Let’s talk phones. Specifically, the ones that don’t require selling a kidney to afford. As a card-carrying hardware obsessive, I’m usually looking at the top-tier stuff, the phones pushing boundaries with raw power and bleeding-edge tech. But let’s be honest, not everyone needs a flagship device, and thankfully, in 2025, you don’t have to compromise nearly as much as you used to if you’re on a tighter budget. Affordable mobiles have genuinely become excellent options for most people.
Gone are the days of truly terrible budget phones from the 2010s that came with low-resolution screens, awful cameras, and performance that would make a snail look fast. Technology has improved significantly, and those advancements have trickled down, meaning you can now get features like good cameras, long-lasting batteries, fast performance, and even high refresh rate displays without spending a fortune. These phones are great for staying connected, keeping memories, accessing information, and generally being a reliable everyday device.
What to Look For in a Budget Smartphone in 2025
When you’re sifting through the options, these are the key areas where you’ll see varying levels of performance and features:
- Performance: This boils down to the processor and RAM. Look for phones with processors that can handle your daily apps and maybe even some light gaming. RAM is also important; anything above 4GB is usually decent, but 6GB or 8GB helps significantly with multitasking and keeping things running smoothly, avoiding lag.
- Display: Most budget phones now offer Full HD resolution, which is perfectly clear for browsing, videos, and productivity. Features like AMOLED technology for better colours and contrast, and higher refresh rates (90Hz or 120Hz) for smoother scrolling, were once exclusive to expensive phones but are now appearing in budget options.
- Camera Quality: While they might not match flagships, many budget phones now come with capable camera setups. Look for phones with decent main sensor megapixel counts (like 48MP, 50MP, or even 64MP), and consider the inclusion of ultra-wide or telephoto lenses for versatility. AI technology is also being used to improve picture quality.
- Battery Life: A high-capacity battery, typically around 5000-6000 mAh, means you can often get through a full day or even two on a single charge. Fast charging is also becoming common, which is a massive bonus for quickly topping up.
- Storage: Common options are 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB. More is always better for apps, photos, and files, but a microSD card slot offers a cheaper way to expand storage later if needed.
- Durability & Features: Some budget phones now offer levels of dust and water resistance (like IP52 or IP68) previously only seen on flagships. Features like 5G connectivity are also increasingly standard.
The Best Budget Smartphones You Can Buy in 2025
Here’s a rundown of some standout phones that deliver great value without the hefty price tag:
Motorola Edge 50 Fusion
Why it’s recommended: Often cited as an impressive all-rounder and specifically noted for its strong battery life. It offers features like a high refresh rate OLED display and capable cameras at a tempting price.
Price: Around £349 initially, but found for less, including £237 in reviews.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.7-inch curved OLED, Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400), high 144Hz refresh rate. Known for vibrant colours and deep blacks.
- Processor & RAM: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 with 12GB RAM. Capable enough for most tasks and even competes with some mid-range phones.
- Cameras: 50MP main (with OIS) and 13MP ultrawide on the rear, plus a 32MP selfie camera. The main sensor performs well in various lighting conditions.
- Battery: Large 5000mAh battery. Easily lasts a full day.
- Charging: Supports 68W fast charging, capable of a full charge in about 47 minutes.
- Storage: 256GB.
- Other: IP68 dust and water resistance. Slim and lightweight design. Runs Android 14. Has bloatware.
Google Pixel 9a
Why it’s recommended: Highlighted as potentially the best value Android phone available in 2025, particularly strong in camera performance and software experience.
Price: Starts at £499, reviewed price £449. (Note: This is slightly above the typical ‘budget’ threshold of £300-£400, but its value proposition makes it worth considering).
Key Features:
- Display: 6.3-inch OLED, sharp Full HD+ resolution (unknown exact pixels, but same size as Pixel 9). Features a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals. Bright and colour-accurate.
- Processor: Upgraded processor (same as the pricier Pixel 9). Efficient chip.
- Cameras: 48MP main, 13MP ultrawide, and a 13MP front-facing camera. Takes excellent photos in nearly all lighting conditions, with punchy colours. Can take detailed macro close-ups. Lacks autofocus on the front camera.
- Battery: Upgraded battery capacity. Offers lots of battery life. Long-lasting battery performance.
- Storage: Available in 128GB and 256GB.
- Other: Striking, unique design without a pronounced camera bump. Improved toughness with an IP68 rating for dust and waterproofing. Includes Google’s latest AI enhancements like photo editing and Gemini voice assistant. Uses Gorilla Glass 3 on the screen.
Honor 200 Lite
Why it’s recommended: Picked out as having the best camera among budget phones, particularly praised for its high-resolution main and selfie cameras.
Price: £154.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, Full HD+ resolution (2412 x 1080).
- Processor & RAM: 2.4GHz Mediatek Dimensity 6080 with 8GB RAM. Performance is described as middling.
- Cameras: 108MP main, 5MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro on the rear. Features a massive 50MP selfie camera aimed at portrait lovers. Captures plenty of detail and nicely neutral colours with the main camera.
- Battery: Huge step up in battery life, pushing to over 25 hours in testing.
- Storage: 256GB.
- Other: Wonderfully lightweight design (6.8mm thin, 168g). Runs Android 14. Has cluttered software. Dual SIM support.
Poco X6 Pro
Why it’s recommended: Cited as the best budget gaming phone and providing excellent value, offering proper flagship-level performance for gaming.
Price: Around £309.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.67-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 1220 x 2712 pixel resolution. Bright and crisp display with Dolby Vision.
