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Best Budget Smartphones of 2023

Phone advice | by Denise Timmis | Apr 04, 2023

Best Budget Smartphones of 2023

After a cheap mobile phone that won’t leave a dent in your wallet? Look no further. From top-quality cameras to long-lasting batteries, and everything in between, we’ll help you find the best budget smartphone for you.

At Envirofone, we stock a huge range of cheap mobile phones, including top-grade models like the iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy S10, and the Huawei Honor 9. Get your hands on the latest tech for a fraction of the price—it’s that simple. So, are you ready to find your perfect match? Check out our favourite affordable phones below.

 

Best cheap mobile phones roundup

 

 

The best budget smartphones

 

Huawei Honor 9

Price: from £129.99

 

Overview:

Affordable all-round performance. That’s precisely what you get with Huawei’s Honor 9. The compact smartphone sits easily in hand and features a handy fingerprint sensor below the screen. Its glass design looks and feels buttery smooth, too.

 

The Honor 9’s 3200mah battery lasts a full day, while a dual-lens set-up includes a powerful 20MP camera that takes crisp shots. For budding photographers, we recommend dabbling in the handset’s aperture mode, which lets you alter subject focus. With so much on offer, the Huawei Honor 9 is easily one of the best budget smartphones out there.

 

Buy the Huawei Honor 9

 

Specs:

 

Price: 

From £129.99

Display

Type

IPS LCD

Size

5.15 inches, 73.1 cm2 (~70.0% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~428 ppi density)

Protection

Corning Gorilla Glass 3

 

BODY

Dimensions

147.3 x 70.9 x 7.5 mm (5.80 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)

Weight

155 g (5.47 oz)

Build

Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3),

glass back, aluminium frame

SIM

Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by

 

Storage

Card slot:

microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)

Internal:

32GB, 64GB, 128GB

 

Main camera

Dual

12 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), PDAF, 2x lossless zoom
20 MP B/W, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/2.7"

Features

Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama

Video

4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS),

1080p@60fps

 

Selfie camera

Single

8 MP, f/2.0

Video

1080p@30fps

 

Battery

Type

Li-Po 3200 mAh, non-removable

Charging

Fast charging 18W, 40% in 30 min (advertised)

 

 

iPhone SE 2020

Price: from £150

 

Overview:

Searching for a budget Apple device? Say hello to the iPhone SE 2020. Available in various colours, the SE 2020’s compact frame is neat and tidy, fitting in hand like a glove. Its Retina HD display is bright and responsive, even though it’s an older model, while a powerful A13 Bionic chipset ensures superfast browsing, streaming, and gaming speeds.

 

Camera-wise, a 12MP single sensor snapper with advanced image processing takes crystal-clear photos. The iPhone SE 2020 isn’t the best in the battery department but should last a full day with moderate use. However, it supports fast charging, which ramps up your battery to 50% within 30 minutes.

 

Buy the iPhone SE 2020

 

Specs:

 

Price

From £150

Display

Type

Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)

Size

4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)

Protection

Ion-strengthened glass, oleophobic coating

 

BODY

Dimensions

138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)

Weight

148 g (5.22 oz)

Build

Glass front, glass back, aluminium frame

SIM

Nano-SIM and/or eSIM

 

IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins)
Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

 

Storage

Card slot:

No

Internal:

32GB, 64GB, 128GB

 

Main camera

Single

12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS

Features

Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama

Video

4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps,

 HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec.

 

Selfie camera

Single

7 MP, f/2.2 HDR

Video

1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS

 

Battery

Type

Li-Ion 1821 mAh, non-removable (6.91 Wh)

Charging

Fast charging 18W, 50% in 30 min (advertised)
Qi wireless charging 7.5W

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S10

Price: from £159.99

 

Overview:

Samsung lover? Good news—you can grab a Samsung Galaxy S10 for less than £160. Talk about a bargain! Not only does it deliver on price, but also performance. The durable device is lined with a Gorilla Glass 6 screen, protecting it from bumps and falls.

