Best phones to gift to your grad in 2021

iPhone SE</a> packs a bunch of upgrades, including wireless charging, better camera specs and water resistance. Unfortunately, for wired headphone users, it doesn't have a headphone jack. And it's missing Face ID -- but that's not terribly useful if you're wearing a mask. Bottom line: If you're looking to gift a new iPhone but want to save as much money as possible, the $399 iPhone SE is your best bet. Pro tip: Spend an extra $50 for the 128GB version.</p>" superlative="Top iPhone value" imagegroup="{"alt":"iPhone 8","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"John Kim/CNET","imageData":{"id":"9c0515dc-bb9f-4386-9052-79885ef81ca8","title":"iphone-se-2020-21","filename":"iphone-se-2020-21.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/QXE9VXBv84H8f0r67cCKHIWFY6c=/2020/04/22/9c0515dc-bb9f-4386-9052-79885ef81ca8/iphone-se-2020-21.jpg","caption":"<p>The new iPhone SE looks striking in red. At $399 it's the most affordable iPh.one you can currently buy</p>","size":2122312,"width":5544,"height":3696,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-04-22 02:54:37","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-04-22 22:01:46","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"John Kim/CNET","alt":"iphone-se-2020-21","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":["iPhone SE"],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"9c0515dc-bb9f-4386-9052-79885ef81ca8","imageAltText":"iPhone 8","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"John Kim/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"iphone-se-2020-21.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020/04/22","imageWidth":5544,"imageHeight":3696,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="John Kim/CNET" offer="{"id":"0f89adcf-1975-4922-a0ca-731f7254c77c","slug":"apple-iphone-se-2020","label":"Apple iPhone SE (2020)","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"9c0515dc-bb9f-4386-9052-79885ef81ca8","imgWidth":5544,"imgHeight":3696,"objectType":"content_product_series","typeLabel":"Series","imgUrl":"/content/image/redirect/9c0515dc-bb9f-4386-9052-79885ef81ca8/resize/75x56","icon":"type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small"}" data-key="cnetlisticle__fa5cc398-5edf-4fe8-a2a3-d6e74fb65a51" index="1" cancollapse="false" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="ios-13,android-q,google,motorola,samsung,samsung-galaxy,apple" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="John Kim/CNET" imagealttext="iPhone 8" class="c-bestListListicle">

Galaxy A51</a>, another phone that costs $399 (there is a&nbsp;<a href=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-phones-for-grads/"https://www.cnet.com/5g/">5G&nbsp;variant that costs $499). The device has four cameras, an in-screen fingerprint reader and expandable storage.</p>" superlative="Solid Samsung at a lower price" imagegroup="{"alt":"samsung-galaxy-a51","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Juan Garzon/CNET","imageData":{"id":"0c2d1786-5db8-425d-8758-651e01f1466d","title":"galaxy-a51","filename":"galaxy-a51.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/1XTMICKeIhgwa080aS_YGZZBScg=/2020/04/07/0c2d1786-5db8-425d-8758-651e01f1466d/galaxy-a51.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":1052602,"width":4032,"height":2268,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-04-07 23:33:00","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-04-07 23:33:05","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Juan Garzon / CNET","alt":"galaxy-a51","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"0c2d1786-5db8-425d-8758-651e01f1466d","imageAltText":"samsung-galaxy-a51","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Juan Garzon/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"galaxy-a51.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020/04/07","imageWidth":4032,"imageHeight":2268,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Juan Garzon/CNET" linktext="Read our Galaxy A51 first take" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/news/this-400-samsung-phone-is-the-iphone-se-for-android-people/" data-key="cnetlisticle__a5b5d409-b737-45f7-bfa7-f935de37ac1f" index="2" cancollapse="false" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="ios-13,android-q,google,motorola,samsung,samsung-galaxy,apple" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Juan Garzon/CNET" imagealttext="samsung-galaxy-a51" class="c-bestListListicle">

