The best budget smartphones for under $300 | News 4 Social
Smartphones between $200 and $300 mark the entry into the highly competitive mid-range segment. With several smartphone models vying for your attention, selecting the right sub-$300 smartphone in the U.S. is not as easy as it sounds. But hey, that’s why we are here for! In this article, we list all the phones under $300 that we think are worth buying in 2022.
Editorial pick
Value pick
Productivity powerhouse
Check for deals!
Product
Picture
Specifications
6.4-inch AMOLED, 90 Hz
1080×2400 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
1080×2400 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
1080×2400 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
1080×2408 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
Offers*
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 News 4 Social. 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:
- Editor’s choice: The best smartphone under $300
- The best alternatives
- How News 4 Social selects the best smartphones?
- What to expect from a phone under $300?
- Alternatives to buying a new phone
Editor’s choice: The best smartphone under $300 is…
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 News 4 Social
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
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 News 4 Social 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.
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.
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:
Upcoming bargains and sales dates
Mark these days down in your 2022 calendar:
Event
Date
Singles Day
11 November 2022
Black Week
21 to 25 November 2022
Black Friday
25 November 2022
Cyber Monday
28 November 2022
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 October 2022 with a complete rewrite and new picks. Older comments were kept and may refer to previous versions of this article.
Smartphones between $200 and $300 mark the entry into the highly competitive mid-range segment. With several smartphone models vying for your attention, selecting the right sub-$300 smartphone in the U.S. is not as easy as it sounds. But hey, that’s why we are here for! In this article, we list all the phones under $300 that we think are worth buying in 2022.
Editorial pick | Value pick | Productivity powerhouse | Check for deals! | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Product | ||||
Picture | ||||
Specifications | 6.4-inch AMOLED, 90 Hz 1080×2400 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 1080×2400 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 1080×2400 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 1080×2408 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 |
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|
|
|
Bad |
|
|
|
|
Rating |
Read the Galaxy A33 review
|
|
|
|
Offers* |
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 News 4 Social. 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:
- Editor’s choice: The best smartphone under $300
- The best alternatives
- How News 4 Social selects the best smartphones?
- What to expect from a phone under $300?
- Alternatives to buying a new phone
Editor’s choice: The best smartphone under $300 is…
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 News 4 Social
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
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 News 4 Social 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.
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.
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:
Upcoming bargains and sales dates
Event | Date |
---|---|
Singles Day | 11 November 2022 |
Black Week | 21 to 25 November 2022 |
Black Friday | 25 November 2022 |
Cyber Monday | 28 November 2022 |
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 October 2022 with a complete rewrite and new picks. Older comments were kept and may refer to previous versions of this article.