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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
December 8, 2023
Google Pixel 7a
MSRP: $499.00
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Positives
The best sub-$500 camera phone
Solid performance and plenty of RAM
Neat size and design
Smooth, feature-rich software
Improved 90Hz display
Great upgrade commitment
Negatives
Slow wired charging, even slower wireless charging
Mediocre battery life
Tensor G2 runs hot
Pixel 7 and Pixel 6a are better value
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
MSRP: $449.99
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Positives
Galaxy S23-inspired design
Color-rich, fluid display
Strong primary camera
Solid everyday performance
Good battery life
Excellent update commitment
Negatives
Prone to extreme camera saturation
Cheap plastic frame
No wireless charging
No 4K/60fps video
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
MSRP: $429.00
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Positives
A15 Bionic chipset
Touch ID
Improved battery life
Negatives
Extremely dated design
Cramped, low-res display
Inflexible camera
Poco F5
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Positives
Powerful
Great display
Long battery life
Negatives
Bloatware
No update pledge
Poor secondary cameras
Realme GT3
MSRP: $649.00
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Positives
240W charging
Large display
Good value
Tap anywhere NFC
Negatives
Limited availability
Older processor
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
MSRP: €329.00
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Positives
Great price
Fun design
Awesome specs for the price
Negatives
Hard to get in the USA
Nothing Phone 1
MSRP: £399.99
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Positives
Pinpoint ergonomics and haptics
Fluid flexible OLED display
Decent main camera
Negatives
Anemic software
Middling battery life
Poor ultrawide camera

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!

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.


Google Pixel 7a

google pixel 7a hero outdoors
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 7a inches closer to true flagship power, and it’s easily one of the best phones under £500 in the UK. Fewer corners are cut this time around, which is why the price went up. While the Pixel 6a used to cost £399, the Pixel 7a is £449.

This is because the Pixel 7a is much closer to high-end smartphone territory this time around. For starters, it gets wireless charging, which Pixel A series fans have been asking for. It also comes with a much improved 64MP primary camera. Google also upgraded the screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. And everything else about the phone is pretty impressive for the money you are paying.

The Pixel 7a sports a 6.1-inch Full HD+ display that’s vibrant as ever. Under the hood, you’ll find 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and Google’s own Tensor G2 chip. We’ve found that the Tensor G2 can get a bit too hot for comfort with heavier loads, but it performs beautifully.

The 4,385mAh isn’t huge, but it is good enough, thanks to Google’s software and Tensor optimizations. We easily made it last a whole day with casual use, with 20% left to go when it was time to sleep. Not exactly one of the best phones with the best battery life, but plenty good for most users.

Google Pixel 7aGoogle Pixel 7a
AA Editors Choice
Google Pixel 7a
The best sub-$500 camera phone • Solid performance and plenty of RAM • Improved 90Hz display
MSRP: $499.00
The essential Pixel experience
The Pixel 7a delivers more premium features than ever for under $500, such as wireless charging support, a 90Hz refresh rate display, and a 64MP camera.

Pixel 7a specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Tensor G2
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 64 and 13MP
  • Front camera: 13MP
  • Battery: 4,385mAh
  • Software: Android 13

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

samsung galaxy a54 hero
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Samsung is really working on making its mid-range devices as close to premium as possible, and the Samsung Galaxy A54 is proof of this. If you didn’t know better, you would think this device is much more expensive than the £449 MSRP. It’s among the best phones under £500 in the UK.

For starters, the design looks very similar to the Galaxy S23 series, which is definitely a good thing. It’s sleek, still featuring a Gorilla Glass 5 back and front, with a plastic frame instead of a metal one. This keeps costs lower for Samsung, but the phone still looks and feels amazing.

We were also surprised by the 120Hz 6.4-inch display. Such high refresh rates are rare at this price point. Performance is pretty solid, too, And the 5,000mAh battery made it possible for the phone to finish a full day on a single charge, with 35% left before going to bed.

We wish it had wireless charging, and the frame was made of metal, but Samsung has to save money somewhere to bring this phone at its price.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5GSamsung Galaxy A54 5G
AA Recommended
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Galaxy S23-inspired design • Color-rich, fluid display • Excellent update commitment
MSRP: $449.99
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G packs a Galaxy S23-like experience into an affordable shell
The Galaxy A54 5G bridges the gap between Samsung's mid-range phones to its flagships. It rocks a premium design with a flexible camera setup and one of the best software commitments in the Android game, all while hanging onto its affordable $449 price tag for yet another generation.

