Buying the best and cheapest phone is always worth it and gives you value for all your money. If you want a cell phone to play the Pokemon GO game, we’ve compiled a list of the top cheapest phones for Pokémon Go for you to enjoy playing in 2023.
Please Note: Pokémon Go has ended support for Android 6 (or lower) and iOS 13 (or lower).
Cheapest Phone for Pokemon GO 2023
1. Google Pixel 5
The Pixel 5 offers more Power than Pokemon GO players will ever need. Scrolling through your Pokemon collection is exhilarating, and animations don’t seem sluggish during raid battles.
The size and weight of the phone make it suitable for one-handed use. Yes, with 151 gms, you can catch Pokemon all day without getting tired.
Google has increased the Battery from the Pixel 4’s meager 2800mAhz to a substantial 4080mAh. The device easily lasts for 7-8 hours with regular use.
The camera may not be the best in the competition, but it takes consistent pictures in almost all lighting scenarios. Finally, there is a pure Android experience that no other brand can match.
Sure, there are features we all want to see, but Google had other plans for the Pixel 5. As such, aspects such as UFS 3.1 storage, 120Hz screen, and fast charging exceeding 18W are saved for the higher-end model.
- 6.0 OLED display with 90Hz refresh rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
- 8GB of RAM
- Comes wit stereo speakers
- 4080mAh of Batt
2. Motorola G8 Power
Motorola has always been strong regarding the cheapest phones, with smartphones offering solid value. The same goes for the G8 Power, a device that performs much better than its price suggests.
The Motorola G8 Power has all the basic features you need for a cheap and best phone under $200. We highly recommend G8 Power if you don’t want to pay big bucks to play Pokemon GO.
The Snapdragon 665 is an impressive octa-core CPU for a phone like this. Motorola should have offered six gigs of RAM and higher storage options. This is because even the top models only come with 4GB of memory and 64GB of internal storage.
However, the screen is surprisingly good, with bright, punchy colors and peak brightness from the IPS panel (over 700 nits).
In addition, both the 16-megapixel primary sensor and the 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera produce pictures with sharp details. It’s not the best low-light performance, but it has one of the best image and video quality for this price.
The best feature of the G8 Power is its massive 5000mAh Li-Po battery. Motorola claims up to 3 days of normal usage, but this could rule out almost two days in a real-world scenario.
Even so, the phone isn’t too heavy at 197 gms. You can play Pokemon GO for hours and never worry about draining your Battery!
- 6.4-inch IPS LCD with 60Hz refresh rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
- Dolby-tuned stereo speakers
- 5000mAh of large Battery
3. Samsung Galaxy S8+
The S8+ is the best flagship phone from the reputable brand Samsung and is now renewed for under $200. It is a 6.2-inch smartphone with a Super AMOLED high-definition screen with a resolution of 2960 × 1440 or higher.
It can run at 60fps in Full HD and is powered by an Octa-core 2.35GHz Quad + 1.9GHz Quad processor. You can enjoy games comfortably with 4GB of RAM, which is twice the recommended amount. Of course, it also has GPS location.
The S8+ can also be upgraded to run Android 9.0, but it still comes with 7.0, enough to play Pokemon Go. At 3,500mAh, it rivals most of today’s flagships, and with around 18 hours of acclaimed video playback and 24 hours of talk time, you’ll be left with significant gaming time.
- Super AMOLED screen provides high-quality gameplay
- 6.2 inches Quad HD+ Super AMOLED
- Exynos Octa-core processor
- Up to 256 GB of microSD supported
- 3,500mAh batt
4. Xiaomi Poco F3
Xiaomi Poco F3 is an affordable smartphone focusing solely on fast and smooth performance. This phone is for you if you’re willing to compromise a bit on camera quality for a great screen and a blistering Snapdragon 870 SoC.
The good thing is that Xiaomi adds bonus points to the display category by offering a 120Hz AMOLED panel for this price. You also get a 360Hz touch sampling rate which is excellent for gaming.
There are stereo speakers that provide good volume and a good balance of bass and treble for an enjoyable media experience.
For intensive gaming, you’ll need to bring a charger by the end of the day, but the Poco F3 usually lasts a whole day. Luckily, the phone supports 33W fast charging, so backing it up is quick.
Being a large smartphone at 196 gms, it is a bit heavy. Prolonged use with one hand can be cumbersome.
