Best Phones Under £500 UK 2026: New and Refurbished

The best phone under £500 depends on whether you want new or refurbished

For a new Android phone, start with the Google Pixel 9a and Honor 400. For a refurbished iPhone, compare the iPhone 16 with the cheaper iPhone 15. If you want a large screen and a built-in stylus, the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is worth a closer look. These are different answers to different needs, rather than one winner for everybody.

You do not need to spend the full £500. At the price examples below, a suitable phone can leave a substantial part of the budget for storage, accessories or your mobile plan. Spend the extra only when you can identify a feature you will use.

Price examples checked: 8 September 2026. These are dated examples from offers tracked by GadgetRank, not automatically updating prices within this article. They can change or sell out. Follow the device links for current offers and confirm the final price, condition and delivery details with the retailer.

Quick comparison: new and refurbished phones under £500

These are specific example offers, not a claim that each is the cheapest offer across the entire UK market. Refurbished grades are the seller's own classification. Read the cosmetic description and battery promise before comparing them with a new phone or a higher-grade listing.

How we selected this shortlist

This is a desk-researched buying guide using published manufacturer specifications and GadgetRank's tracked offers. We have not conducted comparative hands-on tests for this article, so we do not present laboratory scores or claim that one camera always produces better photographs than another.

Each choice has an offer within the £500 ceiling and a distinct reason to consider it: new condition, storage, operating system, stylus or camera flexibility. The shortlist deliberately includes both new mid-range phones and older refurbished flagships so you can see what the trade-off actually buys.

The recommendations assume you are buying the handset outright. A contract is a different comparison because its total includes service as well as the phone. If you are weighing both routes, compare the handset plus your chosen SIM-only plan with the full cost of a contract over the same period.

Google Pixel 9a: our starting point for a new Android phone

The Pixel 9a is a useful first comparison for someone who wants a new phone without spending the full budget. Google's published specifications list a Tensor G4 chip, a 120Hz-capable display, wide and ultrawide cameras, and seven years of updates from first availability. It does not have a dedicated telephoto lens.

At the example price, the buying argument is straightforward: you can choose a new device and keep a sizeable amount of money unspent. That is worth considering if the alternative is an older premium phone whose extra hardware you would rarely use.

Choose it when your priorities are everyday apps, a familiar Google software experience and new condition. Consider a different phone when you specifically need a telephoto camera, a stylus or iOS. Those are concrete requirements that a low price cannot substitute for.

Before ordering, compare the available storage sizes. An attractive base-model price is less helpful if you already know you need more space for photos, downloaded media or large apps. Check the exact configuration rather than assuming every colour or capacity shares the same offer.

The Pixel is also a useful reference point when another phone is advertised with a large reduction from its launch price. Ask what the extra spend gets you compared with this new option today. A historical saving can sound impressive without making the current purchase right for you.

Honor 400: consider it when storage is a priority

The 512GB Honor 400 example gives it a different role in this shortlist. If your current phone is constantly running out of space, compare it with the cost of a larger-capacity version of the other models, rather than comparing every phone at its cheapest storage level.

Honor publishes its model information on the UK specification page. Check the exact UK product and what is included in the offer, particularly if you are comparing a manufacturer's promotion with a third-party retailer's listing.

Our reason for including it is the combination of new condition and the storage in the checked offer. That does not make it the best phone for every task, and a headline camera resolution would not establish that either. If camera behaviour or a particular software feature is essential, inspect evidence for that feature rather than making the decision from one large number.

Choose it when substantial on-device storage would solve a real problem. Skip the extra capacity if you rarely use your current allocation and prefer another phone's software or size. Unused storage is not a saving simply because a retailer includes more of it.

If you have never used Honor's interface, try it in a shop where possible or examine a current demonstration of the model. Small differences in settings, notifications and navigation can matter more in daily use than a specification you never notice.

Refurbished iPhone 16: for buyers who specifically want iOS

The iPhone 16 example is close to the budget ceiling, so the condition and storage deserve particular attention. Apple's iPhone 16 specifications describe the A18 chip, USB-C, Action button and Camera Control. Those are identifiable differences to weigh against the cheaper iPhone 15.

At the checked Grade C price, you are accepting a used device with a seller-defined cosmetic condition. If you want a cleaner example, check the next grade before deciding that this model fits your budget. The cheapest price should not be the only number in the decision.

Choose it when you want those features and the price gap is acceptable. Compare the iPhone 15 when your main uses are messaging, browsing, calls and everyday photographs, and the extra spend would displace something more useful.

Read the battery promise separately from the cosmetic grade. A phone that looks better does not necessarily come with a stronger battery guarantee. If the listing gives only a minimum threshold, decide whether that threshold is enough for your usage before paying extra for appearance.

The price example leaves only £21 within a £500 total budget. That matters if you also need a case, compatible charger or delivery upgrade. If the budget is firm, put those costs into the comparison now rather than discovering later that the handset alone used almost all of it.

Refurbished Galaxy S24 Ultra: for a large screen and S Pen

The S24 Ultra has a specific reason to be on this list: its large display and integrated S Pen. Samsung's model specifications are the reference for its hardware. This is a choice for someone who wants that style of device, not an automatic recommendation for everyone buying Android.

