Need a cheap but cheerful phone? The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G is down to a record-low price right now at Amazon

Ideal for all your most essential phone needs

25 Feb 2026, 11:00 · TechRadar

Deals By Jennifer Allen published 25 February 2026

(Image credit: Future)

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Finding cheap phone deals isn’t always as simple as you’d like it to be. One of the better routes is to go with a SIM-only plan, then buy a cheap phone. The exact phone I have in mind is the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G at Amazon for £159.99 (was £199). Previously, it had only dropped to £169, so this is a small but significant improvement.

While it isn’t the most powerful phone around, it has all the essentials for basic everyday use, such as a large screen, a 50MP camera, and decent battery life for the price.

If you’re looking to replace a broken phone or want something inexpensive without all the flashy bells and whistles of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 range, this is easily one of your best options in the price range.

Today’s best cheap phone deal

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G: was £199 now £159.99 at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G is a basic phone, but it has some great foundations. It features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, along with a sleek design, a 50MP camera lens, and 128GB of storage. There’s also Gemini AI support if you need advice on pretty much anything. The 5,000 mAh battery life is also impressive for such a budget-friendly phone. At this record-low price, it’s a good everyday phone for those on a budget.

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We haven’t specifically reviewed the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, but we’ve spent a lot of time with the best Samsung phones, and it’s a good and reliable brand at any price point.

With the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, you’re getting the essentials. This isn’t a phone to rival the very best phones, but that would be a fairly big ask of such a cheap phone.

Instead, you get a phone that will cover you for that time you accidentally destroyed your old one, or when you’re holding out for a new model of phone that hasn’t been released just yet — or if you just need a basic device for web browsing, making calls, using social media, and watching videos.

It’s also a good choice if you’re entrusting your kids with their first phone. They’ll love the camera with its optical stabilisation and excellent video capture options.

If you can afford a little more, maybe check out the other Samsung phone deals that are available today. If your budget is much higher and Android isn’t for you, there are some excellent iPhone deals around as well.

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