Here we take a look at the best budget phones you can buy for £200 or less. When you buy a SIM free phone you can pop your existing SIM card into the device, if you’re looking for a cost effective, contract free alternative order your free Asda Mobile SIM here.
- Motorola Moto G6 - Best Screen Size
- Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 - Best Display
- Apple iPhone 6 - Best for Apple Lovers
- Get Your Free SIM with Asda Mobile
- Huawei Y7 - Best Camera
- LG Q6 - Unofficially the LG G6 mini
Motorola Moto G6 - Best Screen Size
The Motorola Moto G6 is widely recognised as one of the best mobile phones that falls into the sub-£200 category.
Motorola has named the style of screen as Max Vision, due to its expansive 5.7” display having minimal bezels (the space between the edge of the screen and the frame). The viewing experience is enhanced with Dolby Audio, making this a great phone for video, TV and movie streaming.
If you have ever damaged a phone in the past then you will really appreciate the toughened 3D Gorilla Glass construction and the P2i coating, which protects against splashes or rainfall. Further features include a fingerprint reader that supports tap and swipe gestures and the Android Oreo operating system that brings with it the Google Assistant.
The 12MP + 5MP dual camera is incredible at this price point and you can do cool things with photos such as blurring the foreground or the background. You can really make your photos pop by making the background black and white or by just keeping one colour in the image. The 8MP wide-angle selfie camera supports group selfies and beautification.
The Moto G6 comes with 32 GB or 64 GB of memory and has the battery life of a marathon runner, thanks to it’s fast charging TurboPower Charger. You can pick up the 32GB model at an average price of £180.
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 - Super Display
You might be surprised to find a branded Samsung phone in this list of cheap phones. The Galaxy J6 2018 is Samsung’s best offering in this price range and the 5.6” Super AMOLED display is stunningly vivid while energy efficient. This great budget phone is great for those who want a full HD experience without the high price tag.
Samsung is determined to give you a visual treat, with various screen modes such as AMOLED Photo and AMOLED Cinema. With these you will enjoy the perfect screen settings for every type of media.
Just like the Moto G6, the Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 has a fingerprint sensor. However, Samsung trumps Motorola with facial recognition as an alternate way of unlocking your phone. There are loads of features to explore including the Oreo version of Android, Samsung Health, Bixby, Dolby Atmos Surround Sound, and Game Launcher. Game Launcher lets you block notifications, hide the navigation buttons, and adjust the performance for high-end gaming or for saving the battery.
The main 13MP camera has a special Night Mode that takes pictures without the flash. This is a great way to capture those difficult low-light photos because image noise and distortion are minimised. The 8MP portrait camera has shooting modes that include Selfie Focus, Wide Selfie Mode, and live beauty effects.
The all-important battery does not disappoint. You should be able to get up to 17 hours of video playback, 76 hours of music playback or up to 13 hours of internet browsing.
Apple iPhone 6 - Apple Lovers Cheap Alternative
There are still retailers selling the Apple iPhone 6 within our £200 budget. If you are an Apple-centric family then this is one of the best ways to get an iOS-powered phone and although the phone is a flagship model from previous years, you can upgrade your iOS to the latest version for free.
The Apple iPhone 6 is made from a mix of premium materials such as glass, stainless steel and aluminium. It is palm and pocket friendly with its compact size and 4.7” display. The Touch ID fingerprint sensor allows you to secure the device or make payments through Apple Pay. The 8MP iSight rear camera captures wonderful results and the FaceTime HD camera lets you make video calls.
The iPhone 6 has the Siri digital assistant and preloaded health and fitness apps. The fitness app links to the barometer, which measures inclines when you are climbing staircases. The battery performs well offering up to 11 hours of internet browsing or up to 50 hours of audio playback. The best part is this handset supports the old headphone jack, which has been erased from Apple’s latest models.
Get Your Free SIM with Asda Mobile
With the iPhone 6 you will need a Nano SIM card, when you order a free SIM from Asda Mobile you will receive all 3 types of SIM card; Standard, Micro and Nano. No matter what phone you get, you don’t have to worry about knowing which SIM will fit.
If you are buying a handset then you might want to consider Asda Mobile Sim Only Bundles. With Asda Mobile you never sign a contract, you choose your 30 day bundle depending on how many calls, data allowance and texts you need that month.
Huawei Y7 - Great Design
If you prefer android phones here’s another phone for less than £200.
Huawei is the second most popular phone brand and they have overtaken Apple in the number of global phone sales. This makes the Huawei Y7 a firm favourite in our list of affordable phones and it can be picked up for the least amount of money.
The experience is still rich and fun, demonstrated perfectly by the Karaoke Mode that has real-time sound feedback. This phone has a 5.9” Full View Display and the Blue Mirror version of this mobile really makes a statement with its highly reflective surface.
There is more fun to be had with the 13MP main camera and 8MP selfie camera. The selfie camera has an AR Lens and cosplay feature. The editing tools are fantastic, enabling you to add studio-grade lighting effects to portraits, swap out the background altogether and use background blur on both front and back cameras; which is something Apple have only just introduced with their iPhone XR! Premium features include the Android Oreo OS, 3, and Fingerprint Unlock.
This device can be found on offer for around £180, which is a great deal cheaper than the Huawei P20 which is their newest device priced at £500-£600.
LG Q6 - Unofficially the LG G6 mini
The LG G6 is the last of the best phones for under £200 that we take a look at here. Often referred to as the LG G6 mini, this device can easily be mistaken for a flagship phone.
It features the tall, sleek design, and commendable build quality of the G6, but doesnt have the fingerprint scanner and obviously isn't as quick; but it is around £150 cheaper.
This budget phone comes in 16, 32 and 64GB models with the option to add up to 256GB extra storage space using the microsd card slot.
It is similar in many ways to the other phones mentioned with its 5.5” FullVision Display, aluminium frame, and facial recognition. The camera is the standout feature because it has plenty of different shooting modes. Snap Shot is one of these modes and it allows you to review the photo that you have just taken, while lining up the next photo on the other half of the screen. The 13MP main camera also has Steady Record for those who prefer to shoot video. The 5MP portrait camera has a 100-degree wide-angle lens for taking group selfies.
Haven't found what you’re looking for?
If you’re looking for a phone that's easy to use or for the elderly try reading our Doro 1360 Review, if you want to expand your phone budget then we suggest our Samsung or iPhone guides.
