As phones continue to get bigger, thinner, more powerful and more durably foldable, the price of flagship devices will continue to rise with it. Seemingly every phone released these days has a new feature that makes it a must-have compared to its predecessor, whether it's an increase in artificial intelligence or a piece of hardware like the Camera Control of the new iPhone 16 family. However, not everyone needs the latest and greatest features and the best budget phones allow buyers to get a phone that not only does the essentials, but excels in areas that they care about.
The all-new iPhone 16e is a prime example. While it's still an expensive device, it's providing users with a more affordable option that still has the power for Apple Intelligence and action button of its siblings, but has made slight concessions – mostly in the camera department – to keep prices down. If you're wondering whether it's for you, you can check out how the iPhone 16e compares to the iPhone 16.
That's just the latest budget handset we've gotten our hands on though, as we've spent hundreds of hours with all kinds of smartphones, from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max and Motorola Edge 50 Fusion. This experience makes us perfectly experienced to recommend the best phones for those looking to spend less in 2025.
Of course, if your budget can stretch, the best phones and best camera phones are worth the money. But no matter what you prioritise, be it long-lasting battery, gaming power, camera quality or a beautiful display for watching the best streaming services, the best cheap phones have you covered. And so do we.
The quick list
Below you can find a roundup of our choices for the best cheap phones in Australia. You can quickly jump to a more detailed review of each pick, and view the latest deals for each using our price comparison tool.
The best cheap Samsung phone
As well as a premium design, the Samsung Galaxy A55 offers an impressive display, stellar performance, detailed photos and great battery life.
The best cheap Pixel
One of the best budget lines ever, the Pixel 8a offers even more value than usual, providing the greatest AI tools and years of support in an attractive, colourful and tough shell.
The best cheap iPhone
Apple has made some concessions to create this affordable iPhone, but its screen, performance, AI power and all-new C1 modem make it a true member of the iPhone 16 family
The best alternative cheap phone
The cheapest of the Motorola Edge 50 Family, the Edge 50 Fusion offers well-rounded performance and a fast-charging, long-lasting battery.
The best cheap phone under AU$500
The Galaxy A35 has a beautiful screen, satisfying performance, and lots of personality, with all the looks of some of its top phones at a fraction of the price.
The best cheap camera phone
Not quite cheap, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers a premium experience at a mid-range price, but the star is its excellent camera array and AI tools that make great photos easy.
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The best cheap phone for gaming
The Poco X7 Pro ticks all the boxes that a cheap phone should and then some, with competition-beating power and battery, with a big bright display.
The best cheap phones in Australia 2025
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Below you’ll find more in-depth reviews for each of the best cheap phones in Australia, along with links to full reviews written by TechRadar’s team of smartphone experts.
The best cheap Samsung phone
Improving on its predecessor (the Samsung Galaxy A54, which previously topped this list) in every way, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is an exceptional mid-range handset. With a bigger 6.6-inch display that provides equal clarity and brightness (peaking at 1000 nits), an improved Exynos 1480 chipset to boost performance even further and improved camera functionality, it is the Galaxy A55's design that sets itself apart from its predecessors and competitors.
Often the most obvious difference between flagship handsets and their cheaper alternatives is the way they look. Usually, you'll see a lot of plastic used with affordable phones. That's not the case here. A super stylish combination of metal and glass, the Galaxy A55 looks and feels like a premium phone that belies its price, and its performance doesn't let it down either.
While its Geekbench performance benchmark scores of 1155 and 3468 outperform its predecessor, they don't stack up against the top phones. That’s to be expected in this price bracket however, but make no mistake the Galaxy A55 runs smoothly, whether you're scrolling social media, video-calling or getting into an intense fight in an online shooter, and you'll be able to do all of that all-day long thanks to its long-lasting battery that will easily see you through a day of use.
