Get your hands on a truly great smartphone under £500 today – these phones under £500 are no-holds-barred when it comes to buttery-smooth browsing, exceptional photography, mind-bending gaming and much more.
A reliable phone is essential in modern life; there's no denying it. Wasting time on lack-lustre battery life or no 5G support will make everyday chores miserable. If you've relied on a phone that's seen better days, now's your call to arms - get yourself a top-tier phone from a leading brand that'll run everything, including games, for less than £500.
The best phones under £500 in 2024 at a glance:
• Best overall phone under £500: Google Pixel 7a and Pixel 30W Charger Bundle - View at Amazon
• Best Samsung phone under £500: Samsung Galaxy M53 5G Phone - View at Amazon
• Best camera phone under £500: HONOR 90 Smartphone 5G - View at Amazon
• Best OnePlus phone under £500: OnePlus Nord 3 5G 16GB 256GB - View at OnBuy
Bringing you the most breathtaking deals from exceptional brands such as Samsung, Apple, Google and more, with endlessly brilliant tech specs to rival phones exceeding £1,000 – What's The Best has rounded up the very best phones under £500, just for you.
These mid-budget phones swiftly outperform even our favourite phones under £300 - despite their brilliance, giving you quality performance for a great deal longer than any cheaper alternatives.
Best phones under £500 in 2024
Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best Google phone under £500
Outperforming even high-end smartphones that are double its price point, Google's breathtaking Pixel 7a has an undeniably brilliant array of features to adore, chief among them being its phenomenal camera.
Snap some seriously gorgeous photos with the Google Pixel 7a's 64MP dual camera with a vast 120-degree ultrawide view, so you'll never miss a single detail ever again.
As for the overall look of the phone, there's really nothing not to like - from its modern, unique design unlike any competing smartphones on the market, to its gorgeously vivid FHD+ OLED design - the Google Pixel 7a is visually excellent in all regards.
For many smartphones with such a powerful camera and demanding hardware, battery life tends to quickly become an issue, yet this rule of thumb doesn't extend to the Pixel 7a. Battery life on Google's excellent budget phone is approximately 24 hours with moderate use - making it one of the best in its price range.
So for great smartphone photography, wonderful performance, and a battery that'll last all day long - the Google Pixel 7a is an excellent choice for practically anyone, but especially those who love taking pictures.
Pros
- Google build and design alone makes this one of the best cameras for under £500
- Powerful hardware spec thanks to massive 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage - ideal for all-round use
- Ultra-responsive and smooth to use thanks to the OLED screen and Tensor G2 processor
Cons
- Slightly average camera spec
Best Samsung phone under £500
SamsungThe Samsung M53 is equipped with a decent triple camera and a beautiful 102hz AMOLED display. Perfect for capturing and viewing those enormous, detail-rich landscapes and shots of friends and family. Photos on the M53 have an enormous amount of colour and dynamism that truly pop onscreen - night shots, day shots, and those gorgeous golden-glowing evenings truly shine. The Samsung M53's selfie camera is perfect for standard selfie use. You will find higher resolution cameras on this list, but given this is a Samsung model with exceptional screen and lens quality, you can't go wrong.
As for the M53's performance, there's nothing more you could really want from its hardware. There's a head-spinningly quick Mediatek processor, giving casual browsing a wonderful smoothness, and gaming an unbeatable level of responsiveness.
Pros
- Excellent AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate - ideal for mobile gamers
- Mediatek processor keeps this performing well for daily browsing and more demanding uses too
- 5000mAh battery should keep this going for days between charges
Cons
- Photographers will find smartphones with better resolution
Best rugged phone under £500
If you need extra smartphone protection when you're out and about, this Nokia XR21 has a tough build to rival most others. It's been designed with military-grade drop protection and best of all - it's IP69K water and dustproof. It'll take being submerged.
But as for the smartphone specs - this one has an excellent 64MP AI-enhanced main camera and a 12MP ultrawide, plus an 8MP selfie camera. The screen is a brilliant size, too, at 6.49-inch, and it's got scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass - all in all, that makes this one of the toughest phones around.
When we tested the Nokia XR21, we found that it excels as a mid-range smartphone with its Snapdragon 695 processor, 6GB RAM, and MIL-STD-810H durability. In our hands-on experience, we admired the decent low-light camera performance and IP69K waterproofing. With up to two days of battery life, it's ideal for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a robust phone.
Pros
- Amazing durability thanks to rugged build against drops, water and dust
- 120hz screen makes motion sharp and smooth
- Despite fewer cameras than most, the ones you do have are all excellent specifications
Cons
- Looks are so-so
Best camera phone under £500
HONORIt is a genuine mystery as to how the HONOR 90 is as cheap as it is, and yet the truth is out - the HONOR 90 is under £500, and it's astoundingly good.
