We’re currently putting a series of affordable, UK-only Motorola phones through their paces to add a 'Best cheap Motorola' category to this guide. Specifically, we have the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, Moto G55, and Moto G35 5G in our testing labs.
The best cheap phones aren't as flashy or feature-packed as the very best phones, but they do offer bright displays, strong battery life, and, above all, great value for money.
In this guide, we've rounded up the best cheap phones from brands including Samsung, Apple, and Google, leveraging our significant phone-testing experience (we've tested over 1,000 handsets since 2005) to bring you a definitive list.
Our current guide includes big hitters like the Google Pixel 8a and iPhone SE (2022), though if you're after a cheap phone for photography, specifically, then the Oppo Reno 12 Pro is worth considering. Other strong mid-range options in 2024 include the OnePlus Nord 4, Nothing Phone 2a, and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. Of course, if you can spend a bit more, then one of the best Android phones, best iPhones, or best camera phones might be a more suitable fit.
Quick list
Samsung's 2024 mid-ranger offers great battery life, an impressive 6.6-inch display, and a design that looks and feels more premium than its affordable price tag suggests.
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The iPhone 13 is no longer on sale from Apple directly, meaning the iPhone SE (2022) is the most affordable first-party iPhone on the market right now. Its design is dated, but this remains a capable device.
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The Google Pixel 8a is the most affordable way to access Google's impressive suite of AI features, offering a decent chipset and stellar longevity to boot.
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For photography fans, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro offers a flagship-level 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, as well as a host of Pixel-style AI image editing features.
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On top of a fantastic display, the Honor 90 offers more base storage, faster charging and better cameras than many of its mid-range rivals. Its long-term support isn't great, though.
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If you want a reasonably-priced phone that can take a knock (or two) and will continue to be supported for years to come, the Nokia XR20 is for you.
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I'm TechRadar's Phones Editor, and have been reviewing and writing about the best mobile devices for several years. Based in the UK, I handle news and feature coverage for the phones section of the site, and regularly edit TechRadar's phones-related reviews and buying guides. You'll find my byline on over 1,500 TechRadar articles.
The best cheap phones in 2024
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Below, you'll find full write-ups for each of the best cheap phones on our list. We've tested each model extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best cheap Samsung phone
Samsung's Galaxy A series smartphones regularly rank among the best Samsung phones for value, and the company has again delivered a supremely well-rounded (and great-looking) product with the Samsung Galaxy A55.
For starters, Samsung has ditched the Galaxy A54's plastic casing in favor of a new and strikingly classy metal build on its latest mid-tier champion. The Galaxy A55 looks and feels like a premium device, despite being almost half the price of the Samsung Galaxy S24, and it boasts a suite of near-flagship specs, too.
The phone's chipset, for instance, is a highly capable Exynos 1480, which delivered smooth browsing and gaming performance during our testing. The A55's 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is also impressive, and won't make you feel as though you're missing out on one of the best phone displays.
You'll get a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery and 25W wired charging with the Galaxy A55, as well as four cameras: a 50MP main, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 5MP macro camera and a 32MP selfie snapper. The latter set is unchanged from the Galaxy A54, but they should still prove versatile enough for most amateur mobile photographers.
It's worth noting that the similar-looking Samsung Galaxy A35 is a essentially cheaper version of this phone, though the Galaxy A55 packs a superior processor, which should mean it lasts you longer. If you're keen to spend a bit more, the newly released Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is worth considering, too.
The best cheap iPhone
Until recently, the iPhone 13 ranked as the best cheap iPhone on the market, but since Apple discontinued that device following the launch of the iPhone 16 series in September 2024, the still-capable iPhone SE (2022) is now the most affordable device that's available to buy from the smartphone giant directly.
Put simply, the iPhone SE (2022) is a dinky, no-frills iPhone. Sure, its design is now pretty (okay, very) outdated – remember the physical Home button? – but you'll still get a bright 4.7-inch display, decent battery life, and, most importantly, an A15 Bionic chipset that delivers more than enough power for casual smartphone users.
Despite its age, the iPhone SE (2022) is also relatively future-proof; it's compatible with iOS 18, and Apple will continue to support it with software and security updates for at least three more years.
Bear in mind, though, that a new iPhone SE could be launching soon. Yes, we've been hearing this rumor for a while now, but 2025 looks like the year for an updated model (potentially with Apple Intelligence compatibility).
Read our full iPhone SE (2022) review
The best cheap Pixel Phone
If you're a fan of Google's streamlined OS and aren't fussed about joining the AI revolution, then the Google Pixel 7a remains an attractive, now-even-cheaper option in 2024. However, its successor, the Google Pixel 8a, takes the crown as the best cheap Pixel phone by virtue of it being the cheapest way to access Google's latest and greatest mobile AI tools.
