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The best phones under £500 in the UK
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’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.
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 A55 5G
Samsung’s mid-range devices are among the best you can get. They often feature flagship-level features, and the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G further proves this. We previously recommended the Galaxy A54 5G, but the new model is among the best phones under £500 in the UK.
For starters, the Galaxy A55 5G’s design looks very similar to Samsung’s S series, including its clean lines and muted colorways. It’s sleek, employs an aluminum mid-frame, and features glass back and front.
Up front you’ll notice the 6.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED, which is arguably the star of the show. Powering this panel is an Exynos 1480 SoC, up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Notably, Samsung retains the microSD card slot, allowing a further 1TB of boot space if required. A 5,000mAh is also retained, and its paired with 25W charging.
Camera-wise, you’re looking at a 50MP primary lens paired with a 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro sensor. A 32MP sensor sits up front for selfies.
We wish it had wireless charging, but Samsung’s new mid-ranger somehow costs less than its predecessor, making it an even better value proposition.
Galaxy A54 5G specs:
- Display: 6.6-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Exynos 1480
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 50, 12, and 5MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 14
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
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 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.
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 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’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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 2a
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 launched a well-priced mid-range smartphone, the Phone 1, in 2022. In 2024, it followed this device up with the Nothing Phone 2a — its latest mid-range handset.
Nothing’s design is somewhat reminiscent of older iPhones but remains distinctly Nothing. The Phone 2a features flat sides, a mid-mounted dual-lens camera array at the rear, and a light-up back panel that is now a customary feature. This version of Nothing’s Glyph lights are toned down slightly but remains a unique aesthetic choice and a useful notifications feature.
The Nothing 2a features a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro under the hood, paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. All this is powered by a 5,000mAh battery topped up via 45W wired charging. All this supports the phone’s larger 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED.
Nothing’s mid-ranger retains the Nothing Phone 1’s dual 50MP camera arrangement at the rear, but boasts an updated 32MP sensor up front.
Nothing has since released the Phone 2 ($699 at Amazon), 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.
Nothing Phone 2a specs:
- Display: 6.7-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 50 and 50MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 14
HONOR 90
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.
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 budget phones for even more alternatives.