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The best phones under £500 in the UK

Save yourself a nice stack of cash without sacrificing too much in the way of performance.
By
March 13, 2023
OnePlus Nord CE 2
By OnePlus
6
Check price
Positives
Fast 60W charging
Improved build quality
Steady performance
Negatives
Secondary cameras fail to impress
No stereo speakers
HDR compatibility issues
The Bottom Line.
Rapid charging and a decent main camera can't hide the fact that the Nord CE 2 is another uninspired budget smartphone from OnePlus amongst a sea of better alternatives.Read full review...
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
By Samsung
7
Check price
Positives
Solid build quality
Speedy performance
Very good battery life
Good software and upgrade commitment
Negatives
Camera outgunned by alternatives
Priced too high
The Bottom Line.
Samsung has churned out a fine piece of hardware in the Galaxy S21 FE. It's got a nice screen, strong battery life, and speedy performance. Too bad it's overpriced compared to its predecessor and better value alternatives, including Samsung's own Galaxy S22 family.Read full review...
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
By Apple
6
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Positives
A15 Bionic chipset
Touch ID
Improved battery life
Negatives
Extremely dated design
Cramped, low-res display
Inflexible camera
The Bottom Line.
The iPhone SE (2022) is still the most affordable way to pick up an iPhone, but it's really showing its age. It's as powerful as some of the very best phones around, but the lone camera, tiny low-res display, and stingy storage hold it back like a super-charged motorbike strapped to a pair of training wheels.Read full review...
Poco X5 Pro
By Poco
8
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Positives
Slim and light design
Great main camera
Long battery life
High-quality screen
Powerful chip for the price
Negatives
Poor secondary cameras
Plenty of bloatware
Ships with Android 12
No update commitment
The Bottom Line.
The Poco X5 Pro fixes the most glaring weaknesses of its predecessor but otherwise sticks to a relatively successful formula. While Poco still needs to up its software game, the Poco X5 Pro is a reasonably well-rounded budget phone that ticks loads of boxes for the price.Read full review...
Realme GT3
By Realme
Check price
Positives
240W charging
Large display
Good value
Tap anywhere NFC
Negatives
Limited availability
Older processor
The Bottom Line.
The Realme GT 3 is a powerful Android phone that reaches the peak of charging speeds for USB Type-C. At 240W, you can get a full charge in under ten minutes, then take that 6.74-inch 144hz OLED display and triple camera setup on the road.
Google Pixel 6a
By Google
8
Check price
Positives
Powerful Tensor chip
Easy to use in one hand
Excellent image processing
Great software
Long-term update commitment
Negatives
Worse than average battery life
Slow charging
Only 60Hz display
Tensor runs hot
The Bottom Line.
The Google Pixel 6a follows the traditional affordability strategy, but steps things up by offering the same SoC as the Pro phone. The ability to get the latest Google Pixel features in a more affordable platform is appealing.Read full review...
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
By Samsung
8
Check price
Positives
Large, crisp, fluid display
Long-lasting battery life
Flexible camera setup
Negatives
Middling processor
No 4K 60fps video recording
The Bottom Line.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G takes the best parts of its predecessor and (mostly) improves on them, while also lowering the price tag. It's not perfect, but Samsung also didn't fix what wasn't broken, and the superb update commitment means this affordable phone will stay current long after others have retired.Read full review...
Nothing Phone 1
By Nothing
8
Check price
Positives
Pinpoint ergonomics and haptics
Fluid flexible OLED display
Decent main camera
Negatives
Anemic software
Middling battery life
Poor ultrawide camera
The Bottom Line.
Nothing's debut Android smartphone effortlessly competes with the best budget phones at the first time of asking.Read full review...

There are a lot of great phones on UK store shelves today, but many either cost £800 or more to buy outright or are tied to expensive two-year contracts. That might be a way to get hold of the latest and greatest, but it’s certainly not for everyone. These days, you don’t have to spend a fortune to pick up a great handset. Here are the best phones under £500 in the UK!

Read more: Where to buy phones in the UK | The best UK mobile network

The best phones under £500:

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best phones under £500 regularly as new mid-range devices launch.


