The best phone under 300 can still do a great job of helping you keep in contact with loved ones, and serve as a distraction on the toilet too.
While you're not going to get one of the latest phones for the price tag, or the best phone for gaming for this cheap, you can still find one that'll have what you need, as long as your requirements for a phone aren't too long.
There are a lot of brands that make solid phones around this price range, and while you may have to make some compromises when it comes to the memory or the camera, they'll get the job done.
So, we've gone ahead and looked at the wealth of phones available, considered things like specs, features, and reviews, and put them all into a list right here. So let's get into what we believe to be some of the best budget-friendly phones on the market right now.
Best phones under 300
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+ 61. Samsung A21s
Best Samsung phone under 300
Another standout choice is the feature-rich Samsung Galaxy A21s, which provides some serious specs for the price.
This handset has four cameras on the back, each designed for a different purpose, from ultra-wide-angle shots to high-quality close-up images, you'll have no issues capturing it all.
The 32GB of storage is expandable up to 512GB with a Micro SD card which is more than you could ever need on a phone.
The A21s also features a 6.5" Infinity-O display, great for maximising immersion whether you're watching videos or browsing online, another top phone from Samsung.
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click to enlarge + 62. OnePlus Nord N10 5G
Best OnePlus phone under 300
OnePlus is usually regarded as a manufacturer that makes some of the best camera phones out there, and their Nord N10 5G continues this for budding photographers on a budget.
You'll find a four-lens snapper with a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro sensor, along with another 2MP monochrome option for specific situations. These should offer some great quality photos, especially for the price.
A 6.49-inch 90Hz screen should offer a crisp display with a Full HD resolution also ensuring some sharp video quality. Moreover, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G should also keep the Nord N10 5G as quite a speedy phone, and 128GB of storage should be plenty for all your apps and files.
Intriguingly, you'll also find a headphone jack present which is rather rare to see in 2022, so if you do want to hook up some wired headphones, then OnePlus allows you to do so.
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click to enlarge + 63. Moto G9 Power
Best Motorola phone under 300
If you're working with a budget and want to find the best phone for battery life, the Moto G9 Power could be for you.
The 6,000mAh battery is huge by any standard for a phone and should last up to 2 days with reasonable usage, which is excellent if you're often on the go and don't know when your next charge will be.
This handset also offers a very large 6.8-inch, edge-to-edge, HD screen that should be more than enough when consuming entertainment or catching up on social media.
The Moto G9 Power also features an impressive camera for the price, with triple lenses on the back and a front-facing option too.
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click to enlarge + 64. Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC
Best Xiaomi phone under 300
Xiaomi is no stranger when it comes to making great budget phones and the Xiaomi Poco X3 could be their best yet.
The standout feature on this device is the screen, which comes with a whopping 120Hz refresh rate, incredible on a phone of this budget, the sort of thing we'd expect from the best phones to date.
The screen is also 6.67 inches, which is fairly sizeable and the 2400 x 1080 resolution should be pretty sharp too, offering you some serious value for money.
This phone also features the Snapdragon 732G processor and 6GB RAM which is strong for the price and should allow you to run most games smoothly.
The Xiaomi Poco X3 really impresses us with the price!
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click to enlarge + 65. Realme 8
Best Realme phone under 300
In this price range, many phones have one or two standout features, however, if you're looking for a decent all-rounder, the Realme 8 packs some nice specs for the price.
This handset offers four rear cameras, with a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and 2MP macro and depth ones which are decent for the price.
The 6.4-inch display is HD and has a high brightness range, which is useful if you're using your phone outside or in well-lit areas.
The MediaTek processor is great for the price, combined with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the Realme 8 gives you a lot for your money.
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click to enlarge + 66. OPPO A5
Best OPPO phone under 300
OPPO is a company originally from China, slowly making a name for itself as the developer of some of the best budget-friendly phones in the Western world, and the OPPO A5 is one of these.
The 6.5-inch HD display is great for your money and alongside the Snapdragon processor and up to 4GB of RAM, this handset should run Android 9 smoothly and with no issues.
A 5,000mAh battery size is the standard these days and should be enough to last you a full day on moderate usage.
The OPPO A5 also looks great with its slick design available in both black and white.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Before proceeding with any purchase, it is often worth considering a number of questions to make sure you get what you're looking for.
Are cheap phones worth it?
Nowadays, with advancements in technology, even some very affordable phones, such as the ones on this list can still be great choices for many.
Of course, you're not going to find the greatest camera quality or the latest technology but you're still getting a lot of bang for your buck.
Many affordable handsets can still offer large touchscreen displays, long battery life, and a decent amount of storage and power.
Ultimately, whether or not you should go for a cheaper option depends on what you're looking to get out of your phone and your budget.
Do I need 5G?
While 5G is becoming increasingly common in the latest smartphones but, at the moment we'd say it isn't a necessary technology for you to have just yet.
While 5G is, of course, faster, 4G is still reliable and fast enough for most people.
We'll be back to update this article with more amazing phones for under 300 as we find them, so be sure to stop by again soon.
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