X

Article updated on March 5, 2024 at 12:30 AM PST

Best Phones Under $300 in 2024

Check out the best phones with productive and essential features that won't break your budget in 2024.

Our Experts

Written by 
Mike Sorrentino
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
Mike Sorrentino Senior Editor
Mike Sorrentino is a Senior Editor for Mobile, covering phones, texting apps and smartwatches -- obsessing about how we can make the most of them. Mike also keeps an eye out on the movie and toy industry, and outside of work enjoys biking and pizza making.
Expertise Phones, texting apps, iOS, Android, smartwatches, fitness trackers, mobile accessories, gaming phones, budget phones, toys, Star Wars, Marvel, Power Rangers, DC, mobile accessibility, iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, RCS
Why You Can Trust CNET
16171819202122232425+
Years of Experience
14151617181920212223
Hands-on Product Reviewers
6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000
Sq. Feet of Lab Space

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

What to Consider

iOS or Android

Size

Cameras

Software support

Our Picks

$250 at OnePlus
Image of OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Best overall
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
View details
View details
$200 at Amazon
Image of Moto G Power 5G (2023)
Best for a big media library
Moto G Power 5G (2023)
View details
View details
$258 at T-Mobile
Image of TCL Stylus 5G
Best for a stylus
TCL Stylus 5G
View details
View details
$299 at The Light Phone
Image of Light Phone 2
Best for minimalists
Light Phone 2
View details
$320 at Amazon
Image of Google Pixel 6A
Best phone you should actually get -- as long as it's on sale
Google Pixel 6A
View details
View details

Smartphones have been getting more and more expensive, especially flagship devices, but some wallet-friendly smartphones are out there that offer a taste of premium features for less than $300. These budget phones can make calls, send texts, and run most apps and games for hundreds of dollars less than the iPhone 15 or Galaxy S24. Affordable phones also provide access to 5G, which is important if you want to hold onto your device for a while, and some even come with a built-in stylus. If you've been looking for the best phones under $300, then keep reading.

I'm going to level with you: We have yet to use a phone in the $200 to $300 price range that feels like an excellent value. The absolute best picks in this category tend to be more expensive devices that are frequently discounted to $299 when on sale. For instance, Google's $349 Pixel 6A is among the best phones for under $500 and it's often discounted to $299. That said, there are some nice perks on phones that are regularly between $200 to $300 including more storage, faster charging and decent cameras. Many of these even come with a headphone jack and expandable storage -- both of which are rare in phones that cost $400 or more.

What is the best phone under $300?

The best phone you can buy for under $300 if the Google Pixel 6A isn't on sale is the OnePlus Nord N30 5G. The phone's 50-watt charging is truly fast, able to refill its battery from 0% to 100% in 45 minutes. The phone comes with 128GB of storage with 8GB of RAM and has a large 6.72-inch 1,080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone's Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip is capable enough to run most apps. Although the phone does come with a 108-megapixel main camera, the photos it takes are decent but far from impressive. That latter point is a big reason why the Pixel 6A is tempting when it's discounted since its Tensor chip and photo processing make its 12.2-megapixel camera take sharp, detail-filled pictures. If the OnePlus Nord N30 5G ends up being what fits your budget, it's one of the most feature-rich options you can get for under $300.  

Best phones under $300

$250 at OnePlus

Best overall

OnePlus Nord N30 5G

The $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G includes a lot of features for the money, but its 50W charging speed is a standout for this price range. The phone can charge from 0% to 100% in 45 minutes. Most other phones that cost $300 or less need 90 minutes to two hours to do the same thing. Its large, 6.72-inch 1,080p display runs at a 120Hz refresh rate and makes apps, games, websites and streaming video animate smoothly. It's worth calling out that the 108-megapixel main camera -- despite being an astounding megapixel number on a phone -- takes photos that are only marginally better than what I usually see from phones in this price range. That means it can take good, detail-filled photos in outdoor settings with plenty of light. Photos taken in darker settings are a struggle for the N30, with indoor photos looking washed out or blurry.

The phone will also only get one software update to Android 14 along with three years of security updates -- which is an average timeline for this price range yet still disappointingly short. While the OnePlus does face stiff competition from Google's Pixel 6A -- especially when the Pixel is discounted to $299 -- it does include a lot of functionality for its $300 price.

