Ahead of Black Friday last month, I drew attention to a series of record-setting Amazon deals on three of the best cheap phones in 2023: the Samsung Galaxy A54, iPhone 13 and Google Pixel 7a. Black Friday itself is now over, but there’s good news for anyone still in the market for an affordable smartphone upgrade this holiday season – all three of those aforementioned cheap phone deals remain active in one guise or another.
The Galaxy A54, for instance, is still on sale at Amazon in both the US and UK, albeit for a slightly higher price than we saw over Black Friday weekend. Right now, you can pick up Samsung’s mid-range champ for $349.99 (down from $449.99), or £282.50 (down from £399) – that’s only $25 / £7 more than last week’s record-low Galaxy A54 price, and still a sizeable $100 / £116 saving.
Amazon continues to offer the iPhone 13 for a record-low £549 (down from $599) in the UK, too, and although the retailer no longer sells device-only iPhone models in the US, you can pick up a professionally refurbished model for only $474 (down from $497). If you’d rather spend a little more on a box-fresh model, Apple itself is still selling the iPhone 13 as new for a very reasonable $599 (down from $699).
The news is less brilliant for prospective Google Pixel 7a shoppers in the US, as Amazon’s record-low deal is no longer active, but the retailer’s lowest-ever Google Pixel 7a deal is still live in the UK (at £379 down from £449). If you're in the US and willing to spend a little more, the newer Google Pixel 8 is currently available for $549 (down from $699).
Naturally, none of these (relatively) affordable phones can rival their newer siblings for power, but all three remain more-than-capable handsets thanks to their still-powerful chipsets, impressive displays and decent cameras. What’s more, they’ll be supported with software and security updates for at least the next three years (if you go for the Samsung, you’ll get four years of support, and if you go for the iPhone, you’ll get five).
Today's best cheap phone deals
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
US: was $449.99 now $349.99 at Amazon
UK: was £399 now £282.50 at Amazon
The cornerstone of Samsung's 2023 Galaxy A-series phones boasts a crisp 6.4-inch AMOLED display, three capable cameras – a 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP front-facing – and enviable longevity. It's a truly solid phone that continues to be available for an excellent price at Amazon (in both the US and UK).
iPhone 13
US: was $699 now $599 at Apple
UK: was £599 now £549 at Amazon
The iPhone 13 was already reduced by $100 / £100 following the release of the iPhone 14 last year, but now that the iPhone 15 is out, it's even better value. If you're simply looking for a capable iPhone at a cut price, then this is the model to go for – it's pretty much the same phone as the iPhone 14, but cheaper. Their designs are identical, their cameras are (almost) identical and their chipsets are separated by just one generation – which, in Apple terms, means next to nothing.
Google Pixel 7a
US: $484.99 at Amazon
UK: was £449 now £379 at Amazon
The Pixel 7a is no longer on sale in the US, but Amazon continues to offer the phone for a record-low £379 in the UK. With Google's Tensor G2 chip, a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display, dual rear cameras featuring a 64MP wide lens, and great AI features such as Photo Unblur, the Pixel 7a provides an exceptional mobile experience without straining your wallet.
For more holiday and Christmas gift ideas, check out our guides to the best Christmas sales in the US and Boxing Day sales in the UK. Oh, and be sure to follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings, and unmissable deals!
More holiday sales
- Amazon: 70% off Kindle, TVs, tablets & clothing
- Apple: AirPods, Apple Watch & iPads from $79
- Adidas: 40% off running shoes & clothing
- Beauty: 51% off makeup, skincare & hair tools
- Best Buy: $800 off TVs, laptops & headphones
- Cheap TVs: big-screen 4K TVs from $269.99
- Christmas: 40% off decor, pajamas & trees
- Dell: cheap laptops and desktops from $259
- DreamCloud: 40% off all mattresses
- Gaming: console bundles from $289.99
- Lenovo: 76% off laptops, desktops & printers
- Lululemon: up to 30% off sitewide
- Nectar: mattress deals starting at $359
- Nordstrom: 40% off Nike, Levi's & UGGs
- Patagonia: pullovers starting at $64.99
- Saatva: $400 off mattresses over $1,000
- Samsung: $2,000 off TVs, $800 off Galaxy S23
- Target: 40% off Christmas decor, TVs & toys
- Toys: Disney, Barbie & Lego from $14.99
- Walmart: cheap TVs, air fryers, PS5 & toys
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Axel is TechRadar's UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.