And for those with a love for photo-taking, whether it's artistic ultra-wide nature shots or showing off your breakfast, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is more than up to the task. While it retains the 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide camera, 5MP macro and 32MP front cameras of the Galaxy A54 – a combination we loved – the A55 manages to make them work far better, particularly in low-light conditions. Whether it's dimly-lit romantic selfies or bed-time photos of your pets, the A55 has no issues capturing in low-light thanks to its much-improved night-mode feature.
A premium design at a mid-tier price range, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is everything you could want from a more affordable smartphone and offers excellent value at its price.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy A55 review
The best cheap Pixel phone
With the Google Pixel 7a getting increasingly more difficult to get your hands on outside of one of our best phone plans, if you're looking to get into the Pixel ecosystem on a budget the Pixel 8a is undoubtedly the best choice. We think it's one of the best Android phones on the market regardless of price, and while it retails for AU$850, you can often find it for less than AU$700 to really save some coin.
If you're interested in trying out the best of AI tools and Google Gemini features in a handset without spending too much, the Pixel 8a is the clear choice. In our Google Pixel 8a review, we found little difference between the AI functionality of the 8a compared to the 8 Pro, and it went toe-to-toe with the Pixel 8 in our benchmark testing.
With seven years of Android updates promised from its launch in May 2024, there's still plenty of juice to be squeezed from it. And, with the recent release of the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, the deals aren't likely to dry up anytime soon. If you've been considering a Pixel phone, are intrigued by its AI functionality and want a phone that will last until you're ready to upgrade, the Pixel 8a is an incredible option at its price.
Read our full Google Pixel 8a review
The best cheap iPhone
The iPhone 16e has an attractive design and performs well enough that it feels like a true addition to the iPhone 16 family, unlike the iPhone 5c or previous SE models that have sat adjacent to the main series of iPhones. However, while we think it's very good, it's hard to call it great when it's brought back the iPhone 14's notch and sports a sole 48MP camera. Other phones in this list are providing much more bang for fewer bucks.
There are 'budget' phones that cost far less and which have larger screens and multiple rear cameras. They're not iOS handsets, and that counts for something – any new iPhone joins an expansive and well-designed ecosystem offering connective tissue between excellent Apple services and other Apple hardware.
The iPhone 16e sports a display that's almost the best Apple has to offer, with only the notch and slightly larger bezels holding it back. The main 48MP Fusion camera is very good and shoots high-quality stills and videos, but don't be fooled by the claims of 2x zoom – it is actually a 12MP crop on the middle of the 48MP sensor. I worry that people paying $999 for this phone will be disappointed that they're not at least getting a true ultra-wide camera when other phones in this list do.
One thing that the iPhone 16e has introduced is the C1 chip. We're still not sure why it got a brand-new piece of Apple silicon, but we had no issues getting delivering 5G and even satellite connectivity. Apple says this is the most efficient cellular modem it's ever put in an iPhone, and it helps its performance, which promises 26 hours of video streaming.
We liked everything about this phone – except perhaps the lack of colourways. It looks good, feels good and runs well. And, while it's the cheapest avenue into a top-tier iPhone, it's still quite expensive if you're shopping for a true budget device. Though, to snag a phone under that AU$800 mark, you'd have to leave the Apple bubble.
Read our full iPhone 16e review
4. The best alternative cheap phone
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion continues the Edge family’s trend as examples of how to make a budget phone feel premium. Delivering solid all-round performance, the Fusion performs seamlessly when completing everyday tasks, snaps excellent photos and excels in its long-lasting battery. Plus, adding some high-end flair is the incorporation of useful (and fun) AI functionality.
The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, much like the Edge 50 Pro and Neo, are all about style without lacking substance. Putting aesthetics front and centre despite being the most budget-friendly of the Edge phones, the Fusion boasts a contoured, thin design that is wildly attractive in its three colourways and textures, with a luxurious 6.7-inch display that curves seamlessly into the coloured metal frame. Those aforementioned AI tools even allow for personalising wallpapers based on your own photos, adding a fun layer of customisation and letting you craft a background based on your favourite artwork or outfit.
