Karlis Dambrans/Shutterstock

Have you ever had a moment where you had to order an Uber or get a file uploaded on deadline and everything came down to the second? Smartphones may be a necessity for 21st century living, but they're not all created equal. As a tech writer, I've had my fair share of experiences with flagship and budget Android phones. I've learned that premium devices do have their occasional hang-ups, but they're nothing like a bad cheap phone that can slow down your day-to-day and fail you in a crunch. No matter where you're coming from in life, you deserve an affordable, snappy phone that can last you a few years.

If you're shopping for a new Android phone with that in mind, be sure to look for one with at least 6GB of RAM, a minimum wired charging speed of 25 watts , and at least three years of security updates—an especially key factor when you're looking at buying a used or refurbished phone.…