Note 10</a> alternative, the $300 <a href=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-phones-for-grads/"https://www.cnet.com/reviews/moto-g-stylus-review-motorola-swaps-battery-life-note-taking-review/">Moto G Stylus</a>&nbsp;features a stylus that you can store inside the phone along with a built-in Notes app so you can jot down lecture notes or doodle in class. The phone also features triple rear cameras, 128GB of storage and a robust 4,000-mAh battery.</p>" superlative="For scribblers" imagegroup="{"alt":"017-motorola-g-stylus","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Sarah Tew/CNET","imageData":{"id":"2f9ab9e6-fad3-4f83-a4c1-989d6733ff15","title":"028-motorola-g-stylus","filename":"028-motorola-g-stylus.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/fldXg1Y4VdWgVmdDVUAK9sdMjag=/2020/02/07/2f9ab9e6-fad3-4f83-a4c1-989d6733ff15/028-motorola-g-stylus.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":18071682,"width":5760,"height":3840,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-02-07 06:12:26","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-02-07 06:15:06","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Sarah Tew/CNET","alt":"028-motorola-g-stylus","restricted":true,"startDate":null,"endDate":{"date":"2020-02-07 14:00:00","timezone":"UTC"},"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":["Moto G Stylus","Motorola"],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"2f9ab9e6-fad3-4f83-a4c1-989d6733ff15","imageAltText":"017-motorola-g-stylus","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Sarah Tew/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"028-motorola-g-stylus.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020/02/07","imageWidth":5760,"imageHeight":3840,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Sarah Tew/CNET" offer="{"id":"53c9e84f-7b97-4139-90bd-6ae51bbff18f","slug":"moto-g-stylus","label":"Moto G Stylus","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"8d13e7a5-11d1-496f-aec4-30467947708a","imgWidth":9504,"imgHeight":6336,"objectType":"content_product_series","typeLabel":"Series","imgUrl":"/content/image/redirect/8d13e7a5-11d1-496f-aec4-30467947708a/resize/75x56","icon":"type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small"}" data-key="cnetlisticle__1d9aea4e-0473-4066-9f2c-34504bc55a61" index="3" cancollapse="false" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="ios-13,android-q,google,motorola,samsung,samsung-galaxy,apple" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Sarah Tew/CNET" imagealttext="017-motorola-g-stylus" class="c-bestListListicle">

Galaxy A50</a>&nbsp;came out last year (and is the predecessor to the A51 mentioned above), it's still a great phone. Plus, at $250 it's even cheaper than when it first launched. The phone has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen, an in-screen fingerprint reader and a headphone jack. On the back, the three cameras include a wide angle lens as well as a "depth lens," which is used to take portrait shots with blurry, dramatic backgrounds.</p>" superlative="Last year's Samsung for a steal" imagegroup="{"alt":"samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Angela Lang/CNET","imageData":{"id":"7b05a76f-2cae-4651-884f-e922d2e5d713","title":"samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2","filename":"samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/7g6wETQPDg-G_hvJpWkMmYowa8Q=/2019/08/08/7b05a76f-2cae-4651-884f-e922d2e5d713/samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":9326266,"width":4000,"height":2667,"dateCreated":{"date":"2019-08-08 22:59:51","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2019-08-08 22:59:55","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Angela Lang/CNET","alt":"samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"7b05a76f-2cae-4651-884f-e922d2e5d713","imageAltText":"samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Angela Lang/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2019/08/08","imageWidth":4000,"imageHeight":2667,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Angela Lang/CNET" offer="{"id":"402766b3-cbf7-4928-8b09-6d2bc3737804","slug":"samsung-galaxy-a50","label":"Samsung Galaxy A50","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"7b05a76f-2cae-4651-884f-e922d2e5d713","imgWidth":4000,"imgHeight":2667,"objectType":"content_product_series","typeLabel":"Series","imgUrl":"/content/image/redirect/7b05a76f-2cae-4651-884f-e922d2e5d713/resize/75x56","icon":"type-icon ct-cnet-tech-product-series ct-small"}" data-key="cnetlisticle__ed919903-3ff5-4284-a8f2-0cfbc4cf9494" index="4" cancollapse="false" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="ios-13,android-q,google,motorola,samsung,samsung-galaxy,apple" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Angela Lang/CNET" imagealttext="samsung-galaxy-a50-1-2" class="c-bestListListicle">

