Modern phones are often expensive, but they don’t have to be.
In fact, it’s possible to get a premium handset for less than £250/$250 – a fraction of what flagships usually cost.
These budget phones come with compromises, of course, but you might be surprised how much you get for your money. The best models offer an exceptional all-round experience at an incredibly low price.
Here are the three best budget phones of 2024 that we recommend above all others, and you can see which other products won this year’s Tech Advisor Best of 2024-25 awards.
Best New Budget Phone of the Year – Winner: CMF Phone 1
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
CMF is the sub-brand of Nothing, which itself was only founded in 2020 by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei.
Nothing stands out in the mid-range market yet, but the first CMF handset is making a splash with budget buyers.
Unlike many cheap phones, this is a truly fun and unique device. It starts with the design, which includes a removable back panel and physical attachment for lanyard, kickstand, and card holder accessories.
First CMF handset makes a splash with budget buyers
But it’s not a matter of style over substance, with the Phone 1 excelling in three of the most important hardware areas: performance, display and battery life.
You also get Nothing’s signature on Android, which adds thoughtful features and additional customization to Google’s operating system.
There are trade-offs to be aware of – cameras, software updates and missing NFC could all be fixed – but when you get so much for so little money, it’s hard to complain.
If you want a budget-friendly and truly unique phone, the CMF Phone 1 is the device for you.
Read our full CMF Phone 1 review
Best New Budget Phone of the Year – First Runner-Up: Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
Simon Chandler / Foundry
The Galaxy A15 5G is a solid and reliable budget phone choice. It offers everything most people need in a handset, plus the familiarity of Samsung, at an incredibly affordable price.
Highlights include a flagship premium design, superb battery life, and one of the best main cameras on any budget phone. And although LCD rather than OLED, the 90 Hz display is a joy.
Samsung’s One UI software is intuitive and easy to use. It will be updated with three more major OS updates after Android 15 and will be supported until 2029, which is a real plus.
Performance, charging speeds, and lack of official water resistance are disappointing, but aren’t deal-breakers when the Galaxy A15 5G gets it exactly right.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy A15 5G review
$149.98
Best New Budget Phone of the Year – Runner-Up: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Redmi Note 13 5G is technically too expensive to be a budget phone, costing £279 at full price. It’s also not available in the United States, unless you want to risk importing one.
But if you can look past those two, you’ll discover an impressive budget phone. Xiaomi continues to excel in design, while the 120Hz OLED screen is truly excellent.
You also get plenty of storage and four years of software support, provided you’re happy to support Xiaomi’s HyperOS Android skin.
Battery life and cameras suffer, but both are serviceable, especially when the Redmi Note 13 5G is so affordable.
Read our full Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G review
For other great options, check out our complete guide to the best budget phones you can buy. You might also be interested in all 2023-2024 winners.
