You do not need a £1,000 flagship to take excellent photos. We ranked the five sub-£500 phones that make the clearest trade-offs for stills, zoom, video and outright value.
The quick answer
The Google Pixel 9a is the best camera phone under £500 for most people. Its 48MP main camera, Night Sight and dependable processing make it the easiest point-and-shoot choice. Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro instead if you regularly use zoom: its dedicated 3x optical periscope is unusual at this price.
Camera phones under £500 at a glance
Phone
Best for
Camera highlight
Price snapshot
Google Pixel 9a
Best overall
48MP main + Night Sight
from £399
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Zoom
50MP 3x optical periscope
£399
Samsung Galaxy A56
Video and support
50MP main + stabilisation
about £329–£399
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Discounted flagship feel
3x optical zoom + 8K
buy only at £500 or less
CMF Phone 2 Pro
Tightest budget
50MP main + telephoto
£249 when checked
01 · Best overall camera under £500
The safest point-and-shoot choice
Google Pixel 9a
The Pixel 9a wins because its camera is predictable. The 48MP main camera, optical stabilisation and Google processing produce balanced portraits, useful HDR and confident low-light photos without much effort. Its seven-year update promise and IP68 rating also make it a sensible long-term buy.
Main camera48MP, f/1.7, OIS
Ultrawide13MP
Battery5,100mAh typical
Support7 years
Why we picked it
It gives the most reliable automatic still photos in this price band.
What we don’t like
There is no telephoto lens and charging is slower than several rivals.
Who should buy it
Anyone who wants excellent family, travel and night photos without manual tweaking.
Who should skip it
Skip it if optical zoom or very fast charging matters more than point-and-shoot consistency.
Closest alternative
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro for a more flexible zoom camera.
The Phone (3a) Pro is the specialist choice. Its separate 50MP periscope camera delivers true 3x optical zoom, while the stabilised 50MP main camera handles everyday shots. That makes it noticeably more useful for concerts, pets and distant subjects than phones relying on digital crop.
Main camera50MP with OIS
Telephoto50MP, 3x optical
Ultrawide8MP
Checked price£399
Why we picked it
No other current phone near this price offers such a useful dedicated zoom camera.
What we don’t like
The ultrawide camera is weaker and processing is less consistent than Google’s.
Who should buy it
People who shoot concerts, portraits, pets or subjects they cannot physically approach.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you mainly take quick automatic photos in difficult lighting.
Closest alternative
Galaxy S24 FE when discounted below £500 for 3x zoom and stronger video.
The Galaxy A56 is the dependable all-rounder. Its 50MP main camera has optical stabilisation, its selfie camera supports Super HDR video, and Samsung promises six generations of OS upgrades plus six years of security updates. The large 6.7-inch AMOLED screen is useful for reviewing clips.
Rear cameras50MP + 12MP + 5MP
Battery5,000mAh
Charging45W wired
Support6 years
Why we picked it
It balances useful stabilisation, good video, durability and long software support.
What we don’t like
There is no optical zoom and still photos are not as consistently natural as the Pixel’s.
Who should buy it
Samsung users who want a large screen and a dependable camera for photos and clips.
Who should skip it
Skip it if zoom or the very best automatic stills are your priority.
Closest alternative
Pixel 9a for better point-and-shoot stills; S24 FE for optical zoom.
The S24 FE brings features usually missing from mid-range phones: a dedicated 3x optical telephoto camera, 8K recording, wireless charging and stronger performance. Availability is now inconsistent, so it belongs on this list only when a reputable seller prices it at £500 or less.
Rear cameras50MP + 12MP + 8MP
Zoom3x optical
Video8K at 30fps
Buying rule£500 maximum
Why we picked it
Its telephoto camera and video modes make it more versatile than most mid-rangers.
What we don’t like
It is bulky, older and no longer consistently available direct from Samsung.
Who should buy it
Buy it on a genuine sub-£500 deal if you want Samsung’s more complete camera system.
Who should skip it
Skip it above £500 or when the seller cannot provide a proper UK warranty.
Closest alternative
Galaxy A56 for a simpler, newer and easier-to-find Samsung option.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is remarkable for the price: a 50MP main camera, a separate 50MP telephoto camera and an 8MP ultrawide. It cannot match the Pixel’s processing or low-light consistency, but it gives budget buyers far more framing flexibility than most rivals.
Main camera50MP
Telephoto50MP
Battery5,000mAh
Checked price£249
Why we picked it
Very few phones near £250 include both a proper main camera and a telephoto camera.
What we don’t like
Low-light results and camera-to-camera colour consistency are clear compromises.
Who should buy it
Budget buyers who want creative framing and accept less polished processing.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want the most dependable night photos or stronger water resistance.
Closest alternative
Galaxy A56 for more polished video and support, or Pixel 9a for better stills.
No current new iPhone is a natural fit for this budget. If you specifically want iOS, a carefully graded refurbished iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 with a strong warranty makes more sense than buying a very old entry-level model. For a new phone, the Pixel 9a is the stronger camera value.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best budget camera phone in 2026?
The Pixel 9a is our best overall budget camera phone. It produces the most dependable automatic photos and is especially strong for portraits, HDR and low light.
What is the best phone under £500 for photography?
Choose the Pixel 9a for still photography. Choose the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if a true 3x optical zoom matters more than point-and-shoot consistency.
Is there a good cheap camera phone?
Yes. The CMF Phone 2 Pro gives you multiple useful rear cameras around £250. Spend more on the Pixel 9a if night photos and consistency are more important.
