The Best Smartphones Under £400

The Best Smartphones Under £400

Are you looking for a fantastic new smartphone, without spending premium prices? There are plenty of brilliant mid-range devices currently on the market, created by world-renowned manufacturers.

To make things even easier, we've handpicked some of the best smartphones that you can pick up for less than £400. All boast amazing specs, sleek designs and impressive cameras, making them incredible value for money. (All prices correct at time of publishing)

Samsung Galaxy J6 (2018)

If you'd like to get your hands on a recent Samsung smartphone, but you'd prefer something that's more budget-friendly, then consider the Samsung Galaxy J6. Design-wise, this device has been crafted from durable, slick-looking plastic and you can choose from either a black or gold design.

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There's a fingerprint scanner located on the back, right underneath the 13MP rear camera. The 8MP front-facing camera features Selfie Focus on board, so it'll look like you've snapped a photo on a dual-lens camera.

As for the specs, the Samsung Galaxy J6 is a powerful device. Tucked away under the hood there's 3GB RAM, 32GB of internal memory, an octa-core processor and a huge 3,000mAh battery - seriously powerful for a handset that's just over £200.

If you're all about snapping photos directly from your smartphone, you're going to love the Samsung Galaxy A6. There are two 16MP cameras to play with - a serious bargain considering it's just £259 SIM-Free.

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Optical image stabilisation, auto focus and face detection are all on board to ensure every photo you take is as detailed as possible, while the special LED flash on the front-facing camera offers three brightness levels. Snap away in any light, whether it's dawn, dusk or late in the evening your selfies look great without being overexposed.

The Samsung Galaxy A6 has a 5.6-inch Infinity Display that's almost bezel-free, meaning you can look forward to a fully immersive experience when watching videos or movies. Running behind the scenes you'll find 3GB RAM, an octa-core processor and Android Oreo too.

Can't decide? Check out our Samsung Galaxy J6 (2018) vs A6 (2018) head-to-head.

Nokia 3.1

Nokia has a bunch of incredible smartphones for under £400, and the Nokia 3.1 is an amazing all-rounder. SIM-free it'll cost just £149, a surprisingly low price tag considering the specs.

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Running on Android Oreo, the device is powered by 2GB RAM, an octa-core processor and an impressive 2,990mAh battery. With a microSD card you can store up to 128GB on the Nokia 3.1 - plenty of space for apps, videos and photos.

The Nokia 3.1 certainly doesn’t look like a budget phone either. Aluminium sides create a stunning contrast with the smooth plastic back, while subtle curves ensure the handset feels great in the hand. The 5.2-inch HD+ screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass for increased durability, and last but not least, two high-spec cameras - 13MP on the rear and 8MP on the front - will serve you well in any light.

Nokia 6.1

At just £199, the Nokia 6.1 serves some impressive specs. With a premium-looking design and a detailed 5.5-inch Full HD display, you'd be excused for thinking it was a high-end smartphone.

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Partnering with ZEISS optics for the Nokia 6.1's rear camera, this 16MP shooter won't let you down. Highly detailed shots are guaranteed, and thanks to a dual-tone flash you can expect natural-looking photos even in darker environments. You can shoot in 4K too, and even take stills from your video without compromising on quality. The front-facing camera meanwhile, is just an impressive at 8MP.

As for everything else, the Nokia 6.1 weighs just 172g, boasts a long-lasting 3,000mAh battery, offers up to 32GB of storage space with expandable to 256GB via microSD card and is powered with 4GB RAM and Android Oreo.

Huawei Y7

If you're looking to pay even less, consider the Huawei Y7. A recent release from the tech giant, it comes in at an incredibly affordable £149 SIM-free.

Like Huawei's other devices, the standout feature on the Huawei Y7 has to be the camera. Both the 13MP rear camera and the 8MP selfie-shooter perform brilliantly, and thanks to the selfie toning flash you're guaranteed to look great even in low light.

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As for the overall design, the smartphone boasts slick curved edges, an almost edge-to-edge 5.9-inch FullView HD display and a fingerprint scanner located conveniently on the back.

For added security, you can unlock the Huawei Y7 using facial recognition technology too. As for the rest of the built-in tech, expect to find Android Oreo, 32GB of memory and a 3,000 mAh battery - it's a fantastic all-rounder.

iPhone SE 32GB

If you love Apple handsets, but don't fancy ssplashing out on the manufacturer's more premium handsets like the iPhone X or iPhone 8, try the iPhone SE instead - the most budget-friendly iPhone available.

