RANKED: The 7 best affordable smartphones in the world

Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

You're reading a site called Tech Insider, so it probably won't shock you to learn we love smartphones.

But the reality is that most devices that top our lists fall well outside the range of what normal consumers will want to or be able to spend.

For example: The most premium smartphone in the world right now is probably an iPhone 6s Plus with 128 GB of onboard storage. That'll run you $949 — well over the cost of many quality laptops.

But go into most carrier stores looking for a budget device and you'll likely be shown a wide array of, frankly, crappy and bloatware-ridden lemons not worth the boxes they come in.

That said, there are some excellent phones out there that won't starve your wallet. I've ranked them here, taking into account both issues of cost and quality in an attempt to tease out their true dollar-for-dollar value.

7. iPhone SE (64 GB version)

The iPhone SE is Apple's budget smartphone, which is another way of saying it's scarcely a budget smartphone at all.

There's a $399 version of this phone, which would still be expensive compared to anything else on this list, but it only has 16 GB of onboard memory with no slot for an SD card. In other words, it's a device you'll likely grow quickly frustrated with since you'll be constantly deleting photos and other types of content to make more room for daily operations, and in my opinion, that can't be considered good value.

The $499 64 GB version is unquestionably the best value you can get in a new iPhone right now. It's a good choice for people who want to spend a bit less than the $600-$700 prices of other premium smartphones while getting similar specs, or people who just want something resembling a budget iOS device.

Click here for the iPhone SE review >>

6. OnePlus 2

The sequel to the Chinese company's first "flagship killer" smartphone is an excellent device. While OnePlus can no longer claim to make the only premium smartphone in the world under $400, it retains its spot in the pantheon of high-end affordables.

The device's most appealing features (above and beyond the standard zippy processor and 5.5-inch screen) include 64 GB of storage, a hefty battery, and nearly-pure Android — all for $349.

Click here for the OnePlus 2 review >>

5. Moto X Pure

Motorola has recently become one of the best manufacturers of high-quality, low-cost smartphones. And the company's flagship Moto X Pure is the highest-quality Motorola device on offer.

Running a just-shy-of-pure version of Android, it has a good camera, excellent screen, and plenty-fast processor. It's a great choice for many buyers, and it looks pretty good too, for $349.