The iPhone is without doubt the dominant smartphone brand in a highly competitive marketplace. And even though manufacturers such as Samsung may sell more mobiles than Apple, the influence of the iPhone over the functionality and designs of its rivals cannot be understated. The main downside is the cost, since Apple is a premium brand with a high asking price for its products; it knows that people are willing to pay more for its logo. So if you are looking to save money, these cheap iPhone alternatives will definitely fit the bill.
HTC One A9s
If the look and feel of the iPhone are the main factors that appeal to you, then the new One A9s from HTC could be a suitable stand-in. It follows on from last year’s original A9 and features a five inch touchscreen display, 2300mAh battery and up to 32GB of storage space. And while it may not be the most powerful handset in the world, it shares close aesthetic similarities with Apple’s flagship range.
Huawei P9
This Chinese firm has been rising to prominence in the mobile market for the past few years and the P9 is its latest attempt to gain market share in the premium segment. With a 5.2 inch 1080p display, 4GB of RAM and an octa-core processor, it performs admirably. It also comes in a range of colours and features a thin, stylish chassis.
Sony Xperia XA
In terms of value for money the new Xperia XA is a cleverly designed device. It has an octa-core processor, five inch display and 2GB of RAM so that the latest Android OS feels fresh and snappy. It also boasts a 13 megapixel camera, allowing it to outdo other mid-range models at a similar price point.
iPhone SE
So technically the SE is still an iPhone and is, in fact, the most recent Apple device to emerge. But unlike its top tier siblings, this is a budget model with older hardware under the skin. So if you are willing to sacrifice some performance, you can still get a new iPhone without leaving such a large dent in your bank account.
OnePlus 3
The demand for this powerful Android phone has been significant, with fledgling manufacturer OnePlus actually struggling to keep up. But if you can get your hands on it you will find a device that can easily rival the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S7 in terms of hardware while being more cost effective to boot.
ZTE Axon 7
ZTE is another budget mobile maker that has been hitting the mainstream recently, with the Axon 7 being its latest offering. The large 5.5 inch screen with its QHD resolution is hard to beat and will eventually work in tandem with ZTE’s virtual reality system, making this mobile fairly future-proof.
Google Nexus 5X
Built by LG, the Nexus 5X follows in the footsteps of its predecessors by being cheap yet surprisingly powerful. A 5.2 inch display, 12 megapixel camera, 2700mAh battery and internal storage of up to 32GB are on offer, together with the latest Android updates as they are released.
Oppo F1
The F1 is one of the best looking budget iPhone alternatives on the market, with its metal chassis aping that of the iPhone 6S at a fraction of the price. The rest of its specs are fairly standard, but it is an interesting sub-£200 option.
Xiaomi Mi5
If you are willing to put in the work to buy the Mi5 up-front yourself, it will be a worthwhile purchase. Strong specifications help it to give the Galaxy S7 a run for its money, while a price of under £300 and a really attractive design round out the package.
Wileyfox Storm
This UK-based firm has created a solid, affordable handset in the Storm, with its 1080p screen, Cyanogen OS and exceptional security helping it stand out.