The best budget phones [Updated]
Smartphones are all the rage but the top models can come with an eye watering price tag. So here’s our round-up of the best smartphones that you can buy for less than £150.
What is a budget smartphone?
Budget smartphones can connect to the internet, run apps and perform the basic feature phone tasks such as playing media and taking photos. You can now pick up a decent model for around £150, or free on a contract for under £15 a month (with a free handset).
Thanks to this wallet-friendly price tag there’s plenty of competition in the budget phones market, so cast your eyes below for our guide to the best cheap phones worth owning.
For more information read our guide to choosing the best smartphone.
The best cheap smartphones
Nokia Lumia 610
This is the cheapest Windows Phone (WP) that we’ve seen. While the WP operating system might not be as well known as Android or iOS, it’s easy to use with large tiles that display live information, such as incoming messages.
The 3.7-inch screen is a reasonable size for the price (around £100) and though its resolution can’t match that of premium phones, videos and webpages still look sharp.
It doesn’t have the same choice of apps as Android or iPhone and you can’t upgrade the OS to the newer WP8.
For more information read our Nokia Lumia 610 review.
Sony Xperia U
This Sony smartphone costs around £120 on a pay as you go deal. It runs the Android operating system (version 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich) so you get Google Maps, multiple homescreens and downloadable apps.
The 3.5-inch touchscreen is crisp and there’s a decent 5Mp camera.
The Xperia U has a 4GB internal memory but there’s no card slot – once you’ve filled it with your favourite app and photos you’ll be stuck.
For more information read our Sony Xperia U review.
Sony Xperia Tipo
The Tipo is the cheapest smartphone in Sony’s Xperia range, costing around £80 . It’s also the smallest, weighing less than 100g, and has a pebble-like shape so it sits nicely in your hand.
It’s another Android 4.0 phone (impressive for such a cheap model) and so comes with all the usual Android features.
The Tipo has a compact 3.2-inch touchscreen but Sony doesn’t supply headphones with it so if you want to listen to the music player or FM radio you’ll need your own set.
For more information read our Sony Xperia Tipo review.
LG Optimus L3
One of the cheapest smartphones around, the L3 offers the Android Gingerbread operating system for a bargain basement price of just £45.
However LG have had to make some compromises to make such a cheap smartphone – the small 3.2-inch screen and basic features mean it can’t compete with more expensive models. And like the Sony Xperia Tipo, it doesn’t even come with a set of headphones.
Find out how it performed in our LG Optimus L3 review
- Choosing the best smartphone – advice on getting the right model for you
- Mobile phone reviews - find out which handsets scored highest in our tests
- How we test mobile phones - find out what it takes to become a Best Buy
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lisa thomas
I just recently upgraded to the HTC wildfire and I love it. It has all the features of most of the more expensive handsets on the market, such as a 5mp camera with flash, 3g and wifi, Android market etc, for a fraction of the price. And it fits in your pocket – unlike some of the bigger smartphones on the market. A good all round phone.
Martin Thain
My eldest grandson started work about 2 months ago and with his first wages treated himself to a Samsung Galaxy from Carphone Warehouse with unlimited internet access at a monthly cost of, I believe, £12.50. He placed a monthly cut off limit of £50 on the contract. However his phone was disconnected when charges reached £80 within about 3 weeks. It appears that the phone was connected permanently to the internet and email, the following being switched on – Auto synch, running background data applications, Send or received data at anytime. The phone is now back on and the pain reduced by contributions from his parents and my wife and self but it would have been unnecessary if the Carphone Warehouse assistant had pointed this out in the first place.
Tim@Which?
Hi Martin,
That’s very sad to hear, and unfortunately not an uncommon problem.
If you think your grandson was mis-sold the contract check out our advice page on your mobile rights here: http://www.which.co.uk/mobile/advice-and-support/dealing-with-mobile-phone-problems/your-mobile-phone-rights/
Karl
All modern smartphones use data nearly continuously. I always stress to people that not having a data package with their contract is a false saving, but it is easy to end up without one. The scandalous cost of per-MB data from providers means that even a small amount of data can be very expensive.
However, I’m puzzled because you say it had unlimited internet access; this would mean that internet, synchronisation, emails, etc would cost nothing. I’m also amazed that any unlimited internet package would be as cheap as £12.50pm. My feeling is that the original package DID NOT have internet access and that the cost resulted from data charges?
BTF
I upgraded my T-mobile contract nearly 2 weeks ago – I was told it was the best deal available for £10 – 300 minutes to any network and 300 texts per month with flexible booster – free internet or free local calls or free T-mobile to T-mobile calls. I actually wanted more minutes to all networks and local calls and possibly more texts. Any advice of who to switch to?
Christopher@Which?
