Best Budget Smart Phone 2021

Buying a cheap smartphone no longer means losing out on all of the latest features and performance. We review and rank the best budget phones available right now.

Which is the best smartphone under $250/$300?
  • 1 Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC
  • 6 Motorola Moto E6s
  • 2 Realme 7
  • 7 Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
  • 3 Realme 6
  • 8 Xiaomi Redmi 9
  • 4 Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
  • 9 Samsung Galaxy M31
  • 5 Oppo A9 2020
  • 10 Oppo A53

Jump straight to our full best budget phone list

Flagship phones are more expensive than ever but as the high-end gets better, so too does the budget market. It's possible to buy a new handset under £250 and still get a phone capable of handling everything you throw at it.

There's even the odd handset here under £100, which might be perfect if all you need is the ability to make and receive WhatsApp calls; currently not available on most basic feature/keypad phones.

The best budget phones are also more attractive in the long-term thanks to cheaper contract prices, though you might prefer to buy these smartphones outright and then pay only for your minutes, texts and data, if you can swing it.

This is also the area where most people in full-time education will be shopping. Whether you're a parent looking for your child's first smartphone, or looking for an upgrade before you leave for uni, check out our student-specific buying advice below the chart. If value-for-money is your number-one priority, you won't find a more useful list of budget phones elsewhere. We've tested, rated and ranked the best cheap phones from the likes of Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola and many others. Alongside our reviews, you'll also find expert buying advice to help decide whether a particular cheap phone really is the bargain it claims to be.


The 9 Best Budget Smartphones for Under $300 in 2021

  • Best Overall: Motorola Moto G Power at Best Buy. ...
  • Best Design: Nokia 7.2 at Amazon. ...
  • Best Google: Google Pixel 4a at Amazon. ...
  • Best Value: Samsung Galaxy A50 at Amazon. ...
  • Best Unlocked: Motorola Moto G Stylus at Amazon. ...
  • Best with Stylus: LG Stylo 6 at Amazon. ...
  • Best Ultra-Budget: LG K51 at Amazon. ...
  • Best Mid-Range: Nokia 7.1 at Amazon.