Best cheap unlocked smartphones UK 2026 — under £150
The best cheap unlocked smartphones in the UK are refurbished flagships. At £80-150, you get flagship-grade performance, cameras and 5G that no new budget Android can match at the same price point.
Best under £100
Refurbished iPhone 12 (64GB, Grade B) — from £80
5G, MagSafe, A14 Bionic. iOS updates until approximately 2026. Best iPhone under £100.
Refurbished Google Pixel 6a (128GB, Grade B) — from £90
Google Tensor chip, outstanding AI-powered camera, Android updates until 2027. Best camera under £100.
Refurbished Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (128GB, Grade B) — from £70
120Hz AMOLED, 5G, 64MP quad camera, 4500mAh battery. Samsung committed to 4 years OS updates.
Best under £150
Refurbished iPhone SE 2022 (64GB, Grade B) — from £100
A15 Bionic in a compact 4.7-inch body. 5G. The smallest 5G iPhone available refurbished. Perfect for users who prefer a lighter, smaller phone.
Refurbished Google Pixel 7 (128GB, Grade B) — from £130
Tensor G2 chip, one of the best cameras under £150, Android updates until 2027.
Refurbished iPhone 13 (128GB, Grade B) — from £110
A15 Bionic, 5G, Cinematic Mode video, iOS 18 support through approximately 2027. One of the UK's most popular refurbished purchases.
Refurbished Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (128GB, Grade B) — from £100
32MP selfie camera, 120Hz display, 5G, Snapdragon 888. Outstanding battery life for a mid-sized Android.
What to look for at this price
5G — all models above include 5G. Avoid 4G-only devices at this price point.
Software support length — Apple supports iPhones 5-6 years from launch. Google commits to 7 years for Pixel 6+. Samsung commits to 4 years for S and recent A-series.
Battery health 80%+ — guaranteed by all GadgetRank retailers. Check Settings → Battery → Battery Health on iPhone after receiving.
12-month warranty — non-negotiable. All GadgetRank retailers provide this.
30-day right to return — under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have a 30-day right to reject any device not as described, regardless of warranty terms.
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Where to buy cheap unlocked smartphones in the UK
All retailers listed on GadgetRank's buy refurbished comparison are certified UK refurbishers — not private sellers. They carry out full functional testing, battery health checks, account lock verification and cosmetic grading before sale. Every device comes with a minimum 12-month warranty and 30-day returns.
Buying from a certified retailer rather than a private seller (eBay, Facebook Marketplace) means you know exactly what condition grade you are getting, the iCloud lock is verified as cleared, the battery health is guaranteed in writing, and you have legal recourse if anything is wrong. For cheap unlocked smartphones, the peace of mind is worth buying certified.
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Why compare on GadgetRank?
GadgetRank is an independent UK comparison site — not affiliated with any retailer, recycler or network. Every comparison is based on live price data. There are no paid placements or sponsored rankings. The best current offer appears at the top because it is the best current offer, not because of any commercial arrangement.
All retailers listed on GadgetRank meet minimum quality criteria: Trustpilot score of 4.0 or above, minimum 12-month warranty, battery health guarantee, and devices unlocked to all networks. This baseline means every option on GadgetRank is a trustworthy choice — the comparison is purely about price and any additional perks.
GadgetRank updates all comparison prices daily from live merchant data feeds. The price you see is the price the retailer is paying or charging today — not a cached or estimated figure. Check back regularly as recycler prices and refurbished phone prices move frequently, particularly in the days surrounding major product announcements from Apple and Samsung.