💸 Think you need $1,000+ for a great phone? Think again. In 2025, these under-$500 budget phones outpace the iPhone 16 in key tests—from battery life to raw speed. Here’s the proof (and why Apple should sweat). 1. Xiaomi 14 Lite: The $499 Speed Demon Benchmark shocker: Xiaomi’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Lite chip scores