The best budget smartphone

Get a new smartphone without breaking the bank.

The best budget smartphone

by Isabel Martins |
Updated on

With practically everyone having a smartphone these days, it's no wonder they've become a basic necessity. That being said, they are usually expensive, especially the newer models that boast impressive cameras and crisp displays. That being said, if you don't mind compromising a little bit on the features, you can bag yourself an excellent budget smartphone.

With the help of our best budget smartphones guide, you can find the ideal smartphone for you whilst staying within a spending limit - most of the devices on our best budget smartphones roundup are under £200. We've also included a range of brands, so if you prefer one brand over another, we've got you covered.

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The best budget smartphones

Without a doubt this is the best budget smartphone out there! For just a little over £200, you're getting a great display superb battery life and a powerful performance due to its Snapdragon 732G chipset.

Pros

  • 120Hz display
  • Good camera system

Cons

  • Slightly heavy - not the most lightweight of devices
Camera:Rear camera system 64MP + 13MP + 2MP + 2MP, front camera 20MP
Battery:5,160mAh
Storage:64GB/128GB
Resolution:2400 x 1080 pixels

Moto G9 Power (6.8" Max Vision HD+, Qualcomm Snapdragon, 64MP Triple Camera System, 6000 mAH Battery, Dual SIM, 4/128GB, Android 10), Metallic Sage
Price: £495.00

A close contender for the title of the best budget smartphone is the Moto G9 Power. It boasts an impressive battery, a good camera, and 128GB of storage all for under £200!

Pros

  • Impressive long-lasting battery life
  • Good camera

Cons

  • Performance can be a bit slow
Camera:Rear camera 64MP + 2MP + 2MP, front camera 16MP
Battery:6,000mAh
Storage:128GB
Resolution:720 x 1640 pixels

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S 4G 6GB RAM 128GB DS Interstellar Gray EUAmazon
Price: £425.00
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An excellent choice, this smartphone packs a powerful battery and splendid performance. You're also getting quite a bit of storage space. This is ideal for anyone who wants to save some money without much compromise on the camera features.

Pros

  • Remarkable battery life
  • Impressive camera

Cons

  • 60Hz display is average
Camera:Rear camera 48MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP, front camera 16MP
Battery:5,020mAh
Storage:64GB / 128GB
Resolution:2400 x 1080 pixels

If you're looking for a smartphone that provides a strong performance and boasts a long-lasting battery life then look no further than the Motorola Moto G8. For just a bit over £100 this is one of the best budget smartphones right now. However, it only has a 720p display, meaning it is unable to display in HD.

Pros

  • Superb battery life

Cons

  • 720p display
  • Average camera system
Camera:Rear 16MP + 8MP + 2MP, front 8MP
Battery:4,000mAh
Storage:64GB
Resolution:560 x 720 pixels

This smartphone is a great choice for anyone who wants to minimize their spending. The price tag is a little over £100, and this gets you quite a great battery life and decent performance! You're also getting plenty of storage space.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Splendid battery life

Cons

  • Low camera quality
Camera:Rear camera 12MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP, front camera 8MP
Battery:5,000 mAh
Storage:64GB/128GB
Resolution:1600 x 720 pixels

FAQS:

What is the best camera?

The camera quality will depend on how many megapixels or MP the device has. The larger the megapixel count, the sharper and clearer the images will be, so if the camera quality is important to you, make sure you choose a smartphone with a larger megapixel count. If you're specifically looking for a great camera system but want to stay within budget, we advise you to get the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC.

What is the best resolution?

The screen resolution shows how many pixels are on the screen. The higher the number of pixels, the clearer, sharper and better the images are displayed on the device. If you will be using your smartphone for watching series or videos, we recommend going for a higher screen resolution - such as the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC or the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S.

Isabel Martins is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, specialising in technology.

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