If you are in search of the best phones under £250 then this article is for you. After reading reviews on numerous mobile phones I’ve come up with the best mobile phones under £250. These mobile phones are good for day-to-day tasks and decent photography.
Expensive smartphones have always won the game in the smartphone sector. What about owning a smartphone on a budget? Mobile data has become more affordable, so people can now afford to get on this smartphone bandwagon. Nowadays, smartphones come with all of the features one would expect on more expensive devices, including high-camera quality fingerprint sensors, 4G and 5G connectivity and many more. Many interesting launches have been done in the past, but in this post, we will point out the five best affordable smartphones priced under £250, which you can buy easily. You might also like the Best Phones under £400
These are the best phones under £250 in the UK
| Phone’s Name | CPU | RAM | Battery | Buying Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy A54 | Exynos 1380 | 8GB | 5000mAh | Buy from Amazon |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 | Mediatek MT6877 Dimensity 900 | 8GB | 4500mAh | Buy from Amazon |
| Samsung Galaxy A33 | Exynos 1280 | 8GB | 5000mAh | Buy from Amazon |
| Honor Magic 4 Lite | Snapdragon 695 | 6GB | 4800mAh | Buy from Amazon |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G | Snapdragon 695 | 6GB | 5000mAh | Buy from Amazon |
| Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G | Snapdragon 695 | 8GB | 5000mAh | Buy from Amazon |
1. Samsung Galaxy A54
One of the best phones under 250 is the Samsung Galaxy A54. If you are looking for a phone which will let you enjoy 5G connectivity, this phone is one of the best options for your budget. Despite being a mid-range phone, you get one on one features on it which include an AMOLED display and advanced software updates. However, the only major thing that I did not like about this phone is that it lacks the much-needed headphone jack.
This phone has a 6.4-inch screen which comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor at the bottom. No doubt the AMOLED display offered on this phone is flawless, as it offers a great resolution and high brightness levels. Even the frame rate offered is exceptional. This phone comes with Exynos 1380 processor, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and actually meets my expectations when it comes to performance. The battery life is also praise-worthy.
If I talk about the look of this phone, it looks pretty attractive. It has an aluminium frame and the back is made up of glass. Both the back and front of this phone are made up of Gorilla Glass 5 which gives it a great finish but does not offer as much durability as a plastic body would have offer and has more chances of getting cracked if dropped. You get an IP67 water resistance rating on this phone making it more durable.
What We Like
- 120Hz AMOLED display.
- Attractive design.
- IP67 water resistance rating.
- 5G enabled.
What We Don’t Like
- Lacks a headphone jack.
Specifications
| Brand: | Samsung |
| Display: | 6.4 inches AMOLED 120Hz |
| Front Camera: | 32 MP |
| Primary Camera: | 50 MP, 12 MP, 5 MP |
| Processor: | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| Storage: | 128GB |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh |
| Weight: | 202 g |
2. OnePlus Nord CE 2
OnePlus Nord CE2 is one of the best phones under £250. The smartphone has similar build quality as its predecessor, but we can find changes in its overall look. The camera layout is new and has two main cameras bulging outside with a tiny macro camera and flash. We can find the Oneplus branding logo in the middle of the phone. The back panel is made of plastic but looks like glass giving it a unique look. The smartphone is sleek with a thickness of about 7.8 mm and weighs 173 grams.
The phone has a 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90-hertz refresh rate. The picture quality is very vivid and crisp; the visuals are immersive. There is an in-screen fingerprint which is fast and effective. The display has Corning Gorilla glass 5 protection for the front, and the 90-hertz refresh rate ensures the scrolling experience is far better than the older phones. Oneplus Nord CE2 has MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC chipset. It has 8GB RAM and up to 128 GB UFS 2.2 storage which is enough space for all the files and documents. Android 11 with Oxygen OS 11.3 is eligible for two major OS updates.
Oneplus Nord CE2 has a triple camera with a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP macro camera. The main camera performs very well in natural light, the colours are original, and the details are clear. The selfie camera is 16 MP which is enough for taking decent selfies with natural colour tones in good light. If you look at the battery, it comes with a 4500mAh battery with a 65-watt super-fast charging capability. We can say that the smartphone is one of the best phones under 250 for the features it provides. The smartphone has a beautiful design, a good AMOLED display, a powerful battery, and a clean UI.
