When in the market for a new smartphone, it’s easy to get tempted by foldable displays, high-speed processors, and wireless charging, but do you really need these features to go about your daily routine?
A better option might be to choose a mid-range phone with all the necessities than pay a premium for luxuries. Yes, you’ll have to do without some cutting-edge features, but in most cases, you can get a lot out of the phone without breaking the bank. So without further ado, let us introduce the best smartphones under $300 (spoiler alert: You can still get your hands on phones from Apple and Samsung below this price slab).
1. Moto G Power
The Moto G Power was released in early 2020 as a smartphone option from the Motorola family. Like many other handsets, it runs on Android 10 and contains a nano-SIM slot. The phone weighs 199g and has a glass front, plastic back on an aluminum frame. The screen size of the Moto G Power is 6.4 inches which suits a smartphone in the $300 budget. Currently, the Moto G Power is offered in smoke black color.
The phone also boasts 4G capabilities and comes with a storage capacity of 64GB. You get up to three days of battery life thanks to the 5000mAh battery. It also has a decent camera for a smartphone and can capture wide-angle shots, panoramic views, and close-up portraits. The triple cameras are 16MP, 8MP and 2MP respectively.
A couple standout features are that you can unlock the phone with the fingerprint sensor at the back and enjoy music on the stereo speakers.
2. Samsung Galaxy A20s
The Samsung Galaxy A20s made its appearance in late September in 2019 as an affordable low-tier smartphone. You will receive the A20s with Android 9.0 but can upgrade it to Android 10, with both single and double SIM options. The A20s weighs 183g because of its plastic frame, glass front, and plastic back. The display size is 6.5 inches with an LCD touchscreen. Available colors come in black, blue, green, and red.
The Samsung Galaxy A20s is a 4G phone with 32GB and 64GB storage capacity (microSD option available). There is a 4000mAh battery which is fast-charging. The triple camera of the A20s features 13MP, 8MP, and 5MP. For a smartphone under $300, the camera is really good.
The fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, compass, and multiple body color options make this phone stand out from the competition.
3. Apple iPhone 7
With the number of options available on the market today, you can easily find an Apple phone that fits your $300 budget. You can get a renewed iPhone 7 for under $200. Apple’s iPhone 7 was released in 2016 with iOS 10 that you can upgrade until iOS 14.
The handset weighs 138g with a gorilla glass front, and the rest of the body is aluminum. The retina display is 4.7 inches with maximum brightness. Color options of the body include jet black, black, silver, gold, rose gold and a bright red.
The iPhone’s camera is no joke. You get a 12 and 7MP camera on the back and front respectively, capable of taking all the cool shots you dream of. Plus, you get 32GB storage.
4. Huawei P30 Lite
Huawei’s P30 Lite debuted in early April 2019. The smartphone comes with Android 9, but you can upgrade it to Android 10. There’s both a single SIM and hybrid SIM option for this phone where one nano SIM slot can remain on standby. The P30 Lite weighs 159g and has a glass front and glass back with a plastic frame. The LCD display is 6.15 inches. The colors come in peacock blue, midnight black, and pearl white.
The triple camera in this phone offers 48, 8 and 2MP or 24, 8 and 2MP. Videos aren’t in 4K quality, though, but 1080p works well with the display. The various camera tweaks in this phone make the photo results stand out.
5. LG G7 Fit
This is the most stylish and chic mid-range handset on our smartphones under $300 list. The G7 Fit boasts a metal frame between two glass pieces, pleasingly narrow bezels, and tightly spaced materials that add to the premium feel of the device. The G7 Fit weighs 156 grams and has a 3120×1440 resolution display.
LG has also kept the needs of photo enthusiasts in mind with an 8MP front camera and a 16MP rear camera. The cameras also come with AI Composition, Google Lens, and more.
Further, the LG G7 is water and dust resistant, so you can use it anywhere. The military-grade design ensures no debris or water drops enter the device’s components. Some units come with a cleaning cloth, which LG has been offering with smartphones going back to the V20.
The AI CAM of the G7 Fit makes the cut for its standout feature. It evaluates what’s there in the frame and then offers scene-specific recommendations to help you capture the best shot.
6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9 was released in early 2020 with the latest technology from Xiaomi labs. Its highlight feature is the Android 10 software, but users also love its dual SIM capabilities. The phone weighs 199g and is built with a gorilla glass front with a plastic frame. The Redmi Note 9 has a 6.5 inches LCD touchscreen with a bright display.
The cameras on the Redmi Note 9 are 48MP (rear), 8MP (ultra wide), and 2MP (macro and depth). The front camera is 13MP with great photo quality. The Redmi Note 9 has a 5020mAh battery that can last up to 125 hours. This phone is available in forest green, midnight grey and polar white colors.
7. Nokia 1.3 (Budget Winner)
The Nokia 1.3 was released in April 2020 with an Android operating system (Android 10). The phone weighs 155g and has a stunning glass front plus plastic back in a plastic frame. Buyers can choose between single or double SIM slot options for this handset. The Nokia 1.3’s screen display size is 5.71 inches in an LCD touchscreen.
The main camera of this phone is 8MP, and the selfie camera is 5MP, so the camera might not be the best feature of this phone. The Nokia 3.1 has a 3000mAh battery and is available in pretty cool colors like cyan, charcoal, and sand. The phone has 16GB internal memory and runs on 4G technology.
There is a microSD card slot as well as a removable battery which makes the 3.1 a perfect candidate for a traveling phone.
Smartphones Under $300: Spend Smartly
As you can see, there’s no shortage of smartphones under $300. So even when your budget is tight, you can secure a great handset like the Moto G Power. But before you make a buying decision, be sure to look at the features and whether or not they fulfill your needs. For example, a higher mAh count is ideal for travelers who have to go long without charging their phones. Put your analysis cap on when buying, and you’re sure to get the perfect handset without draining your wallet.