Hi BTF,
You can use Which? Mobile to tailor your deals results to the specifications you’re after by using the sliders on the right side of the page. Just click on the contract/sim only/payg/ tabs at the top of this page and take a look.
From what I can see in our sim-only section (http://www.which.co.uk/mobile/deals/simonly/) – 3 do a deal that gives you 300 mins, 3000 texts, and 1GB internet for £10. So that’s more texts than you currently have.
However, I would say that for £10 per month 300 mins/300 texts and ‘unlimited internet’ is actually pretty good :).
mrssavvy
hi, BTF,,i could not get that deal,,when were u offered that? that’s fab!!
Katie B
I upgraded my Nokia phone to the Samsung Galaxy last November. Last week I put it down on the table cloth of a restaurant which was a little damp. From there on my phone refused to acknowledge my SIM card. I returned it to Vodaphone who sent it back to me with a note that some damp has partly destroyed the SIM card slot and they were unable to repair it. I was never warned when I purchased the phone that it was so fragile and sensitive it could easily be damaged beyond repair. It does say on ‘page 121′ of the manual in extremely small print, keep away from water. The phone is hardly three months old, there is no warranty and Vodaphone never suggested Insurance cover. So well done Samsung, I now have a useless phone that I will have to continuing paying for over the next 16 months until the termination of my agreement.
Christopher@Which?
Hi Katie,
You should try again to get your phone replaced by Vodafone. You can argue that the phone was not fit for purpose/of satisfactory quality, and so you have a right to get it repaired or replaced under the Sales of Goods Act.
However, this depends on the details – i.e. how damp was the cloth, how long was it left for. It’s reasonable to expect a phone to be able to cope with a few drops of rain, less reasonable that it should be survive in a glass of water.
Your situation seems to be somewhere in-between. But based on what you’ve told us, it is worth arguing with Vodafone to get a replacement (if you can someone from a local mobile phone repair shop, or someone from Samsung, to tell you that the phone should be able to cope with the level of water exposure that took place, then it could make all the difference).
You weren’t shown the manual before you bought the phone, so the warning about water contact wasn’t an express term of the contract with the retailer – so that shouldn’t affect your complaint.
Hope that helps.
Bazinga!
its in small print because they assume that you should know about electric gadgets + water = gubbed…
sandara sherridon
Think you will find its vodaphone who are also at fault with this one. I had been with them for 4 years and my latest phone was only 3 months old. It stopped working whilst I was on holiday (refused to turn on at all) when sent back via vodaphone shop I was told that it had been subject to dampness and this could have been caused if I used it when I had wet hair. I pointed out that it was the seal that had obviously been faulty (I used to work for a company that applied the seals to phone chassis). Refused to leave the shop until they had given me a replacement phone (amazing how generous they can be when customers are walking out of the shop because of an unhappy existing customer).
Helen Santry
Sorry to hear about Kattie B problem with the damp tablecloth. Mr husband has a Nokia KF300 which went through a full wash cycle in our washing machine in the pocket of he trousers.The phone was on and in the process received 2 text messages ! It suffered no ill effects at all and is still working 18mth later. So full marks to LG.
Neil2727
Samsung Jet – Cracking little phone. Camera is absolutel superb used outdoors but not good indoors. I dont like their PC Studio software and just drag n drop which works okay.
The screen is very good and I have several movies on it all the time and playback is excellent. Battery life is not good & needs charging every day. It supports Java apps so some available but not many.
Best feature is its size. Small enough to keep in trouser pocket with being obtrusive. I’m getting a tab soon but will keep the phone anyway.
Ben
I have a Samsung Jet for some time, the touchscreen is awful, but while I wouldn’t recommend the phone there is a good MP3 player and radio and phone reception volume is good, but for texting it’s rubbbish due to poor touchscreen. Hopeing the Galaxy S is better.
Anne13
I bought the Samsung S Gallaxy and it started haemoraging money then one day it just wouldn’t work and I brought it to the shop and they said moisture problems!!!! My Samsung Toco has fallen down a loo, a swimming pool, I blowed it dry with a hair dryer and it worked perfectly. It cost me nearly €500 and Vodafones attitude is tough but I am very glad to see other people had the same problem and they will do a re call. Fingers croxxed!!
Charm Henry
I think Samsung phones are really durable. My old one was a Samsung and I had it for 6 years. I found a site that recycles phones and I am happy I traded it to them. I even got extra . Thanks for sharing!
Pete
What about the orange monte carlo / zte skate?
Ray Hogwood
Is it possible to use a Smart Phone as a router to my laptop ( Tethering ) and what are the implications ?
Karl
It is certainly possible (if you haver a tethering-enabled OS, such as Android), but beware of the usage. Few packages are unlimited – most are 500MB/month, which can be used up in hours on a laptop.
