Time was, buying a smartphones would saddle you with a two year contract, adding up to a £600 spend and a feeling of resentment toward any sign of slow-down or battery bleed.
But you don't have to throw money at the latest iPhone or Samsung in order to get a good handset. With components becoming cheaper, faster and smaller every year, there's now an impressive array of affordable smartphones that'll keep you connected and (say it quietly) outlast the big boys.
On the back of former Apple CEO John Sculley revealing his company's new, low-cost Obi Worldphones, we've rounded up the most impressive 'budget' (under £200) smartphones.
Their cameras might not take the best selfies in the world, but they'll still order you a pizza at 2am on a wet Friday night.
Obi Worldphone SF1
Best bits
- 5-inch HD screen
- Quick-charge, easily replaceable battery
- Dual SIM
Price: $199 (£128), UK release date to be announced
Obi Worldphone SJ1.5
Best bits
- High definition video recording
- 5-inch HD screen
- Light polycarbonate unibody
Price: $129 (£83), UK release to be announced
DOOGEE F1 TURBO mini
Best bits
- 5MP selfie camera
- Superb price for fast hardware
Price: £89.99
Elephone P5000
Best bits
- Fingerprint scanner
- 16MP camera
- MASSIVE battery
Price: £155
Ulefone BeTouch 2
Best bits
- Fast processor for its price
- 5.5-inch HD display
- No extra, unnecessary software pre-installed
Price: £187.99
Microsoft Lumia 640
Best bits
- Easy operating system
- Clear 5-inch screen
- Comfortable to hold (no, really)
Price: £109.95
Moto G 4G
Best bits
- 4G connectivity
- Micro SD card slot
- Tough water-resistant build
Price: £138
Sony Xperia M2 Aqua
Best bits
- Waterproof
- Quick processor
- HDMI output
Price: £169.99
Vodafone Smart Prime 6
Best bits
- Great price
- 5-inch screen
- Micro SD card slot
Price: £80
EE Kestrel
Best bits
- 4G connectivity
- Solid build
- Easy interface
Price: £109
Microsoft Lumia 435
Best bits
- Small build (good backup/emergency phone)
- Solid build
- Incredible price
Price: £55
Acer Liquid Jade S
Best bits
- 13 megapixel camera
- Dual sim
- Comfortable feel
Price: £159
Umi Emax
Best bits
- 13 megapixel camera
- Slim body design
- 5.5-inch screen
Price: £134.50
HTC Desire 510
Best bits
- 4G connectivity
- Dot review case (they're awesome)
- Impressive screen
Price: £146.54
Vodafone Smart ultra 6
Best bits
- Micro SD card
- Very quick
- Rich 5.5-inch screen
Price: £125
Huawei Ascend G510
Best bits
- Micro SD card
- Strong audio
- Thin build
Price: £80
Microsoft Lumia 535
Best bits
- 5 megapixel front and rear cameras
- Microsoft Office apps
- Responsive touch-screen
Price: £71
EE Rook
Best bits
- Speedy processor
- 5 megapixel camera
- 8GB internal memory
Price: £59
LG G2 Mini
Best bits
- Smooth design
- Bright screen
- Clever features (plug your headphones in, it'll open the music app. Neat)
Price: £124.99
Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini
Best bits
- Pricier than the others, but better performance as a result
- Superb screen
- Waterproof
Price: £199.99
