Apple doesn’t have to have its expensive hands around your wallet, there are other options.
With iPhones being so popular, it's easy to follow the crowd. But with a little bit of digging you can find some cheaper or better alternatives. They are amazing phones, but you don’t get the most out of them unless you buy into the Apple ecosystem and have all their products.
So if you’re in the market for a new phone or have always been an iPhone user then keep reading to find out what you might be missing.
Top niche pick
ASUS ZenFone 10 (From £749)
The ZenFone 9 is the perfect choice for small phone lovers, it’s very compact and extremely light. ASUS have also implemented a multifunction button which allows users to easily manoeuvre the phone’s features using just one hand.
As for the physical design, the ZenFone 9 has a high grip texture, reducing the chance of you dropping it. It comes in a wide variety of colours too, so you can keep your aesthetic consistent.
Best low-budget steal
OnePlus Nord Range (From £299)
The OnePlus Nord series offers high-quality cameras, boasting a 50 MP AI triple camera system with a Sony IMX766 sensor, and optical image stabilisation. It also has a notably long battery life. At a very affordable price, the OnePlus Nord 2 really surpasses what is expected of a phone at this value and can more than hold its own against the more expensive phones on the market.
They also have a more premium model within the series for around £450 coming soon. A great choice for those with a more mid-range budget.
Fantastic mid-range value
Google Pixel 7 (From £599)
The Google Pixel 7 is one of the best phones on the market right now and there's plenty of reasons why it’s being praised by so many people. It operates with an adaptive battery that can last over 24 hours and up to 72 hours on extreme battery saver, according to Google. Its dual rear camera means that all photos and videos are captured in 4K resolution, and with the new cinematic blur feature, the quality of your videos will be incredible.
With hardware that leaves iPhones in the dust, the Pixel 7 is an absolute steal at £599. The combination of Android (Google’s operating system) and Google hardware also means it runs smoother than its competitors.
Super duper budget value
Samsung Galaxy A14 (£120-£139)
The Galaxy A series is best described as decent. It isn’t outstanding in many aspects, but it gets the job done well enough in comparison to more expensive phones. But at just £129 you are certainly getting more than your money's worth, with its minimalistic design, quad cameras for high quality photos, and a battery said to last 2 days.
However, obviously it's cheapness does come at a bit of a price, with the processing power of the phone not being the greatest as well as the quality of certain apps slightly lacking, all in all, the A13 is a great phone.
Most powerful choice
Sony Xperia 1 V (£1299)
This is a phone for those of you with an iPhone budget but want something more powerful, the Xperia 1 IV is a technical masterpiece. It’s great for both gamers and content creators thanks to its amazing camera system, large 4k display, and high quality speakers.
Not to mention the hardware capabilities. The phone was developed in collaboration with esports players and has many game-winning features such as the game enhancer control centre, live streaming services, overheating prevention, and 360 reality audio. This processing power also makes content creation a breeze.
Great budget-friendly alternative
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 (£199)
The Redmi Note 11 is another cheap beast on our list, with a trendy flat frame which comes in a variety of colours. The phone has a refresh rate of 90Hz which is better than that of the iPhone 14 and has a super fast charging 500mAh massive battery which can be charged to 100% in around an hour.
Its quad camera design means that photos taken with it are clear and crisp, as well as having dual speakers for rich audio quality. This is an ideal cheap alternative to Apple’s iPhones.
Are you an Apple or an Android stan? If you need more persuasion to jump the Apple ship, check out our five reasons to switch to Android.
