5G support was once a flagship-exclusive feature, tied to specialised (and more expensive) variants of phones, in the form of devices like the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, and Oppo Reno 5G. The higher pricing came from the added costs in research and development needed to facilitate early 5G modems, not to mention it was partially a price premium marketers could simply slap on a phone just by its nature of being among the first to offer support for the new standard. Luckily, adding 5G to a phone has become increasingly cost-effective, meaning the technology has also been able to trickle down to affordable handsets that don’t command a flagship price for what could still be considered a flagship feature. As such, we’re rounding up 5G phones costing roughly £600/US$700 or less. If nothing here takes your fancy and you decide 5G isn’t an essential feature right now, then it’s also worth checking out our best mid-range phone and best budget phone rundowns. They’re filled with offerings that are still considerably cheaper than the flagships that currently make headlines, offering both 4G and 5G connectivity. If you want to know about the benefits of 5G support in a phone and what you need to make sure you get the most out of a 5G phone, check out our what is 5G? guide and our best 5G phone roundup for more details.
Best cheap 5G phones 2022
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Excellent software Great design Strong all-rounder
Only 90Hz display Slightly thick No wireless charging
What the OnePlus Nord 2 really demonstrates is the company’s ability to prioritise the features that users are looking for right now, wrapping them up in an attractive package with a compelling price point. The Nord 2 misses out on flagship niceties like wireless charging and waterproofing, but those are really the only compromises made here, and it’s still our favourite mid-range phones right now.
Fast performance Great main camera Nice display
MIUI still iffy Middling telephoto & ultrawide cameras No IP rating
It lacks the astounding 120W super-fast charging of its ‘Pro’-branded sibling but still supports rapid 67W speeds that aren’t to be sniffed at. The 6.67in 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display comes protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, while a 480Hz touch response rate and stereo speakers mean the 11T is also great for gaming.
Nice display Strong performance Capable cameras
Underwhelming finish Middling battery life Slow charging
There’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G powering the A52s that gives it more bite against mid-range rivals, like the OnePlus Nord 2, compared to its non ‘s’ sibling. This reliable mid-range offer may be about to be ousted by the new Galaxy A53 (which boasts 5G as standard) but that will only make this great device even more affordable. Come for the nice design, good battery life and rich camera experience, stay for the impressive long-term software support that Samsung pairs with the phone; it’s practically unmatched.
Brilliant performance 165Hz refresh rate display Improved cameras
Clunky user experience Bulky design Disappointing battery life
The 7 is also one of the few phones boasting an impressive 165Hz display (making it ideal for gaming) and camera performance has finally been tended to, giving you a photographic experience that doesn’t underwhelm compared to the rest of the phone. Not everyone will gel with the Red Magic 7’s skinned Android user experience, a smaller battery than its predecessor definitely wasn’t the smartest move (gaming requires a lot of juice, after all) and it’s a pretty bulky device, but value for money and gaming performance mean it’s still a tempting buy, all the same.
Budget-friendly Headphone jack Expandable storage
Average performance Ships with Android 11
The 4500mAh battery is supported by impressive 65W rapid charging, the 6.43in AMOLED display packs in a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, the main camera is competent and there’s even a headphone jack. The flip side manifests in an Android 11-powered user experience at launch (i.e. not Android 12) that’ll likely only see updates up to Android 13. Still, this is a strong 5G phone for the money.
Long battery life Pleasing display Pro video recording features
Plastic design elements Poor palm rejection tech
The squared-off form factor is very on-trend, even if it is all plastic. On the front, you’ll also find a bright, vibrant and smooth 6.67in 120Hz AMOLED display with a tiny cutout for the front-facing camera, while performance from its Snapdragon 695 chipset isn’t to be sniffed at, either. Other highlights include a surprisingly capable 108Mp lead camera, for the price and decent battery life that’s bolstered by impressively rapid 67W fast charging.
Slim and light Beautiful display Regains full Google support
No waterproofing Mixed camera performance
The company’s first phone to get a global release since going independent, it’s really the only Honor phone we’ve tested that we’d recommend most people consider. The design and display are the biggest selling points here – the Honor 50 looks and feels great, and it’s both slim (7.8mm) and light (175g). The curved 120Hz OLED display is also one of the best you’ll find in any phone at this price. The 108Mp rear camera is pretty strong, though the other rear lenses disappoint. The selfie camera is still good though, and at 32Mp it’s one of the higher-resolution front-facing cameras around. If 5G isn’t a concern for you, the Honor 50 Lite is another solid affordable phone, built in a similar fashion to the standard Honor 50.
Excellent display quality Great performance Big battery
No wireless charging No IP rating Basic cameras
The chipset drops to the (still excellent and still 5G) Snapdragon 870 but an improved display, bigger battery and tweaked design mean this alt still has plenty of appeal. 65W wired charging is just as nippy as you’d expect but sadly the fairly basic camera setup is also unchanged. Expect a solid main camera, but don’t get your hopes up about the ultrawide and macro alongside it.
Standout finish Great battery life Good primary camera
Underwhelming secondary cameras No IP certification Charging issues
Beauty isn’t skin-deep either, with impressive two-day battery life, a surprisingly competent main camera, considering the price, and Realme UI atop Android, which is going from strength to strength across the company’s devices. Don’t expect much from the secondary snappers on the 9 Pro+’s back and you’ll be happy with what this mid-range Realme has to offer.
Great performance Beautiful display Impressive innovation
Middling battery life Plastic build Average cameras
Its 6.92in 120Hz Full HD+ screen is both physically huge and a huge selling point, doling out smooth, responsive interaction that’s great for gaming but also houses the company’s greatly-improved second-generation under-display camera (UDC) too. ZTE’s implementation is even more advanced than what you’ll find on ultra-premium devices, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, even if quality against standard front-facing cameras still doesn’t compare. The rear-facing setup – while lacking a telephoto lens – offers otherwise decent performance, plus the phone possesses 65W fast charging, a pleasant software experience and, despite the innovation on show, a price tag that won’t cripple your bank balance.
