The final word funds smartphone roundup: High picks beneath $300
Editor’s alternative
Various decide
Productiveness decide
Product
Image
Show
6.5-inch OLED
1080 x 2340
120 Hz
6.72-inch LCD
1080 x 2400 pixels
120 Hz
6.7-inch OLED
1080 x 2400 pixels
120 Hz
Efficiency
Exynos 1280
6 / 8 GB RAM
128 / 256 GB storage
microSD enlargement
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695
8 GB RAM
128 GB storage
microSD enlargement
Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
8 GB RAM
128 / 256 GB storage
microSD enlargement
OS
Android 13 + One UI 5.1
4 system upgrades
5 years of safety updates
Android 13
1 Android improve
3 years of safety updates
Android 14 + MotoUX
2 system upgrades
4 years of safety updates
Digital camera
Essential: 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Extremely-wide: 5 MP, f/2.2
Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4
Selfie: 13 MP, f/2.2
Essential: 108 MP
Macro: 2 MP
Depth: 2 MP
Selfie: 16 MP, f/2.4
Essential: 50 MP, f/1.8
Extremely-wide: 13 MP, f/2.2
-
Selfie: 32 MP, f/2.4
Battery
5,000 mAh
25 W wired charging
-
(charger not included)
5000 mAh
50 W wired charging
-
(Charger included)
5,000 mAh
20 W wired charging
15W wi-fi charging
(Charger included)
Connectivity
5G | Wi-Fi 5 | Bluetooth 5.3 | NFC
5G | Wi-Fi 5 | Bluetooth 5.1 | NFC
5G | eSIM | Wi-Fi 6 | Bluetooth 5.1 | NFC
Dimensions and weight
6.34 x 3.01 x 0.33 in, 6.95 oz
161 x 76.5 x 8.3 mm, 197 g
6.52 x 2.99 x 0.33 in, 6.88 oz
165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm, 195 g
6.40 x 2.94 x 0.33 in, 6.7 oz
162.6 x 74.8 x 8.3 mm, 190 g
Affords*
This checklist, primarily based on the creator’s and editorial crew’s preferences, combines subjective opinions with goal info to advocate the most effective sub-$300 smartphones. The mid-range market noticed a lot of corporations abandoning the cell house, however there are nonetheless good telephones providing first rate efficiency, mild gaming capabilities, and higher cameras in comparison with low-end choices.
After all, lengthy gone are the times of the “flagship killers” on this worth phase, however it’s at all times price checking for offers, akin to those highlighted each once in a while right here on nextpit. And in addition reductions for getting the cellphone along with a cellphone contract.
Editor’s notice: The costs highlighted on this article might range relying on reductions provided by the producers. Remember that this checklist was made with the US market in thoughts and due to that, not all fashions might be discovered globally.
Editor’s alternative: The very best smartphone beneath $300
Although we’ve not examined the Galaxy A25, launched early in 2024, the cellphone replaces its predecessor on this checklist and is principally an improved model of nextpit’s decide for the most effective sub-$200 cellphone, the Galaxy A14 and A15. Not solely the A25 presents a giant and vivid FullHD+ OLED show with clean 120 Hz refresh price, Samsung sprinkled on it among the options from the dearer fashions.
Samsung Galaxy A25 / © Samsung
The Galaxy A25 processor, for instance, is actually the identical Exynos 1280 chip beforehand discovered on the Galaxy A34 we examined in mid-2023. For 2024, the Galaxy A25 presents higher reminiscence configurations proper from the bottom mannequin, and extra importantly, the most effective software program replace coverage within the worth vary, with a promised 5 years of safety updates, and 4 Android upgrades.
Digital camera high quality needs to be superb for many makes use of, simply do not anticipate a flexible package, as there is no such thing as a zoom lens or different high-resolution secondary cameras, solely a 5-megapixel ultra-wide lens for open pictures, and a questionable 2 MP macro digicam, which will also be discovered in lots of fashions on this worth vary.
Affiliate provide
OnePlus Nord N30: Residing in a rush
Quick isn’t a phrase often related to the decrease mid-range cellphone market. However OnePlus goals for the title of the quickest cellphone in its class… At the least within the charging division. Whereas its rivals make do with 15 to 18 W charging, the Nord N30 presents 50 W of wired charging, chopping recharging instances in half when in comparison with the opposite fashions on this checklist.
