The best cheap phones 2016: our top budget mobiles

10 best cheap phones 2016: our top budget mobiles

While handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S7, iPhone 6S, LG G5 and the HTC 10 are stealing headlines around the world, there's a lot of intriguing (and cheap) stuff going on in the world of budget phones.

Sadly smartphone innovation isn't cheap – and most of it is reserved for high-end contract handsets. There is however such a thing as a good cheap smartphone, and ever so gently all those amazing features from the flagship devices are slowly trickling down to the budget phones.

Here's a selection of our favourite budget phones that cost under £200. If you're looking to pick up a decent handset for not much cash, these are the top cheap phones your money can buy - even on a budget.

10 best cheap phones 2016: our top budget mobiles

. OnePlus X

OnePlus has gone below £200 and it's paid off

Attractive design

Bright display

No NFC or fast charging

Hard to get a hold of

OnePlus caught our eye with its first phone last year, but this new addition is even more jaw dropping as it has managed to go below the £200 mark.

It can be difficult to get your hands on the OnePlus X because of the invite only system, but once you do you won't be disappointed.

It's not just an impressive spec either. OnePlus has created a gorgeous design for its new budget range and it's beautiful to hold. If you can go through all the pain of getting a phone from OnePlus, go for this one.

. Wileyfox Storm

A newbie has jumped into second place

Great screen

Snappy performance

Average battery

Weedy buttons

Wileyfox has jumped into second place with its first ever phone, the Storm. Much like OnePlus has done, it blows all the previous competition away.

Here you get an incredible 5.5-inch Full HD display, 32GB of storage and a stunning 20MP camera. Put in an 8MP selfie snapper and it's a very impressive set up considering it costs less than £200.

If you want high-end specs like OnePlus offers but don't want to fight tooth and nail for an invite, this will be the best choice for you.

. Moto G (2015)

Motorola's best cheap phone is better than ever

Smart water resistance

Great performance

Bulkier design

Pricer than older Moto Gs

What's this, a Moto G not at the top of our budget "best of" list? Your eyes don't deceive you, the almighty Moto G has been knocked back to fourth even though it's still an awesome phone.
The 5-inch display is high quality despite being only 720p, the quad-core processor is adept at handling most tasks and it can be upgraded to the latest version of Google's Android.
This time it comes with 4G packed inside as well - but there's still no sign of NFC just yet, a big shame. But otherwise, it's a top notch smartphone. We could see Moto jump back up the list as rumours continue to circulate regarding the next generation G.

. Acer Liquid Jade S

An Ace(r) in the hole

Impressive performance

Light, curvaceous design

Disappointing cameras

Mediocre battery life

If you can see past its flaws, the Liquid Jade S offers some of the best performance and build quality of any affordable dual-SIM smartphone.
Thanks to the octa-core processor and Acer's minimal software tweaks, the performance of the Liquid Jade S is simply stellar. Design is another major high point with the lightweight, curvaceous build resulting in a solid and comfortable in-hand feel.
That being said, there are still a few key areas where it suffers in comparison to other mid-range offerings, and as a result, the Liquid Jade S may not be at the top of everyone's wish list.

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