You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a capable smartphone. As of 2025, many phones under £300 offer excellent battery life, good cameras, fast charging, and modern features like 5G. If you want value without compromise, here are the best options in the UK — including some great deals from us here at Phones From Home — and how to pick the right one for you.
What to Prioritise in a Budget Phone
When you’re shopping under the £300 mark, these are the features you should carefully check:
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Battery life & charging speed — Aim for 4,500-5,000mAh or more; faster charging helps if you top up during the day.
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Display quality — Full HD resolution (1080p+) is ideal; a high refresh rate (90-120Hz) makes a real difference for smooth scrolling.
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Camera performance — More megapixels are less important than good sensor size, optics, and image processing (night mode, HDR).
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Software updates & support — Even budget phones benefit from security patches & OS updates.
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Build & extras — Water resistance, stereo speakers, good audio, fingerprint or face unlock, 5G etc.
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Warranty & condition — If buying refurbished or graded stock (like from Phones From Home), make sure the warranty is solid and condition clearly communicated.
Top Budget Phones Under £300 (UK 2025)
Here are some of the best phones around or under £300 — good value, solid specs — that you might find from major retailers and sometimes via Phones From Home.
| Rank | Model | Approx UK Price* | What It Excels At | Potential Downsides |
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| 1 | Motorola Moto G55 5G | ~£150-£200 | Really strong all-rounder: great battery/power, good display, decent camera. | Limited software updates; display contrast might be weaker than premium phones. |
| 2 | Moto Edge 50 Fusion | ~£220-£250 | Excellent battery life + good display; looks premium for the price. | Secondary cameras a bit weaker; some compromises to get that price. |
| 3 | Honor 200 Lite | ~£150-£200 | Strong camera for selfies, good battery; lightweight feeling. | Performance & software might lag vs more powerful models. |
| 4 | Nokia G42 5G | ~£130-£180 | Repairable design; solid battery life; dependable brand. | Lower screen quality vs higher-end phones; fewer promises for future OS updates. |
*Prices approximate based on current UK deals; they may vary especially if buying refurbished, with special deals, or non-retail sources.
If you shop with Phones From Home, keep an eye on similarly priced models — sometimes refurbished/graded versions of the above (or equivalents) may give you even more value, especially if they come with warranty and good condition.
How to Choose the Right Budget Phone for You
Depending on what you care about, lean towards:
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Camera & photos more than specs → go for brands known for good image processing (Honor, Motorola, Google’s a-series when they drop in price).
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Maximising battery / daily life → pick phones with larger battery capacities (5,000mAh+ ideally), efficient processors, and decent charging speed.
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Longevity / resale / updates → even on a budget, spend a bit extra on a model with good update commitment.
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Extras vs price savings → decide whether things like water resistance, wireless charging, stereo speakers are must-haves or nice-to-haves.
Why Phones From Home Might Be Your Best Bet
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We often have refurbished or graded phones in very good condition, sometimes at discounts vs new.
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Warranty period helps reduce risk when buying less-expensive or non-new stock.
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Transparent condition descriptions help you know what to expect.
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We may have flash deals or special offers that bring more expensive phones into the under-£300 zone, with new devices coming daily.
If you are looking for a new device but on a budget get in touch via message and let us help you.