OnePlus Nord CE 2

OnePlus Nord 2 CE review back of the phone 1
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

OnePlus is back in the affordable smartphone game with its Nord CE 2. At £299 MSRP, this device is significantly cheaper than the brand’s flagships and brings OxygenOS to mid-range hardware. This is among the latest devices from OnePlus to feature a mid-range chip, and it’s gone with the MediaTek Dimensity 900. Not only does this give the phone good performance, but also 5G capabilities.

The OnePlus Nord CE 2 comes with a silky smooth 6.43-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, a total of four cameras, up to 8GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, a 4,500mAh battery, and 65W Warp Charging.

The cameras aren’t perfect, but the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is a great competitor in the ever-fierce mid-range space and can keep a headphone jack around for another year, along with true dual-SIM support and a microSD slot.

$144.99 at Amazon
OnePlus Nord CE 2
Fast 60W charging • Capable primary camera • Steady performance
See review
See review

OnePlus Nord CE 2 specs:

  • Display: 6.43-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Dimensity 900
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 64, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,500mAh
  • Software: Android 11

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE right rear profile near rocks
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

While the Galaxy S21 FE wasn’t the smash hit that its predecessor was, it’s still a good phone. It carries a Snapdragon 888 chipset, which means you can tap into 5G speeds. With 6 or 8GB of RAM, it doesn’t pack the same power as the Galaxy S21, S22, or the newer S23, though you should still be able to work through most tasks. Samsung tapped a trio of rear cameras, topped off with 12MP wide and 12MP ultrawide options.

The Galaxy S21 FE isn't as big of a hit as its predecessor, but there's still a lot to like.

Another great reason to check out the Galaxy S21 FE is Samsung’s One UI. The days of TouchWiz are long gone, and One UI is one of our favorite Android skins — flaws and all. Right now, you can pick up the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE for just under £500 in the UK.

$699.99 at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Above-average display • Great battery life • Speedy performance
See review
See review

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 4,500mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

iPhone SE rear showing camera with a green plant in the foreground
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

This is an Android-focused website, but save your pitchforks for a bit and open your mind. If you’re looking for a mid-tier smartphone at a good price under £500 in the UK, the 2022 version of the iPhone SE should definitely be on your list of options.

The design may be a bit outdated, following the iPhone 8 look, but this is still a great phone for most casual users, especially those who happen to like iPhones. And despite being the cheapest modern iOS handset, it comes with a surprising amount of power.

For starters, it comes with an Apple A15 Bionic, which is the same chip you’ll find in the iPhone 13 series and the non-Pro versions of the iPhone 14. Other specs include 4GB of RAM, at least 128GB of storage, and a smaller 4.7-inch Retina display. It only has a single camera, but it’s a pretty good one. Overall, it’s the best iPhone you can get at a lower price.

$314.99 at Amazon
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Guaranteed long-term software updates • Improved battery life • Powerful A15 Bionic chipset
See review
MSRP
SAVE
$314.99
$114.01
See review

iPhone SE (2022) specs:

  • Display: 4.7-inch, 1,334 x 750
  • SoC: Apple A15 Bionic
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64/128/256GB
  • Cameras: 12MP
  • Front camera: 7MP
  • Battery: 2,018mAh
  • Software: iOS 15.4

POCO X5 Pro

POCO X5 Pro face down on ledge resized - Best phones under £500
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

POCO is all about providing the most bang per buck, so it’s not surprising to see one of its handsets make it to this list of the best phones under £500 in the UK. Our favorite pick is the POCO X5 Pro.

In our POCO X5 Pro review we mention a few downsides, like poor secondary cameras, an abundance of bloatware, and the fact that it only comes with Android 12 out of the box. Despite these complains, there is plenty to like here. Aesthetics are very nice, featuring a slim and light body. The main camera is also pretty good, and you get a lot of battery life thanks to the 5,000mAh battery.

Other things that make it stand out are the nice 6.67-inch 120HZ display and a good Snapdragon 778G processor. These are plenty good for what you’re paying, and we’re sure many of you will enjoy this device.

$415.00 at Amazon
Poco X5 Pro
Great main camera • Long battery life • Powerful for the price
See review
See review

POCO X5 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 778G
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 108, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Realme GT3

Realme GT3 standing back white
Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Realme’s latest launch, the GT3 is still hot off the presses. So hot that you can’t get it in all markets yet. However, we’re expecting the device, which costs around $650, to come in at just under £500 in the UK.

It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset and offers several configurations that reach as high as 16GB of RAM — though you won’t get that type of memory for under £500. You’ll also get a solid 4,600mAh battery with blistering 240W wired charging and updated Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity standards.

