Top 5 cheap smartphones 2014

You looking for a new smartphone? but don’t want to break the bank? You’re not short of options. We take a look at some of the best cheap mobiles you can get right now to see what they have to offer.

People generally use the word 'cheap' to alibi a abridgement of quality. "That meal had no flavour, but hey - it was cheap," you ability say. Or "sure, my auberge was infested with cockroaches, but hey - it was cheap".

When it comes to adaptable phones, we don't acquire excuses. A bargain smartphone should be a superior artefact - just as a ВЈ600 uber-handset is. Fortunately, that's something adaptable buzz manufacturers accept taken to affection over the endure brace of years.

Already in 2014 we've apparent a beachcomber of affordable phones hit the shelves, but which are the ones account demography a afterpiece attending at? Here are our picks...

5. HTC Desire 310

HTC likes to make out the Desire 310 is sort of a fun-sized HTC One (M8). It's a clear attempt to get some of the things people love about HTC's flagship smartphone into a super-cheap budget handset.

To that end you get the latest version of Android (v4.4 KitKat), the excellent BlinkFeed - which gathers social media posts, email and news into one place so you can digest them more easily - and HTC's custom interface, Sense.

It's a valiant attempt, but much like a fun size Mars bar, the HTC Desire 310 is a (small) shadow of its excellent bigger brother. But that doesn't mean it's not a decent device in its own right.

The best way to think about is this - if you want a basic smartphone experience - calls, apps, web browsing and so on - with a few bells and whistles, the HTC Desire 130 is one of the cheapest ways to get what you want.

4. BlackBerry Z10

I can hear it now: "What? A BlackBerry? But BlackBerry's not cool anymore."

Well, yes, if you're after something fashionable, the Z10's probably not for you. But to ignore BlackBerry just because its star has fallen of late is a mistake, because it can still produce some very decent phones.

The BlackBerry Z10 is a perfect example of that. It's attractive, if a little understated, powerful enough for most people, and sports some really interesting features, including a sharp screen and good camera, and - crucially - you can now pick it up pretty cheap.

It's particularly good if you also want a handset that you can use for work as well as play. BlackBerry's latest operating system can segregate your personal and work-related emails, pictures, and what not. It means you can keep both sides of your life distinctly separated. BlackBerry Hub, which gathers all your social media posts, emails and so on together so you can manage them more easily, is pretty useful too.

What's not so useful is the app store, which is lacking compared to the likes of Androidand iOS. It's not the place to go if you want the coolest apps and latest games, but then again, if you want those you probably aren't looking at BlackBerry anyway.

3. Sony Xperia M2

Time for something a little different. The Sony Xperia M2 is definitely the most expensive handset on this list - more mid-range than anything - but it's already available for free upfront with some low-cost pay-monthly plans.

One thing you can say for certain about the Xperia M2 is that it feels like premium phone. It's big, glossy and its looks will have you swooning. It gives you a lot too - a big screen, a decent camera with loads of photo tools and apps for budding David Baileys, and Sony's usual assortment of music, TV and film services.

Having said that, a few things do have the faint whiff of compromise - the screen's about as sharp as a stick of celery, and the front-facing camera's as sophisticated as one, but the M2's still a solid device that demands attention if you're looking for an affordable smartphone.

2. Nokia Lumia 620

The Nokia Lumia 620 is the real deal. It has a lovely bright screen, plenty of power, and lots of genuinely compelling features. We love how it looks and feels too - we marvel at how bright and vibrant the Lumia range has become.

All that and the low cost means the Lumia 620 offers exceptional value.

If there's any problem with the Lumia 620, it's not a new one - Windows Phone still has fewer apps than Android, and noticeably less support from developers. Look at it this way - if Google Play is Tesco, Apps for Windows is Londis - there's little choice, it doesn't have anything new and exciting, but you can get the essentials.

It's hard to be too harsh though. Things are getting better on the app front, and we're big fans of the look and feel of Windows Phone . There's something to be said for being different, and Windows Phone provides a unique, easy-to-use alternative to Android and iOS. Couple that with the appealing design and you can see why we're huge fans of the Nokia Lumia 620.

1. Motorola Moto E

Imagine ordering a Saver Menu cheeseburger at McDonald's, only for the person serving you to hand you a perfectly seared filet mignon. That's sort of what Motorola did with theMoto G - it lured you in with a low price, then hit you with far more class than you expected.

Now Motorola's launched an even cheaper phone - the Moto E. It costs under £100 to buy outright, and, like the Moto G, it doesn't skimp on quality. It offers great specs for its class, including a decent-sized screen and the full version of Android 4.4 (KitKat). It looks and feels lovely, and also comes with the promise of an early upgrade to the next version of Android when it's released.

If you can afford it, we'd point you towards the Moto G - it's only a little more expensive, but gives you a better screen and a little more grunt under the hood. But if you're looking for a phone for under £100, or that comes free with a pay-monthly plan, which doesn't skimp on quality and won't be out of date within 12 months, you won't find anything better than the Moto E.

But what do you think? Is there a handset we missed that really floats your boat? Disagree with one of our choices? Let us know what you think in the comments