The all-new design features smooth, curved edges and an ultra-wide display (with an impressive 88.3% screen-to-body ratio!) to improve the look and feel. Plus, weighing just 157g, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is more compact and lighter than ever. With a triple rear camera, auto-HDR, and Panorama, this budget smartphone is perfect for those who want crisp and colourful Insta-worthy snaps.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10

 

Specs:

Display

Type

Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+

Size

6.1 inches, 93.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

3040 x 1440 (Quad HD+)

Protection

Corning Gorilla Glass 6

Always-on Display

Body

Dimensions

149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm (5.9 x 2.77 x 0.3 in)

Weight

157g (5.54 oz)

Build

Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame

SIM

Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Storage

Card slot

microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only

Internal

128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM,

Main camera

Triple

12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS


 

12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom


 

16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video

Features

LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama

Video

4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS


 

Front camera

Single

10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF

Features

Dual video call, Auto-HDR

Video

4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps

Battery

Type

Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable

Charging

15W wired, PD2.0

15W wireless (Qi/PMA)

4.5W reverse wireless

 

Sony Xperia XA1

Price: from £74.99

 

Overview:

Sony’s Experia XA1 is a fantastic option if you want a cheap mobile phone under £100. For just £94.99, you’ll get a pocketable design and a whopping 23MP camera which takes fantastic pictures for its price. The 720p screen is bright but features a relatively low screen resolution. This means text may look less clean and sharp in close-up.

 

There’s no lagging when flicking between apps, thanks to its Android 7.0 operating system and relatively powerful chipset. To top it off, there’s also a USB slot for easy file transfers and charging, while a memory card slot means you can boost storage space.

 

Buy the Sony Xperia XA1

 

The Specs

 

Price

From £74.99

Display

Type

IPS LCD

Size

5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density)

Protection

Corning Gorilla Glass 4

 

 

Body

Dimensions

145 x 67 x 8 mm (5.71 x 2.64 x 0.31 in)

Weight

143 g (5.04 oz)

Build

Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back,

aluminium frame

SIM

Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM,

dual stand-by)

 

Storage

Card slot:

microSDXC (dedicated slot)

Internal:

32GB 3GB RAM

 

Main camera

Single

23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF

Features

LED flash, HDR, panorama

Video

1080p@30fps, HDR

 

Selfie camera

Single

 

Video

8 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/4", AF

 

1080p@30fps

 

Battery

Type

Li-Ion 2300 mAh, non-removable

Charging

Pump Express+ 2.0

iPhone 8

Price: from £114.99

Overview:

Dreaming of a budget-friendly iPhone? Well, now you can make it a reality. Buy the iPhone 8 for just £114.99 and get access to some of Apple’s newest features like added back glass protection, a 12MP rear camera, wireless charging, and better battery life with up to 14 hours of talk time. It’s even water resistant for up to 1 hour and 30 minutes (just in case).

You’ll get all the benefits of iOS 14, even with an older iPhone model, but you might notice a slight dip in processing speed. There’s only one rear camera to play with, but the 12MP still promises high-quality pics. One more thing—you’ll have to live without Face ID. Being a 2017 model, the iPhone 8 only has fingerprint recognition.

Buy the iPhone 8

Specs:

Display

Type

Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)

Size

4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)

Protection

Ion-strengthened glass

3D Touch display & home button

Body

Dimensions

138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)

Weight

148 g (5.22 oz)

Build

Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame

SIM

Nano-SIM

IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

Storage

Card slot

No

Internal

64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 256GB 2GB RAM

Main camera

Single

12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), PDAF, OIS

Features

Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR

Video

4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps


 

Front camera

Single

7 MP, f/2.2

Features

Face detection, HDR, panorama

Video

1080p@30fps

Battery

Type

Li-Ion 1821 mAh, non-removable (6.96 Wh)

Charging

15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised)

Wireless (Qi)


Google Pixel 4XL

Price: from £164.99

Overview:

Attention camera buffs! This one’s for you. The Google 4XL’s advanced software, sharp lenses, and wide aperture range deliver clarity and precision. Its Live HDR+ mode provides accurate previews of pictures, while a Super Res Zoom mode takes crisp shots of close subjects. The cherry on top? The 4XL’s Astrophotography mode lets you capture starry night skies for pics of the heavens.

The Google 4XL is no slouch, either. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset and 6GB RAM offer fast processing speeds, while its gorgeous 6-inch OLED screen and 90HZ refresh rate mean it’s highly responsive. Battery stamina is where the 4XL falls short. Its 3700maH cell will likely need a charge in the day to see you through. However, an 18w fast charger is included for a rapid boost.

