them tied to a couple of chargers at home, and I have one in my bag. When I got some of the Covery Cables I got a discount on the adapters, 5 for $4 or so.

The Covery USB-C cables work well too, charge at a good rate.

USB is essential. Nothing else will do :)

SpartanVXL:

networkn:

 

In the end went with a Meizu Pro 7. Was over budget but not too much and specs were pretty impressive. Wanted a Mate 10 after a recommendation but couldn't justify the extra cost this time around.

 

 

 

Thanks for the tips.

 

 

 

Oof, as the owner of a Meizu M3 Note, I really hope they upped their game with their later models. If I was going for CN mfcs now I would have taken a look at the Xiaomi line before going with Meizu

Plus one, I use an M3 Note and don't particulartly like the Flyme UI, or the MIUI on my wifes phone. The MI A1 phones were for the kids, and are very good value.

I will try Android one on my next phone.  I like budget phones, as I use them at work in the outdoors and construction sites.  And I don't need anything more.

timmmay:

 

kryptonjohn:

 

THey look quite good for an inexpensive phone. Do you find the USB-C port a pain? I find there's always an old fashioned USB-micro charger lying around but not a type-C...

 

I would also miss wireless charging.

 

 

USB-C is great because you can't plug it in upside down. I use these USB-C adapters from Amazon, which let things charge at the same rate they would anyway. I have them tied to a couple of chargers at home, and I have one in my bag. When I got some of the Covery Cables I got a discount on the adapters, 5 for $4 or so.

 

The Covery USB-C cables work well too, charge at a good rate.

 

Agreed, I like type-c. Just make sure they're Benson approved :)   I wouldn't go back to micro (despite having similar occasional issues with not having a type-c cable handy)  I always find it much easier to plug in...  and really like how fast my current and previous phone charge on them. 

I had Benson approved cables initially, but then I bought the Covery based on Amazon reviews and they've been fine.

The Mi A2 looks pretty nice. 5.8" rather than 5.5", 19:9 aspect ratio. They also have a 6GB/128GB version with a Snapdragon 660 and a slightly larger screen, but a smaller battery. 


The 3GB version of the A2 has the same processor as the old one, but 2280x1080 res, face unlock, 4000mAh battery, 2x SIM + SD card slot. Honestly I think you'd be hard pressed to do better for under $500, and one of those is well under $350. 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Global-Version-Xiaomi-Mi-A2-Lite-3GB-RAM-32GB-ROM-Moblie-Phone-Dual-Camera-Snapdragon-625/32889642238.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.19.91114d0c4z7vzq&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_10344_10068_10342_10547_10343_10340_10059_10341_10548_10696_100031_10084_10083_10103_10618_10307_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_16,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=b7719237-0473-4bb8-b99e-a5eed7f9f7ce-2&algo_pvid=b7719237-0473-4bb8-b99e-a5eed7f9f7ce&priceBeautifyAB=0

I can't find if it does band 28 anywhere though, if it did that would really be the icing on the cake.