Galaxy A54 5G specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Exynos 1380
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 50, 12, and 5MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 13

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 reasonable 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 has 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.

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Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Guaranteed long-term software updates • Improved battery life • Powerful A15 Bionic chipset
MSRP: $429.00
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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 F5

Poco F5 in hand
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

POCO has a reputation for offering plenty of bang for your buck, so we’re not surprised to see it make the list of best phones under £500. More specifically, we’re adding the £449 POCO F5 to the list.

Some of the complaints in our POCO F5 Pro review apply to the standard model, such as ho-hum secondary cameras, loads of bloatware, and the lack of an update pledge. We still found plenty to like about the device though, such as the powerful Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 chip, a pleasant and relatively light design, and a slick 120Hz OLED screen.

We also thought the POCO F5 delivered a capable main camera, good endurance thanks to that 5,000mAh battery, and pleasantly fast 67W wired charging. All in all, this isn’t a bad deal if you value performance in your smartphone.


POCO F5 specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Cameras: 64, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 13

Realme GT3

Realme GT3 standing back white - Best phones under £500
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. You can also look at the Realme GT5, though that figures to be even more expensive.

See price at Realme
Realme GT3
240W charging • Large display • Good value
MSRP: $649.00

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

OnePlus Nord 3

OnePlus Nord 3 in hand
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

OnePlus fans on a budget will love this one. It’s not just one of the best phones under £500 in the UK; it’s probably the best value that OnePlus has fit into its Nord series and comes in just under the limit at £499.

The OnePlus Nord 3 comes with premium features like a 120Hz 6.74-inch screen with a sharp 1,240 x 2,772 resolution. You’ll also get a large 5,000mAh battery that can charge at 80W, and the primary camera is respectable at 50MP. It comes with a Dimensity 9000 and up to 16GB of RAM, so performance is pretty good for a phone at this price.

All things considered, you’re getting a lot more than what you paid for with the OnePlus Nord 3.

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OnePlus Nord 3
Large 120Hz display • Fast 80W charging • Flagship-level performance
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MSRP
SAVE
€499.00
$27.50
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OnePlus Nord 3 specs:

  • Display: 6.74-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Dimensity 9000
  • RAM: 8/16GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Camera: 50, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 13

Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus

Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus home screen
Adam Birney / Android Authority

Redmi makes our list with its Note 12 Pro Plus. There’s a lot to like about the phone. It kicks off with a massive 200MP camera sensor, a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, and a sizable 5,000mAh battery. Mix in 5G connectivity from the MediaTek Dimensity 1080, 120W fast charging, and 256GB of onboard storage and you have a value that’s tough to top. Redmi’s MIUI 14 makes an appearance, running on top of Android 13.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus packs a lot of value into a budget-friendly package.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus might not put aesthetics at the top of the list, but the all-white design feels good in the hand. It might pick up it’s share of fingerprints, but you get a clear case in the box in case you want to keep things a little cleaner. Oh, and it still has a headphone jack.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus is a solid option if you want a super-sized, 5G-capable smartphone for under £500 in the UK.

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Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus
Detailed 200MP primary camera • Sharp and snappy 120Hz, AMOLED display • Super fast 120W charging
MSRP: $469.99
See review
See review

Note 12 Pro Plus specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Dimensity 1080
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Cameras: 200, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 13

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.

Nothing has since released the Phone (2), which follows many of the same design trends as the original. However, it packs a bit more punch under the hood and will run you a bit beyond our limit, so we can’t feature it here.

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

HONOR 90

honor 90 emerald green back 4 in hand
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Bringing up the rear on our list, we have the HONOR 90. However, we might have saved the best for last. HONOR’s updated mid-ranger is a solid improvement over the previous HONOR 70, packing a brilliant display and a solid primary camera while remaining comfortably under the £500 mark in the UK.

The HONOR 90’s 200MP primary camera punches above its weight class, especially when shooting outdoors. We also came away impressed with the phone’s video stabilization during our time with it. Of course, HONOR had to cut a few other corners to keep the cost down, meaning that the phone comes with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor under the hood and uses plastic on the back rather than a tougher material like Gorilla Glass.

All told, your main deciding factor might come down to the software of your £500 device. HONOR’s latest platform is built on Android 13, and yes, it comes with Google Play services installed.

See price at Honor
HONOR 90
Big camera • Powerful mid-range phone • Big battery • Rapid charge
See review
See review

HONOR 90 specs:

  • Display: 6.7-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 256/512GB
  • Cameras: 200, 12, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 50MP
  • Battery: 4,900mAh
  • Software: Android 13

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.