Buying basic smartphones

What should you look for in a basic smartphone?

A basic smartphone is a fully-fledged Android phone with entry-level hardware. You get all the apps from the Google Play Store, a decent camera and usually a long-lasting battery; however, you’ll have to compromise on processing power, low-light camera performance and charging speed. You’ll hardly notice this when making calls, messaging, using social media, listening to music, using sat-nav or taking photos in daylight. However, you will notice it when playing demanding games, editing videos or running ten apps at once. You can see the latest models and prices in the overview above.

Can’t decide between two handsets? Put them side by side in our mobile phone comparison tool. If you’re not yet sure what you’re looking for, start by going through our selection guide.

Basic, budget or no apps at all?

This page filters by what a device can do, not by how much it costs. If you’re searching by price or don’t want any apps at all, you’ll end up with a different list.

• Cheap smartphones: filtered by price. This list includes stripped-back handsets, but also discounted mid-range models with far more advanced features.
• Budget phones: the comprehensive budget list, ranging from basic smartphones to handsets for making calls only.
• Phones up to 200 euros: a strict price cap, handy if your budget is fixed.
• Dumbphones: no Android and no app store, just calls and texts. So this is different from a basic smartphone.
• Feature phones: simple handsets with physical keys and a few extras, such as a camera or radio.

What you really need to look out for with an entry-level model

Four things determine whether a cheap smartphone will continue to work well for years to come.

• Storage: where possible, choose 128 GB rather than 64 GB. Photos, updates and apps will fill up the smallest model faster than you think, and a full phone becomes sluggish.
• RAM: the more RAM, the smoother the transition between apps. On the very cheapest handsets, you’ll regularly have to wait for an app to reload.
• Battery: a 5000 mAh battery or larger will last a whole day without needing a top-up. However, such a device does weigh more.
• Charging speed: this is where manufacturers almost always cut corners. Expect to charge overnight, not in half an hour.

Five years of updates are now mandatory

Since 20 June 2025, new smartphones in the EU must receive operating system and security updates for at least five years, and every device must carry an energy label with a repairability score (EU regulation). An entry-level model is therefore no longer automatically written off quickly. Just be careful with devices that came onto the market before that date: the requirement does not apply to them. You can see how long a specific model will receive updates on the specifications page: click on ‘Specifications’ at the top of the product page.

Who are you buying it for?

A basic smartphone is often a gift or a device for someone else. That changes what you need to look out for.

• For children: Look for a sturdy build, a replaceable screen and the option to set up parental controls. An expensive handset is rarely the sensible choice here.
• For older people: Look for a large, bright screen, loud sound and a simple interface. Brands such as Doro include these features as standard.
• Refurbished: a professionally inspected ex-flagship model often offers a faster processor and a better camera than a new entry-level model for the same price.