8 Best Budget Smartphones 2024 | UK Filmmaker Reviewed
Smartphones have become ubiquitous with modern life but some of the costs associated with the latest models can be eye-watering. Luckily, as technology improves, the demand for cheaper mobile phones has also grown and now some of the best budget smartphones on the UK market can easily compete with flagship devices for everyday tasks – and offer a good camera and battery to boot.
While some budget buys can stretch up to £400, several come in under £200 and even under £100 for a basic model! Whether you're after a phone for everyday use, work, gaming or movies, there is an affordable option. Our list of the cheapest, best value smartphones includes great brands like Motorola, Samsung and Nokia, all ready to order from sites like Amazon and Argos.
Quick List - Top Budget Smartphones
Jani is a professional photographer and filmmaker from Finland with over 15 years of experience in both fields. He has studied at some of the best schools and universities across the globe, leading him to become an expert in creative industries. Today he is the creative director and the owner of JP Harrow Portraits that specialises in portraiture for same-sex couples and families in London, UK.
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- With Specialist Consultation From Filmmaker Jani Ahonen
- How to Choose a Budget Smartphone in the UK
- Pick the Right Operating System for the Apps That You Regularly Use1
- 64 GB or More Storage Allows You to Utilise Your Phone for More Applications, Pictures, and Videos2
- Look For 2 GB of Ram or More for a Smooth Experience3
- If Getting the Best Camera for the Money Is a Priority, Ensure It's 16 Megapixels or Higher4
- Look For a Battery Capacity of Over 3000 mAh to Ensure That You Have Enough Charge to Get Through the Day5
With Specialist Consultation From Filmmaker Jani Ahonen
Jani is a professional photographer and filmmaker from Finland with over 15 years of experience in both fields. He has studied at some of the best schools and universities across the globe, leading him to become an expert in creative industries. Today he is the creative director and the owner of JP Harrow Portraits that specialises in portraiture for same-sex couples and families in London, UK.
If you're looking for an expert in portrait photography, filmmaking, drone flying or anything else technical, make sure to visit Jani's website JP Harrow Portraits for quotes and direct contact, or follow him on Instagram.
How to Choose a Budget Smartphone in the UK
- Pick an Operating System for the Apps That You Regularly Use
- Check the Internal Storage Space and Whether It Has a microSD Slot
- Opt for 2 GB of RAM for A Decent Experience
- If Camera Quality Is a Priority, Aim for 16 Megapixels or More
- Consider a Battery Capacity of 3000 mAh or Higher
Pick the Right Operating System for the Apps That You Regularly Use
When looking at smartphones, you're usually faced with a choice between an Apple iPhone running iOS or an Android device. While Apple has a lot of models towards the upper end of the smartphone market, there are a few budget offerings out there that can sync up nicely with other iOS products.
However, you'll most likely be dealing with Google's Android operating system when on a budget, as it is open source and has a whopping 72% of the world's market share. There are numerous versions of Android, depending on the device, and many will be able to automatically update to the latest version.
There isn't a huge difference when it comes to the types or variety available on iOS and Android, as most popular third-party apps are available on both systems. If you use Google Drive or Apple iCloud predominantly for work, however, it would make sense to opt for the relevant operating system.
If you love the Android OS, here's more information about android smartphones to know before buying.
Ultimately it doesn't matter which operating system you pick since almost all popular apps are these days available for both Android and iOS. However, many people choose iOS over Android because of Apple's stand on privacy which Android has been often criticized. If your privacy is important to you, then iOS is a better option.
64 GB or More Storage Allows You to Utilise Your Phone for More Applications, Pictures, and Videos
Next, you'll want to make sure all of the aforementioned apps fit comfortably on your device without it running out of space. Much like a computer or laptop, modern smartphones have both internal storage and ways of adding external storage when necessary.
Depending on how 'budget' the phone is, you'll often be looking at somewhere between 32 and 128 GB of internal storage. While 32 GB would suffice for basic usage, if you're planning on playing games, downloading videos on Netflix, streaming on Spotify or taking a lot of high-quality pictures, you'll need much more.
Thankfully, nearly all budget smartphones come with a microSD slot to increase the amount of storage. This comes with the bonus of being able to quickly and easily transfer files from a laptop or PC if you're limited with your cloud storage space. MicroSD cards can vary in size from 2 GB all the way up to 1 TB for some microSDXC options.
One of the most significant benefits of almost all Android smartphones is the removable MicroSD card slot. This means as long as you have multiple memory cards, you will never run out of storage space for videos or photos. This is the major drawback of iPhones that don’t offer such a feature and have a set amount of internal storage that cannot be upgraded later on.
Look For 2 GB of Ram or More for a Smooth Experience
RAM, while very different to internal storage, is an integral part of a phone's capacity to run well. In short, random access memory (RAM) is how your smartphone deals with the applications and internal systems that are being run at any given time.