There’s always a chance that the Realme GT3 will arrive and bust our budget, in which case we’ll swap it out and hope for a price drop in the future.

$649.00 at Realme
Realme GT3
240W charging • Large display • Good value

Realme GT3 specs:

  • Display: 6.74-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
  • RAM: 8/12/16GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB
  • Cameras: 50, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,600mAh
  • Software: Android 13

Google Pixel 6a

google pixel 6a home screen - Best phones under £500
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Google’s Pixel A series has long been among the best affordable phones, and it’s getting a solid boost this time around. The Pixel 6a inches closer to true flagship power, and it’s easily one of the best phones under £500 in the UK. Sure, it cuts a few corners to keep the price down, but there’s not much missing from the total package.

The Pixel 6a sports a 6.1-inch Full HD+ display that’s vibrant as ever, and it pairs nicely with the Sage, Chalk, or Charcoal back panels. Under the hood, you’ll find 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and Google’s own Tensor chip for the first time at this price point. It adds some punch to the image processing capabilities, as well as boosts the overall power beyond the previous Snapdragon offerings.

On the back, you’ll find a camera bar design topped off by a familiar duo. The 12.2MP primary camera is the same one that Pixel fans have known and loved since the Pixel 3, and the 12MP ultrawide is in the mix for good measure. You can always read more about the phone in our Pixel 6a full review, but we can tell you right now that it’s close to the best you can get at a lower price.

$299.00 at Amazon
Google Pixel 6a
Powerful Tensor chip • Excellent cameras • Great software
See review
MSRP
SAVE
$299.00
$150.00
See review

Google Pixel 6a specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Google Tensor
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 1286GB
  • Camera: 12.2 and 2MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4,410mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Samsung Galaxy A53

samsung galaxy a53 back panel - Best phones under £500
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Galaxy A53 5G

Samsung brings up the rear of our list with its Galaxy A53 5G. There’s a lot to like about the phone. Along with a quad-camera array, a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, and a sizable 5,000mAh battery is 5G connectivity, 25W fast charging, and microSD expansion. Samsung’s OneUI 4 makes an appearance on this phone, running on top of Android 12.

The Galaxy A53 5G is styled as a perfect companion to the S22 family.

If aesthetics are your thing, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G doesn’t disappoint. It has thin bezels all around and a centered punch hole at the top. It also comes in a myriad of “Awesome” colors: Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Blue, and Awesome Peach.

The Galaxy A53 5G is a solid option if you want a cool-looking, 5G-capable smartphone for under £500 in the UK. It offers an in-house Exynos 1280 processor and 128GB of storage right out of the box.

$399.00 at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Large, crisp, fluid display • Great battery life • 4 years of OS updates
See review
MSRP
SAVE
$399.00
$50.99
See review

Samsung Galaxy A53 specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Exynos 1280
  • RAM: 4/6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 64, 12, 5, and 5MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Nothing Phone (1)

nothing phone 1 white in hand showing lights glyph - Best phones under £500
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

You’ve probably heard more than a little bit about Nothing by now. The company, started by former OnePlus mastermind Carl Pei, has branched out from its first set of wireless headphones and now offers a well-priced mid-range smartphone, the Phone (1). Nothing’s design is somewhat reminiscent of the iPhone 13 or 14, with flat sides and two corner-mounted cameras, but the light-up back panel sets it apart. This is called the Glyph, and it can push different patterns and shapes for different notifications like calls and texts.

Under the hood, you’ll find a decent set of components to back up the sharp 6.55-inch display. It’s a Full HD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, so it should leave little to be desired for the price. The Phone (1) runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G+ chipset with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to back it up.

We mentioned there are only two rear cameras, but they offer 50MP apiece. The wide and ultrawide lenses are built on the idea that it’s better to have two good lenses than four mediocre ones, and it’s tough to argue. All told, this is one of the best value phones to buy, coming in at well under £500 in the UK.

£399.99 at Amazon
Nothing Phone 1
Glyph Interface • 3 years of OS updates • Fluid OLED display
See review
See review

Nothing Phone (1) specs:

  • Display: 6.55-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 778G
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 50 and 50MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,500mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Are you trying to find more options? We also have a list of the best overall phones, as well as the best budget phones. Check out those lists for more alternatives.