Gamers or social media scrollers might turn their heads at this terrific phone, but it's photographers who will truly gawp at this mighty phone and its staggering 200MP camera, which is unheard of in phones at its price.
Photography on the HONOR 90 is faultless - outdoors, indoors, low-light photography, this mighty flagship-tier phone can handle it all, and with 256GB of RAM, you'll have more than enough space for an ocean of pictures to treasure forever.
And while the HONOR 90 does suffer from some cutbacks to overall build quality with a somewhat flimsier body than Samsung or iPhone equivalents, it still remains a top-tier choice this year.
Pros
- Exceptionally brilliant 200 MP camera - class leading at this price
- Fantastic storage space - just what you'll need for all those snaps
- All-round high performance thanks to the CPU and RAM but also thanks to the Android 13 OS
Cons
- Weaker build quality than competing smartphones
Best gaming phone under £500
The Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone is certainly one of the more powerful smartphones on the market for its price with its 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage - giving you plenty of room for even the most demanding of MOBAs.
Users can enjoy a sensational range of solid technology with the A54 - its 64 MP triple camera being our particular favourite.
You'll never want for any feature, gadget or shiny widget with the A54 - it has truly everything you could want, and plenty more, all for less than £500 - it's one of the best Android phones on the market.
Pros
- Beautiful smooth display thanks to the the 120Hz refresh rate
- Solid cameras - especially the selfie camera at a generous 34MP
- Gorgeous design - iconic Samsung style
Cons
- Weaker battery life than expected
Best OnePlus phone under £500
www.onbuy.com
The OnePlus brand has gone from strength to strength and offers some of the most sought-after smartphones out there. This OnePlus Nord 3 is a typically refined and well-considered smartphone with a modern design and a monster spec when it comes to RAM. 16GB of it means this is one of the best phones here for working memory - added to the 256GB storage and MediaTek processor this will eat games and movies for breakfast.
And on that subject, the screen is a massive 6.7-inch AMOLED running at 120hz - but it's also accompanied by Dolby Atmos speakers. That makes this phone a top choice for enjoying all kinds of entertainment on the move.
Pros
- Beautiful 120hz AMOLED display and Dolby Atmos sound make this a great phone for gaming and entertainment
- Massive 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage means this is powerful and future-proof
- Anti-glare and anti-fingerprint screen keep it looking good
Cons
- You'll find some other phones with better main camera resolution
Best value phone under £500
XiaomiXiaomi's POCO X6 Pro is a favourite among budget phone enthusiasts thanks to its plethora of seemingly impossible specs for its price - a 64MP triple camera, a 120Hz AMOLED screen, and a mighty 30-hour battery life all in one phone under £500. There's even a fingerprint scanner.
Running the ever-brilliant MIUI 14 operating system with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage to boot, Xiaomi's POCO X6 Pro is simply perfect for demanding mobile gaming, as well as casual social media scrolling with ease.
Many budget phones are often limited by both camera and battery life, and yet the Xiaomi POCO X6 Pro doesn't struggle with either. Taking gorgeous photos is quick and painless with the POCO X6's sensational 64MP triple camera, ideal for truly capturing moments as you remember them.
Some of the very best phones under £200 are manufactured by Xiaomi, and while many of their value options are brilliant, you won't find a better deal than the POCO X6 for its price.
Pros
- Fantastic ultra-responsive screen that incorporates a fingerprint scanner for easy login and more
- Solid triple camera with good main camera megapixel count
- Enhanced RAM and storage make for powerful performance from a smartphone under £500
Cons
- Battery life is fairly moderate
Best iPhone under £500
Amazonwww.very.co.uk
For the Apple enthusiast on a budget, behold the Apple iPhone SE, the most affordable iPhone on the market. Under the hood, the iPhone SE has a fantastic array of hardware, such as the terrific A15 Bionic core (as found in the iPhone 14). Browsing as well as gaming on the iPhone SE never falters for a second, it's truly one of the most powerful phones on the market, let alone one of the best phones under £500.
For users with smaller hands who don't enjoy the increasingly larger phones on the market, the iPhone SE's 4.7-inch display shall be a breath of fresh air, and its ultra-lightweight build makes for comfortable one-handed use.
As for its photography, the iPhone SE certainly leaves something to be desired - with a single 12MP camera and a 7 MP selfie camera, there's nothing particularly exciting about the SE's picture-taking abilities.
And yet, besides its slightly lacklustre camera, the iPhone SE manages to retain its excellence as a smartphone with ease, we simply cannot help but recommend it.
