In the digital age we live in, having one of the best phones is almost essential, but what if you want to keep it under £300 or so? However, with the
and Samsung devices often costing eye-watering amounts that near £1000, it can be pretty hard to justify getting a high-end smartphone.
Luckily, there are plenty of cheap alternatives that still give you all the features you need, just for a lower price.
Taking into account the price, screen, camera, power, storage and overall aesthetic, we've selected our best phones available in 2021 for under £300.
Best cheap iPhone: Apple iPhone XR 64GB (Renewed)
Apple's iPhone devices tend to be pretty expensive, and for good reason.
If you're willing to pick up a renewed iPhone - an easy way to stretch that budget even further -you could pick up the iPhone XR for just £266.99. Amazon's renewed devices are in incredible condition, having to go through professional inspection and testing from its certified suppliers.
Featuring a 6.1-inch 'Liquid Retina' screen, the XR is among the most advanced LCD displays on the market, even three years after its release.
The iPhone XR's 12-megapixel lens is similarly impressive, especially given it uses a single-lens. Its light sensor is 32% larger than the iPhone X, allowing for crisper photos even under poor lighting.
The 7nm A12 Bionic chip is a huge improvement on the iPhone X's A11 chip, giving users better battery life, faster graphics and overall improved performance - along with wireless charging.
Best cheap 5G phone: Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G
With 5G beginning to roll out in major towns and cities, 5G-support is becoming a must-have for any top phones.
While commonly seen as a premium feature, there are still several cheap phones that support 5G. Our top pick is the Mi 10T Lite.
Featuring a 6.67-inch FHD display that can run at 120Hz, this Xiaomi phone delivers stunning images. Its Octo-Core CPU and Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G, ensures that whether you're playing games or streaming films, everything will run seamlessly.
The 10T Lite also includes a powerful 4820mAh battery designed to maximise power usage for longer battery life. Even after draining its battery, the phone charges up to 100% in just one hour thanks to 33W fast charging.
If you're wanting a good camera, the Mi 10T Lite comes with this, too. Its 64MP AI quad-camera can capture ultra-wide photos in amazing quality.
The best battery life: Moto G9 Power
One of the most frustrating elements of owning an older mobile is the battery life.
If you want a device that will not die on you half-way through the day, we'd recommend the Moto G9 Power. With a 6000 mAh battery, it can last up to 60 hours on a single charge.
Alongside this, it features a 64 MP rear camera, 4GB RAM through its Qualcomm Snapdragon GPU, and an HD+ 6.8-inch display.
For just £156.99, it's an absolute steal.
Best All-Round cheap phone: Xiaomi POCO X3 NFC
The POCO X3 NFC is yet another fantastic Xiaomi device you can get for pretty cheap.
Featuring an Octa-Core CPU and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, there's little this device won't be able to handle.
Its 6.67-inch 120Hz display is something you'd expect to find on a premium phone, and it's frankly astounding such a phone costs £200.
Alongside its power, the POCO X3 boasts a 64MP camera for clear, crisp photos and a 5160mAh battery for prolonged usage and fast charging.
If you want a great phone for cheap, it's hard to go wrong with the POCO X3 NFC.
Best cheap gaming phone: Realme X50 5G
Mobile gaming has come a long way since the days of
Doodle Jump
and
Fruit Ninja
. Mobile devices now support some of the most popular games on console and PC, including
Fortnite
and
PUBG
.
If you're looking for a phone that can run the best mobile games, we'd recommend Realme's X50 5G. Featuring 6GB of RAM through the Snapdragon 765G, this phone will give you enough power for any mobile game. The X50's liquid cooling system will also ensure your device remains efficient even when playing demanding games.
The X50 also displays games in a crisp 120Hz LED display, and utilises Dolby Atmos audio for an immersive audio experience.
Alongside this, the X50 supports 5G, allowing you to get superfast connections needed to stream games through xCloud or Stadia, for example.
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