Cheap phones that last

The best budget phone in the UK in 2026 is the Google Pixel 10a, at £399 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The Pixel 10a combines a 6.3-inch 120 Hz OLED, a 5,100 mAh battery and IP68 water resistance with seven years of OS and security updates, which no other phone at this price matches. The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is the best budget Samsung at £323.49, the Nothing Phone (4a) is the best budget camera phone for zoom at £399, and the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G is the best phone under £300 at £296. The moto g86 5G at £247 is the cheapest pick, and a renewed iPhone 15 at £360 is the only iPhone at £400 or less.

Every price in this guide is the Amazon UK price at the time of writing (September 2026), and every pick is at or under £400 at that price. The ranking rests on manufacturer specifications, each maker's published update promise and named independent reviews. Compare Electronic's own additions are the cost of each phone per year of security updates left, and a line-by-line table of what a budget phone gives up against a flagship.

What is the best budget phone?

The Google Pixel 10a is the best budget phone because it is the cheapest phone that is guaranteed to stay secure until 2033. At £399 it costs £61.38 per remaining year of security updates, and it has no serious weakness in the basics: a bright 120 Hz screen, the 5,100 mAh battery, IP68 and 30 W wired charging.

The budget market in 2026 has three clear strengths and one clear gap. Every Android phone in this guide has a 120 Hz OLED or AMOLED display and a battery of at least 5,000 mAh, and all six phones support 5G. Five of the six carry an IP68 rating or better. The gap is telephoto cameras: only the Nothing Phone (4a) has one. Buyers who want the flagship picture instead should read the best phone UK autumn 2026 guide.

1. Google Pixel 10a - best budget phone overall

The Google Pixel 10a costs £399 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), £100 below its £499 launch price. Google gives the Pixel 10a a 6.3-inch 120 Hz OLED rated at 3,000 nits, a 5,100 mAh battery, IP68 and the same seven-year update promise as the £1,079 Pixel 11 Pro. The Pixel 10a gets each new Android version on day one, because Google makes Android.

The compromises are the chip and the extras. The Pixel 10a runs the Tensor G4 with 8 GB of RAM, which handles everyday apps and photo processing comfortably but trails newer chips in gaming. It has no telephoto, and wireless charging runs at 10 W without magnets. The Pixel 10a suits first-time smartphone buyers, teenagers, parents buying for children and anyone who wants one phone to last until the end of the decade.

2. Samsung Galaxy A57 5G - best budget Samsung phone

The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G costs £323.49 for 256GB on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). Samsung UK lists the Galaxy A57 at 179 g and 6.9 mm thick, which makes it the slimmest phone in this guide, with a 6.7-inch 120 Hz Super AMOLED, a 5,000 mAh battery and 45 W wired charging that Samsung says reaches 60 percent in 30 minutes. Samsung promises six OS upgrades and security updates until 31 March 2032.

The Galaxy A57 gives up wireless charging entirely and pads its camera count with a 5 MP macro that adds little. The main 50 MP sensor has optical image stabilisation, which matters more in low light than megapixels. The Galaxy A57 suits buyers who already use a Samsung watch or earbuds, and anyone who wants the biggest screen in the thinnest body at this price.

3. Nothing Phone (4a) - best budget zoom camera

The Nothing Phone (4a) costs £399 for 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The Phone (4a) is the only phone in this guide with a telephoto camera: a 50 MP periscope with 3.5x optical zoom, up from the 2x lens on the Phone (3a). It also shares the brightest screen here with the moto g86 5G, rated at 4,500 nits peak, and has the fastest charging at 50 W.

GSMArena's review praised the Phone (4a)'s telephoto, thermal stability and battery life, and criticised its IP64 rating, basic ultrawide camera, weak low-light photos and lack of eSIM. IP64 means splash resistance, not submersion, which puts the Phone (4a) behind every other Android phone here. The Phone (4a) suits buyers who photograph people, pets and events from a distance, and anyone who wants a phone that does not look like every other slab.

4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G - best budget phone under £300

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G costs £296 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), and that price buys 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, double the storage of any other pick. Xiaomi fits the largest battery here at 6,580 mAh, using silicon-carbon cells that pack more capacity into an 8 mm body, and a 200 MP main camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, the physically largest main sensor in this guide.

