Best cheap 5G phones in Australia: From $329

5G isn't brand new anymore, nor is it something that requires you to spend a lot of money to access. These days, 5G phones come in all shapes and sizes. It's easier than ever to find one that meets your needs and fits within your budget, even if you're leaning towards the thriftier side of the market.

Basically, if you're after a cheap 5G phone in Australia then you've got plenty of options to choose from. Here are the ones we recommend.

If you've got your heart set on a 5G iPhone but don't want to spend the $1,400+ price tag that often comes with latest models, then the iPhone SE (2022) is a great alternative to consider.

It comes with a gorgeous 4.7-inch Retina HD full-screen display, a decent 64GB of internal storage, and a speedy processor. While it may look like an iPhone 8 on the outside, the insides of the latest iPhone SE have a lot in common with the more recent iPhone 13.

Here's how much the budget-friendly 5G iPhone will set you back on a plan.

It might not be Samsung's best smartphone with 5G, but if you're seeking the cheapest one then look no further than the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. This budget-friendly 5G smartphone runs on Samsung's own Exynos 1330 chipset and 4GB of RAM. The body of the Galaxy A14 5G plays host to a 50MP main camera, which is supported by a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro lens on the back and a 13MP selfie cam on the front.

Looking past those headliners, it's got a 6.6-inch FHD+ screen, 5000mAh battery, and 128GB of onboard storage. As with the rest of the Galaxy A series, that last one can be rounded out with a few extra gigabytes via a MicroSD card.

Check out the widget below for a round-up of the cheapest plans for the Galaxy A14 5G.

While Google's strength in the premium segment has waxed and waned over the years, its Pixel A devices have dominated the mid-range market ever since their introduction. It's a little more expensive than the cheapest 5G phones out there, but only by a little and you're getting a lot of extra bang for your buck in exchange.

Back in 2022, Reviews.org’s Fergus Halliday came away with plenty of nice things to say about the Pixel 6a.  In his review of the device, he found that "the aesthetic character, confident camera hardware and powerful processor make it incredibly easy to recommend."

His recent assessment of the Pixel 7a 5G was similarly enthusiastic.

Check out the widget below for a round-up of the cheapest plans for the Google Pixel 7a.

Motorola is a  master of making phones that are cheap and don't feel compromised. The Moto G53 5G is one of the brand's best efforts to date. It's got an asking price of less than $400, but comes with 5G connectivity, a premium form-factor, snappy performance and two days of battery life. Even if it's far from compact and loses some marks for camera performance, this thrifty 5G handset packs in an enormous amount of value for those on a budget.

While the Motorola Moto G53 can't compete with flagships like the iPhone 15, this more modest take on what 5G smartphones should offer (and how much they should cost) is easier to live with than you might expect.