Pocket friendly with a 4 inch display, the iPhone SE shares the same iconic shape as the best-selling iPhone 5S. It's available in silver, space grey and gold too, as well as a stunning rose gold. After updates, you'll also be able to enjoy iOS 11, the very same operating system found on Apple's most recent smartphones.

You'll find a speedy A9 processor on board, as well as both Touch ID and Apple Pay. Curious about the quality of the camera? The iPhone SE has a 12MP primary lens, can take Live Photos and is selfie-ready at 5MP. Budding videographers can even shoot in 4K.

Huawei P20 Lite and P Smart

Huawei has a reputation for creating some of the best mid-range smartphones, and the all-new Huawei P20 range is not to be ignored.

The little brother of the brand-new flagship Huawei P20, the Huawei P20 Lite falls well under the £400 mark. Packed with some of the most advanced features around, you'll find a beautifully designed frame that's made from durable glass front and back, and the same cutting-edge 5.8-inch FullView HD+ display as the premium P20.

Camera-wise, you're looking at a dual-lens 16MP and 2MP rear camera and a crystal clear 16MP front-facing camera. Combined with the huge 3000mAh battery too, the P20 Lite promises to last longer, take incredible snaps and look super stylish.

Fancy something with an even lower price point? Try the budget-friendly Huawei P Smart. It comes in under £400, which you might find hard to believe considering it offers a cutting-edge dual-lens camera. Take professional looking shots with minimal effort thanks to the 13MP and 2MP primary camera and the impressive 8MP front-facing camera, then view them on a rich 5.65-inch FullView HD+ screen which is protected by a solid yet sleek aluminium shell. Just as its name suggests, it’s one smart device inside and out.

Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 (2017)

One of the leading Android manufacturers, there's a Samsung Galaxy handset to suit everyone. Explore the A series for an excellent new mid-range device, the Samsung Galaxy A3 and Samsung Galaxy A5 in particular are worth considering.

Standout features of the Samsung Galaxy A3 A3 include a smooth metal frame with curved edges and an IP68 dust-proof and water resistant rating, a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and a 13MP main camera with an f/1.9 aperture so you can get the best shots in low light.

As for the Samsung Galaxy A5, you’ll find plenty of power packed into the device with 3GB RAM, 32GB of storage and a long-lasting 3000mAh battery. Design-wise, the Galaxy A5 is crafted from a metal body and enjoys a glass back - when it comes to looks, the Galaxy A5 wouldn’t look out of place amongst some of the most advanced devices currently on the market.

Camera-wise, you’ll find 16GB both on the front and rear - whether you’re a budding photographer or love selfies, you’ll never be disappointed with the outcome of your shots.

Sony Xperia XA2

Built to impress, this eye-catching device is ideal if you’re all about the camera. Set to rival a professional shooter, the 23MP primary camera is designed to capture every moment with absolute clarity. Recording in 4K too, you couldn’t ask for more from a device under £400.

The Sony Xperia XA2 looks and feels great in the hand too. The borderless, edge-to-edge 5.2-inch screen is designed to let you see more without increasing the device’s overall size, and the long-lasting battery and speedy processor make multi-tasking easy while providing power all day long.

Nokia 8

Last but not least, consider the Nokia 8, which is a far cry from the manufacturer’s older, retro mobile phones. The Nokia 8 is sculpted from polished aluminium that’s built to last, featuring a polarized 5.3-inch screen crafted from Corning Gorilla Glass. Colours appear brighter and true-to-life, ensuring steaming videos, viewing photos and browsing the web is a pleasure whether you’re indoors or outside.

A dual 13MP camera on the front with wide-angle detection autofocus guarantees no moment will be missed, while Dual Sight (making its debut on the Nokia 8) means you can use both the front and rear camera simultaneously.

On top of all that, you can shoot in 4K, download as many apps as you please thanks to 64GB of storage and use your device for longer without having to reach for your charger with the 3090mAh battery that’s on board.

Buying a mid-range smartphone doesn’t mean you have to miss out on some of the latest innovations in tech. Find your perfect device for less, today, at Mobiles.co.uk.