This is also one of the phones that comes with an ultra-slim at 7.8mm. The build quality, with a glass back and curved edges, gives it a somewhat premium feel. Poco F3 is one of the better options for playing the Pokemon Go game.
- 6.67 inches AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 (5G)
- 6/8GB of RAM
- There are stereo speakers that let you enjoy Pokemon GO game
- 4520mAh of Battery with 33W of fast charging
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
Xiaomi is a brand we love. Since they are purely known, they offer high-quality phones at very affordable prices so you can get a lot out of them.
The Redmi Note 9 Pro is a smartphone that offers substantial specs that are good enough to play Pokemon Go. This impressive phone boasts a 6.67-inch full HD screen running at 2340×1080 and has Gorilla Glass 5 on the front for excellent protection against accidental drops!
The processor is also convenient, and with a Snapdragon 720G Octa-core and 6GB of RAM, which is three times the recommended minimum RAM, it’s more than enough to run Pokemon Go.
But the best part about this phone is its fantastic 5,020mAh battery! It shouldn’t let you down on your long walks hatching those eggs.
- 6.67 inches of larger FHD+ Dot Display
- Full HD screen with 2340×1080 resolution
- 720G Snapdragon Octa-Core Processor
- 6GB of RAM lets you play the game without leg
- 5,020mAh battery for hours of uninterrupted gam
6. Huawei P30 Lite
For under $250, you can get your hands on the Huawei P30 Lite, a fantastic phone perfect for Pokemon Go. Impressive for this particular phone is a fantastic 6.15-inch screen that runs at 1080 x 2312px with 4GB of RAM, which is far more than you need.
It comes with Android 9, so that shouldn’t be an issue, and when it comes to performance, the octa-core is set at four cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and four cores clocked at 1.7 GHz.
This phone is tuned for cameras, so you might not worry too much about being a Pokemon Go phone, but it’s an excellent addition with a unique triple camera system.
OLED screen powers this phone, so you get a good display with minimal power usage. A battery that’s not bad at 3,340mAh puts us in a good mood.
- 6.15 inches IPS LCD capacitive screen
- Impressive OLED quality screen of 1080x2313px
- 4GB of RAM
- Android 9.0 (Pie) operating system
7. ASUS ROG Phone 5
ASUS ROG Phone 5 is a gamer’s paradise. If you’re the type who craves unmatched performance and a killer look, the ASUS ROG Phone 5 is your best choice to play Pokemon Go, even though you can also play Pokemon Go Spoofing.
ASUS has hit a home run with the latest version of ROG smartphones. There is an RGB panel on the back of the phone for notifications and real-time visuals.
Turn the phone sideways, and you get a full-fledged game console. Of course, Pokémon GO doesn’t require any of that. However, it means business if you plan to use your phone for other high-end games.
ASUS has split the 6000mAh Battery in two for faster charging and better thermal management.
With high-performance dual stereo speakers that will make your gaming experience memorable, the phone has a headphone jack.
The only downside is the weight. At 238 gms, it’s one of the heaviest phones you’ll ever use. However, if you’re looking for the best gaming phone on the market, nothing comes close to the ROG Phone 5.
Walkthrough: ASUS ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro Gaming Smartphones
- 6.78 sAMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate
- 8 to 16 GB of enough RAM
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
- Front-firing 7-magnet stereo speakers
- 6000mAh of long-lasting Batt
8. BLU G50 Mega
This is another great budget smartphone. It has a giant screen, the latest Android OS, and excellent battery life for extended gameplay.
The only difference from the BLU G50 is that this smartphone has a larger screen and is slightly thinner. All other features are the same. If you like bigger-screen smartphones, you will love this feature.
Other features included an Octa-Core 1.6GHz ARM Cortex-A55 processor, 32GB internal memory, 2GB RAM, and Micro SD up to 64 GB.
- 6.5 inches HD+ Infinity display
- Android 10.0 (Pie) operating system
- Comes with a fingerprint sensor for security
- 4000mAh of Batt
9. Samsung Galaxy A52
Samsung’s A-series is a solid low-cost alternative to the flagship S-series. The Galaxy A52 is an ideal balance between excellent performance and value for money.
The A52 comes in 4G and 5G variants, the difference being the Snapdragon 750G in the latter and the 720G in the regular variant.
