Tags: smartphones
Best budget smartphones under $300 don't mean you have to compromise on what you want. Even though they are cheaper than premium flagships, budget phones from manufacturers like Nokia, Google, OnePlus, Motorola, LG, Samsung and more come with a lot of high-end features. You can get inexpensive phones with edge-to-edge screens, multiple rear camera sensors, updated software, and attractive designs that outweigh their weight.
There are plenty of options in our roundup to help you find what you're looking for, but you should also take a look at our general roundup of the best smartphones to see other options, maybe a bit more expensive than this article, but still...
Best Overall: Motorola Moto G Power
Pros:
- Huge battery capacity
- Excellent sound quality
- Good display
Minuses:
- Heavy and bulky
- The camera app is slow
- No NFC
The Moto G Power is the phone for anyone who doesn't want to be tethered to a charging cable or carry around a portable charger. The phone is based on the features and capabilities of the Moto G7 Power and uses a large screen and large battery. Front and center, you get a 6.4-inch IPS display with a camera cutout in the top left corner. The display resolution is 2300×1080 pixels, which corresponds to 399ppi, which ensures that media, games and web browsing are displayed clearly.
Under the hood, the phone also does not slouch. It is equipped with a Snapdragon 665 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. It's a pretty decent mid-range processor, giving you the ability to run most apps, multi-task, and even handle some games. The camera capabilities are impressive for the price, with a 16MP main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro. It can record 4K at 30fps and boasts a 16MP selfie camera.
But the real draw here is the 5,000mAh battery. According to Motorola, battery life should last three days on a single charge. You get 10W charging, but without wireless charging and waterproofing (but there is a water-repellent coating).
Screen size: 6.4 inches |Permission: 2300×1080 | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 |Camera: 16 MP / 8 MP / 2 MP rear and 16 MP front |Battery: 5000 mAh
"I was actually able to use this phone for over 3 days with my usual levels of phone calls, texting, web browsing and app usage."
Best Design: Nokia 7.2 Phone
Pros:
- Attractive, outstanding design
- Large, clear 6.3" screen
- 128 GB and microSD support
- Long battery life
- Good price
Minuses:
- Cameras may not be compatible
- Average video recording
- Mediocre speaker
Nokia 7.2 is the successor to the mid-range Nokia 7.1. It has retained some design elements but has updated specs and some new features. The design is attractive, with black glass in several sleek, eye-catching colors. The side bezels are reduced to a minimum and there is a fingerprint sensor on the back. The screen is a 6.3-inch 1080p panel with 403 ppi that delivers crisp images. It is HDR10 compliant, allowing you to support compatible content for improved colors and saturation.
Under the hood you have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. This is a mid-range chipset, but it works well with Android 9.0 Pie. 4GB of RAM is also enough for a reasonable level of multitasking, and it can handle games like Asphalt 9. The camera quality is also good, with a triple camera on the back that includes a 48MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide camera, as well as a 5MP one. sensor for obtaining depth information in portrait and bokeh shots. All in all, this is a great phone in a nice package.
Screen size: 6.3 inches |Permission: 2280×1080 | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 |Camera: 48 MP / 8 MP / 5 MP rear and 20 MP front |Battery: 3500 mAh
«The Nokia 7.2 is a powerful smartphone under $400 with an attractive design and a great screen, as well as solid power consumption and battery life. »
Best Google: Google Pixel 4a
Pros:
- Great camera
- Excellent OLED screen
- High performance
- All day battery
- Incredible value
Minuses:
- No 5G
- Brilliant design
Google's Pixel 4a is the best smartphone you can buy for under $400. The sequel costs $50 less, but it's an even better phone, combining an improved design and a better screen with solid performance, a great camera, and all-day battery that Google delivered last. near.
Once again, a flagship-quality camera is a secret weapon. Affordable phones usually come with incompatible cameras that wilt in low light, but the Pixel 4a will give you good results in just about any scenario, including at night in Night Vision mode. Considering the price, it's not surprising that the base Pixel 4a lacks 5G support and some other perks like multiple rear cameras or wireless charging, but it's a huge value for a phone without major downsides.
Screen size: 5.81 inches |Permission: 2340×1080 | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G |Camera: main 12.2 MP, front 8 MP |Battery: 3140 mAh
“While there are more expensive phones with more intriguing designs, faster processors, 5G capabilities, and camera capabilities, the Pixel 4a is an incredible deal at just $349.”
