There’s even the odd handset here under £100/$100, which might be perfect if all you need is the ability to make and receive WhatsApp calls; currently not available on most basic feature/keypad phones. The best budget phones are also more attractive in the long-term thanks to cheaper contract prices, though you might prefer to buy these smartphones outright and then pay only for your minutes, texts and data, if you can swing it. This is also the area where most people in full-time education will be shopping. Whether you’re a parent looking for your child’s first smartphone, or looking for an upgrade before you leave for university or college, check out our student-specific buying advice below the chart. If value-for-money is your number-one priority, you won’t find a more useful list of budget phones elsewhere. We’ve tested, rated and ranked the best cheap phones from the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola and many others. Alongside our reviews, you’ll also find expert buying advice to help decide whether a particular cheap phone really is the bargain it claims to be.
Best budget phone 2023
Your buying guide to the best budget phones in 2023
In our experience, the ideal way to get a cheap phone is to buy it SIM-free, then grab a great-value SIM-only deal. You won’t be paying loads every month for a phone for the next two years and you can swap it for a newer model whenever you fancy without a massive impact on your wallet. This is especially true for cheap Chinese phones, as they’re some of the most competitively-priced devices on the market.
Well built Clean Android 12 Strong battery life
Slow charging Laggy performance Average camera
This is one of the best budget phones you can get. There’s a superb always-on display, despite having an LCD rather than OLED panel, that lets you quickly view and open notifications that no other phone brand has. If the performance occasionally stutters you will be able to forgive it for how attractive the software of this phone looks, and it’s a great alternative to Xiaomi’s cluttered UI, despite the strength of that brands budget phones. Triple cameras on the back of the Moto G62 exist, but it’s a push to call them all good – thankfully the 50Mp main sensor is very solid and will give you excellent daytime shots. Pair that with great battery life from the 5000mAh cell that we sometimes found reached the end of the day at 50% and you have a great cheap phone option.
Phenomenal performance Big 120Hz display Long-lasting battery
Big and bulky No 5G Average camera
In contrast, the phone boasts a myriad of strengths; strong specs leading to exceptional performance, a beautiful display and absolutely fantastic battery life. The fact that you can get all of that for as little as Xiaomi is asking is almost unbelievable and like the Poco X3 NFC in 2020, we awarded the X3 Pro with the title of ‘ Best Budget Phone of the Year 2021‘ last year.
Stunning display Incredible value Big battery
No OIS MIUI not for everyone
The 6.67in 120Hz panel boasts AMOLED tech, meaning superb contrast and vibrant colours. The 108Mp lead camera, meanwhile, excels and comes accompanied by a pair of secondary snappers that exceed expectation. Fun extras like 33W fast charging, a headphone jack and even an IR blaster elevate the Redmi Note 10 Pro from a good to a great budget offering, considering what Xiaomi’s incorporated here.
First M series w/ AMOLED Two-day battery life Excellent camera
Thick and heavy MIUI is clunky Unreliable fingerprint scanner
The Poco M4 is the first M series device in Poco history to pack in an AMOLED display (which also happens to support a 90Hz refresh rate and Full HD+ resolution), the 64Mp is an impressive improvement for the series and battery life (as well as fast charging) is decent too. The design is a little divisive and MIUI 13 for POCO won’t be to everyone’s tastes but in terms of value for money, this is an exceptional option, right now.
90Hz display Great battery life Affordable 5G
Average cameras MIUI isn't great Only 4GB RAM in base model
This like-minded Xiaomi handset has a run-of-the-mill Dimensity 810 5G chipset but also delivers a high 90Hz refresh rate viewing experience. Beyond that, a large 5000mAh battery with upgraded 33W fast charging delivers superb battery life and some eye-catching finishes make this a compelling fit for those after a touch more fluidity in their user experience.
Crisp, colourful display Bold design Competent camera
Basic performance Screen only 60Hz Battery life below rivals
With flat sides taken straight from the latest iPhone playbook and a smart looking camera module akin to the more expensive OnePlus Nord phones, the C35 also packs in a great 1080p display for the incredibly cheap price. You can even pay £20 extra to get 128GB storage instead of 64GB, and all models have a microSD slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The processor is nothing to write home about, but the 50Mp main camera lens is pretty good on a phone that outperforms its asking price.
Great display Brilliant battery life Value for money
MIUI still iffy Lacklustre cameras
In its own right though, the Redmi Note 11 offers great value for money, with a 90Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display, respectable performance from its Snapdragon 680 chipset and superb battery (with decent 33W fast charging). Camera performance is the obvious weak point here but you’re still getting a lot for your money.