Karl
Oops – I should have said “recent android”, e.g. ICS/4.0+ Old versions did not have it, which includes some of the phones above. (Check reviews)
Jaak Dymova
The besy way to find the right smartphone to suit your needs is to do side by side reviews. Every mobile phone has its pros and cons. You will find everything you are looking for to buy the right smartphone’s here.
mk
Sorry…
Useless test if the xperia u was not part of the test!!!!!
Steve Costello
Bricked my Android starter phone LG Optimus Me and brought a Huawei Ascend G300 from Vodafone for £100 plus £10 pay as you go credit. Cost £6 to unlock for use on the Three network.
Comes with Android 2.3 (but an upgrade to 4.0 (ICS) is due shortly), a 1 GHz cpu and a 4” screen, for the money I doubt if you can get better. I have seen it compared to 2011 HTC models
Steve
I went fir the HTC Wildfire a couple of years ago (not the wildfire S) and I loved it! Then it started to get horrifically slow to the point where it was quicker to switch my desktop on to search for something. I had to hard-reset it every few months to keep fast enough for me. After a year i ditched it for a Samsung Omnia 7 when they were selling them off and love it. I would recommend windows phone to anyone looking fir a budget phone, they just don’t slow down and work as expected with very little Basle and no need fir app killers etc :-)
mrrog
Another staggeringly bad review from which, the orange monte carlo is the standout audriid smartphone for under 150 quid, 119.99 actually, but not even mentioned in the review, what am I ( we) paying for?
Tim Gee
We have reviewed the Monte Carlo http://www.which.co.uk/technology/phones/reviews/mobile-phones/orange-monte-carlo/review/ and we were impressed with the handset, especially for the price. But some of these phones performed better in its price range.
S
I am slightly disappointed to see you recommend HTC phones. I bought a top flight HTC Desire HD two years ago at considerable cost, and have been eagerly awaiting the promised Android ICS upgrade. (ICS was released over a year ago!) After repeatedly telling customers that the upgrade was imminent, (most recently at the end of May 2012), HTC finally admitted last week that the upgrade was being cancelled. And this was only a few DAYS after denying a report from a Canadian network that the upgrade was cancelled.
HTC argue that the upgrade would not provide the best experience for users, but technical publications argue that the processor speed and memory size of the Desire HD is more than adequate for ICS.
This failure of HTC to be honest with its customers regarding the ICS upgrade in my view reflects an appalling contempt for their customers. I have sent HTC a message informing them that I will never buy one of their products again as a consequence of their actions over the ICS upgrade for the Desire HD phone.
So if you are considering buying an HTC phone, you may want to take this cautionary tale into consideration.
S
Chris
They have done you a favour! I have an HTC Incredible S and it was updated to ICS about a month ago. That changed it from a pleasure to use to a pain in @ss, it’s now lagggy and sluggish and several of my app no longer work properly.
emma@emma-levine.com
Some basic advice needed please: I’d like to buy a simple sim-free smartphone – just to last me until my contract is renewed in April and I can get an upgrade. Any idea where to start? Refurbished is fine. Never owned a smartphone before! thanks
Sam
I am looking at a HTC Desire C or Samsung Ace on a contract with 100 minutes, 5000 texts and ” All you can eat data ”
First venture into smart phones. I am not a big mobile user but looking to access emails on the go.
Any comment on the ” All you can eat data “
Jim
If in the Uk have a look at Giffgaff sims and packages – unlimited truly does mean unlimited
rob Poole
Why does this section start with comments 3 year old and now largely irrelevant?
dpoet
I bought a Nokia Lumia 800, £149 PAYG. It’s just been updated to windows phone 7.8 and it’s a fast very usable phone, not as many apps as android, but none of the rogue apps/ viruses either. My daughter has the Lumia 610 and she loves it.
Azharul Islam
Could somebody help me! I am looking for a HTC under £100 in the 4.1 OS version
Beryl
I just upgraded to a Samsung galaxy Ace and am having real trouble answering calls. I am trying to find out if this is a common fault (poor screen sensitivity) and whether I should just exchange for the same phone or get a different one. Would appreciate some advice.
Michael Oldman
It is all very well having 3G or 4G, but there are places where you can’t even get 2G!
I have an HTC Wildfire (Don’t buy one – it keeps running out of memory with only one mail app loaded). In a residential area 15 miles from London, there is no signal on O2 95% of the time, but someone else with Orange and the same phone gets a signal. The signal map for O2 says it is ok for that postcode – it isn’t, they are telling porkies! However down in Dorset O2 is ok almost everywhere, but Orange struggles in some places.
I say forget rolling out 4G until 2G has been sorted out!
nadia
I have the LG Prada. its cheap, fast, loks good, has an ok camera, android, and hardly ever freezez. the only thing i can say bad about it is the short battery life but other then that im really. impressed. also no one knows it hardly so no one knows how cheap it is :p go check it out!