The bigger the RAM, the quicker your phone will run as your apps have more space to use. When it comes to smartphones, you may see memory denoted as something like 4/128. In our example, this would stand for 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.
Android operating systems are known to require a lot of RAM to run well compared to the iPhones, which can often run even better with half of the same amount of RAM. This is why it is crucial to go for a high amount of RAM from the beginning if you plan to use your Android smartphone for anything that requires a lot of processing power.
If Getting the Best Camera for the Money Is a Priority, Ensure It's 16 Megapixels or Higher
When it comes to smartphones, the most used feature outside of messaging and surfing the web is easily the camera. Some budget smartphones are able to offer such a low-cost device by sacrificing camera quality, while others will include multiple, high-quality lenses on both the front and rear.
A high number of lenses is a good indication of a phone camera's quality, but you'll want to check how many megapixels (MP) a camera has to determine the resolution of the pictures it's able to take. In simple terms, a device with a 64 MP rear camera will be able to take a clearer and more detailed picture than one with a 16 MP camera.
Generally, the higher the MP the better, but keep in mind that there are other factors such as image stabilisation and other software features that can improve the quality of a photo. It's also worth knowing that typically, the front selfie camera is almost always worse than the rear.
Make your favourite moments last a lifetime with quality photos and videos using the best action cameras and instant cameras.
You should never pick a smartphone based on the number of megapixels it has if you truly care about the image quality of the pictures you take. A bigger megapixel number is not always better since what truly matters is the quality of the lens and the sensor.
Often cheaper smartphones have poor quality lenses and sensors, but they are made sound better because they advertise on having so many megapixels.
Look For a Battery Capacity of Over 3000 mAh to Ensure That You Have Enough Charge to Get Through the Day
Phone batteries are measured in milliamp-hours (mAh). A phone with a large 5000 mAh battery will serve you very well on a single charge, easily lasting you multiple days with moderate use, but those with even a 2000 mAh battery will be more than enough if you're able to charge it most evenings.
If you're an avid consumer of media, then we'd recommend opting for at least 4000 mAh as using a bright screen continuously will leave your phone in the red after about 5 hours or so. If you find yourself near a plug socket most of the day, you won't have to worry too much about being caught in the lurch with even the smallest of batteries!
As a consumer, you don’t need to understand anything about the actual battery inside the smartphone. These days the batteries aren’t really replaceable anymore, and all you need to look for is the actual advertised hours the battery is said to last during regular usage.
This is where you want to go with a higher number if you wish to use your smartphone for longer periods without charging. One easy way to combat the short battery life is to buy additional battery packs you can carry around with you.
8 Best Budget Smartphones in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nokia 1.4 | | Our Top Pick If You're Looking to Spend Under £100 | |
2 | Samsung Galaxy A52 | | Exceptional Software, RAM and OS Create a Fast and Flawless User Experience | |
3 | Pixel 6 | | A Premium Buy for Those Able to Stretch the Budget a Little | |
4 | Samsung Galaxy A22 | | 5G-Ready With an Ultra-Wide Camera, Great for Gaming and Travel | |
5 | Motorola Moto G10 | | An Entry-Level Smartphone With a Top-End Battery Life | |
6 | Nokia X10 | | A Full HD+ Screen and Editing Suite Make This Perfect for Keen Photographers | |
7 | OnePlus Nord CE 5G | | Very Impressive Specs if Speed and Storage Are Priorities | |
8 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 | | Incredible Features at an Incredible Price |
Nokia1.4
Our Top Pick If You're Looking to Spend Under £100
It's quite impressive to see how good budget smartphones have become in recent years, but it's something else entirely to see something as brilliant as the Nokia 1.4 available for well under £100.
While it won't be able to compete in terms of power with top-of-the-line flagship devices, you'll happily be able to surf the web and watch videos on this small-form phone. If you want a no-nonsense smartphone on the tightest of budgets, you can't do much better.
Exceptional Software, RAM and OS Create a Fast and Flawless User Experience
As Android is open-source, it means that any phone manufacturers are able to add their own additional software and, unfortunately, a lot of the time it has a less than positive impact on how well a phone runs. Samsung's Galaxy A52, however, runs a pure version of Android and the experience is fast and flawless.
It really can't be understated how much the exceptional software and operating system, combined with 6 GB of RAM, makes the Galaxy A series probably the best user experience of any smartphone currently whether budget or premium.
A Premium Buy for Those Able to Stretch the Budget a Little
While it sits at the top of the budget spectrum, the Pixel 6 is technically one of the best around. The 8 GB of RAM means that everything runs quickly, and you won't notice any lag when swapping between apps.
