A smartphone may be one of the crucial costly merchandise you purchase, however it doesn’t should be.
Whereas foldables and high-end flagships are pricier than ever, you’ll be able to pay far much less and nonetheless get a fantastic telephone.
This text proves it. Every of the ten smartphones beneath prices round £250/$250 or much less, but presents all the things most individuals want for day-to-day use.
As you may count on, these are all Android telephones. The most affordable present iPhone is the iPhone SE, however it nonetheless prices £449/$429 when paying full value.
Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless loads of variation, with Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, Nokia, Realme and Poco all represented beneath. You may discover that the best choice for you is in the direction of the underside of this checklist.
That will help you select, we’ve additionally included detailed shopping for recommendation on what to look out for in a finances telephone on the backside of the web page. In case your finances is a bit larger, take into account a mid-range or flagship telephone as an alternative.
Greatest finances telephone 2023
1. Samsung Galaxy A14 – Greatest general
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Value When Reviewed:
$152.99
The most effective finances telephone you should purchase is the Samsung Galaxy A14 due to a profitable mixture of fine design glorious battery life, easy software program, and no less than 4 years of software program assist to 2027.
Everyday efficiency is way improved over 2022’s Galaxy A13 with a greater chipset, and most duties tick away properly with 4GB RAM. As with most inexpensive telephones you won’t be able to fireplace up demanding cellular video games like Name of Obligation, however calls, texts, messaging and video apps, and social media shall be completely effective.
There’s solely 64GB storage which is a bit low, however there’s a microSD card slot to broaden storage and you may’t actually complain when an affordable telephone is that this good. You too can pay just a little extra and get a 5G model, which is in any other case similar.
When you don’t thoughts a 60Hz show when different finances telephones have smoother 90- or 120Hz tech, and also you’re not fussed about having an impressive smartphone digicam, then the Galaxy A14 is a best choice.
Learn our full
Samsung Galaxy A14 overview
2. Motorola Moto G84 5G – Greatest show
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Professionals
- Wonderful 120Hz OLED show
- Strong efficiency
- All-day battery life
- Respectable 30W charging
Cons
- Just one Android model replace
- Common cameras
- Rear cowl is dust magnet
Value When Reviewed:
Unavailable within the US
The Moto G84 is undoubtedly the most effective finances telephones you should purchase. The one cause it isn’t high is the lacklustre software program assist, with Motorola providing only one Android model replace and three years of safety assist.
You’ll additionally should put up with common cameras and a again that’s liable to getting soiled, however that’s about the place the negatives finish.
The 120Hz OLED show is the best on any finances telephone, whereas the Snapdragon 695 delivers stable efficiency and 5G assist. Battery life from the 5000mAh cell is stable, and also you even get comparatively fast (for a finances telephone 30W charging).
When you don’t just like the look of the Galaxy A14, that is a budget telephone to get.
Learn our full
Motorola Moto G84 5G overview
3. Motorola Moto G23 – Greatest design
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Professionals
- Elegant design and excessive construct high quality
- Beneficiant storage
- Stereo audio system
- Massive, fast-charging battery
Cons
- Barely light display
- Questionable wide-angle digicam
- Uneven haptics
The Moto G23 is one other nice alternative from Moto that may recurrently be discovered for lower than it’s already first rate £199.99 RRP. Sadly it’s not obtainable within the US, although there are numerous stable Moto telephones offered there in the identical value vary.
The G23 appears to be like and feels costlier than it’s and delivers the place it issues. The display is brilliant, it’s most important digicam will do the job effective, it has loud clear twin stereo audio system, and it costs at 30W with the included charger.
It has a twin SIM slot and storage is expandable by way of microSD, although the inbuilt 128GB storage could be very beneficiant for the worth.
The ultrawide and macro cameras aren’t a lot cop, there’s no 5G assist, and the processor is simply quick sufficient to play fairly primary cellular video games – you received’t need to hearth up Fortnite on this telephone. However if you’d like an inexpensive smartphone that nails the fundamentals and is working a pleasant plain model of Android 13, that is it.
Learn our full
Motorola Moto G23 overview
4. Nokia G60 5G – Purchase on a subscription
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Professionals
- Massive show
- Respectable most important digicam
- Strong battery life
- Three years of OS assist
Cons
- Mediocre secondary cameras
- 20W charging
Value When Reviewed:
From $329.99
It’s nice to see the Nokia model (the telephones are literally made by Finnish firm HMD) characterize good worth telephones as soon as extra. The Nokia G60 is a wonderful finances telephone alternative at £200 (it’s not formally on sale within the US however you may get it by way of Amazon).
