Best Budget Samsung Phone UK 2023 – Best Galaxy Smartphones

Samsung is best known for its top-quality smartphones and tablets, but it also has a range of budget phones that are reasonably priced and feature outstanding performance, camera quality, and software design. Samsung’s S series has always been the company’s flagship device, and while they have continued to improve year on year, the mid-range models still hold up well against their more expensive peers. Samsung’s A-series are usually budget phones with lower prices than most of their rivals yet offer similar specs as the higher-end devices, making them arguably some of the best Samsung phones on the market, all things considered. They are more polished than the M series, and come in various shapes and sizes, as well as providing better hardware specifications under different price brackets.

The Samsung Galaxy A series is a line of affordable entry-level flagship smartphones from Samsung. According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung’s Galaxy A devices accounted for 58% of its smartphone sales in 2021. This series focuses more on product quality and advanced features. In addition to offering reasonable prices, the Samsung Galaxy A series includes many popular features commonly found in other premium Samsung devices, such as fingerprint recognition, SAMOLED screen, IP67 water resistance, fast charging capabilities, quad cameras, and higher pixel density, and excellent battery life, making them an excellent choice for a budget Samsung phone.

In recent years, Samsung Galaxy A series phones have developed to a very high standard. Although the Galaxy A series does not match the performance of its flagship siblings in the S series, it offers excellent performance at a cost-effective price.

While many models come under Galaxy A series, here we list the best Samsung phones in each generation. So let’s jump into the list!

Best Samsung Budget Phone in 2022

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G offers many of the same great features as its predecessor but at a lower price. Despite its good camera and excellent display, the Samsung Galaxy A53 isn’t for everyone due to its slow charging and poor performance. Even though Samsung didn’t fix what wasn’t broken in the A53, it remained current long after other phones had retired due to its superb upgrade commitment. Making the A53 an excellent choice for a cheap Samsung phone.

Specifications:

Processor: Exynos 1280 Octa-core

Display: 6.5-inches, 1080×2400 pixels 

RAM/Storage: Upto 8GB/256GB

Back Cameras: 64 MP(wide), 12 MP(ultrawide), 5 MP(macro), 5 MP(depth)

Front Camera: 32 MP

Battery: 5,000mAh 

Reasons To Buy:

• Impressive cameras
• Stylish design
• Good-looking screen
• Great display
• Solid software support

Reasons To Avoid:

• Slow navigation
• Battery life could be better 
• Performance is extremely slow
• Charging is slow

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

Galaxy A52 5G offers value, features, and smart compromises at the right price. An impressive build, an appealing display, an extended battery life, and a good camera are among the device’s best features. The Galaxy A52 5G isn’t the fastest midrange phone out there, and the secondary cameras don’t impress, but if you want a $500 phone with 5G, this is one of the best options. While the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G doesn’t come with top-of-the-line specs or a low price, it’s still a great option if you’re looking for a budget Samsung phone to rival the Google Pixel 4a.

Specifications:

Processor: Snapdragon 750G Octa-core

Display: 6.5-inches, 1080×2400 pixels 

RAM/Storage: Upto 8GB/256GB

Back Cameras: 64 MP(wide), 12 MP(ultrawide), 5 MP(macro), 5 MP(depth)

Front Camera: 32 MP

Battery: 4,500mAh 

Reasons To Buy:

• Solidly built & Unique design
• Large 120Hz display
• Long-lasting battery
• Priced just right
• Versatile main camera
• IP rating

Reasons To Avoid:

• Middling performance
• Scratch-prone display
• Other cameras are less than average
• They lack exciting features

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G

Galaxy A51 was one of Samsung’s most significant mid-range phones for 2020. Here’s Samsung’s attempt at making a phone worth buying at a reasonable price. Display-wise, Samsung Galaxy A51 is surprisingly good. A large OLED screen with a high pixel count was rare in mid-range phones, but Samsung was able to manufacture a device with a large OLED screen. 

Samsung calls the Galaxy A51 “Glasstic.” This material is stronger and more durable than pure plastic. With the Samsung Galaxy A51, you can get an attractive Galaxy phone at an affordable price, but it feels a little too slow due to its sluggish performance. There are some specific and significant ways in which Samsung’s budget phone outperforms the Apple iPhone SE 2020.

