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The best cheap phones don't rival the best phones for flagship features, but they do offer great screens, long battery life, and excellent value for money.
We've reviewed over 1,000 handsets since 2005, and in this guide, we've leveraged that significant phone-testing experience to recommend the best cheap phones from brands including Samsung, Apple, and Google.
The best cheap Samsung phone
Samsung's Galaxy A series smartphones regularly rank among the best Samsung phones for value, and the company has again delivered a supremely well-rounded (and great-looking) product with the Samsung Galaxy A56.
Bigger, thinner, lighter, and just generally more premium-feeling than its predecessor, the Galaxy A56 delivers a near-perfect midrange package that will satisfy all but the most demanding buyers.
Specs-wise, this phone delivers a whole lot of great hardware for its relatively modest £499 price tag. You get a great-looking, IP67-protected metal design, a vibrant 6.7-inch AMOLED display (which is larger than the screen on the Galaxy A55), and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery.
On the cameras front, the phone packs a 50MP main snapper, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP Macro camera, so you can take quality photos in a variety of lighting scenarios. Of course, the A56 is not the best camera phone around (and the Pixel 9a is arguably a better budget snapper), but we were impressed by the phone's photographic versatility and quality during testing.
Our main criticism of the Galaxy A56 lies with its Exynos 1580 chipset, which is plenty powerful enough for everyday smartphone tasks like streaming, scrolling, and texting, but it can't handle graphically demanding mobile games. Mind you, that's not what this phone is designed for, so we doubt that you'll be disappointed by the Galaxy A56 if you're looking for a long-lasting, feature-packed everyday handset.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, the £649 Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is also available; it features a more powerful chipset (the Exynos 2400), an 8MP telephoto camera, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
The best cheap iPhone
The iPhone 17e is the only real choice from Apple for people seeking flagship performance on a budget. A solid combination of design, performance, and solid photography chops for a decent price makes this iPhone an affordable choice, though it perhaps pushes the idea of being cheap.
Driven by the new A19 chip, this iPhone 17e delivers ample power for any mobile task. In our Geekbench 6.5 testing, the 17e nearly matched the standard iPhone 17 with a single-core score of 3,606 and a multi-core score of 9,292. In daily use, it feels impressively snappy whether you're gaming, streaming, or juggling social apps.
Value is a major draw this year, as Apple has doubled the base storage to 256GB without increasing the starting price of £599. This makes the 17e a much more attractive proposition than the previous iPhone 16e.
The iPhone 17e now features full MagSafe compatibility, providing immediate access to a wide suite of magnetic accessories. Battery performance remains a strong suit; while Apple claims up to 26 hours of life, our real-world testing confirms it easily survives a busy day with power to spare.
The primary trade-off in this package is the single rear camera, meaning you miss out on the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses found on more expensive iPhones and many Android competitors. For photography enthusiasts who rely on lens versatility, this is the one clear compromise in an otherwise robust hardware suite.
Compared against rivals like the Pixel 10a, Samsung Galaxy A56, and OnePlus 13R, the iPhone 17e carves out its niche through the iOS ecosystem and its high-performance silicon. While the Pixel and Samsung phones offer more camera flexibility and the OnePlus 13R leads on battery life, they lack the specific integration of MagSafe and Apple’s software. Ultimately, if the Apple ecosystem is a must-have, the iPhone 17e is the definitive choice for those shopping on a budget.
Read our full Apple iPhone 17e review
The best cheap Pixel Phone
The Google Pixel 10a proves you don't need to spend a fortune to capture the core of a flagship Pixel experience. While it lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, the combination of its main and ultra-wide cameras, paired with Google’s signature smart processing and chops at delivering balance colours, solidifies its spot as one of the best camera phones under £500.
Under the hood, the Tensor G4 chip powers a comprehensive suite of AI and Gemini features, allowing this mid-ranger to mimic many high-end capabilities at a much more compelling price point. While it won't break any records in benchmarks or serve as a top-tier gaming device, from out testing the Pixel 10a remains a smooth, responsive performer for everyday use.
Sweetening the package, Google has introduced a few subtle refinements this year, most notably a design change that sees the cameras sitting flush against the rear of the phone. Additionally, the inclusion of Corning Gorilla Glass 7i boosts scratch resistance compared to previous models. However, because there are few other meaningful hardware shifts, owners of the Pixel 9a likely won't feel a desperate need to upgrade just yet.
As it stands, the Pixel 10a is a fantastic choice for an affordable Android phone that delivers premium software and photography. While it isn't quite cheap enough to be the undisputed 'best overall' budget pick, it remains a phone we wholeheartedly recommend if you're not keen on paying flagship money.
Read our full Google Pixel 10a review
The best cheap camera phone
If you're a keen mobile photographer but don't want to splash out on one of the best camera phones (think the iPhone 17 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, or OnePlus 15), then the Motorola Edge 60 is a worthy (and, crucially, much more affordable) alternative.
Only available in the UK and Australia, the Motorola Edge 60 boasts a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera (with 3x optical zoom), and a 50MP selfie camera. You won't find equivalent photographic hardware in any device costing less than the Edge 60's £379 starting price, so this is a great-value handset for camera-conscious buyers.
To be clear: the Edge 60 is not a flawless camera phone. As we noted in our Motorola Edge 60 review, "photos taken on the main camera look decent, as they’re clear and bright, although they're not especially vibrant in terms of color." That said, the phone's 3x zoom "lets you get closer to details or create a nice depth of field for close-up shots," which is something you simply can't do with other models on this list.
Other specs for the Edge 60 include a 6.67-inch, 120Hz FHD display, a Mediatek Dimensity 7300 chipset, and a 5,200mAh battery, all of which make Motorola's latest mid-ranger a well-heeled smartphone for contemporary wants and needs.