- Processor & RAM: Powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 8300 Ultra chipset with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. Delivers super speedy load times and smooth performance in demanding games. Sits just under MediaTek’s flagship chips.
- Cameras: Dual rear cameras: 50MP main and 8MP ultrawide. Described as average camera performance.
- Battery: Massive 5000mAh battery. Easily lasts a day, if not two, depending on usage.
- Charging: Excellent charging speeds with 90W fast charge support. Can get a full recharge in under an hour.
- Storage: Available in 256GB and 512GB.
- Other: Great value for money. Has bloated software (Xiaomi’s HyperOS). Some connectivity concerns.
CMF Phone 2 Pro / CMF Phone 1
Why it’s recommended: Stands out for its unique modular design and customisation options.
Price: £219 in the UK/EU, $239 in the US.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.67-inch AMOLED, 1080 x 2392 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate. Brighter screen with better colours compared to predecessor.
- Processor & RAM: Boosted Dimensity 7300 Pro processor, Dimensity 7300 processor with 8GB RAM. Slightly quicker than the original CMF Phone. Performance is described as not great for gaming.
- Cameras: 50MP main and 50MP + 8MP setup mentioned in different sources. Greatly improved cameras compared to previous model. Main camera performance can be soft.
- Battery: 5000mAh battery. Enough juice to last two days. Long battery life.
- Charging: Supports 33W wired charging. Charges fast.
- Storage: Available in 128GB and 256GB. Has a microSD card slot.
- Other: Modular design with Accessory Point for attachments. Runs Nothing OS 3.2 based on Android 15. Only IP54 rated. Includes NFC Payment support. Back isn’t easily replaceable.
Motorola Moto G55 5G
Why it’s recommended: Rated as the best budget phone overall by one source, offering a strong combination of performance and battery life for its low price.
Price: £154.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.49-inch, Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080), 120Hz refresh rate.
- Processor & RAM: 2.5GHz MediaTek Dimensity 7025 with 8GB RAM. Described as great performance.
- Cameras: 50MP main and 8MP wide rear cameras.
- Battery: 5000mAh battery. Described as great battery life. Supports 68W TurboPower charging.
- Storage: 256GB.
- Other: Water-repellent (IP52). Dolby Atmos audio. Dual SIM. Runs Android 14. Has minor display downgrades and limited software support.
Realme C61
Why it’s recommended: Positioned as an “insane” budget phone, offering a surprising amount for just $100, including a high refresh rate display and large battery.
Price: Around $100.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.74-inch IPS LCD with 1600 x 720 pixel resolution. Features a refresh rate of up to 90Hz. Has 560 nits peak brightness. Large screen-to-body ratio. Pre-applied screen protector.
- Processor: Octa-core chipset. Powerful enough for casual gaming. Software can be a bit laggy.
- Cameras: Rear dual-lens system with a 50MP main sensor and 0.08MP auxiliary sensor. 5MP selfie camera. Main sensor produces good images in good lighting, but performance declines in low light (noticeable noise). Night mode improves low light. Portrait mode uses secondary lens for blur, but edge detection can be imprecise. Selfie camera is adequate but may lack detail.
- Battery: 5000mAh battery. Described as long-lasting.
- Storage: Available with 256GB internal storage in one tested version.
- Other: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor. USB Type-C port. Downward firing speaker (sound quality leaves much to be desired). 3.5mm headphone jack. Weighs 194g. Design feels familiar to flagships, but glossy plastic attracts fingerprints. No stabilization for video recording.
Apple iPhone 12 (Renewed)
Why it’s recommended: A solid option if you’re specifically looking for an iPhone on a budget, offering decent performance and display quality even a few years after release.
Price: Around £251 when reviewed.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.1-inch OLED. 2532 x 1170 resolution. 60Hz refresh rate. Measured excellent brightness and colour accuracy.
- Processor & RAM: 3.1GHz Apple A14 Bionic with 4GB RAM. Still a swift performer, outpacing some newer budget Android phones and handling gaming well.
- Cameras: 12MP main and 12MP wide rear cameras.
- Battery: Battery life is described as middling, lasting about 16 hours 30 minutes in a standard test.
- Storage: Available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB.
- Other: Supports 5G connectivity. Weighs 164g. Runs iOS (version varies based on updates, but mentioned with iOS 18).
Xiaomi Poco X7
Why it’s recommended: Praised for its impressive durability credentials, offering features typically found on much more expensive flagships.
Price: £189.
Key Features:
- Display: 6.67-inch OLED. 2712 x 1220 resolution. Bright and crisp display. Protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
- Processor & RAM: 2.5GHz Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Ultra with 8GB or 12GB RAM. Nippy performance that rivals phones costing £100 more.
- Cameras: 50MP main, 8MP wide, and 2MP macro rear cameras. Solid main camera that captures sharp, vibrant shots.
- Battery: 5110mAh battery. Decent battery life.
- Storage: Available in 256GB and 512GB.
- Other: Rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. Runs Android 15 (HyperOS). Cluttered software (Xiaomi’s). No charger bundled in the box in the UK. Weighs 190g.
Picking the right budget phone in 2025 means you have a fantastic array of options that punch well above their weight. You can find devices that excel in specific areas, whether that’s photography, battery life, raw performance, or even durability and repairability. While you might miss out on some absolute top-tier features or software support guarantees compared to flagships, the gap has narrowed significantly. By focusing on the features most important to you – be it a great camera, a long-lasting battery, or smooth performance for gaming – you can get a brilliant device without emptying your bank account. These examples show that affordable mobiles are absolutely still worthy contenders in 2025.
