Buying a new mobile phone in 2026 doesn't have to break the bank. For under $600, you can find many mobile phones across various brands with great camera quality, a durable design and plenty of storage.
Upgrade for less with our top choices across Apple, OPPO, Samsung, and more.
Most of the smartphones we're spotlighting on this page are not available on a postpaid plan through a mobile provider. You'll have to buy them outright, and you'll have to pair them up with a SIM-only mobile plan.
For a snapshot of the best value options, check out the cheapest mobile phone plans in our database below:
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#1
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SpinTel
Editor's Pick
$23 Mobile Plan
$12.00/mth
Min. cost $12
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#2
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Boost Mobile
$39 Prepaid
$39.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
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#3
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Dodo
Editor's Pick
Medium Mobile Plan
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
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#4
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TPG
Editor's Pick
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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#5
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Tangerine Telecom
30GB 5G Mobile SIM
$30.00/mth
Min. cost $15
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#6
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Yomojo
Starter 29GB Plan
$24.90
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#7
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Pivotel
25GB Mobile Swift Plan
$11.45/mth
Min. cost $11.45
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#8
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Swoop
30GB SIM Only 5G
$14.00/mth
Min. cost $14
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#9
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felix mobile
felix 25GB Mobile Plan
$30.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
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#10
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Vodafone
$58 Small SIM Only Plan
$45.00/mth
Min. cost $45
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Best cheap phone: CMF Phone 2 Pro by Nothing
RRP $449
Nothing’s budget buy isn’t as new as it once was, but it’s worth considering, thanks to snappy performance and striking design that easily eclipses the competition.
- Display: 6.77-inches, OLED
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro
- Front camera: 16MP selfie camera
- Rear cameras: 50MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, 8MP macro camera
- Storage: 128GB/256GB (8GB RAM)
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Features: 5G connectivity, dual SIM, IP54, fingerprint scanner (in-display)
View on Amazon
The CMF Phone 2 Pro over-delivers on your expectations with performance, design and camera quality that far exceeds what you can usually find at this price-point.
Although the device does cut a few corners when it comes to water resistance or support for wireless charging, it nails the basics in a way that’s very easy to like. Where other budget phones are defined by their compromises, the CMF Phone 2 Pro thrives on its strengths. However, if you're looking for a state-of-the-art camera, our next pick will be more up your alley.
Best upgrade pick: Nothing Phone 4a
RRP $649
The Nothing Phone 4a bundles together a fun design and solid performance. Even if there are a few areas where it stumbles, there’s a lot to like about this distinctive device beyond the thrifty price.
- Display: 6.78-inch, 1080p+ AMOLED
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4
- Front camera: 32MP selfie camera
- Rear cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP periscope camera, 8MP ultrawide
- Storage: 128GB (8GB RAM)
- Battery: 5,080mAh
- Features: 5G connectivity, fingerprint and facial recognition, dual SIM, IP64 dust and water resistance
View on Amazon
The Nothing Phone 4a is built to delight budget buyers with decent battery life, camera quality, and performance. It’s a great upgrade on the CMF Phone 2 Pro, the cheapest way to get your hands on Nothing’s quirky Glyph lighting system and includes more of the premium perks seen in the Nothing Phone 4a Pro at a price-point that’s $300 cheaper.
Best cheap Samsung: Samsung Galaxy A37
RRP $599
The more affordable of Samsung’s new Galaxy A-Series smartphones comes with upgraded specs, and a more capable camera.
- Display: 6.7-inch, 1080p+ AMOLED
- Processor: Exynos 1480
- Front camera: 12MP selfie camera
- Rear cameras: 50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro camera
- Storage: 128GB (6GB RAM)
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Features: 5G connectivity, fingerprint and facial recognition, dual SIM, IP68 dust and water resistance.
View on Amazon
For those hoping to stay on the Samsung bandwagon, we've got you covered with the Galaxy A37. Priced at $599, this smartphone includes not one but three cameras, 128GB of expandable storage and a generous 6.7-inch full HD display. Compared to the previous A36, the Galaxy A37 offers better performance, longer battery life, superior shot-to-shot speed and an upgraded IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Best cheap OPPO: OPPO A6 5G
RRP $399
The OPPO A6 5G isn’t going to blow your expectations for a cheap smartphone out of the water, but it makes the right trade-offs and offers solid value for budget-conscious buyers.
- Display: 6.7-inch, HD+ LCD
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6300
- Front camera: 8MP selfie camera
- Rear cameras: 50MP primary,
- Storage: 256GB (6GB RAM)
- Battery: 6,550mAh
- Features: 5G connectivity, fingerprint and facial recognition, dual SIM, IP69 dust and water resistance
View on Amazon
While the OPPO A6 does have some issues around screen brightness, the device gets enough right that those shortcomings aren’t likely to be major sticking points. Despite the cheap price, this device is built to go the distance with long battery life, IP69 dust and water resistance, plus six years of security updates.
Best cheap iPhone: Refurbished iPhone 13 Pro
RRP $608
Apple handsets might be expensive, but there are still ways to get an iPhone for a fraction of the price. A refurbished iPhone 13 Pro is currently the best bang-for-buck option you can get.
- Display: 6.1-inch, Super Liquid Retina Display
- Processor: A15 Bionic
- Front camera:12MP selfie camera
- Rear cameras:12MP primary wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto
- Storage: 128GB (6GB RAM), 256GB (6GB RAM), 512GB(6GB RAM), 1TB (6GB RAM)
- Battery: 3,095mAh
- Features: 5G connectivity, wireless charging, facial recognition, IP68 dust and water-resistance
View on Amazon
The iPhone 13 Pro features some of the most impressive camera advances relative to previous models. It comes in a range of fun colours, and is packed with many features – some of which have aged almost as well as the price-point. While Apple no longer sells the iPhone 13 Pro, there are plenty of options for buying a refurbished model. Better yet, it should still see at least one or two more major operating system updates.
Best cheap feature phone: Nokia 2660 Flip
RRP $127
Step back in time with a simple and affordable Nokia design.
- Display: 2.8-inch, QQVGA
- Processor: Cortex-A7
- Front camera: N/A
- Rear cameras: 0.3MP primary
- Storage: 128GB (48MB RAM)
- Battery: 1,450mAh
- Features: Compact, minimal design, includes classic games like Tetris and Snake
View on Amazon
The Nokia 2660 Flip is making a splash with users seeking to minimise screen time with a "dumb phone". Step back in time with its lightweight design, 3.55mm audio jack, bright colour options and removable battery. Whether you're feeling nostalgic or you're choosing a phone for kids or an elderly relative, this is an incredibly affordable pick.
Make your dollar go further by pairing this device with a long-expiry plan:
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#1
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OnePass mobile
365 Day Plan - 200GB
$149.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#2
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Kogan Mobile
Small - 365 Day Flex Plan
$149.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
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#3
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Lyca Mobile
Medium - Long Expiry Plan
$150.00
Per 360 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#4
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Coles Mobile
Prepaid $220 for 365 Days
$169.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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#5
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Kogan Mobile
Large - 365 Day Flex Plan
$179.00
Per 365 Day Renewal
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Fergus Halliday
Digital Content Editor
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