$200 at Amazon

Best for a big media library

Moto G Power 5G (2023)

The Moto G Power 5G is currently the cheapest phone I'm aware of that has 256GB of internal storage space. It's a lot of space and is perfect for someone who downloads a lot of movies and music to enjoy when you don't have a consistent internet connection. The phone's 6.5-inch 1,080p display runs at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate too, making movies, applications, websites and games look especially nice. If you need even more space, you can expand it further with a microSD card. Like many phones in the $200 to $300 price range, the Power 5G includes a headphone jack.

Whereas Motorola makes the Power 5G a media machine for its price, it does cut back in terms of its cameras. Like many phones in this price range, it's good for outdoor photography but is quite bad at getting details in low-light environments. If what you need is lots of storage space above all else, the Moto G Power 5G is worth a look.

$258 at T-Mobile

Best for a stylus

TCL Stylus 5G

Reviewing the $258 TCL Stylus 5G was a journey for me last year. Specs-wise, it has a lot that I enjoyed. The phone's TCL NxtVision HDR setting provided enhanced colors when I played games, TCL made minimal changes to Android 12 and I especially enjoyed the magnetic stylus that fits securely into its own slot on the phone.

The big reason why my review took four months is because of repetitive software bugs that make the phone otherwise tough to recommend. I experienced frequent restarts while using the phone and Bluetooth connectivity issues, the latter of which was eventually fixed through a software update. This phone is also locked to T-Mobile completely, so it can't be used on other carriers and is filled with T-Mobile apps that are challenging to remove. If you absolutely must have a stylus and your budget is under $300, this is one of the better overall picks. Be wary of software issues, and remember the phone is only getting one major software update along with two years of security updates.

$299 at The Light Phone

Best for minimalists

Light Phone 2

The Light Phone 2 is a very different kind of phone. It's meant for people seeking freedom from the constant stream of notifications, but still want a phone that looks nice. Despite its somewhat limited functionality, this phone still costs $299. The Light Phone 2 supports texts, phone calls, music playback, podcasts, mobile hotspot functionality and limited GPS support for directions on its E Ink screen. It does not have a camera, web browser, email access or other common apps like news or messaging apps.

My colleague Jessica Fierro gave the Light Phone 2 a try, and she enjoyed how the phone helped her stay more focused on the world around her. She found the slower texting speed on the E Ink display to be challenging to adjust to, and could not fully make the switch because for work she needs some degree of social media access to stay updated on trends. The absence of many modern features is the entire point of the Light Phone 2. It's a device for people who intentionally just want essential communications on a screen that's more like a Kindle's display than the one you'd find on a Samsung Galaxy device.

$320 at Amazon

Best phone you should actually get -- as long as it's on sale

Google Pixel 6A

Admittedly, I'm cheating by getting this phone into the list, but Google's Pixel 6A has been discounted to $320 a lot lately and is an easy recommendation when it's been discounted into a budget phone range. Regularly $349, the Pixel 6A won our Editors' Choice Award last year. In her review, CNET's Lisa Eadicicco praised the phone for its great camera, Pixel-exclusive features like Magic Eraser, its colorful design and being among the first to get new Android updates. 

Although Google has since released the $499 Pixel 7A, the Pixel 6A is still getting two more years of software updates and four more years of security updates. This means it will continue getting new Android features and support from Google, and that remaining timeline is still more than you'll see from new 2023 phones that cost between $200 and $300.

Other phones we tested

The $300 Motorola Moto G Power 5G is currently the cheapest phone with 256GB of storage. It's perfect for someone who downloads a lot of movies and music to enjoy when they don't have a consistent internet connection. The phone's 6.5-inch 1,080-pixel display runs at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate too, making movies, applications, websites and games look especially nice. Whereas Motorola makes the Power 5G a media machine for its price, it does cut back in terms of its cameras. Like many $300 phones, it's good for outdoor photography but is quite bad at getting details in low-light environments.

Show more

Factors to consider when buying a $300 phone

These cheaper devices tend to scale back significantly in one area or another to achieve those low prices. Most commonly, these drawbacks include limited software support, carrier support or bloatware (preloaded apps that you never asked for). These trade-offs often mean that these devices should not be used after two to three years, especially after security update support ends.

