The latest release in Google’s Pixel ‘a’ range, the Pixel 8a brings many of the features found on the more expensive Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, and puts them in this excellent, and more affordable, package. 

With an RRP of £499, the Pixel 8a shares the same Tensor G3 chipset as its pricier siblings, as well as 8GB of Ram and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. It uses the same brilliant 64MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide lens as the Pixel 7a. In some ways, it’s slightly disappointing that Google hasn’t really improved this. But then again, the camera on the Pixel 7a is brilliant, so this is forgivable. Crucially, this phone brings all of Google’s superb photo-processing software to bear, ensuring this phone delivers some of the best photos of any device within this price range. 

The 6.1-inch display has a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, bringing it in line with many of the best Android smartphones on the market. And Google also promises seven years of software support and security updates for this phone – meaning this phone should last years.  

The Pixel 8a is very nearly a flagship phone, at a mid-range price. For a superb camera, decent battery life, and excellent Android software, this phone is an excellent choice for almost anyone.

If you’re a fan of Samsung devices, then the current best Samsung under £500 is the Galaxy A55. Like the Pixel 8a, it’s a mid-range device that could easily convince you that it’s a flagship phone. Its design is heavily influenced by the Galaxy S24 lineup. 

The screen is bigger than the A54 that this model replaces, at a generous 6.6-inches, with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, for smooth gaming and video playback. It isn’t as bright as some devices can be, but for most people it will be more than adequate – unless you plan to use it regularly in bright sunlight.   Samsung phones typically provide good cameras, and while this isn’t the best, it still performs well in most conditions. The 50MP main shooter is supported by a 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro lens. Zoom is slightly limited, and while you shouldn’t expect the same level of results as you’d get from a flagship Samsung, the photos here will be acceptable for social media, for example. 

It has a big battery that will last most people all day between charges, and 8GB of RAM means it can handle basic tasks with ease. Best of all, the RRP starting from £439 makes it much cheaper than Samsung flagships (we’ve also seen it discounted below this). It’s a solid all-rounder, and excellent value.

It is a genuine mystery as to how the HONOR 90 is as cheap as it is, and yet the truth is out – the HONOR 90 is under £500, and it’s astoundingly good.

Gamers or social media scrollers might turn their heads at this terrific phone, but it’s photographers who will truly gawp at this mighty phone and its staggering 200MP camera, which is unheard of in phones at its price.

Photography on the HONOR 90 is faultless – outdoors, indoors, low-light photography, this mighty flagship-tier phone can handle it all, and with 256GB of RAM, you’ll have more than enough space for an ocean of pictures to treasure forever.

And while the HONOR 90 does suffer from some cutbacks to overall build quality with a somewhat flimsier body than Samsung or iPhone equivalents, it still remains a top-tier choice this year.

If you want a phone under £500 that’s going to turn heads, look no further than the Nothing Phone 2a. It’s semi-transparent design, and the glyph-lighting on the rear of the phone really make this look and feel very different to most modern handsets. 

The 6.7-inch OLED is bright and colourful, while the 8GB or 12GB of RAM make this capable of handling most everyday tasks. The battery is impressive, and the Nothing OS 2.5 operating system – based on Android 14, is interesting and different. Nothing wants to encourage users to use their phones less often, and one example is the way the phone lets you have everything in black and white, if you choose. There are plenty of other ways to customise how it looks, to suit your tastes.  

The LEDs on the rear of the phone aren’t just a gimmick either. These are designed to light up to show notifications, charge percentage, and volume, among other things. The plastic on the back of the phone isn’t the most premium finish, but it feels like a well-made device. 

Costing from £319, this is a sleek, stylish and playful phone that costs considerably less than some rivals with similar specs. If you want something a bit different, there’s little that’s better than Nothing.

If you need extra smartphone protection when you’re out and about, this Nokia XR21 has a tough build to rival most others. It’s been designed with military-grade drop protection and best of all – it’s IP69K water and dustproof. It’ll take being submerged.

But as for the smartphone specs – this one has an excellent 64MP AI-enhanced main camera and a 12MP ultrawide, plus an 8MP selfie camera. The screen is a brilliant size, too, at 6.49-inch, and it’s got scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass – all in all, that makes this one of the toughest phones around.