Specifications:

Processor: Exynos 980 Octa-core

Display: 6.5-inches, 1080×2400 pixels

RAM/Storage: Upto 8GB/128GB

Back Cameras: 48 MP(wide), 8 MP(ultrawide), 5 MP(macro), 5 MP(depth)

Front Camera: 32 MP

Battery: 4500mAh 

Reasons To Buy:

• Brilliant, colourful display
• Excellent build quality
• Durable battery
• Great value for money

Reasons To Avoid:

• Poor speaker
• No water resistance
• Slow performance

Samsung Galaxy A50 5G

It features a beautiful AMOLED display, a powerful battery, and a beautiful design for a midrange price of $349. This phone is more than adequate for most purposes, thanks to its high-quality cameras, clean software, and impressive gaming capabilities. With the Samsung Galaxy A50, you can do it all while receiving a fantastic user experience. A poor performance, a mediocre speaker, and a lacklustre fingerprint sensor make the Galaxy A50 less attractive than the Google Pixel 3a.

Specifications:

Processor: Exynos 9610 Octa-core

Display: 6.4-inches, 1080×2340 pixels

RAM/Storage: Upto 6GB/128GB

Back Cameras: 25 MP(wide), 8 MP(ultrawide), 5 MP(depth)

Front Camera: 25 MP

Battery: 4000mAh 

Reasons To Buy:

• Well-optimised software
• Stunning AMOLED display
• Versatile cameras
•  Elegant design
• Long battery life

Reasons To Avoid:

• Poor performance
• Mediocre speaker
• Bad fingerprint sensor
• Inadequate low-light camera

Galaxy A71 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is a solid midrange device that stands up well to its competitors. It has a 6.7-inch screen, good battery life, and quick performance. The plastic back ensures durability. The battery is capable of lasting nearly an entire day. It also features expandable storage, NFC, and a headphone jack. In addition, it will receive software and security updates for three years. 

For those interested in getting a 5G Android phone soon and spending no more than $500, the A71 is a good buy. A 5G Pixel 4 costs the same amount as the A71. The Pixel 4 has several advantages over the A71, including better photos. However, its battery isn’t as long-lasting, and its storage can’t be expanded. Both phones offer software and security updates for three years, but Pixels will probably receive them much sooner.

Specifications:

Processor: Exynos 980 Octa-core

Display: 6.7-inches, 1080×2400 pixels

RAM/Storage: Upto 8GB/128GB

Back Cameras: 64 MP(wide), 8 MP(ultrawide), 5 MP(macro), 5 MP(depth)

Front Camera: 32 MP

Battery: 4500mAh 

Reasons To Buy:

• Beautiful display
• Great performance
• Nice cameras
• Battery life is long

Reasons To Avoid:

• Heavy and bulky
• Not very durable
• Bad audio quality

Samsung Galaxy A50s

Galaxy A50s is nearly identical in size to Galaxy A50. The Galaxy A50 is just 3 grams heavier than the Galaxy A50, with the 48MP camera sensor replacing the 25 MP primary camera. Compared to the Galaxy A50, the Samsung Galaxy A50s looks like a more incremental upgrade. This is primarily due to the 48MP camera being integrated into the A-series. Therefore, the phone is a much-improved version of the A50 but doesn’t match the competition’s offerings. If you want a phone that looks good and is easy to use, the Samsung Galaxy A50s is a good choice when it comes to a cheap Samsung phone.

Specifications:

Processor: Exynos 9611 Octa-core

Display: 6.4-inches, 1080×2340 pixels

RAM/Storage: Upto 8GB/128GB

Back Cameras: 48 MP(wide), 8 MP(ultrawide), 5 MP(depth)

Front Camera: 32 MP

Battery: 4000mAh 

Reasons To Buy:

• Excellent build quality
• Bright AMOLED screen
• Lightweight design
• Great details with a 48MP camera

Reasons To Avoid:

• Not as good in low light
• Performance disappoints
• Poor gaming performance
• Ineffective wide-angle camera

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G

Samsung has you covered with the Galaxy A32 5G, an inexpensive Android phone with 5G and excellent battery life. But you can also expect years’ worth of Android updates and security updates since Samsung backs this phone. Besides its low-resolution screen, the Galaxy A32 5G is an excellent budget-friendly 5G phone competing against the OnePlus Nord N200. Get a protective case to prevent it from sliding.

Specifications:

Processor: MediaTek MT6853 Octa-core

Display: 6.5-inches, 720×1600 pixels 

RAM/Storage: Upto 8GB/128GB

Back Cameras: 48 MP(wide), 8 MP(ultrawide), 5 MP(macro), 2 MP(depth)

Front Camera: 13 MP

Battery: 5000mAh 

Reasons To Buy:

• Classy design
• Affordable 5G
• Long battery life
• Impressive performance for the price
• Excellent software upgrade policy

Reasons To Avoid:

• Very slippery
• Slow charging
• Bulky
• Midrange speaker 

Which Samsung A series smartphone has the best camera?

The Galaxy A53 offers the best camera of the current A-Series devices. There are five cameras on the phone, including a 64MP main camera with optical image stabilisation, which allows you to take clear, crisp pictures and smooth videos in low light.