Both are excellent mid-range chipsets. Combine this with a massive 4500mAh battery and up to 8GB of RAM, and you have a solid mid-range rig.
Camera quality is the only thing they can improve on. You can’t have every flagship, and you might not pay a premium for a flagship.
Overall, with a vibrant screen, long-lasting Battery, loud stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, this device is suitable for gaming, especially Pokémon Go, and media consumption.
- 6.5-inch AMOLED display, refresh rate 90Hz
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G / 750G (5G)
- 4 to 8 of GB RAM
- Stereo speakers
- 4500mAh Battery
10. OnePlus Nord CE
Nord CE brings 5G support with Snapdragon 750G. It’s not the fastest chipset in the segment, but it’s powerful and efficient enough to keep you working.
The screen is excellent. Bright, vivid, and responsive 90Hz OLED panel. Another thing I’ve always loved about OnePlus is the 30W Dart charging. The phone goes from 0-70% in just 30 minutes.
OnePlus is famous for its flagship-level camera performance. This camera’s camera is average, with no OIS or macro camera. There are also no dual speakers. There is only one at the bottom.
The glass on the back is replaced with matte polycarbonate. The legendary warning slider is also gone.
- 6.43-inch AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate
- Android 12 operating system
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
- There is a single speaker
- 4500mAh of Battery
11. Blu Vivo X6
BLU makes some of the most feature-rich budget phones out there. If you’re looking for a cheap phone to play Pokemon GO on or want to try rooting, the BLU Vivo X6 is all you need.
This phone uses a Spreadtrum octa-core processor, which is not a performance beast. But it’s good enough for games like Pokemon GO.
You get a 6.1-inch IPS panel with 720p resolution. You wouldn’t expect a 1080p screen for such a low price. The colors are delicate, but the brightness levels are a little overwhelming.
Weighing just 170g, the slim form factor with curved edges makes the phone comfortable for extended use. Of course, you can expect some cost-cutting measures for powerful devices that cost less than the new AirPods.
Luckily, the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD slot are still there. As a whole package, the BLU Vivo X6 has many features. A respectable screen, great Battery, and decent build quality make it a worthwhile budget choice.
- 6.1-inch IPS LCD with 60Hz refresh rate
- 3GB of RAM
- UniSoC SC9863A Octa-core CPU
- 4000mAh of Battery with 10W Charge
12. Nokia 3.4
The Nokia 3.4 is the least inexpensive new phone on our list, and the Nokia 3.4 is a reasonably priced mid-range phone at $179. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460, an octa-core chipset with all four cores clocking in at 1.8 GHz, and combined with that, it can quickly run games with 3GB RAM.
The 3.4 has an LCD screen of 6.39 inches and an average resolution of 720x1560px. The Battery doesn’t support fast charging, but it’s a decent size for a mid-range phone at 4,000mAh, which is more than enough to play Pokemon Go all day long.
The phone runs on Android 10 but plans to support an upgrade to Android 11, which is undoubtedly more than enough to meet the minimum requirements to play Pokemon Go.
- 6.39 inches of immersive HD+ display
- 3GB of RAM
- 4,000mAh battery for all-day gaming
- Android 10 with plans to upgrade to Android
At the End of Cheapest Phone for Pokemon GO
These are some of the best phones to play Pokemon GO for all budget categories. You may have realized that certain phones offer a better gaming experience than others.
It would be best to look for the recommended features: a decent screen, a long-lasting battery, and a fast chipset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Pokémon GO on my old phone?
Niantic has announced that the game will not support devices running Android 5, iOS 10, and iOS 11. Especially for Apple owners, the game no longer works on iPhone 5s and six even if you install iOS 12.
Is 3GB of RAM enough for Pokémon GO?
Yes, For an optimal Pokémon experience, the recommendation is to use a phone with at least 2GB of RAM.
Why is my phone not compatible with Pokemon Go?
It’s possible that your device doesn’t meet the minimum standards to play Pokemon Go. The main criterion is Android 6 or iOS 12 or higher.
Can I play Pokemon Go on my iPhone 5?
Unfortunately, as of now, the minimum iPhone compatible with Pokemon Go is the iPhone 6s.
What phones can I use to spoof Pokemon Go?
Spoofing is an entirely different topic, but you should look for it with the cheapest phone that meets your criteria. According to the Pokemon Go spoofing community, spoofing with an Android device is much easier than with an Apple device.