Eight quick questions. You get three phones that fit how you actually use one: best overall, best value and a premium option, plus deals on the network that covers your postcode best.
Phones above your budget, and on the wrong side of iPhone or Android, are removed before anything is scored. If you're happy with refurbished, last year's flagships come in too: they launched above your budget; refurbished prices vary, so check before you buy.
To order the phones we use our own summary of published UK reviews (each card links them where one exists) plus the maker's spec sheet. That summary is a judgement, not a measurement, so it is never shown as a score. Your one or two priorities count most, your everyday use and screen size adjust the rest, and keeping a phone five years or more favours longer update promises.
Every phone here works on all four UK networks (all but one on 5G too), so the signal at home depends on the network, not the handset. Add your postcode and deal links go to the network with the strongest Ofcom coverage there, the same answer as our postcode scanner.
26 phones you can buy in the UK today, on a network or from a UK shop. Each price is the SIM-free price shown on that shop's page when we checked it (with the date), and links to it. Prices change, so check the live page before you buy.
| Phone | UK price | Screen | Battery | Main camera | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola Moto G56 | £199.99 UK launch price |
6.72″, 120 Hz | 5,200 mAh | 50 MP | 4 yrs |
| Motorola Moto G37 | £219.99 UK launch price |
6.67″, 120 Hz | 5,200 mAh | 50 MP | 3 yrs |
| Samsung Galaxy A17 5G | £259 at Samsung UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.7″, 90 Hz | 5,000 mAh | 50 MP | 6 yrs |
| Nothing Phone (4b) | £299 at Nothing UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.77″, 120 Hz | 5,200 mAh | 50 MP | 6 yrs |
| Nothing Phone (4a) | £379 at Nothing UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.78″, 120 Hz | 5,080 mAh | 50 MP + zoom | 6 yrs |
| Samsung Galaxy A37 5G | £399 UK launch price |
6.7″, 120 Hz | 5,000 mAh | 50 MP | 6 yrs |
| Honor Magic8 Lite | £449.99 at HONOR UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.79″, 120 Hz | 7,500 mAh | 108 MP | 6 yrs |
| Google Pixel 10a | £499 UK launch price |
6.3″, 120 Hz | 5,100 mAh | 48 MP | 7 yrs |
| Fairphone 6 | £519 at Fairphone, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.31″, 120 Hz | 4,415 mAh | 50 MP | 8 yrs |
| Samsung Galaxy A57 5G | £529 UK launch price |
6.7″, 120 Hz | 5,000 mAh | 50 MP | 6 yrs |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 FE | £699 at Samsung UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.7″, 120 Hz | 4,900 mAh | 50 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Apple iPhone 17e | £699 at Apple UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.1″, 60 Hz | 26 h video* | 48 MP | Not stated |
| Apple iPhone 16 | £799 at Apple UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.1″, 60 Hz | 22 h video* | 48 MP | Not stated |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Refurbished pick |
£799 UK launch price |
6.2″, 120 Hz | 4,000 mAh | 50 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 | £879 UK launch price |
6.3″, 120 Hz | 4,300 mAh | 50 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Google Pixel 11 | £879 at Google Store UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.3″, 120 Hz | 4,985 mAh | 48 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Apple iPhone 17 | £899 at Apple UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.3″, 120 Hz | 30 h video* | 48 MP | Not stated |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Refurbished pick |
£999 at Currys, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.3″, 120 Hz | 31 h video* | 48 MP + zoom | Not stated |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Refurbished pick |
£999 UK launch price |
6.3″, 120 Hz | 4,870 mAh | 50 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Apple iPhone Air | £1,099 at Apple UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.5″, 120 Hz | 27 h video* | 48 MP | Not stated |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 | £1,149 UK launch price |
6.9″, 120 Hz | 4,300 mAh | 50 MP | 7 yrs |
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro | £1,199 at Apple UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.3″, 120 Hz | 34 h video* | 48 MP + zoom | Not stated |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Refurbished pick |
£1,249 UK launch price |
6.9″, 120 Hz | 5,000 mAh | 200 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | £1,279 UK launch price |
6.9″, 120 Hz | 5,000 mAh | 200 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro XL | £1,279 UK launch price |
6.8″, 120 Hz | 5,115 mAh | 50 MP + zoom | 7 yrs |
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | £1,299 at Apple UK, checked 1 Oct 2026 |
6.9″, 120 Hz | 43 h video* | 48 MP + zoom | Not stated |
Every phone in the catalogue has a published UK price (linked to where it was read) and the maker's own specs. We order them using our summary of published UK reviews, which each result card links to where one exists. The quiz removes phones outside your budget and platform, then weights the ratings by what you said matters most, how you use your phone, the screen size you want and how long you keep a phone.
For calls and data, yes. Every phone in the catalogue works on all four UK networks, so the signal you get at home is set by the network, not the handset. That is why the quiz asks for your postcode and links deals on the network with the strongest Ofcom coverage there.
It can be, but compare real prices: refurbished prices vary by seller and grade. Check the cosmetic grade, the battery health, the warranty length, and how many years of software updates the model has left before you buy.
A phone contract bundles the handset and airtime. Buying the phone outright and adding a SIM-only plan leaves you free to change network if coverage where you live changes, and it can work out cheaper. Add up the total cost of both options before you decide. Our SIM-only deals guide lists current prices.