Features including Circle to Search, Call Assist, Magic Editor and Google's Gemini assistant are all present and correct here, with Google's unprecedented seven-year update commitment to the Pixel 8a set to ensure that this phone gets even better with time.
The Pixel 8a gets the basics right, too. It's got a pleasant-looking display, the camera is decent (at 64MP, it has the highest megapixel count of any Pixel phone, though you'll find the same cameras on its predecessor), and it's also a really compact device, at a comfortable 6.1-inches.
Certainly, there are flaws. The Pixel 8a doesn't rectify the battery issues we encountered with both the Pixel 7a and Pixel 6a, and you'll technically get faster performance from phones running the latest Snapdragon chipsets.
That said, compromises must be made to keep any phone's price down. Google's thoughtful AI features clearly have an audience, and the Pixel 8a is one of the nicest and most inexpensive ways you can get onboard.
Read our full Google Pixel 8a review
The best cheap camera phone
If you're a keen mobile photographer but don't want to splash out on one of the best camera phones (think the iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 or OnePlus 12), then the Oppo Reno 12 Pro is worthy (and, crucially, more affordable) alternative.
Only available in the UK and Australia, the Reno 12 Pro boasts a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera (with 2x optical zoom), an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 50MP selfie camera. You won't find equivalent camera hardware anywhere else on this list, and although the Pixel 8a boasts an impressive suite of AI photo editing features, the Reno 12 Pro gets its own fair share of AI tricks (including AI Eraser, AI Clear Face, AI Best Face and AI Studio).
Other specs include a 6.7-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display, a Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Energy chipset and a 5,000mAh battery, all of which make the Reno 12 Pro a well-heeled smartphone for 2024 wants and needs.
Our only real qualms with the Reno 12 Pro are its cheap-feeling design and significant out-of-the-box bloatware, but the latter can be deleted at your leisure, while the former is to be expected from a mid-range device that offers so much elsewhere. Good job, Oppo!
Read our full Oppo Reno 12 Pro review
The best display on a budget
The Honor 90 has a downright fantastic display, and its cameras are among the best on this list. At launch, the phone retailed for a not-so-cheap £449.99, but given that its successor, the Honor 200 Pro, was released in June 2024, you can now pick up the Honor 90 for a much more reasonable price. Think of it as the 'best alternative cheap phone'.
The Honor 90 sports a 6.7-inch quad-curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 2664 x 1200 and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It’s big, bright and more than suitable for gaming and watching movies, thanks to HDR10+ support and HDR certifications from streamers, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
On the back, you're getting a triple-camera system that comprises a 200MP main lens (with a 1/1.4-inch sensor), a 12MP ultra-wide lens (with a 112° field of view) and a 2MP depth sensor that helps the camera accurately gauge distance.
Less impressive is Honor’s software and security support commitment to the Honor 90. You’ll get two years of Android updates and three years of security updates with this phone. That’s markedly fewer than, say, Samsung and Google are committing to their latest mid-range devices. But then again, the Honor 90 offers more base storage, faster charging and better display credentials than almost all of its category rivals.
Read our full Honor 90 review
The best cheap phone for durability
The Nokia XR20 is the first rugged smartphone to launch under the Nokia banner with the help of HMD Global, which now owns the brand. Unlike other rugged smartphones that stand out due to their designs, the Nokia XR20 is meant to blend in with its slim profile and sleek look.
In terms of durability, the XR20 is IP68 certified, MIL-STD-810 rated, and is the first rugged smartphone to feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The device also features a red emergency button along with a dedicated, non-customizable Google Assistant button.
However, what really sets the XR20 apart from the pack is the fact that HMD Global has guaranteed that the device will receive four years of security updates with three years of OS updates. The company also includes free one-year screen replacement. Put simply, if you want a reasonably-priced phone that can take a beating and will continue to be supported for years to come, the XR20 is for you.
Read our full Nokia XR20 5G review
FAQs
What is the best cheap phone?
The best cheap phone for you will depend on what you do (and don't) value in a smartphone. If you prefer a Samsung, then the Samsung Galaxy A55 could be for you. If you're already embedded in Apple's ecosystem, then the iPhone SE (2022) remains a top choice, regardless of its age. Alternatively, the Google Pixel 8a offers an affordable way into Google's AI-powered ecosystem, while both the Oppo Reno 12 Pro and Honor 90 have great displays and strong sets of cameras.
How to choose the best cheap phone for you
Even the best cheap phones don't have it all; that low price means there are almost always weaker elements, so the first step to choosing one is deciding which aspects are most important to you, and what you can live without.
Do you need excellent battery life? A sharp screen? Or capable cameras? 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 a phone 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.
How we test
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, 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 handsets performs in reality, not just on paper, and we use that knowledge to rank them, while factoring in their all-important price and value.
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