Durability is the other headline. Xiaomi rates the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G at IP68 and IP69K, which covers immersion and high-pressure water jets, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back. The trade-offs are a basic 8 MP ultrawide, HyperOS's heavier software skin and 210 g of weight. Amazon UK's listing states there is no charger in the box. The Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G suits buyers who want the most hardware for the money and heavy users who need two days from a charge.

5. Motorola moto g86 5G - cheapest tough phone

The Motorola moto g86 5G costs £247 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), the lowest price in this guide and £33 below its £280 UK launch price. Motorola rates the moto g86 5G at IP68 and IP69 and to the MIL-STD-810H military drop standard, and fits a 6.67-inch 120 Hz pOLED rated at 4,500 nits, a 5,200 mAh battery and 30 W charging in a 185 g body.

Support is the weak point. Tech Advisor reports two Android upgrades and security patches to around June 2029, less than three years from today, and called the moto g86 5G capable but unremarkable. The Amazon UK listing carries a European part number, so check the plug type and warranty terms on the listing before ordering. The moto g86 5G suits buyers who need a tough second phone, a work handset or a phone for a teenager at the lowest price.

6. Apple iPhone 15 128GB (Renewed) - best budget iPhone

No new iPhone costs £400 or less in the UK: the cheapest new iPhone on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026) is the iPhone 16e at £599. The renewed Apple iPhone 15 128GB costs £360 on Amazon UK, and it brings a 48 MP main camera, the Dynamic Island and USB-C to an iPhone budget. Apple's launch price for the iPhone 15 was £799.

The renewed iPhone 15 has two budget-specific catches. Amazon Renewed guarantees a battery of at least 80% of its original capacity rather than a new one, and Apple's minimum security-update commitment for the iPhone 15 runs to September 2028, although Apple's record has been longer. The display also runs at 60 Hz, half the refresh rate of every Android phone here. The iPhone 15 suits buyers who already use iMessage, FaceTime or an Apple Watch. Where else to buy one, and what each seller guarantees, is covered in the best place to buy a refurbished iPhone in the UK.

Best budget phone UK 2026 spec sheet

What is the best budget Samsung phone?

The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is the best budget Samsung phone, at £323.49 for 256GB on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The cheaper alternative is the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G, which costs £283.99 for 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The £39.50 gap buys three things:

• A newer chip: the Galaxy A57 uses the Exynos 1680, the Galaxy A37 the older Exynos 1480.
• A slimmer, lighter body: 179 g and 6.9 mm for the Galaxy A57 against 196 g and 7.4 mm for the Galaxy A37.
• A better ultrawide: 12 MP on the Galaxy A57 against 8 MP on the Galaxy A37.

Everything else matches: a 6.7-inch 120 Hz Super AMOLED, a 50 MP main camera, a 5,000 mAh battery, 45 W charging, IP68 and six years of updates to 31 March 2032. The Galaxy A37 is therefore the cheapest phone in this guide per year of support, at £51.63. Buyers who want Samsung's flagship camera without the full price should look at the discounted Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covered in the best phone UK autumn 2026 guide.

Which budget phone has the best camera?

The Google Pixel 10a is the best budget camera phone for most people, and the Nothing Phone (4a) is the best for zoom. Each camera wins a different job:

• Point and shoot:the Pixel 10a pairs a 48 MP main camera with Google's processing, which is why Pixel a-series phones have long produced consistent daylight and night photos without manual settings.
• Zoom: the Nothing Phone (4a) is the only budget pick with a telephoto, a 50 MP 3.5x periscope. Every other phone here crops the main sensor to zoom. GSMArena noted weak low-light results from the Phone (4a), so its advantage is in daylight.
• Detail: the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G has a 200 MP main camera on a 1/1.4-inch sensor, the largest here, which gathers the most light of any budget main camera.
• Stabilisation: the Galaxy A57 and Phone (4a) both have optical image stabilisation on the main camera, which steadies video and night shots.

The ultrawide camera is the weak link across the board: 8 MP on the Phone (4a), Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G and moto g86 5G, 12 MP on the Galaxy A57 and iPhone 15, and 13 MP on the Pixel 10a.