 

Buy the Google Pixel 4XL

 

Specs:

 

Price

From £164.99

Display

Type

P-OLED, 90Hz, HDR

Size

6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density)

Protection

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

 

Always-on display

 

Body

Dimensions

160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in)

Weight

193 g (6.81 oz)

Build

Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5),

glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminium frame

SIM

Nano-SIM and/or eSIM

 

Storage

Card slot

No

Internal

64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM

 

Main camera

Dual

12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55",

1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto),

1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom

Features

Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift,

Auto-HDR, panorama

Video

4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps,

1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)

 

Selfie camera

Dual

8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)

Features

Auto-HDR

Video

1080p@30fps

 

Battery

Type

Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable

Charging

Fast charging 18W
USB Power Delivery 2.0
Wireless charging

 

 

Samsung Galaxy A50

Price: from £149.99

 

Overview:

The Galaxy A50 has some serious stamina. Its supercharged 4000mah battery lasts up to 35 hours (yes, really) and supports fast charging when you need a quick lift. Its 6.4-inch Infinity edge-to-edge display looks gorgeous too, as does its smooth and luminous back cover.

 

Its camera isn’t a great performer in low light and won’t offer anywhere near the same quality as, say, the Google Pixel 4XL. However, if you want a cheap mobile phone with a fantastic battery and display, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy A50.

 

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50

 

Specs:

 

Price

From £149.99

Display

Type

Super AMOLED

Size

6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)

Protection

Corning Gorilla Glass 3

 

Body

Dimensions

158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.94 x 0.30 in)

Weight

166 g (5.86 oz)

Build

Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3),

plastic back, plastic frame

SIM

Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

 

Storage

Card slot

microSDXC (dedicated slot)

Internal

64GB 4GB RAM,

64GB 6GB RAM,

128GB 4GB RAM,

128GB 6GB RAM

 

Main camera

Triple

25 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP, f/2.2, (depth)

Features

LED flash, panorama, HDR

Video

1080p@30fps

 

Selfie camera

Single

25 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm

Features

HDR

Video

1080p@30fps

 

Battery

Type

Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable

Charging

Fast charging 15W

 

 

 

 

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Price: from £169.99

 

Overview:

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is full of fantastic features. Its screen boasts OLED technology for stunning clarity and colour. Its dual camera setup performs well in low-light and macro shots, while a 128GB internal drive gives plenty of storage. It also looks the part, with a protective Gorilla Glass back panel creating a refined finish.

A 4000mah battery gives you over a day’s battery (but could even last for two with moderate use), while Super Charge tech gets you powered up to 50% within 30 mins. Sadly, the 10 Pro doesn’t feature a headphone jack or a MicroSD Slot. It also doesn’t support fast charging, but with that massive battery, this isn’t a dealbreaker in our eyes.

 

Buy the Huawei Mate 10 Pro

 

The Specs

Price

From £169.99

Display

Type

OLED, HDR10

Size

6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)

Protection

Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version)

 

Body

Dimensions

154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.07 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)

Weight

178 g (6.28 oz)

Build

Glass front (Gorilla Glass),

glass back, aluminium frame

SIM

Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM,

dual stand-by)

 

Storage

Card slot

No

Internal

64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM

 

Main camera

Dual

12 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide),

1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF,

Laser AF, OIS
20 MP B/W, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/2.7"

Features

Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR

Video

4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

 

Selfie camera

Single

8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF

Video

1080p@30fps

 

Battery

Type

Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable

Charging

Fast charging 22.5W, 58% in 30 min (advertised)

iPhone 11

Price: from £209.99

Overview: Coming in at just shy of £210, the iPhone 11 is the most expensive on our list. But don’t let that put you off—it’s still incredibly cheap in comparison to newer Apple phones. It’s jam-packed with everything you could want from a cheap mobile phone, with a few added extras.

The iPhone 11 features a second rear camera, boasting 12MP and an ultra-wide lens, plus a 12MP, HDR front-facing camera for top-quality selfies. With a 79% screen-to-body ratio, the iPhone 11 also has one of the largest displays, yet feels incredibly lightweight, weighing less than 200g. Thanks to the increased battery size, you’ll enjoy 18W fast charging and video playback for up to 17 hours.

Buy the iPhone 11

Specs:

Display

Type

Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)

Size

6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)

Resolution

828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)

Protection

Scratch-resistant glass

Body

Dimensions

150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)

Weight

194 g (6.84 oz)

Build

Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series)

SIM

Nano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Storage

Card slot

No

Internal

64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM

Main camera

Dual

12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS

12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"

Features

Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)

Video

4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.


