16 August 2023 , 08:10
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Looking to upgrade to a new phone without spending more than £100? You're in luck, there are some incredible smartphones that offer big-budget features at a small price tag from well-loved brands like Samsung and Nokia.
With no end in sight for the cost of living crisis, we'll all be thinking a little more carefully about each purchase, especially when it comes to luxuries like smartphones. Prices for top-end phones have risen in recent years – with maxed-out models from Apple and Samsung costing well over £1,500.
Fortunately, mid-range and entry-level phones are becoming more capable, so depending on what you need from your next smartphone, a budget model could give you more bang for your buck.
Rather than just being used to call people, modern affordable devices now host faster chips, brighter screens and expandable storage allowing you to easily stay connected, browse the internet and even play games like Call of Duty on the go.
Getting a decent smartphone for under £100 can be challenging as you can end up buying an older model or picking up a brand you have never heard of that lacks the features you are used to.
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This list will be focusing on phones that are currently under £100 and all devices included on this list are from known, reputable brands that I have used.
The best cheap smartphones for under £100
1. Samsung A04s
(Samsung)The Samsung A03 is an excellent entry-level smartphone and introduction into the Samsung ecosystem, it includes a bright 6.5-inch, LCD display, 4GB of RAM, which can be expanded to 8GB with Samsung's RAM Plus and can handle some gamers on medium settings, it also features a huge 5000mAh battery.
While this version only has 64GB of storage it can be supplemented with a microSD card to allow you to store apps, pics and video.
Overall it's a fantastic value device from one of the top smartphone manufacturers on the market.
Price: £100 | Buy Now From Amazon
2. Honor X6
(Honor)One of the best budget phones currently around from the severely underrated Chinese company Honor. This phone provides a glossy 6.5-inch LCD screen which includes features like eye comfort mode.
It utilises a Triple camera system including a 50MP main camera, a macro camera and a depth camera which punches above its price range.
The large 5000 mAh gives you around 17 hours of video playback. It comes with 64GB internal memory but can be expanded up to a massive 1TB via a micro SD card. Express yourself with the Themes app and customise your phone to suit your style.
Price: £91.08| Buy Now From Amazon
3. Nokia G11
(Nokia)This Nokia phone boasts a 6.5 Inch, 90Hz, IPS screen, supports expandable Micro SD storage, and features a triple 13MP main camera and 2MP macro and 2MP depth camera.
Its 32GB memory can be further enhanced with Micro SD storage. It got some serious stamina too with its 18W fast charging and a huge 3-day battery. It uses 3GB of RAM and can handle medium and lower settings on games.
It also has a fingerprint sensor in the power button as well as a face unlock functionality.
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Price: £83.15| Buy Now From Amazon
4. Xiaomi Redmi 12C
(Xiaomi)With its bright 6.7 Inch IPS LCD display the Xiaomi Remi 12C is coming in hot with its 50MP camera and a depth sensor as well as 5MP basic front-facing camera.
it also comes with a 3.5mm audio jack if you want to save your battery from using Bluetooth or don't want to give up those wired headphones.
While limited to only 32GB storage, like many others on this list it can be expanded up to 1TB using a micro SD card. By utilising up to 5GB of space, the provided 3GB RAM can be expanded to 8GB for smooth multitasking and faster performance.
with a large 5000 mAh all-day battery, plus a 10W in-box charger will help alleviate battery anxiety.
Price: £99| Buy Now From Amazon
5. Motorola moto e13
(Motorola)This phone is a slim and stylish little guy that provides a 6.5 Inch display. The Motorola e13 also boasts an IP52 rating, safeguarding it against dust and water splashes.
It comes provided with 64GB storage with the option to expand this with a micro SD card but only 2GB RAM. It also comes with the latest Android 13 OS.
The 13MP main camera will is basic but serviceable along with the 5MP front-facing camera. Stamina won't be a problem with its 5000 mAh battery and it uses a 10W charger.
Price: £75.99| Buy Now From Amazon
All the phones on this list are quality devices and share some similar specs and features and would also make great first-time phones or backup phones for travel work or the gym.
But If you want to check out phones specifically for kids and young adults please check out
Contract VS Prepaid
With a new phone comes the decision, Contract Vs Pay as you go which both have their advantages, I would recommend Pay as you Go as it allows you complete control of your spending.
While most networks provide free sim cards that you can then top up with credit there are some deals on Pay and you go deals that offer advantages like larger data amounts or unlimited calls and texts.