Best Budget Phones Under £200 (Autumn 2021)

Best Budget Phones Under £200 (Autumn 2021)

Reviewing the best budget smartphones of 2021 that I’ve personally tested, with a price under £200 UK. Here’s my favourite top 12 phones right now that boast dependable cameras, strong enough performance for gaming on PubG and CODM, plus respectable specs. Motorola, Nokia, Realme, Xiaomi and Poco all make the cut.

Recently I’ve been a fan of the Nokia G50 and Motorola Moto G50, which offer a stock Android experience. That clean UI means less draining performance, and fast updates (in the case of Nokia certainly).

Xiaomi and Poco offer some of the best budget camera phones in late 2021. The Redmi Note 10s and Poco X3 Pro are solid all-round handsets, with sharp, punchy displays and good performance for gamers too. However, MiUI won’t be loved by everyone, especially with the crapware and slow updates.

What’s your personal favourite affordable phone right now? Let us know in the comments below!

Best Budget Smartphones of Autumn 2021 Chapters:
0:00 – Pointless talky bit
0:56 – Moto G30
2:36 – Moto G50
3:37 – Moto G9 Plus
4:45 – Moto G9 Power
5:50 – Nokia 5.4
7:20 – Nokia G50
8:39 – Oppo A53
9:41 – Poco X3 Pro
11:33 – Poco M3 Pro 5G
12:27 – Xiaomi Redmi Note 10s
13:15 – Xiaomi Redmi 10
13:38 – Realme 8 5G

50 Comments

  1. Phil Horne on October 25, 2021 at 10:04 am

    FAM! Need to replace my Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact as the battery life is emptying faster than Uncle Spurt’s drinks cabinet. Would like it ideally as compact as poss, 128GB plus storage, front firing stereo speakers and waterproofing. All the usual bits and bobs like NFC wanted, 5G ambivlent. Any ideas?



  2. Dawn Dustyy on October 25, 2021 at 10:08 am

    please make another mid range phones video at the end of the year!



  3. Paul Anderson on October 25, 2021 at 10:08 am

    Great.. BUT you never say RAM/ROM sizes….! WHY. I use my phone for photo editing and DJI mini 2 use..I need to know. So hey, please!….



  4. MIhaela Desaga on October 25, 2021 at 10:09 am

    Haha so funny😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂



  5. AihAibArA on October 25, 2021 at 10:11 am

    Watching your vids since 1year. Still using my Iphone 4 no apps working. Subscribed for that



  6. Nick Spindler on October 25, 2021 at 10:11 am

    Nice Weird Science reference there Chet



  7. Trïs Tan on October 25, 2021 at 10:12 am

    hmm surprised samsung not here



  8. ibraheem kantharia on October 25, 2021 at 10:12 am

    One video idea. Opinion on mobile phone contracts.



  9. odobenidaeptg on October 25, 2021 at 10:13 am

    Mate you are a brilliant presenter. I could and do watch you a lot. Another great video.



  10. Rob Wright on October 25, 2021 at 10:13 am

    I’m wondering when you’ll have your Sky Glass tv review up ?



  11. Brian Horrocks on October 25, 2021 at 10:13 am

    Chris I’d steer away from Realme got the Pro 6 didn’t even last the 2 years more like 8 months 🤬💩got the 7 5G from them not impressed Boo Hiss 😔 👎🏻👎🏻 Black Friday Boxing Day Jan Sales can’t come soon enough 📱💰💰💰



  12. rami on October 25, 2021 at 10:16 am

    fyi The moto G20 is practically the same phone (as the g30) with a main 48mp camera and a different soc with comparable performance and better colors (imo)



  13. lee a dorney on October 25, 2021 at 10:16 am

    Im still luvin my mi 10 t lite – does it all with all day battery too 👌



  14. zenistic on October 25, 2021 at 10:17 am

    One trick, Samsung sells high quality lower cost GSM phones meant for Latin America but support any language. You can only order them online such as from amazon.



  15. Quickr on October 25, 2021 at 10:20 am

    I’m stuck between Mi 11 Lite, poco X3 pro and oneplus Nord CE.Obvious choice might be X3 pro but I can’t get over the looks, size and weight of it. I’m leaning towards Mi 11 lite. Any advice? Thank you!



  16. Banunia on October 25, 2021 at 10:21 am

    Can’t ever skip the "talky bit" section in beginning. Sets the tempo



  17. George Kambanis on October 25, 2021 at 10:22 am

    I thought the realme 8 had a amoled screen?



  18. FX Gallego on October 25, 2021 at 10:25 am

    Is Poco X3 Pro using an LTPS IPS display?



  19. Vinyl Monkey on October 25, 2021 at 10:30 am

    Before oppo got recognized by the masses and were a lot cheaper I got a great A series with 4gb RAM, 128gb storage and a great battery. I use it as my second phone and it even has android 11 now. 129 quid in the amazon sale. bargain. I use it for all my dodgy stuff haaha



  20. Vinyl Monkey on October 25, 2021 at 10:32 am

    cant stand MIUI its so bad, i had to send my Poco X3 back the next day. They are great specs but the time it takes to sort a launcher and stuff id had enough. I might go for the Nokia’s if they have good RAM, 6gb or more for me



  21. John Christopher De Asis on October 25, 2021 at 10:32 am

    Have you got your hands on the new realme GT 2Neo?



