Under £500 is the sweet spot for most buyers — you get excellent cameras, smooth performance and long software support without spending flagship money.
The Pixel 8a is the standout phone under £500. Its camera competes with phones costing £1,000+ / $1,260+ and it comes with 7 years of software updates.
The S24 FE delivers Samsung's flagship camera system and polished software at a genuinely accessible price.
The only iPhone under £500. Compact, fast and packed with Apple features — the most affordable way into the iOS ecosystem.
The Google Pixel 8a is the best phone under £500 in 2026 — outstanding camera, clean Android and 7 years of updates at a competitive price.
The iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the only new iPhone under £500. For a refurbished iPhone, the iPhone 14 can often be found at this price.