The display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080p is crystal clear, and the whole thing feels much more like a premium offering than one that's in the lower-cost category. It's also fully 5G capable, so Google has really thought of everything with this one!
SamsungGalaxy A22
5G-Ready With an Ultra-Wide Camera, Great for Gaming and Travel
In the early days of smartphones, the two names you'd hear more than any others were Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. While Samsung certainly has some more competition in the Android phone space, they're still making top quality devices and the A22 is no different.
The 48 MP rear camera is also joined by an additional ultra-wide camera and a depth camera for adjustable background focus. It's 5G compatible, too, which means no lag when gaming and faster downloads! It combines octa-core processing with its 4 GB of RAM for some great performance for the price.
Motorola Moto G10
An Entry-Level Smartphone With a Top-End Battery Life
When it comes to the lowest end of the smartphone market, Motorola is the best budget smartphone manufacturer in the world for our money. The Moto G10 is their most up-to-date entry-level device, and what you get for the money is incredible.
The 5000 mAh battery and 4 GB of RAM are exceptional inclusions at this price point, and the sole reason this doesn't sit further up our list is that there is a very similar model occupying our No. 1 spot that costs a smidge more. If this price represents the absolute limit of your budget, it's an easy recommendation.
NokiaX10
A Full HD+ Screen and Editing Suite Make This Perfect for Keen Photographers
It's not just the 48 MP camera with ZEISS Optics that make this a great choice for those with an interest in photography, but also the inclusion of a suite of editing tools to work whenever inspiration strikes you.
The 6 GB of RAM makes scrolling through different apps and feeds a joy, but you may find the 64 GB of internal storage fills up quickly and the lack of a MicroSD slot is an issue. Still, this is a snappy, lightweight phone with a great camera and is very much a bargain.
OnePlusNord CE 5G
Very Impressive Specs if Speed and Storage Are Priorities
Looking at the specifications of the OnePlus Nord CE, you are getting one hell of a smartphone for under £300. 8 GB of RAM is, frankly, ridiculous value and the 128 GB of internal storage and 64 MP camera are high for any smartphone, budget or otherwise.
It is something of a risk, however, as OnePlus have a few kinks to iron out with their Oxygen OS Android-based operating system. With updates, this smartphone could easily be in our top three, but at the moment the OS may cause frustrations due to differences with a stock Android experience.
XiaomiRedmi Note 10
Incredible Features at an Incredible Price
You may not be familiar with Xiaomi yet, but they're making serious waves in the UK's budget smartphone market by offering incredible specifications at rock bottom prices. Most notably, many of their phones are fully 5G ready.
The Redmi Note 10 ticks all the right boxes when it comes to specifications, but like many other Chinese phone companies, they've decided to create their own Android-based OS in MIUI 12. Unfortunately, as intuitive and interesting as it is, its bloatware and ads make getting the Note 10 to where you want a bit of a pain.
Top 5 Budget Smartphones
No. 1: Nokia｜1.4
No. 2: Samsung｜Galaxy A52
No. 3: Google｜Pixel 6
No. 4: Samsung｜Galaxy A22
No. 5: Motorola ｜Moto G10
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Most ViewedFeatured Rankings Similar to Mobile phones & communication
New ArrivalsFeatured Rankings Similar to Mobile phones & communication
Search by category
Automotive
Agricultural vehicle parts & equipment, Car & motorbike care, Car & vehicle electronicsBaby Products
Activity & entertainment, Car seats & accessories, Carriers & accessoriesBeauty
Bath & body, Fragrances, Hair careBooks
Antiquarian, rare & collectable, Arts & photography, Biographies & memoirsBusiness, Industry & Science
3D printing & scanning, Abrasive & finishing products, Agricultural equipment & suppliesComputers & Accessories
Accessories, Barebone PCs, Components & replacement partsDIY, Garden & Tools
Building supplies, Construction machinery, ElectricalElectronics & Photo
Accessories, Camera & photo, Car & vehicle electronicsFashion
Baby, Boys, GirlsGrocery
Baby foods, Bakery, Beer, wine & spiritsHealth & Personal Care
Baby & child care, Dental care, Diet & nutritionHome & Kitchen
Arts & crafts, Artwork, BathroomLarge Appliances
Beer & wine storage & dispensers, Compact kitchens, Dishwashers & dish dryersMusical Instruments & DJ
Bass guitars & gear, DJ & VJ equipment, Drums & percussionPC & Video Games
Currency & subscription cards, Handheld game systems, Legacy systemsPet Supplies
Birds, Cats, DogsSports & Outdoors
Accessories, Fitness, Hunting & fishingStationery & Office Products
Art & craft supplies, Calendars, planners & personal organisers, Envelopes & mailing suppliesToys & Games
Arts & crafts, Baby & toddler toys, Building & construction toys