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Whether you carry your media library with you, shoot a lot of 4K videos, or you're looking to download a few movies ahead of a long commute, expandable storage is essential for many users. Thankfully, plenty of options are still available, ranging from high-end choices with endless features to budget options with a few compromises. If you're not looking to spend upwards of $1,000, take a look at our list of best Android phones with expandable storage.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Samsung hit a home run with the robust Galaxy A53 5G. You get support for all US carriers, excellent cameras, IP67 water and dust proofing, and of course, a beautiful 6.5-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen. It has 128GB or 256GB storage already, but you can easily expand that via microSD.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The microSD slot may be dead in the latest Samsung flagships, but it is alive and well in the Note 20 Ultra. You already get pretty sizeable storage internally, with options for 128GB or 512GB, but if even that's not enough, you can add up to 1TB with a microSD card. You'll also get a 6.9-inch 120Hz display, a 108MP primary camera, a telephoto with up to 50X zoom, and a 4500mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

The old Galaxy S20 FE is perfect if you want a flagship-tier phone without paying a four-figure sum. Its 6.5-inch display may not sound small, but thanks to ultra-thin bezels, the phone is relatively compact by today's standards. It also has the same specs and features as the Note 20 Ultra, with the same 4500mAh battery.

Sony Xperia 1 III

The Xperia 1 III is an incredible device for media consumption. Not only does it shoot terrific-looking 4K video at up to 60fps, it even has a 120Hz 4K display, allowing you to watch UHD content in its native resolution. The 21:9 aspect ratio is perfect for watching movies. Sony's Cinema Pro app gives you outstanding manual video controls, including focus peaking, adjustable frame rates and resolutions, and various LUTs.

Motorola Edge

The Motorola Edge is a fantastic "value flagship," with a gorgeous 90Hz display and excellent battery life. Despite its low price, you get 5G support, along with a headphone jack, expandable storage, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a stunning hardware design. The cameras aren't as good as what you'll find on higher-end devices, but the Edge offers a lot of bang for your buck even by today's standards.

Moto G Power (2020)

Despite newer models available, the 2020 Moto G Power is still an outstanding option for a fraction of the price of its competitors. It comes with a massive 5000mAh battery and 64GB of expandable storage. You also get clean Android software with some excellent Motorola touches, like Moto Actions, to quickly launch the camera and flashlight.

Nokia G20

The Nokia G20 epitomizes HMD Global's efforts as of late. The phone combines Nokia's classic industrial design with robust hardware in the form of a MediaTek Helio G35, a 6.5-inch display, impressive rear cameras including a primary 48MP lens, and a microSD slot for up to 512GB of expandable storage.

OnePlus Nord N200 5G

It seems that even self-proclaimed flagship killers have fallen prey to the trend of selling less for more. Luckily, you can still get some of that silky smooth OxygenOS goodness and expandable storage bundles with decent mid-range features in the OnePlus Nord N200 5G. There's a 6.49-inch 90Hz LCD, 5G, triple cameras, 4GB of RAM, and 18W fast charging.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

Xiaomi is always coming out with new models. They've got something for every type of user. The Mi 11 Lite is just what its name says, a lite version of the upper-tier Mi 11 series. This compact phone weighs just 157g and measures 6.81mm in thickness. Headphone jack aside, it has it all: a microSDXC slot, a 6.55-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen, SD 732G, triple cameras including a 64MP primary shooter, and Android 11 out-the-box that you can upgrade to Android 12.

TCL 10 Pro

The TCL 10 Pro has a gorgeous 6.47-inch AMOLED FHD+ screen that uses NXTVISION display technology. You can watch all the movies and shows you want in vivid detail. It's got expandable storage, so there's no shortage of memory for storing your favorite content. There's a nice 4,500mAh battery, and the phone supports fast charging, so you don't need to worry about the usage time either.

MicroSD isn't dead yet

With more of the best Android phones moving away from expandable storage and some brands like Huawei switching from microSD to their own standards, you might think the format is becoming a dying breed, but don't panic just yet. There are still plenty of great phones with microSD support, ranging from budget offerings to top-tier flagships.

If you want the absolute best of the best with expandable storage, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. With this stunning phone, you get phenomenal value and rich features like 5G support for any compatible U.S. carrier. That gorgeous 6.5-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display coupled with stereo speakers is ideal for multimedia consumption. The camera array is also incredibly versatile, allowing you to capture some neat shots in varying conditions. You also get Android 12 right away, with four more major updates down the line.

In terms of full-blown flagships that offer expandable storage, you're out of luck with the latest releases. You won't find a microSD slot in the Galaxy S22 lineup or the Pixel series. The older Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is your best option here. Even as a much older release, the last Note phone ahs aged quite well. You'll find the internals to be solid even today, pushing out smooth performance consistently. It's a great hit in the camera and battery departments too, with the S Pen adding a lot of functionality.

If you're looking to spend even less, though, the OnePlus Nord N200 5G and Moto G Power are also great options to consider. Both deliver performance well above their asking price and are some of the best cheap Android phones you'll find, expandable storage or otherwise.

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