90Hz display Superb battery life Attractive design
Middling display quality Average cameras Slow charging
The cameras could be better, charging a little faster and LCD a little more vibrant, but beyond that there’s not much to complain about, especially when the already affordable price tag frequently gets discounted by Xiaomi directly.
Understated design Decent main camera Long-term software support
Poor performance No 5G Slow charging
It looks slick too, with a simple, understated design that we prefer to many of the alternatives, and the camera’s pretty good too. Still, other phones in this chart include faster processors and smoother displays, not to mention 5G support, so make sure you know what you’re giving up by sticking with Samsung.
Great longevity Sharp 90Hz display Affordable 5G
Middling performance Inconsistent fingerprint reader Slow charging
It’s not without faults, of course. Though the battery life is excellent, 10W charging is glacial in this day and age. Though the night mode on the camera is stellar, the user-experience of taking photos really needs refining to be simpler and cleaner. For the price point, however, you’re getting a solid camera phone that feels high-end and a device that won’t die on you quickly. For these reasons we’d definitely say that the A54 5G is a budget contender. All the phones here cost under £250/US$250, which is a quarter of the price you’d often pay for most flagship phones. Take a look at our guide to the best phones on the market for more on those high-end offerings. Here are what we consider to be the best cheap phones on sale right now. We’ve based this rundown on devices’ SIM-free pricing, as contracts change so frequently. You can click through on a phone you’re interested in to read the full review, see example photos from the camera and check out benchmarking results.
Should you buy a locked phone?
You’ll quickly find that some of the best deals on cheap phones are sold via mobile operators (also known as carriers). What you need to watch out for is whether these phones are sold locked to that operator’s network. In such situations, you won’t be able to put another operator’s SIM card into your carrier-locked handset and will likely have to call the device’s carrier to get the phone unlocked, which can cost money.
What about a Chinese phone?
As already alluded to, there’s value in opting for a phone from a Chinese manufacturer, particularly in the budget space. You might not have heard of some of the brands featured and many still aren’t available in big tech stores (such as Ulefone and Cubot) but Chinese phones are well-known for offering amazing value, not to mention undercutting their more established rivals. Of course, there are downsides – for example, what should you do if a phone bought from China is faulty? We’ve rounded up the major pitfalls in our article on buying grey-market tech but if you’re still interested, you should see our round-up of the best Chinese phones. Note: Not all Chinese phones are inherently grey market purchases. If Chinese brands (such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Realme) are already selling devices in your country through their own retail channels or carrier’s stores, then they’re likely to come with additional assurances and a more robust customer support network to deal with faults and repairs.
What’s the best phone for a child?
Most children want to make up their own mind about choosing a phone when it comes to entering young adulthood, but if they’re a little younger you’ll probably want to make the decision for them. You’ll want to look at something ultra-affordable for a first smartphone (so you’ve come to the right place), it’ll need to have a decent-sized screen, long battery life and be fairly durable, so you should probably avoid phones with a glass back. As it’ll likely be your main point of contact with your child, you’ll also want to look for good call quality, something that’s often overlooked on modern smartphones.
Which phone is best for students?
We’d recommend a more affordable phone here too, but many of the options in this chart may be within reach. General buying decisions should be whether you prefer a near-stock version of Android (as is available on Google’s Pixel phones, Nokias and Motorola phones), or don’t mind a heavier skin, as found on devices from Samsung, Huawei, Oppo and so on. Also, considering what the most important aspect of a phone is to you is key, and how many compromises you’re willing to make in other areas. Many handsets at this price point will target one specific feature, meaning corners are inevitably cut elsewhere.
What will you get for your money?
If you’re looking for a cheap phone, you have to accept the fact that the manufacturer is going to cut some corners to achieve that low price and you aren’t going to get the same performance, features or display quality as that of a phone costing two, three, or four times the price. It used to be the case that budget phones were instantly recognisable by their low-resolution displays, meagre storage and chunky, plastic bodies, but things are improving in this area all the time. These days, for £250/$250 or less, it’s quite possible to buy a phone with a Full HD display, a slim body, and a camera that takes pictures you might actually want to share. Most will support 4G (or even 5G) connectivity but features like NFC, wireless charging and water resistance will likely be absent, unless specifically stated.
Related stories for further reading
Best budget phone deals Best SIM-only deals Best mid-range phones Best kids’ phones Best budget 5G phones
Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.
