The best budget smartphones for under $300

	Editorial pick	Value pick	Productivity powerhouse	Check for deals!
Product	Samsung Galaxy A33	OnePlus Nord N20	Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)	Nokia G400
Picture
Specifications	6.4-inch AMOLED, 90 Hz 1080x2400 pixels Samsung Exynos 1280 128/256 GB ROM 4/6/8 GB RAM Quad camera Main: 48 MP Ultra-wide: 8 MP Macro: 5 MP Depth: 2 MP 5,000 mAh March 2022	6.4-inch OLED 1080x2400 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 128 GB ROM 6 GB RAM Quad camera Main: 64 MP Macro: 2 MP Depth: 2 MP 4,500 mAh April 2022	6.8-inch LCD, 120 Hz 1080x2400 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 128/256 GB ROM 6/8 GB RAM Quad camera Main: 50 MP Ultra-wide: 8 MP Depth: 2 MP 5,000 mAh April 2022	6.6-inch LCD, 120 Hz 1080x2408 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 64 GB ROM 4 GB RAM Triple camera Main: 48 MP Ultra-wide: 5 MP Depth: 2 MP 5,000 mAh January 2022
Good	Powerful AMOLED display Decent performance in everyday use Great software support Capable main camera	Charges faster than models at the same price Includes charger in the box FullHD AMOLED display Expandable storage	All-round features Large battery Stylus support 120 Hz display	120 Hz display Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Bad	A bit pricey No wireless charging support Rather slow Quick-Charging No charger included No headphone jack	Secondary cameras are mostly useless Offers fewer system updates than the A32	Slow charging Android updates lag behind rivals	Average camera Lower memory than its rivals
Rating	Read the Galaxy A33 review The Galaxy A33 is a worthy successor to last year's Galaxy A32!
Offers*	Check price	Check price	Check price	Check price

• The best smartphones you can buy today
• See the best mid-range sub-$400 phones on the market
• Save big with the best entry-level sub-$200 smartphones

The sub-$300 market is one of the hottest ones, with mid-range features equipping low-priced phones, without many sacrifices. Mid-range phones in this segment offer good enough performance—even for some light gaming—and distance from the miserable cameras found in the low-end category.

Of course, long gone are the days of the "flagship killers" in this price segment, but it is always worth checking for deals, such as the ones highlighted every now and again here on NextPit. And also discounts for getting the phone together with a phone contract. 

Editor's note: The prices highlighted in this article may vary depending on discounts offered by the manufacturers. Keep in mind that this list was made with the US market in mind and because of that, not all models can be found globally. 

Jump to:

1. Editor's choice: The best smartphone under $300
2. The best alternatives
   1. OnePlus Nord N20
   2. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5g (2022)
   3. Nokia G400
3. How NextPit selects the best smartphones?
4. What to expect from a phone under $300?
5. Alternatives to buying a new phone

Editor's choice: The best smartphone under $300 is...

The Galaxy A33. It is the only model we have tested here on NextPit for this list, but you can't go wrong with it in this price range. The Samsung smartphone still offers the best update policy when it comes to Android versions. No rival Android phone for less than $400 (outside of the Pixel phones) promises four years of security updates.

And the spec sheet is no slouch either, with 5G support, and decent daily performance for social media and other apps. Just don't expect much from the camera module. On the other hand, the display shows Samsung at its best, with crisp images on the AMOLED panel.

Read the complete Samsung Galaxy A33 review on NextPit

OnePlus Nord N20: Living in a hurry

Fast is not a word usually associated with the lower mid-range phone market. But OnePlus aims for the title of the fastest phone in its category... At least in the charging department. While its rivals make do with 15 to 18 W charging, the Nord N20 offers 33 W of wired charging, cutting recharging times in half when compared to the other models on this list.

The rest of the specs are as good or better than the competition in the price range, including 5G support and a "good enough" Android update policy (although not as good as Samsung's). The main downside, however, is the camera module, with the auxiliary sensors limited to only 2 megapixels.

Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022)

Part of Lenovo increasingly complicated naming standard for the US market, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is a beefy upgrade in comparison to the 2021 edition. Most importantly, the manufacturer promises an update to the Android 13 version. Buyers shouldn't hold their breath for further upgrades, though, as Motorola is still trailing its rivals when it comes to software support.

Update policies aside, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) offers a snappy processor, futureproofing with 5G support, and its most distinctive feature: the included stylus. Take notes, draw and control the phone using the included pen, without having to spend three times as much on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Nokia G400

Is the Nokia G400 as tough as feature phones from 20 years ago? Probably not, but that doesn't stop HMD Global from evoking toughness in the phone's marketing materials. The Finnish mid-ranger ticks all of the modern features in the mid-range market, with a fast refresh rate screen with 120 Hz, triple camera, and 5G support.

And even though the processor used lags behind the components used on the other models on this list, the Snapdragon 480 should sip energy to provide the promised two-day battery life.

How NextPit selects the best smartphones?

As mentioned in the introduction, this list is subjective, as it is based on the preferences of the author and the rest of the editorial team.  However, we do take a lot of objective facts into consideration before deciding to include a smartphone in one of our best lists.

• Also read: This is how we test smartphones at NextPit

Our subjective opinions are thus determined by objective criteria and at the same time, we remain open to comments from our community members. So if you think we have missed a model that should really have been a part of this list, feel free to post it in the comments.

What can you expect from a phone under $300?

Thanks to players like Xiaomi, Realme, and Oppo, you can get a really capable phone for under $300 if you live in Asia or Europe. That, unfortunately, isn't the case with the U.S. where almost all the devices in the $200-$300 segment are sold for less than $200 in other parts of the globe. Still, here is what you can typically expect from $300 smartphones currently sold in the U.S.

• Full HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate displays
• Large battery with support for up to 30W fast charging
• Snapdragon 7 series or 6 Series SoC, Mid-range SoCs from MediaTek
• Quad or triple rear cameras
• No wireless charging
• No IP rating

Alternatives to buying a new phone

If it doesn't necessarily have to be a new smartphone, you can also reach for older, more expensive second-hand smartphones. Refurbished models are a highly recommended option, as these are used devices that have been checked and refurbished by specialists.

These refurbished devices are especially attractive when resellers offer you an extended warranty. This way, you can be sure that you're buying a smartphone that won't give up on you after a few weeks.

• Related: Refurbished Smartphones: The complete buying guide

Of course, you do not have this advantage when buying a used smartphone from private owners on platforms such as eBay, eBay classifieds, or other portals. However, used devices can be found for significantly reduced prices here, as there are no additional costs because the middleman has been cut out. With the so-called 'sale', you also secure older models that online shops still carry in new condition but which are no longer in production.

Promotions and Sales

Towards the end of the year, each consumer electronics device that you purchase is accompanied by an even greater risk of stumbling upon a cheaper offer just a few weeks down the road. This can be attributed to sales like Black Friday and its associated Black Week, Amazon Prime Day, Singles Day, and Cyber ​​Monday, all of which are discount days in the months of October and November, which are meant to prime the economy before the Christmas shopping frenzy begins.

Since smartphones are one of the most popular consumer electronics devices in the market, you should keep your eyes peeled for great deals. You can check out the dates for this year's sales and promotions in the table below:

What do you think of this selection? Do you think we missed a model that should REALLY have been on this list? Well, say it out loud and we will definitely include it in the list when we update it.

List updated in January 2023 with current prices. Older comments were kept and may refer to previous versions of this article.