It's also notable that while these phones retail for $200 to $300, many of them are often available at a deep discount -- or even for free -- as part of a carrier subsidy deal. If you are planning to stick with the same wireless carrier for two years, these phones could just become part of the cost of your service.

Show more

How we test phones

Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET's expert reviews team. We actually use the phone, test the features, play games and take photos. We assess any marketing promises that a company makes about its phones. If we find something we don't like, be it battery life or build quality, we tell you all about it. 

We examine every aspect of a phone during testing:

  • Display
  • Design and feel
  • Processor performance
  • Battery life
  • Camera quality
  • Features

We test all of a phone's cameras (both front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to dimmer indoor locales and nighttime scenes (for any available night modes). We also compare our findings against similarly priced models. We have a series of real-world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.

We take into account additional phone features like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays and other useful extras. We also weigh all of our experiences and testing against the price so you know whether a phone represents good value or not.

Read more: How We Test Phones

Show more

Phones under $300 FAQ

What about Apple's iPhone?

Apple does not currently sell any iPhone options between $200 and $300. The cheapest new iPhone you can get is the iPhone SE at $429. That iPhone is a great value for its fast processor and a great camera but held back by its dated design that harkens back to the iPhone 6, 7 and 8.

If you don't mind getting a preowned device and want something with a bigger screen, as of this writing Verizon sells a 64GB iPhone 11 for $275.

You can also get the 2020 version of the iPhone SE as a refurbished model between $200 and $300 on websites like Amazon and Best Buy, but beware of each store's policies for refurbished devices. Be especially sure to check that the refurbished device includes a warranty for repairs, since without one you may have to pay Apple or another retailer a high price for a screen repair or other accidental damage.

Show more

Best phones under $300: OnePlus Nord N30 5G vs. Moto G Power 5G vs. TCL Stylus 5G vs. Google Pixel 6A

undefined

OnePlus Nord N30 5GMoto G Power 5G (2023)TCL Stylus 5GGoogle Pixel 6A
Display size, resolution 6.72-inch FHD (1080p resolution); 120Hz refresh rate6.5-inch LCD display; 2,400 x 1,080 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate6.81-inch FHD+ display (1,080 x 2,400 pixels)6.1-inch OLED; (1,080 x 2,400); 60Hz
Pixel density 391 ppi405 ppi395 ppi429 ppi
Dimensions (inches) 6.51 x 2.99 x 0.32 in.6.41 x 2.94 x 0.33 in.6.67 x 3.01 x 0.35 in.6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 in.
Dimensions (millimeters) 165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm163 x 75 x 8.45 mm169.6 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm152.2 x 7.18 x 8.9 mm
Weight (ounces, grams) 6.97 oz. (195 g)6.52 oz. (185 g)7.51 oz. (213 g)6.3 oz. (178 g)
Mobile software Android 13Android 13Android 12Android 12
Camera 108-megapixel main, 2-megapixel macro, 2-megapixel depth sensing50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)50-megapixel (main), 5-megapixel (wide), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)12.2-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel ultra wide)
Front-facing camera 16-megapixel16-megapixel13-megapixel8-megapixel
Video capture 1080p at 30fps720p at 60 fps1080p at 30fps4K
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 695MediaTek Dimensity 930MediaTek Dimensity 700 5GGoogle Tensor
RAM/Storage 8GB + 128GB4GB RAM + 128GB; 6GB RAM + 256GB4GB/128GB6GB RAM/128GB storage
Expandable storage YesYesUp to 2TBNone
Battery/Charger 5,000 mAh (50W wired charging)5,000 mAh (15W wired charging speed, 10W adapter included)4,000 mAh; 18W charging4,410 mAh capacity; 18W fast charging (adapter sold separately)
Fingerprint sensor SideSideSide fingerprint sensorUnder display
Connector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-C
Headphone jack YesYesYesNone
Special features 50W SuperVooc fast charging, 108-megapixel main camera, game mode, dual stereo speakersEstimated 38-hour battery life, Moto Gestures, stereo speakersStylus with built-in storage, producitivity software, NxtVision HDR mode5G-enabled, 18W fast charging, WiFi 6E, security updates for 5 years, Android OS updates for 3 years, dual SIM, IP67 water resistance
Price off-contract (USD) $270$250$258$349 ($299 when on sale)
Price (GBP) Converts to £238Converts to £240
£349
Price (AUD) Converts to AU$443Converts to AU$445
AU$599