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Top 5 phones under £200
4 minute read
Flagship phones like Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold take all the headlines, but relentless progress in the smartphone space has meant that even cheap mobile phones offer hugely impressive designs, specs and features.
In this article, we’ll take a look at five of the best budget phones under £200.* They’ve got all the gizmos for far less dosh. Let’s take a look!
*All prices were correct at the time of posting but may be subject to change according to stock and offers
5. Motorola Moto E13: £79
Motorola makes some of the best cheap mobile phones, with the Moto E13 being a rare 2023 release under £80.
The Moto E13 benefits from a modern design, including a tear-drop front camera cut-out, a tall 20:9 screen, and reasonable specs and features. This includes dual SIM support, an octa-core CPU and a sizable 5000mAh battery, giving it high performance and speed compared to other processing systems.
There’s even a lovely assortment of colours to choose from. This being said, the non-inclusion of NFC means you can’t use the phone with Android Pay (a bit of a pain) and you get the more stripped-down version of Android, Android Go, which is designed to run better on low-spec devices.
Still, getting a reasonably competent budget mobile phone for less than £80 is pretty good going.
4. Doro 8100: £129
Doro makes a series of easy-to-use phones designed for seniors or other folks who prefer a straightforward experience, with big icons and easy access to the core features of a smartphone: calls, texts and photos.
However, this is still a reasonably powerful Android 11 smartphone, and you have full access to the Play Store to install any apps you might need.
There are also some unique features here, like an assistance button that alerts your contacts if you need help. The Doro 8100 is undoubtedly niche, but this cheap mobile could be just right for you or a loved one.
Shop the Doro 8100 at giffgaff
3. Nokia G22: £149
The Nokia G22 is a phone that I have a lot of affection for, having reviewed it for giffgaff, and it happens to be one of the best budget mobile phones on the market.
The G22 includes a modern design with better performance than the Moto E13 or Doro 8100, a clean but full-fat version of Android 12 and a triple rear camera setup that delivers passable results with a good degree of flexibility. I particularly like its repairable design, which allows the battery and other common components to be replaced far more easily than your average smartphone. The G22 has even got a higher refresh rate 90Hz screen that’s noticeably more responsive than standard 60Hz options.
This neat little Nokia is an awesome choice for a budget phone. It ticks all the boxes for me and might do for you too.
2. iPhone XS (refurbished): £189
The iPhone XS arrived in 2018 as Apple’s second notched-display iPhone, but five years on, it remains well supported with an iOS 17 upgrade arriving later this year.
The phone is available refurbished for under £200 at giffgaff, a great price for an Apple model with full access to the App Store and specs that hold up surprisingly well. Features include a relatively compact 5.8-inch OLED display, dual rear cameras, IP68 water and dust resistance, Qi wireless charging and a huge range of available cases and accessories.
Shop your refurbished iPhone XS at giffgaff
1. Oppo A94 5G: £199
Our top choice this time around is the Oppo A94 5G, a 2021 model that’s been discounted by £100 to bring it under our £200 budget.
The usual conditions with older high-end phones apply. Expect a better design and some extra niceties, in exchange for a slightly less efficient chipset that requires more power to deliver a certain level of performance and an older version of Android. For most people, that’s a trade worth making, especially when you get a quad rear camera setup in the bargain.
Wrapping up
I hope you enjoyed our list of best budget phones, though with only five slots, there are plenty more options to explore. Why not shop giffgaff’s new and refurbished phones to see the full range? Thanks for checking out the article and we’ll see you on the next one.
If you have any feedback or questions, please ask me on Twitter or join us in the giffgaff community forums.