A 12MP Ultra Wide Camera lets you take excellent outdoor photos. The 5MP depth camera and Bokeh effect allow you to capture every detail while blurring the background. The A53’s AI Image Enhancer lets you remaster your entire shot for a superior final product.

Are the Samsung A series phones water-resistant?

The A series of Samsung phones have become more water-resistant in the past few years, but not all of them are. Galaxy A53 and A33 5G have IP67 water and dust resistance ratings. Therefore, they can survive for up to 30 minutes under one metre of water. 

One of the key differences between the Samsung S series and the A series is that all S series devices have an IP68 certification, meaning they can survive 30 minutes underwater at a maximum depth of 1.5 metres. As a rule of thumb, Galaxy smartphones shouldn’t be submerged in seawater or chlorine.

What is the difference between Samsung A-Series and M Series?

Samsung Galaxy, A series and M series, are two different lines of Samsung mobile phones. With the Samsung Galaxy A series, the price range ranges from a low-cost budget device to a mid-range high-end smartphone. As the name suggests here, the line-up is called the “Awesome” and is known for its exemplary build quality and flagship-like features. The Galaxy A series is basically for people who want the premium feel of a flagship Samsung phone without having to shell out much money. 

On the other hand, the M series has been quintessentially designed, keeping the needs of the young customers in mind. The M stands for “Millennials“, and this series is a battery-centric range aimed at millennials. It is also priced lower than the Galaxy A series.

Comparatively, in terms of hardware, the Galaxy A series and M Series have similar specifications. However, the Galaxy A series boasts better cameras, while the M series has superior battery life. In addition, the M-series phones do not come with features like Samsung Pay, Samsung Pass, Edge panel, Edge lighting, In-display fingerprint scanner, Bixby, Secure folder, or other Knox-dependent functionality.

The differences between the two ranges are quite clear, but it is also worth noting that the Galaxy A series is beside the Galaxy S series. While Galaxy S phones fall under the Samsung Flagship category, Galaxy A series falls under the mid-range category.

How to choose the best Samsung budget phone for you?

Budget smartphones are an essential part of any tech enthusiast’s collection. If you’re looking to get started with your first smartphone or want a reliable option once you’ve switched from a feature phone, you can’t go wrong with Samsung’s flagship entry-level budget options.

Buying a cheap smartphone doesn’t mean sacrificing features, so decide what aspects are important to you and build around those. As long as you’re comfortable with the functionality of an Android handset, Samsung is one of the best choices out there.

The refurbished handset deals don’t get much cheaper when coupled with the unlocked and contract-free option from The Big Phone Store. Choosing a refurbished model when you are already on a budget opens up opportunities to acquire newer models available at a discount. Alternatively, refurbished handsets provide great value if you wish to save money on a new buy.

You can find the right Samsung budget phone by choosing from various models ranging in size, storage capacity, display resolution etc. Whether you prefer a device with a great camera, a long battery life, or a stylish design, our list of the best budget smartphones provides something for everyone.

Benefits of Choosing Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Smartphones

Access To Discontinued Model

If you’ve wanted to buy a flagship model for 2020 or 2021, but it’s discontinued by Samsung, then a refurbished version of the phone may be the perfect solution. With a refurbished version, you can have access to a phone in various cosmetic conditions, from good to mint condition. You can even pick up a refurbished phone at half its original retail price. This is especially useful if you can’t find the exact model you need to buy.

No contract

You will not be tied down to a contract with a refurbished phone. So if you’re planning to switch service providers, this is a desirable option. Also, you won’t have to worry about paying monthly instalments for the next two years. Instead, you’ll pay upfront and only pay for the phone itself.

Take advantage of dual-sim technology

With no contract, you can use two different network types to maximise your monthly billings. Moreover, you can use one card for calls and another for data. And if you travel often, dual sim phones are ideal since they allow you to keep track of both numbers without having to carry extra cards.

Service warranty

When you purchase your refurbished phone from The Big Phone Store, you get a 12 monthly warranty against manufacturing defects. This means that you risk nothing when you choose to buy a refurbished phone.

Return Policy

If you encounter issues while using your refurbished phone, you can return it within 14 days of receiving it. All you need to do is fill up the return form and request a replacement. We will send you a replacement as soon as possible.

Flexible Instalment

Another advantage of buying a refurbished phone is that you can make instalment payments after purchasing the phone. If you aren’t looking forward to paying the full amount upfront, you can consider making part payment for your phone and spreading the rest over multiple months. 

In conclusion, we hope this post helped give you an idea of what kind of features you should expect from each model on the market today. Regardless of which particular model of Samsung smartphone you plan to go for, we highly recommend considering all these aspects of mobile devices. Once you know these factors, you can purchase the best smartphone for your needs.