What is the best budget Android phone?

The Google Pixel 10a is the best budget Android phone, because it receives new Android versions first and keeps receiving them for seven years. Samsung is the closest rival, with six years on the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 and the most polished large-screen software. Nothing OS on the Phone (4a) is the cleanest-looking alternative, and HyperOS on the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G carries the most pre-installed apps.

Five of the six phones in this guide run Android, which reflects the market: under £400, Android offers 120 Hz screens, 5,000 mAh-plus batteries and 45 to 50 W charging that no current iPhone matches at the price. Buyers who rank battery life above everything should also read the longest battery life smartphones of 2026.

What's the best budget phone under £300?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G is the best budget phone under £300, at £296 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). Three phones in this guide cost less than £300:

• Most phone for the money: the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G at £296, with 512 GB of storage, a 6,580 mAh battery and IP68 and IP69K.
• Longest support: the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G at £283.99, with six years of updates to March 2032 and IP68.
• Lowest price: the moto g86 5G at £247, with IP68, IP69 and MIL-STD-810H but support only to around June 2029.

The choice between the Redmi and the Galaxy A37 comes down to hardware against software. The Redmi has 1,580 mAh more battery, double the storage and a 200 MP camera; the Galaxy A37 has a cleaner update record and Samsung's UK service network.

How much does each budget phone cost per year of updates?

The Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is the cheapest budget phone to own per year of security support, at £51.63, and the renewed iPhone 15 is the most expensive at £180.00. A phone that stops receiving security patches stops being safe for banking and payment apps, so the support date is effectively the phone's use-by date. The UK's Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure regime requires makers to publish that minimum period.

The table changes the ranking at the extremes. The moto g86 5G is the cheapest phone at £247, but at £89.82 per year of support it costs more to own than the £399 Pixel 10a at £61.38. The renewed iPhone 15 costs £180.00 per guaranteed year because Apple's minimum runs from its September 2023 launch; if Apple supports it for seven years, as its record suggests is possible, the cost falls to £90.00 a year. Update end dates for the Nothing Phone (4a) and Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G count six years from each phone's launch.

What do you give up with a budget phone versus a flagship?

A budget phone gives up zoom, wireless charging and processor speed, and keeps almost everything else. The clearest comparison is within one brand: the Google Pixel 10a at £399 against the Google Pixel 11 Pro at £1,079 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026).

Five of the ten rows read "nothing". The same pattern holds at Samsung: the Galaxy A57 at £323.49 against the Galaxy S26 Ultra at £770.49 gives up the 200 MP main camera, the 3x and 5x telephotos, the S Pen, 25 W wireless charging, 60 W wired charging and one year of update support, and costs £447.00 less. Buyers who never zoom and charge by cable lose the least by going budget.

What should UK buyers check before ordering a budget phone?

UK buyers should check three things on the listing: the region, the charger and the warranty.

• Region:budget phones on Amazon UK include European and international models. The moto g86 5G listing carries a European part number, and the Galaxy A57 listing does not say "UK version". UK models get the maker's UK warranty and, where a charger is included, a 3-pin plug.
• Charger:Google and Samsung ship phones with a USB-C cable only, and the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G listing states there is no charger in the box. Budget £15 to £25 for a USB-C PD adapter that matches each phone's 30 to 50 W limit.
• Rights: every phone bought from a UK trader is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, with a 30-day right to reject a faulty phone for a full refund on top of the manufacturer warranty. Renewed phones carry the same rights; the trade-offs are explained in new vs renewed vs refurbished tech.

Verdict

The Google Pixel 10a is the best budget phone in the UK in 2026: £399, seven years of updates, IP68 and a 5,100 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is the best budget Samsung at £323.49, the Nothing Phone (4a) is the best budget camera phone for zoom, and the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G is the best phone under £300. The moto g86 5G is the cheapest tough phone, and the renewed iPhone 15 is the only iPhone at £400 or less. Buyers who can stretch further should compare the best phones of autumn 2026, and iPhone buyers weighing the new range should see the iPhone 18 Pro colours guide and iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max.