Which smartphone is best on a low budget?

Want to get a good deal on your next smartphone? We reveal the best low-cost handsets available in the UK.

Aren't modern smartphones fantastic? In comparison to the bulky handsets of the past, it's like carrying a mini-supercomputer in your pocket. Every year, technology improves and, more importantly, becomes much more affordable. You no longer must fork over large sums of money for your annual upgrade. Move your gaze away from the usual flagship smartphones, and you'll come across some fantastic budget smartphones.

Yes, headline-grabbing 5g flagships smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max are fantastic, but you don't have to spend a fortune to have a great smartphone experience. Do you want to learn more? That is where we come in. These are the best budget smartphones available.

Choosing the best budget android mobile phone is difficult, and there are numerous factors to consider before making your purchase. Before proceeding to the checkout, make certain that you have covered all your bases. To help you make your decision, we've highlighted the most important factors to consider.

Display:

While flagship phones have the best, largest, and highest-resolution screens, budget smartphones with high-quality displays are still available. Cheap phones typically have a screen resolution of 1,280 x 720, but some slightly more expensive alternatives have Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution displays for sharper viewing.

Almost all the low-cost smartphones we recommend use LCD panel technology, which is more than adequate. However, AMOLED displays are beginning to appear at the lower end of the price spectrum, producing even better colours and a deeper black. If you want to know how good a phone's screen is, read our full reviews.

Performance:

Budget phones do not have high-end internals. But that's not to say their performance is poor – far from it, as we're starting to see reasonably high clock speed chips appear in low-end handsets. Look at the clock speed of the chip and the amount of RAM inside to get an idea of what to expect from the performance of a phone.

Operating system:

When it comes to mobile operating systems, budget phones don't have many options. Except for one, every low-cost smartphone runs Google's Android operating system. But don't worry: Android is simple to use, whether you're a first-time user or a seasoned mobile user. Simply check the phone's Android version, as older versions may no longer be supported with regular security updates and may lack essential features.

Storage:

It's amazing how much storage a phone can consume with apps, games, and images. You'll want at least 32GB of internal storage and look for phones with a microSD card slot so you can easily add more storage when your internal storage runs out.

Battery:

Battery life is critical, and each phone's endurance varies. When shopping for your next low-cost phone, look at the battery capacity; the higher the number, the longer the battery will last on a single charge. If you're stuck, we've compiled a list of the longest-lasting phones.

Affordable 5g smartphones

A76:

Oppo's A-series phones have long been good buys for those looking for low-cost devices with good cameras. The Oppo A76 has a 6.56-inch 90Hz capable LCD, which puts it on par with every other manufacturer in this price range right now.

The Oppo A76 is based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 680 platform, with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It does support microSD storage expansion if you need to expand its storage capacity. In this price range, the Snapdragon 680 is an intriguing option, with many competing phones – including several Oppo handsets – typically opting for a MediaTek chipset instead. Nonetheless, Snapdragon processors are generally regarded as high-performing. The battery capacity is also good. So, overall, it offers the right kind of specs at a very affordable price.

Specs:

Find X5 Lite:

The Find X5 Lite is a true mid-range phone, despite its flagship pedigree. The front is dominated by the 6.43-inch AMOLED screen, which is "good enough": it offers good levels of brightness, refresh rate, and resolution while not aiming for best-in-class specs.

The build quality is good, with a thin profile that doesn't feel cheap, and the weight, at 173 grams, is lighter than it appears. The Oppo Find X5 Lite has more than enough power for everyday tasks. With a MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a microSD card slot. The Find X5 Lite's battery capacity is 4500 mAh which is decent enough.

Specs:

Bottom line:

Even the best cheap phones don't have it all - the low price almost always means there are weaker elements, so the first step in selecting one is determining which features are most important to you and which you can live without.

Do you require a long battery life? A clear screen? Or perhaps capable cameras? Perhaps you require a high refresh rate or believe that 5G is essential.

Another non-price-related consideration is screen size: a smaller screen is easier to use with one hand and fits better in small pockets, whereas a larger screen can make apps, games, and videos more enjoyable to watch and interact with.

In any case, once you've determined what you do - and do not - require, you can browse the entries above to find a phone that fits. Whatever balance you ultimately choose, there's likely to be an ideal option above, and we've thoroughly tested all these phones, so you can be confident they're good.