With 5G, a big display, nice battery life and a wonderfully succesful most important digicam, the G60 ticks all our high packing containers for a telephone that doesn’t value an excessive amount of, contemplating. Three years of software program assist can be above common for this value phase. It’s good to see, and means you should utilize your telephone realizing its Android safety is updated.
You should purchase the telephone outright or you may get it from £12.50 monthly with Nokia’s Round subscription plan, which helps you to improve once you need, or permits you to accumulate factors the longer you maintain onto the identical telephone to encourage much less e-waste. You’ll be able to then spend these factors on eco-minded causes.
At this value it’s exhausting to fault the G60, although it does cost very slowly.
Learn our full
Nokia G60 5G overview
5. Xiaomi Redmi Be aware 12 5G – Strong all-rounder
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Professionals
- Nice 120Hz OLED show
- Spectacular battery life
- Respectable efficiency
- Good selfie digicam
Cons
- Unintuitive software program
- Mediocre rear cameras
- Low-cost construct
The Redmi Be aware 12 5G prices £279, it’s shut sufficient to our higher restrict to be included. Whereas a transparent step down from the Be aware 12 Professional and Professional+, it’s additionally considerably cheaper.
And there’s quite a bit to love right here, from stable Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 efficiency to all-day battery life from the 5000mAh cell. However the 120Hz OLED show is the actual spotlight – you wouldn’t count on such an affordable telephone to have such a fantastic display.
Cameras are a combined bag, with a powerful selfie lens offset by disappointing rear lenses. A budget construct makes it apparent it is a finances telephone, whereas Xiaomi’s MIUI software program isn’t for everybody.
However in case you’re prepared to spend just a little greater than the same old finances restrict, the Be aware 12 5G presents quite a bit in your cash. Nevertheless, it’s additionally value noting that there’s a 4G model of the Redmi Be aware 12, which is even cheaper at £219.
Learn our full
Xiaomi Redmi Be aware 12 5G overview
6. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G – Strong finances Samsung
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Value When Reviewed:
$199.99
The Galaxy A14 5G is a stable finances telephone, however the existence of the 4G mannequin (which sits high of this checklist) makes it a extra difficult purchase.
5G just isn’t the one distinction on this costlier telephone, although. The MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip presents barely higher efficiency than the Helio G80, and it’s good to have a 90Hz show slightly than common 60Hz.
Nevertheless, it’s unusual to see the 4G mannequin’s ultrawide digicam ditched in favour of an ineffective depth sensor. The primary rear and selfie cameras can take first rate pictures, however solely in good lighting.
The A14 5G has a fantastic design and battery life is superb, however charging is frustratingly gradual. Whereas nonetheless a stable finances telephone, there’s no want for most individuals to spend the additional in comparison with the common A14.
Learn our full
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G overview
7. Motorola Moto G62 – Nonetheless a fantastic alternative
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Professionals
- Nicely constructed
- Clear software program
- Robust battery life
Cons
- Sluggish charging
- Laggy efficiency
- Common digicam
Value When Reviewed:
Unavailable within the US
The Moto G62 was launched again in 2022, however it stays a powerful finances possibility.
Regardless of being plastic, stable construct high quality surpasses different telephones at this value. In the meantime, a clear model of Android has been subtly modified, however solely the place Moto can enhance issues – not only for the sake of it.
There’s an outstanding always-on show, regardless of having an LCD slightly than OLED panel, that permits you to rapidly view and open notifications that no different telephone model has
Triple cameras on the again of the Moto G62 exist, however it’s a push to name all of them good – fortunately the 50Mp most important sensor could be very stable and offers you glorious daytime pictures.
Alongside nice battery life from the 5000mAh cell that we generally discovered reached the top of the day at 50% and you’ve got a fantastic low cost telephone possibility.
Learn our full
Motorola Moto G62 overview
8. Nokia G22 – Restore it your self
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Professionals
- Distinctive repairable construct
- Respectable battery life
- Person-friendly OS
Cons
- Sluggish and laggy efficiency
- Unimpressive display
- Solely two years of OS updates
When you like the concept of repairing your telephone slightly than changing it each few years, the Nokia G22 may very well be the telephone for you. When you can deal with the very fact that is fairly a gradual telephone – maybe you solely want one for primary capabilities like calls and messages and Google Maps – then it’s an excellent purchase.
iFixit sells a number of official restore kits for the G22 together with for display cracks and new battery. It means you’ll be able to seize a smartphone for £150 and be secure within the information you’ll be able to simply restore it your self. It’s liberating, and Tech Advisor’s Hannah tried it out in our full overview.
One factor to notice is that this telephone will solely have software program assist for 2 years, which considerably contradicts the concept it is a product you need to preserve for much longer and change its failing components. That apart, that is an fascinating idea and a finances telephone you need to take into account in case you don’t want a robust machine.
