Get exclusive tech offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
By signing up, you agree to the Finder
Privacy & Cookies Policy
and
Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy.
Compare cheap phones in Australia
Looking for an outright handset bargain? It pays to shop around and consider your options when looking for a cheap phone.
TRENDING
Smartphones
Best Phones
Mobile Phone Brands
Guides
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Quick facts about comparing cheap phones
- Consider the type of device you need. Are you after a low-cost smartphone or a flip phone with physical buttons?
- Cheap phones either lack features of more expensive devices, or are much slower to perform.
- Budget handsets are best suited to making calls, sending text messages and limited other functions.
Cheap feature phones with physical keypads
Cheap Android phones
If you're after a low-cost phone deal, you need to consider your choices, not only in terms of handsets but also in how you want to pay for it.
Paying up front for your phone and then dropping a prepaid SIM in it is almost always going to be cheaper in the long run. However, not everyone can afford to pay that upfront cost of a new phone.
Fortunately these days the market is full of budget feature phones and even cheap smartphones, which can be used to make phone calls and send messages. They typically don't serve as well as a portable computer for browsing the Internet or taking photos, even though they may technically do these things.
As with all decisions, it's best to think about your individual needs when deciding on what phone to buy. If you're after the best low-cost phone, we've rounded up our selection of the best budget phones, based on our extensive testing of Australian devices.
Another alternative is to pick up an affordable handset on contract. To help get you started, here's a range of affordable handsets on contract plans for less than $30 per month:
Cheap phones on a plan
What to consider when buying a cheap phone
- Will it meet my needs? Cheap phones are cheap for a reason, and you can't expect the absolute latest and greatest features. Of course, this shouldn't be a problem if your needs are modest.
- Prepaid or month-to-month? One of the great things about buying a handset outright is that you can opt for a prepaid SIM for maximum cost control, but you may find you get better value out of a month-to-month postpaid SIM-only deal.
- Will I be able to get cases and other accessories? Sure, it's cheap, but that's no reason not to protect it with a case. Your choices may be more limited depending on the model you choose, although it's rare to find a handset with absolutely no case options if you carefully hunt online for them.
- Smartphone or feature phone? You can't buy "premium" feature phones any more, but in the absolute budget space, they're still common. If all you want is a phone that has calling and text features, feature phones can be an ideal match, but it's perfectly feasible to get an entry-level Android handset for the same kind of money as many feature phones.
If you need a new prepaid or contract SIM for your new handset, our Mobile plan Finder can guide you through selecting the very best plan for your needs.
Image: Shutterstock
More guides on Finder
-
Finder Daily Deals: The 5 best online deals in Australia today
Today's best Finder Daily deals include: Half price Sennheiser Gaming Headsets, 60% off health and beauty, Catch Mother's Day sale.
-
Motorola Moto e7 review: Low cost phone with balanced compromises
The Motorola Moto e7 primarily sells on the fact that it’s rather cheap, and with that come a well-balanced set of compromises.
-
Best SSDs in Australia
Speed up your system with one of the best SSDs you can buy right now in Australia.
-
realme 7 5G review: Affordable 5G with an amazing display
The realme 7 5G brings a lot of features to the mid-range 5G market at an appealing price point, but it’s not quite the super-bargain it might seem.
-
realme Buds Air Pro review: Active Noise Cancelling without the huge price tag
With active noise cancelling on board for under $200, the realme Buds Air Pro offer good value for those looking for a true wireless bargain.
-
Best iPhone 12 Pro cases in Australia
Keep your new tech protected with one of the best iPhone 12 Pro cases available right here in Australia.
-
Apeman C450 Dash Cam Review: Functional, but not fancy
If you just want to track your car’s progress for the fundamentals, the Apeman C450 will get the job done, but its price does reflect the lack of polish or additional features on offer.
-
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Review: Android flagship brilliance
If you can stand the price point, there’s an awful lot to like about Samsung’s highest tier Galaxy S21 handset.
-
Best pillow and cushion inserts in Australia
We’ve found the seven best pillow and cushion inserts you can buy in Australia right now.
Ask an Expert
I have a dodo regular sim and now i need a phone in plan without sim
Hi Rebika,
Thanks for leaving a question on Finder.
We have no dedicated comparison of phone-only plans because all of the phones featured on our pages come with a sim. You can however consider importing grey import phones if you would like to save money on your next phone.
You can also go to our Mobile Phone Finder and we will help you in choosing your next phone. You can use our comparison table to help you find the phone that suits you. When you are ready to apply, simply press the “Buy at Amazon” button.
Cheers,
Joel
I am looking for decent android phone under $300. I have been using Xperia Z2. But shattered the screen recently.
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your inquiry. I’m sorry to hear about your phone.
You can compare the some decent and reliable phones on our page from some of the best manufacturers. Once you arrive at the page, please navigate to the list of stores and select the buy button to find your ideal phone for the right price.
Hope this information helped.
Cheers,
Arnold
I am a Senior citizen, who never carries a phone. Last night I broke down in the car on my own and wanted to contact help Luckily a good samaritan stopped and lent me his mobile, problem solved.
My wife has now said I must get a cheap phone, not 2G, although I will probably never use it please advise on the best to buy.
Many thanks
Martin
Hi Martin,
Thanks for your inquiry.
I’m sorry to hear about the incident that you had. I’m glad someone helped you in that situation.
If you’re looking for a cheap phone, you can check your local area or the Internet to check your options. Aside from that, you can also check the phones listed on this page. It should be a good place to start your search.
Alternatively, you can also try getting a mobile plan for seniors and ensure you stay connected.
Hope this information helped.
Cheers,
Arnold