  22. Petri Salonen on October 25, 2021 at 10:32 am

    Don’t buy HMD Global Nokia phones! They are the worst in quality. Software bugs and hardware failures are very common. Here in Finland 🇫🇮 when I visited a big tech shop 2 weeks ago and looked at Nokia smartphones the seller came and said what kind of price is suitable for you and I said about 200€ Euros is enough. Then he suddenly said "I wouldn’t look at those Nokia phones" and I asked why not is it the bad value low specs for the price? He said "No not that. Because so many customers return them for not liking them plus that too many units are also returned as broken units needing service".



  23. Gon Prad on October 25, 2021 at 10:36 am

    Right now nothing beats PocoX3 Pro gonna buy soon 💪



  24. namelesssnitchy on October 25, 2021 at 10:36 am

    And mister Winnie the pooh is listening with you



  25. Karl Moore on October 25, 2021 at 10:38 am

    @Tech Spurt. I think you got a scammer trolling your comment section on your videos. They are asking for Gift cards as a form of payment to cover custom charges, for a prize that the original commenter has supposedly won.



  26. James Zipp on October 25, 2021 at 10:38 am

    Bro copy and pasting his own videos



  27. Jay-Dan on October 25, 2021 at 10:38 am

    Lol uncle spurt these youngins don’t know what the hell WAP is.



  28. Keith Pawson on October 25, 2021 at 10:38 am

    Nokia are not that quick with updates, still waiting for my Nokia 6.2 being updated to Android 11. Some good phones on offer.



  29. prinx A on October 25, 2021 at 10:39 am

    Nice review. Can you please do a review of the Samsung galaxy a22 4G. Thanks



  30. Joakim on October 25, 2021 at 10:39 am

    I wish Mr Barracuda would take some time to answer our questions in the comment section.



  31. Phạm Minh Tâm on October 25, 2021 at 10:42 am

    NOKIA ❤️



  32. Jan Snow Vlogs on October 25, 2021 at 10:43 am

    Redmi10 for me. Daily driver and casual gaming! Thanks👍👍👍👍🙌



  33. MOBILE GAMES! on October 25, 2021 at 10:43 am

    I thought the one plus 8 was under 200



  34. Rig on October 25, 2021 at 10:44 am

    i got samsung a52s 5g and its the best value for the performance i think



  35. Colin Phillipson on October 25, 2021 at 10:44 am

    Been watching your channel being a fellow Geordie and currently following the Xiaomi deals. I’m torn between the Redmi Note 10S 6Gb 128Mb, Note 10 Pro or the X3 Pro. There’s a £60 increase to the 10 Pro from the 10S, I know it’s extra qualities but is it worth that extra? May wait until the 10 Pro comes onto the daily sales again. What would you choose from this week’s offerings? Thanks.



  36. Ivelin Iliev on October 25, 2021 at 10:46 am

    Poco X3 Pro is on another level. Yeah, its price is a little bit higher, but man…120hz, snapdragon 860, 8GB Ram and 256GB memory for around 250 pounds is the best deal you can get!



  37. Richie EB on October 25, 2021 at 10:47 am

    Cheers for the timestamps mate, deffo grabbing Redmi 10S, really loving that Poco M3 Pro Yellow design but brightness quite weaker on that one.



  38. Jerry Obura on October 25, 2021 at 10:47 am

    Excellent round up, we have seen some good phones this year, my favourites in this list are the first two Motorola’s and the Nokia 5.4, currently am using the 3.4 and loving it but wait if it’s getting dark and grey in the UK maybe it’s time for a trip to Africa.



  39. N.imantha de silva on October 25, 2021 at 10:48 am

    Wow…what.a video…🙂☝️



  40. Banunia on October 25, 2021 at 10:49 am

    Need a compilation of value flagships please



  41. NITHINKUMAR T. S on October 25, 2021 at 10:49 am

    Sir ples your Instagram id



  42. Brandon Johannes on October 25, 2021 at 10:51 am

    Just throw all the motorolas and nokias out, everything else is recommendable 😁😁😁



  43. Lil Veacky on October 25, 2021 at 10:52 am

    can you please leave a link for that Dio wallpaper on Redmi 10



  44. Octavian Grajdan on October 25, 2021 at 10:53 am

    Oppo Find X2 Lite -old but still a great device and for some reasons only 199£ at Argos.



  45. RaahJeff Kshez on October 25, 2021 at 10:57 am

    I m still rocking on Poco F1 its been 3 years.. security update is 2020-12-01 next update coming soon i guess..



  46. jathin gupta on October 25, 2021 at 10:58 am

    Promoting Stock phones ia really good, but it also comes at a cost of some good features, if possible please make a video on disadvantages of Stock Android 🥺



  47. P F E R L Y N on October 25, 2021 at 10:59 am

    "Come & take my hand in a purely platonic passion" 😆😂🤣



  48. Brandon Johannes on October 25, 2021 at 11:00 am

    And let’s be honest, when looking at the Poco and redmi offerings, the rest is a ripoff.



  49. Jason D on October 25, 2021 at 11:00 am

    Nice one man.. What’s the top 3 that you would personally choose from 3 to 1.?



  50. Interstat on October 25, 2021 at 11:01 am

    Basically, thank the Chinese for redefining quality to value.
    The same is happening in the TV market with Hisense (especially) and TCL hammering the competition.