What We Like
- 90Hz AMOLED display.
- Fast charging.
- Slim and light body.
- Attractive design.
- Decent camera performance.
What We Don’t Like
- Average performance.
- Plasticky rear panel.
Specifications
| Brand: | OnePlus |
| Display: | 6.43 inches AMOLED 90Hz |
| Front Camera: | 16 MP |
| Primary Camera: | 16 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP |
| Processor: | MediaTek Dimensity 900 (6 nm) |
| Storage: | 128GB |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Battery: | 4500 mAh |
| Weight: | 173 g |
3. Samsung Galaxy A33
Samsung Galaxy A33 is another competitor on the list of the best phones under £250. The smartphone has a 90 hertz super AMOLED screen and an integrated 5G modem, so you won’t have to choose between 4G and 5G versions. The display is 6.40 inches with 1080p resolution. It has a more powerful Exynos 1280 chipset with a new processor and gaming-friendly graphics. The smartphone’s design is subtle and has a clean and smooth look. Even though the phone is made up of plastic, it does not give that cheap vibe to the phone and provides a high-quality feel and looks.
The smartphone comes with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Talking about the camera, the phone has a 48 MP primary camera with OIS and an 8mp ultra-wide lens, a 5 MP macro lens, and a 2 mp depth sensor with a 13mp selfie camera on the front. The picture quality is very clear during the daylight, and the images have detailed and have a good dynamic range. Samsung A33 has a big 5000 mAh battery that lasts for a good amount of time with light usage. The smartphone features 25W fast charging, but you do not get a charger in the box, and if you have a type C charger that would work with this smartphone, you will have to go for a new charger.
The smartphone has Samsung Exynos 1280 chipset and is paired with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage providing a smooth performance for this smartphone. The smartphone runs on Android 11 and has the possibility of getting updates in the coming future. The phone access stereo speakers setup is again an upgrade from its predecessor and is provided with a Dolby Atmos sound, which is again a pretty deal for the price it is sold for. Overall this smartphone has a huge feature to offer buyers and is a good value for money.
What We Like
- Super AMOLED 90Hz good-looking display.
- Great software support.
- Good battery life.
What We Don’t Like
- Average performance.
- The cameras’ performance is not so good.
Specifications
| Brand: | Samsung |
| Display: | 6.4 inches Super AMOLED 90Hz |
| Front Camera: | 13 MP |
| Primary Camera: | 48 MP, 8 MP, 5 MP, 2 MP |
| Processor: | Exynos 1280 (5 nm) |
| Storage: | 128GB |
| RAM: | 6GB |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh |
| Weight: | 186 g |
4. Honor Magic 4 Lite
Honor Magic 4 lite is a 5G smartphone that runs on Android 11. The smartphone has a 6.81-inch FHD LCD screen and supports up to 120-hertz refresh rate and 240-hertz touch sampling rate, providing smoothness for immersive enjoyment. The smartphone’s design is unique and has a very different build quality from other phones. The smartphone has squared-off corners and looks sleek and classy.
HONOR Magic 4 lite features of 48 MP triple camera including a 48 MP main camera, 2 MP sensing bouquet camera, and 2 MP sensing macro camera, which is perfect for budding photographers and content creators. The picture quality is crisp and clear and provides a clear image of whatever is shot from this smartphone. The smartphone has a huge 4800 mah battery with 66 watts supercharge that is enough to go for approximately 2 days with light usage. One can refill up to 81% in 30 minutes, and smart charging extends the battery life.
Talking about the performance, the phone has 6GB Ram and 128 GB internal storage, which is enough to keep files and documents, but we do not recommend playing heavy games on this smartphone. However, the smartphone is a good value for money for all those who need a smartphone at a lower price with full features. The phone is equipped with a side fingerprint recognition function, and whether it is to unlock the phone or make a payment, it can be done at the touch of a button. The smartphone is undoubtedly one of the best options buyers can go for under the price range of 250.
