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
- Best all-rounder: Huawei Honor 9 (from £129.99)
- Best budget iPhone: iPhone SE 2020 (from £150)
- Best budget Samsung: Samsung Galaxy S10 (from £159.99)
- Best smartphone under £100: Sony Xperia XA1 (from £74.99)
- Best cheap mobile phone under £150: iPhone 8 (from £114.99)
- Best phone for camera: Google Pixel 4XL (from £164.99)
- Best phone for battery life: Samsung Galaxy A50 (from £149.99)
- Best phone design: Huawei Mate 10 Pro (from £169.99)
- Best budget phone for functionality: iPhone 11 (from £209.99)
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.
Specs:
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From £129.99 |
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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.
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From £150 |
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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.
Specs:
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Display |
Type |
Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
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Size |
6.1 inches, 93.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
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Resolution |
3040 x 1440 (Quad HD+) |
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Protection |
Corning Gorilla Glass 6 Always-on Display |
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Body |
Dimensions |
149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm (5.9 x 2.77 x 0.3 in) |
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Weight |
157g (5.54 oz) |
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Build |
Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
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SIM |
Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
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Storage |
Card slot |
microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
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Internal |
128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, |
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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 |
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Features |
LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
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Video |
4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
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Front camera |
Single |
10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF |
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Features |
Dual video call, Auto-HDR |
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Video |
4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
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Battery |
Type |
Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable |
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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.
The Specs
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From £74.99 |
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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.
Specs:
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Display |
Type |
Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
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Size |
4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
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Resolution |
750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
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Protection |
Ion-strengthened glass 3D Touch display & home button |
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Body |
Dimensions |
138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in) |
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Weight |
148 g (5.22 oz) |
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Build |
Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame |
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SIM |
Nano-SIM IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
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Storage |
Card slot |
No |
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Internal |
64GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 256GB 2GB RAM |
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Main camera |
Single |
12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), PDAF, OIS |
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Features |
Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
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Video |
4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
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Front camera |
Single |
7 MP, f/2.2 |
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Features |
Face detection, HDR, panorama |
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Video |
1080p@30fps |
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Battery |
Type |
Li-Ion 1821 mAh, non-removable (6.96 Wh) |
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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.
Specs:
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Price |
From £164.99 |
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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.
Specs:
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From £149.99 |
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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.
The Specs
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From £169.99 |
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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.
Specs:
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Display |
Type |
Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
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Size |
6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
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Resolution |
828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
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Protection |
Scratch-resistant glass |
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Body |
Dimensions |
150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
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Weight |
194 g (6.84 oz) |
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Build |
Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series) |
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SIM |
Nano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
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Storage |
Card slot |
No |
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Internal |
64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
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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" |
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Features |
Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
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Video |
4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
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Front camera |
Single |
12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
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Features |
HDR |
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Video |
4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
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Battery |
Type |
Li-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh) |
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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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