Best Phones Under £300 UK – October 2026

What £300 Actually Buys You Right Now

Spend around £300 and you can get a very capable unlocked phone. The trick is finding a new UK handset you can actually order at that price. Right now, the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G and OnePlus Nord CE5 are the stand-out options. A few other tempting models have crept over budget, fallen below the requested £280–£320 band or lost their reliable £299 availability. That matters more than a dazzling spec sheet. "At this budget try and get more than 128Gb memory and 5g, these 2 are very much the minimum at this price."

TL;DR — Our Top Picks at a Glance

1. Samsung Galaxy A37 5G — Best overall; long support and IP68 protection. £299
2. OnePlus Nord CE5 — Best for performance; fast chip and 256GB storage. £299
3. Motorola Moto G77 — Best cheaper option; good screen and expandable storage, but below the £280 floor at £249.99
4. HONOR Magic8 Lite — Best battery; exceptional stamina, but over budget at £329
5. HONOR 400 — Best camera upgrade; dependable main camera, but from £329.99 with a code
6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G — Big battery and detailed daylight shots, but over budget at £349
7. Motorola Edge 60 Fusion — Lovely screen and light build; £299.99 launch price, without a verified current qualifying offer
8. POCO M8 Pro 5G — Strong hardware for £299 list price, but no verified purchasable UK offer at that price

Want the details? Read on for the trade-offs, key specs and comparison table. It’s especially worth a look if you’ve found a listing that seems suspiciously cheap.

Top Picks with Detailed Reviews

1. Samsung Galaxy A37 5G

• Display & Performance: 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED; Exynos 1480; 6GB RAM and 128GB storage at this price.
• Cameras: 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), plus 8MP ultrawide and 5MP macro.
• Battery Life: 5,000mAh; the sensible everyday choice rather than a two-day battery specialist.
• Pricing: £299 new, 6GB/128GB, shown in stock at AO in Which?’s retailer comparison.
• Ideal User: Someone who wants a balanced phone to keep for years, not the biggest numbers on a spec sheet.

Why put the A37 first? It sidesteps a familiar budget-phone problem: a tempting price paired with short support or weak protection from water and dust. Samsung promises six Android upgrades and six years of security updates, while IP68 is reassuring if your phone gets caught in a proper British downpour. The stabilised main camera is the one you’ll rely on most. The macro lens? Less of a reason to buy.

There is a catch: storage. This £299 offer is for 128GB, not the much dearer 256GB version, and 6GB of RAM looks a little lean beside some rivals. Even so, the 120Hz AMOLED screen and Exynos 1480 make for a very likeable everyday phone, particularly if you care more about a dependable experience than benchmark bragging rights.

Check the price before you buy. Currys lists the A37 at £399, so this recommendation depends on AO still fulfilling the £299 order. If the price has disappeared by checkout, don’t pay another £100 just because this phone is our top pick.

2. OnePlus Nord CE5

• Display & Performance: 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED; Dimensity 8350 Apex and 256GB storage.
• Cameras: 50MP OIS main and 8MP ultrawide; the main camera is the clear favourite.
• Battery Life: 5,200mAh on the UK model, with 80W charging.
• Pricing: £299 new, 256GB Black, in a current OnePlus deal comparison; no trade-in or cashback required.
• Ideal User: Anyone who wants the quickest-feeling phone here without giving up sensible update support.

If speed is high on your list, the Nord CE5 makes a strong case for itself. Its Dimensity 8350 Apex is a lot of performance for £299, and you get twice the storage of the A37. GSMArena also found that it lasted well and took good photos with its main camera, including in low light. Useful strengths, rather than a fast chip with nowhere to show off.

There are compromises, of course. The ultrawide and selfie cameras aren’t as convincing, and IP65 protection doesn’t match the A37’s IP68 rating. OnePlus promises four Android upgrades and six years of security updates. That’s good support, though Samsung offers more major-version upgrades.

One thing to watch when comparing reviews: the UK Nord CE5 has a 5,200mAh battery, not the 7,100mAh cell quoted for the Indian version. Stick to the UK specifications. At the verified £299 price, it’s an excellent alternative to the A37: go Samsung for stronger water resistance and longer OS support, or OnePlus for speed, storage and quick charging. No e-sim but does offer sd card expansion for more memory.

3. Motorola Moto G77

• Display & Performance: 6.78-inch 120Hz pOLED; Dimensity 6400; 8GB RAM, 128GB storage and microSD expansion.
• Cameras: 108MP main without OIS, plus 8MP ultrawide.
• Battery Life: 5,200mAh; good endurance, though not a standout two-day option.
• Pricing: £249.99 new, 8GB/128GB, SIM-free at John Lewis — below the requested £280–£320 band.
• Ideal User: A shopper happy to spend less who mostly photographs people and places in good light.
• Gorilla Glass i7 protection
• 3 OS updates and 4 years security patches
• SD Card expansion
• e-sim compatability, great if you go abroad

At £249.99, the G77 doesn’t fit the £280–£320 band, so let’s not pretend it’s a £299 rival. But if £300 is your maximum rather than an amount you’re keen to spend, saving about £50 is worth considering. You still get a large OLED screen, expandable storage and a battery that performed well in an August review.

