Best student phone deals 2023

With each year that passes, smartphones get more advanced. But still, finding a truly great phone for a student-friendly price is easier said than done.

That’s why we’ve rounded up our picks for the best student phone deals, including both new and refurbished models. Here you’ll find the phones that strike the best balance between specs, features, and price, with a focus on models that look good, take great photos and are reasonably durable to survive the rigours of student life. Let’s dive into the selections.

Don’t miss our exclusive students SIM only deal, bringing you 40GB of data for just £10!

Nokia G22

The Nokia G22 is a brilliant budget smartphone for students, redefining what’s possible at a price under £150. I’ve tested this one out personally (see my review here) and was blown away by the quality of the screen, complete with a responsive 90Hz refresh rate. In addition to its battery life and overall performance. Sure, it’s not as fancy as the other phones on this list, and its photos leave a little to be desired, but getting a clean Android 12 smartphone that’ll run all the apps you need, a durable and repairable design and NFC support for contactless payments, all for £149, is an incredible bargain.

Buy a new Nokia G22 from giffgaff

Nothing Phone (1)

The Nothing Phone (1) has got to be one of the best-looking phones on this list (and indeed for sale anywhere) thanks to its transparent back panel, beautiful ‘Glyph’ interface on top of Android 13, a solid display and solid performance.

The camera here is a step up over the Nokia G22 but doesn’t quite challenge the likes of Google’s Pixel phones, Apple’s iPhones or Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones, all three of which we’ll see very soon in this article. That said, if you want a phone that stands out from the pack without stealing a chunk of your savings, the Nothing Phone (1) awesome budget phone for students.

Buy the Nothing Phone (1) new, or refurbished from giffgaff

Google Pixel 7a

Ah, the Pixel 7a. This model has to be one of the best student budget phone deals out there, if not the best budget phone of the year.

The Pixel 7a transplants Google’s excellent cameras from the more expensive Pixel 7 into a much lower price point, and all without sacrificing almost anything in terms of performance, display specs or features.

Yup, you get the same Tensor G2 chip as the latest mainline Pixel entry, a 6.1-inch 90Hz OLED screen, wireless charging and up to 24 hours of battery life. If you want to take great photos or experience the latest Android updates from Google earlier than anyone else, then this is the phone to get.

Shop for a brand new Pixel 7A at giffgaff

iPhone 13 Pro 5G (refurbished)

My first exclusively refurbished deal for students is the iPhone 13 Pro 5G. Get Apple’s iconic silhouette, complete with their easy-to-use iOS software and a terrific three-lens rear camera for an affordable price point. The iPhone is a favourite of students across the country and getting one of their latest models for less than £800 in like-new condition is a tremendous feat, or you can opt for a lower-grade model to save a little extra.

No matter what grade you go for, giffgaff refurbished phones come with an 80% battery life promise, plus 12-24 month warranty and 21-day no-quibble returns. That, combined with steep price cuts compared to brand-new models, makes them a great way to bag yourself a higher-end phone for well below the RRP.

Grab yourself a refurbished iPhone 13 Pro 5G from giffgaff

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 (refurbished)

And my other exclusively refurbished recommendation is the Galaxy Z Fold3. This smartphone unfolds into a tablet-sized device, giving you a huge amount of screen real estate to put two apps side-by-side or just enjoy a tablet-like view of a single app.

After years of iterations, this Galaxy Z’s flexible screen is surprisingly durable, and the performance, cameras and battery life are all stellar. Dare I say, it’s a complete package!

There’s even a pen to jot down notes in your classes, so you could say it’s more an educational essential than a phone. For real though, foldables look like the future of big-screen smartphones, and Samsung’s Fold3 is one of the best options for the money, especially when you pick up a “like new” refurbished model for as little as £799.

Shop your own Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 online with giffgaff

Wrapping up

With that, we’ve come to the end of our best student phone deal recommendations for 2023! I hope you’ve found it useful. And remember these picks are only a small proportion of the phones giffgaff have on offer. Explore their full range here.

Oh, and before you go, don’t forget to check out giffgaff’s student exclusive SIM only deal, featuring 40GB data plus unlimited texts and calls for just £10 a month.
Thanks for reading, this is @wsjudd signing off.