Our only real qualms with the Edge 60 are its excessive bloatware and nigh-on useless AI features, but the former can be cleared up at your leisure, while the latter isn't an area in which cheap phones naturally excel.
For an even cheaper camera phone, the excellent Oppo Reno 12 Pro is still worth considering, though it's since been replaced by the more expensive Oppo Reno 13 Pro, meaning stock is hard to come by.
Read our full Motorola Edge 60 review
The best cheap gaming phone
If you can get your hands on the OnePlus Nord 4, that device continues to offer the best power-for-money ratio of any midrange phone on the market. But given that the newer (and equally powerful) OnePlus Nord 5 is more readily available, we've opted to recommend that device as our best cheap gaming phone.
The Nord 5's Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset might not sound flashy, but when paired with up to 12GB of RAM, it carries the phone to near-flagship levels of performance.
As such, the Nord 5 is something of a gaming powerhouse. It can't rival, say, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max for graphical fidelity or cooling prowess, but relative to its competition, the Nord 5 is a capable gaming handset, tackling titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile with ease. As we noted in our OnePlus Nord 5 review, this phone "gives budget gamers all they could ask for."
Other key features of the Nord 5 include an IP65 dust and water resistance, a sizeable 5,200mAh battery, and, best of all, a gorgeous 6.74-inch AMOLED display that can be used even with wet hands (thanks to OnePlus' neat Aqua Touch feature).
Being a midrange phone, the Nord 5's cameras aren't anything to write home about, but in the £300-£400 price range, you can't expect the world.
If you're keen to save even more money, the cheaper OnePlus Nord CE5 is worth considering too (we're currently testing that device), while the OnePlus 13R and OnePlus 15R are great options if you're able to spend nearer £500.
Read our full OnePlus Nord 5 review
The best cheap phone for battery life
A large 8,500mAh battery see Xiaomi's Poco X8 Pro Max replace the Poco X7 Pro on this list, with the newer phone offering a battery life that'll last for two to three days, depending on how you use the phone.
For £469 it's got a decent suite of other features too. There's a pair of rear cameras deliver fine photos, including some impressive low-light ones, with plenty of clarity and detail for its price. And a a Mediatek Dimensity 9500s chipset paired with 12GB of RAM offers a very solid dose of performance, and will get through plenty of smartphone tasks; just don't expect flagship-grade power.
Do be prepared to strip back some bloatware when getting started with the Poco X8 Pro Max, as HyperOS 3 lumps a load of it on top of Android 16. Otherwise, the phone makes for an attractive affordable Android, nipping at the heels of mid-range phones but keeping a wallet-friendly price.
If you want to eschew battery life worry and don't need all the bells and whistles of more expensive phones, then we fully endorse the Xiaomi Poco X8 Pro Max.
Read our full Xiaomi Poco X8 Pro Max review
Also consider
The sheer amount of budget and mid-range phones to pick from right now makes it tricky to narrow down a list of the best cheap phones to just six products. That's why, below, we've highlighted some alternative options.
Best iPhone 17e alternative – iPhone 16
The iPhone 17e is the outright cheapest modern iPhone available, but if you're able to spend a little bit more, then Apple's base iPhone 16 – which is still on sale as-new from Apple directly – is worth considering thanks to its Dynamic Island notch, dedicated ultra-wide lens, and MagSafe compatibility.
Best for design enthusiasts – Nothing Phone (4a) Pro
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is a striking-looking phone with design-focused software to match. It's a total head-turner, and is underpinned by a suite of strong specs, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, 8GB/12GB of RAM, and a 5,080mAh battery.
Best for creatives – CMF Phone 2 Pro
Nothing's sub-brand, CMF, makes phones designed for customization, and the Phone 2 Pro is the company's best model to date. It's not particularly impressive on paper, but it's a surprisingly capable all-rounder, and readily available 3D files of its rear panel mean you can create your own compatible cases and accessories.
FAQs
What is the best cheap phone?
The best cheap phone for you will depend on what you do (and don't) value in a smartphone. If you prefer a Samsung, then the Samsung Galaxy A56 could be for you. If you're already embedded in Apple's ecosystem, the iPhone 16e is your best bet. Alternatively, the Google Pixel 10a offers an affordable way into Google's AI-powered ecosystem, while the Motorola Edge 60, OnePlus Nord 5, and Xiaomi Poco X8 Pro Max offer a little bit of everything.
How to choose the best cheap phone for you
Even the best cheap phones don't have it all; that low price means there are almost always weaker elements, so the first step to choosing one is deciding which aspects are most important to you, and what you can live without.
Do you need excellent battery life? A sharp screen? Or capable cameras? Perhaps you require a high refresh rate, or consider 5G to be vital.
Another consideration, which isn't specifically price related, is the screen size; a smaller screen makes a phone easier to use with one hand, and easier to fit in small pockets, while a bigger screen can make apps, games and videos more pleasant to watch and interact with.
Whatever the case, once you've decided what you do (and don't) need, you can read through the entries above to find a phone that fits. Whatever balance you ultimately decide on, there's likely to be an ideal option above, and we've tested all of these phones extensively, so you can be sure they're good.
How we test
We only include a handset on this best cheap phones list once we've fully reviewed it, so you can be assured that every entry has been tested in full.
Our testing process involves using the phone as our main handset for days, or even weeks, testing all the key factors, from the power to the battery life, the cameras, the screen, and beyond.
That means we know exactly how each of these handsets performs in reality, not just on paper, and we use that knowledge to rank them, while factoring in their all-important price and value.
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