Pros
- An incredibly affordable iPhone - perfect for iOS and Apple fans
- Excellent A15 Bionic Chip for unrivalled performance - it's one of the best here
- Legendary Apple design and build quality
Cons
- Weaker camera against other Apple devices
- Battery life is less than some others here
Best foldable phone under £500
Folding phones are finally coming of age, with durable build quality and all the features you'd expect from a modern smartphone. This Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 has some great features that make the best of the foldable form factor. Firstly, it's genuinely compact when folded at just over 4 inches. Secondly, there's a Cover Screen on the outside - it's AMOLED and gives you essential info without needing to unfold the phone.
Once unfolded though, you'll see a 6.7-inch AMOLED display running at a smooth 120hz. Throw in water resistance, a hands-free selfie camera and a stunning design and you have a real head-turner of a phone.
Pros
- The foldable screen makes this a compact yet fully-sized smartphone
- The extra AMOLED screen on the outside when the phone is folded is a neat and useful addition
- Water-resistant and strong aluminium build
Cons
- Battery life is a little shorter than some
Best Oppo phone under £500
In our review of the Oppo Find X5 Pro we found the more expensive Pro model to be extremely well built and specced. But thankfully, this standard model seems to have inherited many of the Pro features that made the Oppo Find X5 stand out. The display is a stunner - running at 120hz and AMOLED for deep blacks and rich accurate colours.
Using this phone for nighttime photography or video is a dream, thanks to specially developed sensor tech - in association with Hasselblad. Just in terms of megapixel count - yes, you'll find better, but the overall package here offers a slim and refined smartphone with 4K video capabilities that handle low light very well. If you're all about flexibility with your shooting when it comes to light, this is a great choice.
Pros
- The camera was developed with Hasselblad and includes natural colours and amazing night shots
- 4K video capability including excellent night performance
- A huge AMOLED screen running at 120hz makes using this for video or photos a joy
Cons
- Despite amazing tech specs and lenses, you'll find phones with higher megapixel counts
Best phones under £500 in 2024: Buyer's guide
Stick to your budget
Compared to the latest and greatest smartphones on the market, a budget smartphone will of course be lacking some of the high-end features. But you'll still find excellent functionality on a phone under £500 that might only be one generation older than the newest. Being on a budget is a good thing here, as you can take the time to list the features you use the most first, and then list the ones you enjoy the most.
After that, despite being very tempting, the lavish features that attract a premium price tag can just be left behind. This will keep your budget on track.
Spend your money on the features you need
Having listed what you might want to do with your new phone, you'll quickly find phones with a plethora of other features that sound brilliant. But, pay attention to the key feature that brought you there in the first place. The last thing you'll want to do is invest in a phone with a lot of useful extras only to find that they've cut a few corners elsewhere. So, if you're into photography, look after those lens and sensor specs. If you're into lots of games and apps, make sure you have plenty of storage (or an expandable storage slot for a memory card - a feature seen on most Android smartphones) and so on.
Invest in a case and screen protector
It's easy to forget that screen protectors, cases and new charge cables all add up, so leave room in your budget for them. This is especially true if you go for tough long-lasting accessories to protect your shiny new handset. Otherwise, your new phone under £500 could end up with a smashed screen or worse in no time.
Best phones under £500 in 2024: FAQs
What's the best budget phone brand?
There are hundreds of incredible phone brands with a multitude of features to offer, but only a few select brands are worth truly investing your money in. From our particularly exclusive list.
Samsung has consistently blown us away with its range of top-tier phones - from the ultra-high-end flagship S23 Ultra to the humble A54 which still remains remarkable, but there's plenty of room for other brands in the limelight.
HONOR, Xiaomi and Google in particular have been crushing the budget phone market with increasingly competitive mindblowing technology for a few years now, and with competition rising, budget phones are bound only to get better, so buckle up.
Are phones under £500 worth it?
Phones under £500 are most certainly worth it, and with our selection of great smartphones, the proof is in the pudding. These mid-budget phones have very little difference in performance from the flagship phones of the year, so there's no wonder why people are switching to them in droves.
What's a good amount of RAM for a phone?
Most smartphones simply don't have much RAM, they're usually around 4-6GB in general, and for a smartphone - that's an absolutely fine amount. Many of our picks, however, have up to 8GB of RAM, which is nothing if not phenomenal.
An 8GB phone will decimate any online multiplayer games, social media and more without breaking a sweat, so if performance is your priority - our picks certainly shall not disappoint.
Ryan Houghton is a commercial content writer for What’s The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.
Diligently writing for What’s The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasn’t had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if it’s nerdy, he’ll be there. His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at What’s The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup. In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.
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