Learn our full
Nokia G22 overview
9. Realme C35 – Greatest design
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Professionals
- Crisp, vibrant show
- Daring design
- Competent digicam
Cons
- Fundamental efficiency
- Display screen solely 60Hz
- Battery life beneath rivals
Value When Reviewed:
Unavailable within the US
The parents at Realme pulled it out of the bag with the design of the C35, a sub-£150 telephone that appears prefer it prices much more.
With flat sides taken straight from the newest iPhone playbook and a sensible trying digicam module akin to the costlier OnePlus Nord telephones, the C35 additionally packs in a fantastic 1080p show for the extremely low cost value.
You’ll be able to even pay £20 further to get 128GB storage as an alternative of 64GB, and all fashions have a microSD slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The processor is nothing to jot down residence about, however the 50Mp most important digicam lens is fairly good on a telephone that outperforms its asking value.
Regardless that it was launched in 2022, that is nonetheless value contemplating.
Learn our full
Realme C35 overview
10. Xiaomi Poco M4 Professional – Unimaginable worth
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Professionals
- Nice OLED show
- Two-day battery life
- Wonderful digicam
Cons
- Thick and heavy
- MIUI is clunky
- Unreliable fingerprint scanner
Value When Reviewed:
Unavailable within the US
To not be confused with the Poco M4 Professional 5G, this machine shrugs off 5G in alternate for some notable upgrades in different areas.
The Poco M4 is the primary M collection machine in Poco historical past to pack in an AMOLED show, which additionally occurs to assist a 90Hz refresh price and Full HD+ decision. In the meantime, the 64Mp most important digicam is a powerful enchancment for the collection, whereas battery and charging are additionally stable.
The design is just a little divisive and the MIUI software program received’t be to everybody’s tastes however when it comes to worth for cash, it’s a fantastic possibility.
You might also have an interest within the Poco M4 Professional 5G – because the title suggests, it provides 5G assist. However each have been launched again in 2021 and 2022, so are getting just a little dated.
Learn our full
Poco M4 Professional overview
FAQ
Must you purchase a finances telephone outright?
In our expertise, the perfect approach to get an affordable telephone is to purchase it SIM-free, then seize a great-value SIM-only deal. You received’t be paying masses each month for a telephone for the following two years and you may swap it for a more moderen mannequin everytime you fancy with out a huge impression in your pockets.
Must you purchase a locked telephone?
You’ll rapidly discover that a few of the finest offers on low cost telephones are offered by way of cellular operators (also referred to as carriers). What you should be careful for is whether or not these telephones are offered locked to that operator’s community.
In such conditions, you received’t have the ability to put one other operator’s SIM card into your carrier-locked handset and can doubtless should name the machine’s provider to get the telephone unlocked, which might value cash.
What’s the perfect telephone for a kid?
Most kids need to make up their very own thoughts about selecting a telephone in the case of getting into younger maturity, but when they’re just a little youthful you’ll most likely need to make the choice for them.
You’ll need to have a look at one thing ultra-affordable for a primary smartphone (so that you’ve come to the appropriate place), it’ll have to have a decent-sized display, lengthy battery life and be pretty sturdy, so you need to most likely keep away from telephones with a glass again.
Because it’ll doubtless be your most important level of contact together with your little one, you’ll additionally need to search for good name high quality, one thing that’s typically missed on fashionable smartphones.
You too can take a look at our spherical up of the perfect telephone for youths.
Which telephone is finest for college kids?
We’d advocate a extra inexpensive telephone right here too, however lots of the choices on this chart could also be inside attain.
Common shopping for choices must be whether or not you favor a near-stock model of Android (as is on the market on Google’s Pixel telephones, and Nokia and Motorola telephones), or don’t thoughts a heavier pores and skin, as discovered on units from Samsung, Xiaomi, or Oppo.
Additionally, contemplating what an important facet of a telephone is to you is essential, and what number of compromises you’re prepared to make in different areas. Many handsets at this value level will goal one particular characteristic, which means corners are inevitably lower elsewhere.
What is going to you get in your cash?
When you’re on the lookout for an affordable telephone, it’s important to settle for the truth that the producer goes to chop some corners to realize that low value and also you aren’t going to get the identical efficiency, options or show high quality as that of a telephone costing two, three, or 4 instances the worth.
It was the case that finances telephones have been immediately recognisable by their low-resolution shows, meagre storage and chunky, plastic our bodies, however issues are enhancing on this space on a regular basis. Nowadays, for round £250/$250 or much less, it’s fairly potential to purchase a telephone with a Full HD show, a slim physique, and a digicam that takes photos you may truly need to share.
Most will assist 4G (and even 5G) connectivity however options akin to NFC, wi-fi charging and water resistance may be absent, until particularly acknowledged.