When we tested the Nokia XR21, we found that it excels as a mid-range smartphone with its Snapdragon 695 processor, 6GB RAM, and MIL-STD-810H durability. In our hands-on experience, we admired the decent low-light camera performance and IP69K waterproofing. With up to two days of battery life, it’s ideal for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a robust phone.

The OnePlus brand has gone from strength to strength and offers some of the most sought-after smartphones out there. This OnePlus Nord 3 is a typically refined and well-considered smartphone with a modern design and a monster spec when it comes to RAM. 16GB of it means this is one of the best phones here for working memory – added to the 256GB storage and MediaTek processor this will eat games and movies for breakfast.

And on that subject, the screen is a massive 6.7-inch AMOLED running at 120hz – but it’s also accompanied by Dolby Atmos speakers. That makes this phone a top choice for enjoying all kinds of entertainment on the move.

The 50MP main camera is the same as on the Nord 2T, but the sensor has had a significant upgrade – the Sony IMX890 sensor is the same as that found on the OnePlus 11. And the result of that sensor is one of the best budget camera phones for night and low-light photography.  

The secondary cameras aren’t quite as impressive. But for a device that offers a lot of flagship features without the flagship price tag, the OnePlus Nord 3 is tough to beat.

Xiaomi’s POCO X6 Pro is a favourite among budget phone enthusiasts thanks to its plethora of seemingly impossible specs for its price – a 64MP triple camera, a 120Hz AMOLED screen, and a mighty 30-hour battery life all in one phone under £500. There’s even a fingerprint scanner.

Running the ever-brilliant MIUI 14 operating system with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage to boot, Xiaomi’s POCO X6 Pro is simply perfect for demanding mobile gaming, as well as casual social media scrolling with ease.

Many budget phones are often limited by both camera and battery life, and yet the Xiaomi POCO X6 Pro doesn’t struggle with either. Taking gorgeous photos is quick and painless with the POCO X6’s sensational 64MP triple camera, ideal for truly capturing moments as you remember them.

Some of the very best phones under £200 are manufactured by Xiaomi, and while many of their value options are brilliant, you won’t find a better deal than the POCO X6 for its price.

For the Apple enthusiast on a budget, behold the Apple iPhone SE, the most affordable iPhone on the market. Under the hood, the iPhone SE has a fantastic array of hardware, such as the terrific A15 Bionic core (as found in the iPhone 14). Browsing as well as gaming on the iPhone SE never falters for a second, it’s truly one of the most powerful phones on the market, let alone one of the best phones under £500.

For users with smaller hands who don’t enjoy the increasingly larger phones on the market, the iPhone SE’s 4.7-inch display shall be a breath of fresh air, and its ultra-lightweight build makes for comfortable one-handed use.

As for its photography, the iPhone SE certainly leaves something to be desired – with a single 12MP camera and a 7 MP selfie camera, there’s nothing particularly exciting about the SE’s picture-taking abilities.

And yet, besides its slightly lacklustre camera, the iPhone SE manages to retain its excellence as a smartphone with ease, we simply cannot help but recommend it.

Folding phones are finally coming of age, with durable build quality and all the features you’d expect from a modern smartphone. This Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 has some great features that make the best of the foldable form factor. Firstly, it’s genuinely compact when folded at just over 4 inches. Secondly, there’s a Cover Screen on the outside – it’s AMOLED and gives you essential info without needing to unfold the phone.

Once unfolded though, you’ll see a 6.7-inch AMOLED display running at a smooth 120hz. Throw in water resistance, a hands-free selfie camera and a stunning design and you have a real head-turner of a phone.

In our review of the Oppo Find X5 Pro we found the more expensive Pro model to be extremely well built and specced. But thankfully, this standard model seems to have inherited many of the Pro features that made the Oppo Find X5 stand out. The display is a stunner – running at 120hz and AMOLED for deep blacks and rich accurate colours.

Using this phone for nighttime photography or video is a dream, thanks to specially developed sensor tech – in association with Hasselblad. Just in terms of megapixel count – yes, you’ll find better, but the overall package here offers a slim and refined smartphone with 4K video capabilities that handle low light very well. If you’re all about flexibility with your shooting when it comes to light, this is a great choice.