Looking for the best SIM-free phone you can buy for under £500? Every phone below has a current qualifying UK price under £500 and a strong overall score in our comparison data, so you are choosing between phones that are genuinely available at that money rather than a wish list.
Prices and availability can change, so the offers shown reflect the latest qualifying data available to us. Check the retailer's own page before you buy.
Showing the top 12 qualifying phones based on the existing overall score, out of 15 that qualify. Phones outside this list are not necessarily poor choices.
See all phones →From
£404
Everyday speed has a narrow edge over its other scores. Battery staying power trails slightly behind its other scores. Software support is the other area that stands out.
From
£160.62
Strongest for everyday speed and gaming together. Its AI score trails slightly behind its other scores.
From
£420
Particularly strong for battery staying power. Its AI score trails slightly behind its other scores. Everyday speed is the other area that stands out.
From
£389.99
Strongest for long-term software support and screen quality together.
From
£493.97
Consistent scores across the board rather than one standout category. Its AI score trails slightly behind its other scores.
From
£315
Value for money is its clearest strength, with strong long-term software support. Gaming trails slightly behind its other scores. Its AI score is the other area that stands out.
From
£384.99
Long-term software support is its clearest standout. Its AI score trails slightly behind its other scores. Value also scores above the rest of its profile.
From
£420
Everyday speed has a narrow edge over its other scores. Screen quality trails slightly behind its other scores.
From
£272.90
Value for money is its clearest strength, with strong long-term software support. Gaming trails slightly behind its other scores. Battery staying power is the other area that stands out.
From
£289
Value for money is its clearest strength, with strong long-term software support. Gaming trails slightly behind its other scores. Battery staying power is the other area that stands out.
From
£225.89
Value for money is its clearest strength, with strong long-term software support. Gaming is its clear weak point. Battery staying power is the other area that stands out.
From
£249
Battery staying power is its clearest standout. Gaming is its clear weak point. Screen quality is the other area that stands out.
Each pointer below is read straight from the scores and prices shown on this page, so you can jump to whichever matters most to you. Ordered by our existing overall score, highest first.
Strongest overall score
8.9 of 10
Lowest current price on this page
£160.62
Highest camera score here
Camera 9.0
Highest battery score here
Battery 9.4
A phone qualifies here when it scores at least 6.0 overall in our data and we can publish a current price under £500 from an active retailer offer. The list is ordered by that stored overall score, highest first, with model name breaking any tie.
Nothing here is sponsored and no retailer influences the order. You can read the full method behind every score in how we score phones.
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