 

Front camera

Single

12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6"

SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)

Features

HDR

Video

4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS

Battery

Type

Li-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh)

Charging

Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised)

Wireless (Qi)



 

Buying guide: How to choose the best budget smartphone

 

Choosing a new phone is never an easy decision. How do you know which one is right for you? Regardless of what features you want from your phone, there are ways to save money. Yes, you can still get a triple-lens HD camera and panoramic video shots from a budget smartphone. And you can cut the cost even further if you buy a refurbished phone.

 

How to save money on a smartphone

 

If you need to keep costs low, but still want high tech, there are a few things you can do.

First, consider a refurbished mobile phone. Refurbished simply means it’s been pre-owned and renewed for sale—it doesn’t mean sub-par quality. At least, not with Envirofone. We put every phone through 100-point testing to ensure it’s as good as new. Some of our second-hand phones haven’t even made it out of the box. Not only do you save money, but you still get the latest and greatest mobile phone for a fraction of the price.


You could also consider a SIM-free deal. That way, there’s no monthly contract to pay. You’ll own the phone outright, and usually only need to pay a small fee for your SIM each month.
 

Of course, you could choose an older phone with fewer features. Take the iPhone 8, for example. You can buy an iPhone 8 for less than £115, and still enjoy an excellent 12MP dual camera, iOS 14, and Apple Pay. Sure, it might not have Face ID or the top-tier, 48-megapixel rear camera of the iPhone 14, but other than that, you probably wouldn’t notice the difference.

 

What to look for in a cheap mobile phone

 

Cheap phones don’t have everything, so you’ll need to consider which features are a must and which are a nice-to-have. Here are some things to think about before choosing your budget smartphone:

Storage

Compromising on storage size can help reduce the price of your phone. For instance, opting for a 64GB iPhone 11 rather than 128GB. If you need lots of storage, keep tabs on a device’s internal drive and whether it has a memory card slot.
 

Battery life

Phones with increased battery life usually cost more. Look out for a higher mAh—The higher the number, the longer you can expect the phone to last from a single charge.

While budget smartphones may not boast the same processing power as flagship gadgets, they still offer top performance. Look at the clock speed of the chip (measured in GHz) and the available RAM (4GB and above should cut the mustard) to get an idea of how fast the phone is.
 

Camera quality

Budget smartphones aren’t always equipped with the highest quality cameras, but that doesn’t mean they don’t take good pics. You may have to settle for lower resolution and fewer zoom modes, but you’ll still be able to grab that snap of your pancakes.

You can find great cameras on affordable phones, like the Google Pixel 4XL. In fact, its camera gives many flagship phones a run for their money. But this high snapping standard tends to cost a tad more than handsets that come under the £200 mark.
 

Display

The cheapest mobile phones usually have lower-quality resolution displays with dimmer colours. That said, you can still find many budget smartphones with top-draw displays. Most cheap phones feature screen resolutions of at least 720p, and some even offer Full HD displays like the Huawei 10 Mate Pro.
 

Size

You can usually expect to compromise on screen size and weight with a cheaper smartphone. Budget mobiles tend to come with a smaller screen size and are bulkier in weight. But that’s not always the case. Take the Samsung Galaxy S10 for example. You can enjoy a screen-to-body ratio of 88.3% for less than 160 quid. It’s lightweight too, weighing only 157g.
 

Premium features

As you’d expect, cheap mobile phones usually have fewer features on offer. You may have to do without things like wireless charging, water resistance, and optical zoom. It all depends on where you’re willing to compromise.

 

Why buy a cheap smartphone from Envirofone?

 

At Envirofone, you get a brilliant device for less. Our selection is jam-packed with affordable phones from the world’s leading brands, including Apple, Samsung and Google. We also ensure every second-hand item is returned to its former glory through a 100-point testing process, so you’re never disappointed. By the time you get your phone, you might wonder if it’s new not refurbished. We promise quality, every time.

Every reconditioned device comes packaged in a protective padded box. We also ship it out to you for free and slap on a 12-month warranty. But there’s more! You can send your old device to Envirofone for money towards your next purchase. So, browse our range of cheap mobile phones today for tech that doesn’t harm the planet (or your wallet).

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