The compromise is easiest to spot in the camera. Photos in good light can look pleasing, but reviewers found the camera sluggish to use and night-time detail unreliable. That 108MP headline can’t make up for the lack of OIS, which matters when your hands or your subject move after dark. IP64 protection is another step down from the Samsung.

Motorola offers three OS upgrades and four years of security patches. That’s workable, but the A37 costs £49.01 more and promises much longer support. Choose the G77 if you’d rather save the cash and mostly take daylight photos. If you want a phone to keep for years, the Samsung is the more convincing buy.

4. HONOR Magic8 Lite

• Display & Performance: 6.79-inch 120Hz AMOLED; Snapdragon 6 Gen 4; 8GB RAM and a generous 512GB storage.
• Cameras: 108MP OIS main and 5MP ultrawide.
• Battery Life: 7,500mAh on the UK/European model; 66W charging. Expert Reviews measured 40 hours 38 minutes in a looping-video test.
• Pricing: £329 new, 8GB/512GB, at Currys with store collection shown — £9 above the £320 ceiling.
• Ideal User: Someone who can genuinely raise the limit for exceptional battery life and lots of storage.

This one’s easy to understand: the Magic8 Lite pairs a huge battery with 512GB of storage, and its video-test result is remarkable. If you travel often, work shifts or simply hate seeing the battery warning pop up mid-afternoon, that endurance could make a real difference.

It’s also built to take a knock, with IP68/IP69K protection, and HONOR specifies six years of OS and security updates in Europe. On paper, £29 over your maximum doesn’t look like much.

But battery life isn’t everything. Reviewers describe performance as adequate rather than exciting, and the small ultrawide and weaker low-light photography mean this isn’t the phone I’d pick for spontaneous evening shots. More importantly, £329 is outside this guide’s buying limit. A small overspend is still an overspend. If £300 is a firm ceiling, stick with the A37 or Nord CE5. If battery life is the main thing you’re paying to improve—and you’re happy to raise your budget—the Magic8 Lite deserves a look.

5. HONOR 400

• Display & Performance: 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED; Snapdragon 7 Gen 3; 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
• Cameras: 200MP OIS main and 12MP ultrawide.
• Battery Life: 5,300mAh with 66W charging; TechRadar found it capable of getting through an intensive day.
• Pricing: From £329.99, 8GB/256GB, with code A400AP20 at HONOR UK; stock is not clearly confirmed there. Argos lists it at £399.99.
• Ideal User: A keen everyday photographer who can increase the budget and confirm the discounted order is available.

The HONOR 400 is a better camera upgrade than its 200MP headline might suggest. TechRadar liked the main camera’s reliable results and respectable night mode—handy for indoor snaps or a quick photo on the way home. The ultrawide gives you more room to frame a shot, although there’s no dedicated telephoto camera for distant subjects.

Six years of OS and security updates also make it a plausible phone to keep for a while. IP65 is useful in rain and splashes, but it’s not as protective as the A37’s IP68. TechRadar also found MagicOS could use some polish. Neither is a deal-breaker, but both are worth bearing in mind when you’re spending extra.

Take care with the listing. £329.99 is already £29.99 over budget, depends on the stated code and doesn’t clearly confirm stock; the straightforward Argos price is much higher. Make sure you’re looking at the HONOR 400, not the cheaper HONOR 400 Smart. At a confirmed discounted price, it’s worth stretching for the main camera. At £399.99, it’s no longer a close-budget alternative.

6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G

• Display & Performance: 6.83-inch 120Hz AMOLED; Dimensity 7400-Ultra; 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
• Cameras: 200MP main and 8MP ultrawide.
• Battery Life: 6,580mAh with 45W charging.
• Pricing: £349 new, 8GB/256GB, at established UK pricing — £49 over the ceiling.
• Ideal User: Someone who wants a large screen and battery, and doesn’t mind tidying up Xiaomi’s software.

There’s plenty to like about the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G: a big AMOLED screen, a hefty battery, IP68 protection and six years of security updates alongside four years of OS upgrades. TechRadar found it smooth for everyday use, with impressive daylight photos. Night shots were still usable, although darker areas could lose detail.

The software may take more patience than the hardware. System-app adverts, notifications and pre-installed apps are genuine irritations. You can spend time tidying things up, but at this price it’s fair to expect a cleaner start.

Then there’s the price: £349 isn’t a £300 recommendation. A tempting £296 marketplace listing is for a different 8GB/512GB variant, not a verified offer from the manufacturer or a major retailer that makes the established 256GB phone qualify. If you’re happy to spend £349 for the screen and battery, just go in with your eyes open about the interface. For a firm £320 limit, the A37 and Nord CE5 are the safer buys at their stated prices.

7. Motorola Edge 60 Fusion

• Display & Performance: UK model with Dimensity 7300, 6.67-inch 120Hz pOLED, 8GB RAM and 256GB expandable storage.
• Cameras: 50MP OIS main and 13MP ultrawide.
• Battery Life: 5,200mAh with 68W charging.
• Pricing: £299.99 UK launch price, 8GB/256GB; a readily purchasable new UK-stock offer at £280–£300 is not currently verified.
• Ideal User: Someone who values the soft vegan leather backed design, light, comfortable phone. Oh and the karate chop torch gesture.