If you regularly annotate documents, take handwritten notes or prefer a larger workspace, compare this option with the new phones above. If you mainly want something light and easy to use one-handed, a large premium handset may be an inconvenience rather than an upgrade.

Check the stylus is included and works, along with the display and camera lenses, when the phone arrives. Accessories and the condition of the parts you actually use matter more than how impressive the original launch positioning was.

The example offer has 256GB of storage. Compare it with the same capacity when checking other sellers. A slightly more expensive listing can still be the better purchase if it offers a condition or battery promise you value, but make that judgement explicitly.

For a broader decision about keeping or replacing an Ultra, our S24 Ultra versus S26 Ultra comparison provides another price reference. Buying the newer model is not necessary simply because it exists; identify the benefit you need first.

Refurbished iPhone 15: a lower-cost route to USB-C on iPhone

The iPhone 15 is the budget-preserving iOS choice in this shortlist. Apple's specification sheet lists USB-C, Dynamic Island and the A16 Bionic chip. It offers a different balance from spending almost the full £500 on the iPhone 16 example.

Compare equivalent storage and cosmetic grades before treating the difference between two offers as a pure model-generation premium. The example prices here happen to use the same storage and grade labels for the two iPhones, but individual sellers can still have different battery and return terms.

Choose the 15 when its feature set meets your needs and keeping the remaining budget matters. Choose the 16 when you can name the newer feature you want and accept the extra cost. Neither decision requires calling an older model future-proof or promising a precise number of remaining update years.

Our refurbished iPhone 15 versus iPhone 16 guide is a useful next comparison. If price is your primary constraint, also check our cheap iPhone guide, but verify the current offers and support information for any older model.

Refurbished Pixel 8 Pro: consider it for telephoto flexibility

Google's Pixel hardware documentation lists a 5x telephoto camera on the Pixel 8 Pro. That gives it a clear hardware distinction from the Pixel 9a. It is relevant if you frequently photograph distant subjects and want a dedicated telephoto option.

That feature alone does not prove it will take the best photograph in every situation. Lighting, movement and the way you use the camera all matter. Compare photographs from a credible test or try the model yourself if camera quality is the main reason for buying.

At the example price, the decision is between different advantages: an older used device with extra camera hardware, or a new device with its own battery and condition advantages. Read the refurbished listing carefully and check the lenses for marks when it arrives.

For a narrower budget, our camera phones under £300 guide is another place to compare options. A model near the ceiling may move above it when you choose a better grade or larger capacity, so confirm the final selection before committing.

Should you buy new or refurbished at this budget?

Buy new when you prefer an unused device and its purchase terms, and the model has the features you need. Consider refurbished when a particular older phone offers something useful that the new alternatives lack. The key is to name the benefit: iOS, a telephoto camera, a stylus or a preferred display size.

Do not assume that a formerly expensive flagship wins every comparison. A different buyer may value new condition more than a feature they will never use. Equally, a used premium model may be the sensible choice when its particular hardware directly serves your routine.

Our new versus refurbished guide explains the purchase considerations. On the shortlist itself, keep the condition, storage and seller terms visible beside the price. That makes the compromise clear before you click through.

Set a complete budget, not just a handset price

If £500 is the whole budget, allow for the things you need to use the phone. Check whether your charger is compatible, whether the listing includes a cable and whether you need a case or screen protector. Include compulsory delivery charges in the comparison.

Then consider your mobile plan. An unlocked handset plus an inexpensive plan may suit you, but compare actual allowances and the full term rather than a promotional first-month price. If you choose a contract, include upfront cost and any scheduled increases when comparing it with buying outright.

Selling your old phone is a separate decision. Use GadgetRank's phone-selling comparison to check offers for its actual condition. Do not depend on the highest advertised quote unless your device qualifies, and keep a fallback plan if a revised inspection offer would affect your budget.

Storage, battery and support: three checks that change value

Start with the storage you already use. Look at the current phone's settings and allow room for what you expect to add. Paying for a suitable capacity now is usually easier than changing phones later because the cheapest version was too small for your needs.

For refurbished devices, read our battery-health guide and ask what the seller actually guarantees. Cosmetic grade, remaining capacity and battery replacement history are separate questions. A clear answer is more useful than a broad claim that the phone has been tested.

Check update commitments with the manufacturer for the exact model. Where support is measured from first availability, the clock does not restart when you buy refurbished. Avoid treating every device with the same brand name as though it has the same remaining support period.

Use your current phone to choose the next one

Write down what annoys you about the phone you already own. If the problem is size, compare dimensions and weight. If it is storage, prioritise capacity. If it is a failing battery, assess whether a battery replacement would solve the issue before spending hundreds on another handset.

This also helps you resist spending the entire budget by default. A cheaper option that fixes the actual problem may be the better purchase. Our phones under £400 guide provides another budget reference if none of the more expensive features here is essential.

Before you place the order

Open the exact device page, choose your storage and grade, and confirm the seller's final offer. Read warranty and return terms, check compatibility with your network, and save the order details. When the device arrives, inspect it and test your essential functions promptly.

For new Android, begin with Pixel 9a and Honor 400. For iPhone, compare the 15 and 16 at matching conditions. For a specific premium feature, investigate the S24 Ultra's stylus or the Pixel 8 Pro's telephoto camera. That gives you a manageable shortlist with a reason behind each choice.

Compare current refurbished offers or browse new phones to check what is available when you are ready to buy.