OnePlus Nord N30 contains a huge display with actually quick charging. / © OnePlus
The remainder of the specs are nearly as good or higher than the competitors within the worth vary, together with 5G assist and a “good enough” Android replace coverage (though inferior to Samsung’s). The principle draw back, nevertheless, is the digicam module, with the auxiliary sensors restricted to solely 2 megapixels.
Affiliate provide
Motorola Moto G Stylus (2024)
A part of Lenovo’s more and more difficult naming customary for the US market, the Motorola Moto G Stylus (2024) is the primary era of the Stylus household to solely be accessible in 5G. That signifies that the productiveness cellphone packs a contemporary characteristic set for connectivity (together with eSIM), with a great quantity of reminiscence, plus the choice to develop the storage utilizing a microSD card.
Motorola even improved its software program replace coverage, promising 4 years of safety updates for the cellphone. On the digicam division, Motorola opted for a twin digicam system, ignoring ineffective macro or depth sensors however utilizing a higher-resolution sensor for the ultra-wide lens, a smart alternative in our ebook.
The Moto Stylus 5G presents premium seems to be with the added versatility of the stylus. / © Motorola
The Moto G Stylus 2024 even contains assist for wi-fi charging on prime of the 20 W wired charging. There’s even a energy adapter included within the field for the latter. The one draw back for the Motorola cellphone is the corporate’s moderately gradual replace cycles, however apart from that the Stylus 2024 largely punches above its weight.
Affiliate provide
In actual fact, the cellphone’s MSRP is $400, but it surely largely stayed at $250 in keeping with worth comparability instruments, so the Moto G Stylus 2024 is a simple advice on this checklist.
What are you able to anticipate from a cellphone beneath $300?
Because of gamers like Xiaomi, Realme, and Oppo, you may get a very succesful cellphone for beneath $300 in case you reside in Asia or Europe. That, sadly, is not the case with the U.S. the place nearly all of the units within the $200-$300 phase are bought for lower than $200 in different components of the globe. Nonetheless, here’s what you possibly can sometimes anticipate from $300 smartphones presently bought in the USA:
Take pleasure in a clean viewing expertise with Full HD+ decision and 90Hz refresh price shows.
Profit from a big battery that helps as much as 30W quick charging for prolonged use.
Expertise dependable efficiency from Snapdragon 6 or 4 sequence SoC, or mid-range SoCs from MediaTek.
Seize good pictures with quad or triple rear digicam setups.
Remember that there is no such thing as a wi-fi charging accessible.
Bear in mind that these units wouldn’t have an IP ranking for water and mud resistance.
Options to purchasing a brand new cellphone
Think about buying older, high-end second-hand smartphones or refurbished fashions, which were inspected and restored by professionals. Refurbished units with prolonged warranties from resellers are significantly interesting, guaranteeing a dependable smartphone that will not fail you inside weeks.
Naturally, shopping for a used smartphone from non-public sellers on platforms like eBay or different classifieds does not provide the identical benefits as refurbished fashions. Nevertheless, yow will discover considerably decrease costs on these units, as there are not any extra prices from middlemen. Moreover, buying “new old stock” permits you to safe older fashions which can be not in manufacturing however stay in new situation at on-line retailers.
Discover our Refurbished Smartphones Shopping for Information to study extra about what to think about when buying a renewed smartphone on-line. Under are some options for refurbished telephones presently on sale on eBay:
Affiliate provide
Affiliate provide
Affiliate provide
Promotions and Gross sales
Because the 12 months progresses, there’s an elevated chance of discovering a greater deal on client electronics simply weeks after buying. This is because of gross sales occasions akin to Black Friday, Black Week, Amazon Prime Day, Singles’ Day, and Cyber Monday, which generally happen in October and November to stimulate the economic system earlier than the vacation purchasing season kicks off.
Smartphones are among the many hottest client electronics gadgets, so it is smart to remain alert for enticing offers. Check with the desk under for the dates of this 12 months’s gross sales and promotions:
Upcoming gross sales occasions
Black Week
25 to 29 November 2024
Black Friday
29 November 2024
Cyber Monday
2 December 2024
Amazon Prime Day
tbc
What do you consider this choice? Do you assume we missed a mannequin that ought to actually have been on this checklist? Properly, say it out loud and we will certainly embody it within the checklist once we replace it.
Record up to date in November 2024 with present costs and a brand new productiveness decide. Older feedback had been saved and will confer with earlier variations of this text.