Moto G Power</a>&nbsp;is a tad cheaper than the G Stylus at $250, but it has a robust 5,000-mAh battery. During our testing, it lasted an impressive four days without a charge. That means it'll stick with you while you're running from class to class or having a late night out with friends. The phone has three rear cameras (one of which is a macro lens), a 6.4-inch display and expandable storage.</p>" superlative="A brand-new Moto bargain" imagegroup="{"alt":"Motorola G Power","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Sarah Tew/CNET","imageData":{"id":"5f606faa-75e8-494b-8777-a69d301b1543","title":"029-motorola-g-power","filename":"029-motorola-g-power.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/SEB2JETi3n390KKiLOFQgSQAGg0=/2020/02/06/5f606faa-75e8-494b-8777-a69d301b1543/029-motorola-g-power.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":28867987,"width":5760,"height":3840,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-02-06 21:45:16","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-02-06 21:46:15","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Sarah Tew/CNET","alt":"Motorola G Power","restricted":false,"startDate":{"date":"2020-02-07 17:00:00","timezone":"UTC"},"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"5f606faa-75e8-494b-8777-a69d301b1543","imageAltText":"Motorola G Power","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Sarah Tew/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"029-motorola-g-power.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020/02/06","imageWidth":5760,"imageHeight":3840,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Sarah Tew/CNET" offer="{"id":"50384199-21f0-46e7-9954-9f7a9a4bb2b7","slug":"moto-g-power","label":"Moto G Power","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"d69d51fc-26cb-4f95-9cde-bad9b791bd36","imgWidth":9504,"imgHeight":6336,"objectType":"content_product_series","typeLabel":"Series","imgUrl":"/content/image/redirect/d69d51fc-26cb-4f95-9cde-bad9b791bd36/resize/75x56","icon":"type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small"}" data-key="cnetlisticle__e3259642-1280-474c-aebb-297ae3c8e36b" index="5" cancollapse="false" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="ios-13,android-q,google,motorola,samsung,samsung-galaxy,apple" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Sarah Tew/CNET" imagealttext="Motorola G Power" class="c-bestListListicle">

Pixel 3A</a>&nbsp;is a great phone. Though it shaves off a few features from 2018's Pixel 3 (it's not water-resistant, it doesn't have wireless charging and it maxes out at 64GB of storage), the phone still has a solid camera and a headphone jack. In addition, with the arrival of newer 2020 budget phones, don't be surprised if Google discounts the prices of the Pixel 3A and the bigger&nbsp;<a href=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-phones-for-grads/"https://www.cnet.com/reviews/google-pixel-3a-xl-review/">Pixel 3A XL</a>&nbsp;in the coming months.</p>" superlative="Photo-friendly Android choice" imagegroup="{"alt":"pixel-3a-review","caption":"<p></p>","credits":"Juan Garzon/CNET","imageData":{"id":"46f5bc08-a49a-49b2-87e0-41f94ba8c5f7","title":"pixel","filename":"pixel.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hKNozMrtLEbIwiPQ4rGeK9HQBPk=/2020/03/02/46f5bc08-a49a-49b2-87e0-41f94ba8c5f7/pixel.jpg","caption":"<p></p>","size":277078,"width":1200,"height":667,"dateCreated":{"date":"2020-03-02 20:33:33","timezone":"UTC"},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2020-03-02 20:33:38","timezone":"UTC"},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":null,"alt":"pixel","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"46f5bc08-a49a-49b2-87e0-41f94ba8c5f7","imageAltText":"pixel-3a-review","imageCaption":"<p></p>","imageCredit":"Juan Garzon/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"pixel.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2020/03/02","imageWidth":1200,"imageHeight":667,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" overridecaption="<p></p>" overridecredit="Juan Garzon/CNET" offer="{"id":"2b587e65-d015-4bb8-a082-553b365e817c","slug":"google-pixel-3a","label":"Google Pixel 3A","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"35752087-5465-48de-931e-c17ef87962f6","imgWidth":4000,"imgHeight":2667,"objectType":"content_product_series","typeLabel":"Series","imgUrl":"/content/image/redirect/35752087-5465-48de-931e-c17ef87962f6/resize/75x56","icon":"type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small"}" data-key="cnetlisticle__ea9f6f62-c315-45cf-b7a8-b4998f926daf" index="6" cancollapse="false" contenttype="Best List - Precap" pagelayout="Default - Article Page" tagslugs="ios-13,android-q,google,motorola,samsung,samsung-galaxy,apple" isbestlistredesign="true" imagecredit="Juan Garzon/CNET" imagealttext="pixel-3a-review" class="c-bestListListicle">