What We Like
- Decently strong performance.
- Large 120Hz display.
- Fast charging.
What We Don’t Like
- No AMOLED display.
- Average camera.
Specifications
| Brand: | Honor |
| Display: | 6.81 inches IPS 120Hz |
| Front Camera: | 16 MP |
| Primary Camera: | 48 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP |
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| Storage: | 128GB |
| RAM: | 6GB |
| Battery: | 4800 mAh |
| Weight: | 189 g |
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the next choice for the best smartphones under £250. with 6.67 inches screen with a 120-hertz refresh rate and an AMOLED Dot Display, that level of screen experience with smooth scrolling and lag-free transitions. The smartphone’s design is classy with a flat-edge design and is just like some of the competitors in the market. The smartphone has a real triple camera and delivers an outstanding photography experience. The 108 MP main camera captures stunning images, the 8mp ultra-wide camera extends the perspective providing a 118-degree viewing angle, and a 2MP macro lens captures fine details.
The smartphone comes with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. Powered by Snapdragon 695, the smartphone delivers smooth and reliable performance with 5G support. It comes with a flagship 67W turbocharging that allows the users to charge over half of its 5000 mAh capacity battery in just 15 minutes. Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G comes with dual super linear speakers at the top and bottom of the phone, offering an immersive sound quality for gaming and watching videos.
Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G delivers smooth and reliable performance with 5G support and gives spectacular results while using this smartphone. For the price that it is being sold, one can go for this smartphone without any doubt if the users are unwilling to spend lots of money and smartphones while longing for all the premium quality features that expensive smartphones offer. We can confidently say that this smartphone is one of the best phones under 250, and the buyers will receive maximum satisfaction while using this phone.
What We Like
- Good battery backup and fast charging.
- Decent overall performance.
- Crisp display and stereo speakers.
- Good photo quality in daylight.
- Dust and water-resistant design.
What We Don’t Like
- No 4K video recording.
- Weak selfie, ultra-wide, and macro cameras.
Specifications
| Brand: | Xiaomi |
| Display: | 6.67 inches AMOLED 120Hz |
| Front Camera: | 16 MP |
| Primary Camera: | 108 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP |
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| Storage: | 128GB |
| RAM: | 6GB |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh |
| Weight: | 202 g |
6. Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G
Poco X4 Pro 5G has a 6.67-inch full HD plus AMOLED display with a camera cutout for selfies. It features a 120 Hertz refresh rate and a 360-hertz touch sampling rate. The display screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and has a back glass panel that gives the phone a premium look. The back panel is designed to create various patterns when light hits at certain angles; sometimes, it looks like a glowing lightsaber. The colour options are entertaining and have grabbed maximum attention from the buyers.
The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 and has an octa-core soc with a primary CPU clock speed of up to 2.2 gigahertz. The smartphone features 8GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage with UFS 2.2 flash storage. The device’s performance is long-lasting, and one cannot question it. The smartphone provides a lag-free experience even during heavy usage. Poco X4 pro has a 5000 mAh battery and supports 67W fast charging, which is enough for 2 days if the phone is used lightly. It also has an IP53 rating which means it can survive accidental water splashes.
The Poco X4 Pro 5G has three rare cameras, including a 64 MP primary camera and an 8mp ultra-wide camera with a 2MP macro camera. The selfie camera is 16 MP and comes with a bunch of filters. With an additional “more” option, one can shift their shooting modes from panorama and long exposure to normal capture. The picture quality has good detailing, but we are looking for more improvement in the camera quality. The smartphone offers an attractive design with a bunch of features at a price range of 250, and considering the price, it has immense features for the users.
What We Like
- Premium design.
- Excellent battery life and fast charging.
- Great 120Hz display.
- Loud stereo speakers.
- Decent performance.
What We Don’t Like
- Cameras are average with poor low-light performance.
- No 4K or 60fps video recording.
Specifications
| Brand: | Xiaomi |
| Display: | 6.67 inches AMOLED 120Hz |
| Front Camera: | 16 MP |
| Primary Camera: | 108 MP, 64 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP |
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| Storage: | 256GB |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh |
| Weight: | 205 g |