However, its Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip struggles with high-performance tasks – most glaring when taking photos quickly in shutter mode and after long periods within the camera app – something I also noticed with the more powerful Motorola Edge 50 Pro. Still, for everyday tasks it performs excellently. Plus, its cheaper price point makes the small issues you might encounter much more palatable.
The Fusion performs excellently in the photo department, especially for its price, thanks to its 50MP main camera that ensures sharp, vibrant images and a versatile 13MP ultrawide option. It also sports a 32MP front camera that beats the selfie cameras of some of the best phones.
The one real drawback on the Fusion, apart from some small concessions made to keep its price down – as it is with the Pro – is three years of OS updates and four years of security patches. However, the Fusion stands out as one of the best budget options on the market today especially for those who need a long-lasting battery – you even get a fast charger and protective case in the box.
Read our full Motorola Edge 50 Pro review
The best cheap phone under AU$500
The Samsung Galaxy A35 is a smartphone designed for people who want the best from Samsung without the pricetag that the best Samsung phones demand. At the time of its release, that was the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, and the sentiment remains the same even with the recent launch of the S25 family. Those looking to save on device can still enjoy some of the best Galaxy has to offer with this phone
If you’re new to the Galaxy A range, the ‘3’ in the name refers to the phone’s place in the sliding scale of quality – ‘0’ being super cheap. The ‘5’ shows it is part of the fifth generation of Galaxy A mobiles. So this device is less premium than the A55 model above, while being part of the same generation.
The Galaxy A35 has a big, bold and vibrant display, and if those adjectives don't mean anything – it's really nice to look at. And it's bigger than you might expect from a cheap phone ,too. For those who enjoy watching the best streaming services on their phone, the Galaxy A35 will tick your box.
You’re getting all of Samsung’s popular OneUI software here, with its customisation tools, programmable routines and a colourful, fun and easy to navigate UI. The chipset is a also surprisingly good. On paper, it's nothing special but we had no issues with long gaming sessions or intensive tasks.
It’s not a perfect phone. The cameras don't hold a candle to the A55 model above, let alone the Motorola Edge 50 Pro or a flagships Samsung Galaxy phone. Low-light snaps were vibrant enough, but odd scene optimisation AI edits and questionable ultra-wide performance marred the results.
Charging is slow too, the design is a bit utilitarian and the fingerprint sensor simply doesn't work well. Still, that's hardly a big deal when you're shopping a cheap phone among cheap phones. There’s nothing on this phone that’s disappointing when you consider its price, and a fair few features are actually better than you’d expect..
Read our full Samsung Galaxy A35 review
The best cheap camera phone
While it slots in quite perfectly into this category, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers a lot more than a handy set of cameras. Coming in three colourways – Luxe Lavender and Black Beauty which employ a vegan leather, and Moonlight Pearl – the Edge 50 Pro is an incredibly stylish handset, from its attractive back cover to its aluminium frame and curved-edged display.
We think its retail price of AU$999 is more than fair, so snagging it at any kind of discount is a deal you should jump on if you're looking for the best camera phone under AU$1,000. While we found its processor struggled a touch with high-performance gaming and long-periods within the camera app, it's perfect for those looking for a flagship handset without paying the AU$1,500 plus that even an older flagship phone costs.
We think its camera is the star, but its battery gives it a run for its money – offering more than enough charge for a full day With a battery that will easily see you through the day, it also offers enough charge to get you through work in just five minutes for those Monday mornings. It's one of the more expensive phones in this guide, but with its 6.7-inch curved display, premium design and smooth performance combined with its AI-enhanced camera and long-lasting battery it offers fantastic bang for your buck.
Read our full Motorola Edge 50 Pro review
The best cheap phone for gaming
Xiaomi doesn’t make as much noise about its budget sub-brand Poco as it does about phones produced by Redmi, and the Poco X7 Pro is a great example of why it should.