On its own merits, the Edge 60 Fusion could have been a lovely £300 option. Reviewers praised the screen, light build and main camera. Its stabilised 50MP sensor is more useful to most people than a huge megapixel count that doesn’t guarantee good results. Expandable storage and IP68/IP69 protection add to the practical appeal.

But a launch price isn’t necessarily the price you can pay today. The cheaper listings currently available are international versions or offers from smaller sellers, rather than confirmed, readily purchasable new UK stock in the right price band. Don’t assume a listing with the same Edge 60 Fusion name has the UK specification or the buying terms you expect. Its newer sibling, the Edge 70 Fusion, is £379 at John Lewis.

There’s also a support trade-off if you do find the right model: three Android upgrades and four years of security updates fall short of Samsung’s commitment at £299. I’d gladly reconsider this Motorola if a dependable UK retailer brought the correct version back at £299.99. For now, its place here is a nudge to check the seller—not a reason to chase an old price.

8. POCO M8 Pro 5G

• Display & Performance: Snapdragon 7s Gen 4; 6.83-inch 120Hz AMOLED; 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
• Cameras: 50MP OIS main and 8MP ultrawide.
• Battery Life: 6,500mAh with 100W charging.
• Pricing: £299 UK launch/list price, 8GB/256GB; Xiaomi UK’s live buy page does not show a purchasable price, and a tracked maker offer is out of stock.
• Ideal User: A patient buyer who can wait for a confirmed, orderable UK offer at £299.

On paper, the M8 Pro is an easy phone to get excited about. You get a big AMOLED screen, a large battery, very fast charging and IP68 protection, backed by a capable everyday chip. Reviewers praised its endurance, display and general speed. If a mainstream UK retailer had new stock at the £299 list price, it’d be well worth considering.

The trouble is that £299 isn’t a verified price you can currently buy at. The old £279 promotion is no longer live stock, and I wouldn’t point you towards a questionable listing just to give POCO a place in a £300 round-up.

Software is the other sticking point. HyperOS comes with more clutter than I’d like, and the phone launched on Android 15, using one of its reported four Android upgrades simply to catch up. Six years of reported security updates sound better, but they won’t make the interface cleaner today. Keep the M8 Pro on your watchlist if the battery and charging appeal. Until you can place a straightforward UK order, though, it isn’t an available £299 alternative to the A37 or Nord CE5.

Comparison Table

Prices and availability are for new UK handsets, not refurbished phones, contracts or trade-in figures. Rows marked outside budget or unverified are comparisons, not qualifying £280–£320 buys.

Buying Guide

• Which size and screen? All the phones here have OLED-family screens with a 120Hz refresh rate, so there’s no need to get caught up in a fancy display label. Size is more personal. These 6.6–6.8-inch phones are great for maps and video, but they can feel like a lot of phone if you’re used to one-handed use. If you can, try one in a shop. Water resistance is worth checking, too: IP68 on the A37 is more reassuring around a sink or in heavy rain than the Nord CE5’s IP65 or the Moto G77’s IP64.

• Budget considerations: Check the exact storage version and seller rather than relying on the model name alone. Which?’s retailer comparison put the 128GB A37 at £299 at AO, while Currys listed it much higher; the Nord CE5 deal gets you 256GB for the same £299. Older models can be good value, but an old launch price doesn’t mean you can buy one new today. If you want a confirmed battery-focused option within the band, the Moto G86 Power is £299 for 8GB/256GB at Very, with a 6,720mAh battery. Its two Android upgrades and four years of security support are relatively short, though. There’s no verified £300–£320 previous-generation Pixel, qualifying Xiaomi/POCO or clearly orderable Nothing Phone (3a) offer to recommend here. Don’t try to make the numbers work with an import, an out-of-stock page or a refurbished phone.

• Cameras, battery and updates: For everyday and low-light photos, stabilisation and consistent results matter more than a big megapixel count. The Nord CE5’s main camera is well regarded in low light; the G77’s unstabilised 108MP camera struggles more after dark. Big batteries bring their own compromises: the Magic8 Lite lasts an extraordinary time, but it’s over budget and its secondary cameras are weaker. And when you’re comparing update promises, count the support for the exact phone you’re buying—not a newer relative with a similar name. Samsung’s six OS upgrades give the A37 a strong advantage if you plan to keep it for years.

Conclusion

Editor’s Choice: Samsung Galaxy A37 5G at £299 from AO, as long as the 6GB/128GB model is still available when you get to checkout. It brings together a good screen, a stabilised main camera, IP68 protection and unusually long support. After more speed and storage? The £299 OnePlus Nord CE5 is the one I’d choose instead.

The other six phones have their appeal, but none is a straightforward new £280–£320 purchase at the stated current terms. Spending £329 on a battery champion might be the right call for you; an old £299 price attached to unavailable stock isn’t a bargain.