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Why you don't need to spend more than £350 on a mobile phone
A certified smartphones, tablets and wearables whizz, Adam's been hands-on with tech for more than five years, sharing expert knowledge and buying advice.
Which? members have told us* the greatest primary consideration when buying a new phone is price, specifically models under £350. 37% often or always prioritise spending less than this on their next handset.
But do you really get value at this price? Our expert testing says yes, but it depends on what you're happy to compromise on. Once you know that, you can find the right device in this busy part of the market.
We've rounded up the best Android phone and Sim-only deals, and best iPhone deals, so you don't have to.
Battery life on cheap phones
Manufacturers don't talk about upgraded batteries much when they launch their new phones, but it's frustrating having to charge your handset more than once a day. Choosing a phone with a long battery life is often or always a consideration for 45% of the Which? members we surveyed*.
It might surprise you to hear that Which? tests show phones under £350 are in fact more likely to have longer battery lives than those over £350. In our labs we use a robot arm to replicate how most people typically use their smartphones throughout the day. In the past year, the best battery lasted over 56 hours at typical brightness (300 nits) in our testing, and the worst only 28 hours. While the second worst costs almost £1,000 to buy.
Want to see all our Best Buy and Great Value phones? Head to our smartphone reviews.
Member content: best cheap phone for a long battery life
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Camera quality on cheap phones
The camera quality on a phone is often or always a primary consideration for 22% of the Which? members*. You're not going to get high-end cameras on a cheap phone, but in our testing, some were much more powerful than we expected.
The main compromises are to do with the versatility of the cameras. This involves how they adapt to tricky light conditions and how effective their shooting modes and styles are. Expensive phones usually have a third camera lens to enhance how far you can zoom in digitally and improve the quality of close-up shots. They might also have a TOF (time of flight) lens to measure depth accurately in shots, and 8K-resolution video recording that will play back stereo sound. The latest editing tools on premium phones are powered by AI. This includes editing objects and people out of pictures and having AI fill in the gaps.
But these features are highly specialised. A lot of cheaper phones still have multiple lenses, 4K video recording and custom modes (such as portrait and night mode). In our testing, we find phones below £350 are most likely to have three-star cameras. However, we've found a couple under £350 that give you a four-star experience.
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Display quality on cheap phones
The display quality on phones £350 and less has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. Equipped with OLED screens, the best have a high resolution and shine brightly, whatever angle you're viewing it from. A lot now have 120Hz refresh rates to keep scrolling buttery smooth when you swipe on the touchscreen. They are colourful, bright, and show crisp details, whether you're reading emails or watching the latest film.
The quality of displays is high across the board, so you're not always guaranteed a hugely better display by spending more.
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Three phones under £350 to consider
Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+
* Average price in the past six months: £322. Cheapest price in the past six months: £296
- Large 6.8-inch screen and 256GB of storage
- eSim support and dual-Sim capability
The Pro+ sits at the top of Xiaomi’s budget range and looks like a lot of phone for the money. It comes with 256GB of advertised storage – plenty for a big library of photos and apps – and supports eSim. That’s a handy feature if you want to swap to a local network while abroad without faffing with physical cards.
Xiaomi has also committed to keeping this model updated with security patches until 2032, which is great for peace of mind.
Find out more about this bargain phone in our full Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus review.
Google Pixel 9a
* Average price in the past six months: £430. Cheapest price in the past six months: £319
- 6.3-inch pOLED screen with 1,080 x 2,424 resolution
- Google Tensor G4 chipset and 8GB of Ram
- 48Mp main lens and 13Mp ultrawide lens
Google’s 'a' series is designed to give you the smarts of their flagship phones for a much lower price. This model uses the Tensor G4 chip – the same 'brain' found in the Pixel 9 Pro – and features the Gemini AI assistant.
If you want a phone that stays 'current' for a long time, the seven-year update promise is one of the best in the business. It’s a strong option for anyone who wants a straightforward, clever handset.
Buy it from the retailers below, compare contract deals and read our full review of the Google Pixel 9a.
Nothing Phone (3a)
* Average price in the past six months: £296. Cheapest price in the past six months: £229
- 6.8-inch OLED screen with 1,080 x 2,392 resolution
- Triple rear camera system, including a dedicated 50Mp telephoto lens
- 'Glyph' LED interface and transparent design
Nothing is one of the few brands making phones that actually look different. This 2025 release keeps the signature transparent look but adds a bigger screen and a more flexible camera setup – including a 50Mp telephoto lens for zooming in.
It’s built for people who want a simple experience without all the 'bloatware' you often find on other budget brands. If you're bored with the same old black plastic slabs and want a phone with a bit of personality, this is worth a look.
Find out the rest of the scoop on this reasonably-priced phone in our Nothing Phone (3a) review.
* based on a survey of 1,123 Which? members, conducted in August 2024.