The Poco X7 Pro has a price that firmly puts it in the cheap phone category, costing less than half the price of a new iPhone. However, it offers enough useful features that you might consider putting down your Apple mobile or Samsung Galaxy S device for this budget blower.
Like many other Poco handsets, the X7 Pro is designed with power in mind, with the same processing power as many 2024 flagships, as well as a tonne of RAM and loads of storage. In our time with it, gaming was just as quick and smooth on the X7 Pro as on some of the best Android phones. The display is fantastic-looking too, squeezing extra pixels compared to most Android phones and offering higher peak brightness.
It's not the only phone in this list that boasts a great battery life – cheap phones excel at the basics – but the Poco X7 Pro shines here too with a 6,000mAh battery. That’s one of the biggest power packs you’ll find on a phone that’s not designed for building sites or wilderness survival, and it’ll make sure the average user can text for days without needing a recharge.
Not everything is sunshine and rainbows here and, Poco drops the ball in the camera department. It doesn't perform terrible, but photos often look denatured and there aren’t many features you can use to level-up its results. The phone is also, as is all too common with Xiaomi phones, chockfull of bloatware when you boot it up.
Bloatware, and camera performance less so, are small but really impactful annoyances. Still, the Poco X7 Pro is one of the best budget mobiles you can buy.
Read our full Poco X7 Pro review
FAQ
How to choose the best cheap phone for you
It's no secret that the best cheap phones don't have it all, as their low price means there are almost always compromises to be made. So the first step to choosing one is deciding which aspects of the phone are most important to you, and what you can live without.
Do you need excellent battery life? A bright and vivid screen? Or a well-performing camera? Perhaps you require a high refresh rate, or consider 5G to be vital.
Another consideration, which isn't specifically price related, is the screen size – a smaller screen makes it easier to use with one hand, and easier to fit in small pockets, while a bigger screen can make apps, games and videos more pleasant to watch and interact with.
Whatever the case, once you've decided what you do and don't need, you can read through the entries above to find a phone that fits. Whatever balance you ultimately decide on there's likely to be an ideal option above, and we've tested all of these phones extensively, so you can be sure they're good.
What is the best 5G phone under AU$400?
All the phones in this list sit just outside the AU$400 price range, though both the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion and Samsung Galaxy A55 have come into the AU$400-AU$500 range, and could do again on Black Friday. However, if you're strictly looking for something that retails in that range, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy A15.
What are the cheapest phone plans?
You can find our guides to the best phone plans and best SIM-only plans. However, there is one key thing to remember when looking at the cheapest phone plans, and that's that the major telcos – Optus, Telstra and Vodafone – are rarely going to be offering competitively affordable plans, and won't be offering the cheapest. For the cheapest plans, you'll want to stick with MVNOs like Felix, TPG and catch.
What is the best cheap smartphone?
The best cheap smartphone regularly changes and is somewhat subjective, but our pick for the best cheap option is whatever's currently in the number one spot on the list above. At the time of publishing, the best overall cheap phone is probably the Samsung Galaxy A55 – though the Pixel 8a, Motorola Edge 50 Fusion and iPhone 13 are all neck and neck.
What is the world's cheapest phone?
If you're really looking for the cheapest possible phone for phone calls and text messaging, you can get a cheap flip phone for under AU$50. However, in terms of smartphones that are still recommendable and super cheap, we have spent time with the Mara X1, which costs around AU$90, and there are various phones under AU$200 like the Motorola Moto g04.
How we tested
We only include a handset on this best cheap phones list once we've fully reviewed it, so you can be assured that every entry has been tested in full.
Our testing process involves using the phone as our main handset for days or even weeks, and testing all the key factors, from the power to the battery life, the cameras, the screen, and beyond.
That means we know exactly how each of these performs in reality - not just on paper, and we use that knowledge to rank them, while factoring in the all important price and value.
- Check out how these cheaper models compare to our overall top Aussie smartphone picks
