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If you’re looking for a smartphone that won’t break the bank, you might be surprised by how many options you have. There are plenty of Android phones that offer great features, performance, and battery life for less than $300. Some of them even support 5G, the latest and fastest wireless network technology. Here are some of the best budget smartphones under $300 that you can buy in 2023.
OnePlus Nord N20 5G
The OnePlus Nord N20 5G is our top pick for the best budget smartphone under $300. It has a sleek design, a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with rich colors and deep blacks, and a Snapdragon 695 processor that delivers smooth performance. It also has a 4,500 mAh battery that can last for more than 11 hours of web browsing, and a 64 MP main camera that can take decent photos in good lighting. The Nord N20 supports sub-6GHz 5G networks, which means you can enjoy faster speeds and lower latency on compatible carriers. The only downside is that the camera quality drops significantly in low-light situations, and the secondary cameras (2 MP monochrome and 2 MP macro) are not very useful. But for $299 unlocked ($282 through T-Mobile/Metro by T-Mobile), the OnePlus Nord N20 5G is a great deal for a 5G-ready smartphone.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Good performance for the price
- Solid battery life
- Nice display
Cons:
- Very underwhelming cameras
Where to buy:
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is another excellent budget smartphone that supports 5G networks. It has a 6.4-inch LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, which makes everything look smoother and more responsive. It also has a Snapdragon 750G processor, which is slightly faster than the Nord N20’s Snapdragon 695. The Galaxy A23 has a 4,000 mAh battery that can last for about 10 hours of web browsing, and a 48 MP main camera that can take good photos in daylight. The Galaxy A23 also benefits from Samsung’s software support, which guarantees two OS upgrades and four years of security updates. The main drawbacks are that the LCD display is not as vibrant as an AMOLED display, and the camera quality suffers in low-light conditions. The Galaxy A23 costs $299 unlocked ($249 through Straight Talk), but you can often find it on sale for less.
Pros:
- Vibrant 120 Hz display
- Good performance for the price
- Long software support
- Decent battery life
Cons:
- LCD display is not as colorful as AMOLED
- Camera quality is poor in low-light
Where to buy:
Moto G Power (2022)
The Moto G Power (2022) is a budget smartphone that lives up to its name. It has a massive 5,000 mAh battery that can last for up to 14 hours of web browsing, or even longer if you use the power-saving mode. It also has a 6.6-inch LCD display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 662 processor, and a 48 MP main camera. The Moto G Power is not a 5G phone, but it supports most 4G LTE bands in the US. It also runs on a near-stock version of Android 11, with some useful Moto features like gesture controls and display customization. The main drawbacks are that the display is not very bright or sharp, and the camera quality is mediocre in low-light scenarios. The Moto G Power costs $249 unlocked ($199 through Verizon), but you can often find it for less on Amazon or Best Buy.
Pros:
- Incredible battery life
- Near-stock Android experience
- Smooth 90 Hz display
- Decent performance for the price
Cons:
- Dim and low-resolution display
- Mediocre camera quality in low-light
Where to buy:
TCL 30 V 5G
The TCL 30 V 5G is a budget smartphone that offers a lot of value for its price. It has a 6.67-inch LCD display with a full HD+ resolution and NXTVISION technology, which enhances the colors and contrast of the screen. It also has a Snapdragon 690 processor, which is faster than the Moto G Power’s Snapdragon 662, and supports sub-6GHz 5G networks. The TCL 30 V has a 4,500 mAh battery that can last for about 10 hours of web browsing, and a quad-camera setup that includes a 48 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The TCL 30 V runs on Android 11 with TCL’s UI on top, which adds some extra features like smart key customization and app cloning. The main drawbacks are that the display has a low refresh rate of 60 Hz, and the camera quality is inconsistent in different lighting conditions. The TCL 30 V costs $299 unlocked ($249 through Verizon), but you can often find it for less on Amazon or Best Buy.
Pros:
- Large and sharp display with NXTVISION technology
- Fast performance for the price
- Support for sub-6GHz 5G networks
- Versatile quad-camera setup
Cons:
- Low refresh rate of 60 Hz
- Inconsistent camera quality
Where to buy:
Google Pixel 6A
The Google Pixel 6A is a budget smartphone that offers the best software experience you can get for under $300. It runs on a pure version of Android 12, with no bloatware or unnecessary features. It also gets regular security updates and three years of OS upgrades, which means it will be one of the first phones to get Android 13, 14, and 15. The Pixel 6A has a 6.2-inch OLED display with a full HD+ resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate. It also has a Snapdragon 765G processor, which is faster than the TCL 30 V’s Snapdragon 690, and supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks. The Pixel 6A has a 3,800 mAh battery that can last for about 9 hours of web browsing, and a single 12.2 MP rear camera that can take amazing photos in any lighting condition, thanks to Google’s computational photography. The Pixel 6A also has some unique features like Call Screen, which filters out spam calls, and Now Playing, which identifies songs playing in the background. The main drawbacks are that the Pixel 6A has no expandable storage, no headphone jack, and no wireless charging. The Pixel 6A costs $449 unlocked ($399 through Google Fi), but you can often find it on sale for under $300 on Amazon or Best Buy.
Pros:
- Pure Android experience with fast updates
- Excellent camera quality
- Support for both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks
- Smooth 90 Hz display
Cons:
- No expandable storage
- No headphone jack
- No wireless charging
Where to buy:
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a budget smartphone that offers a lot of features for its price. It has a 6.5-inch LCD display with a full HD+ resolution and a 90 Hz refresh rate. It also has a MediaTek Dimensity 720 processor, which is comparable to the Snapdragon 690, and supports sub-6GHz 5G networks. The Galaxy A32 has a 5,000 mAh battery that can last for about 12 hours of web browsing, and a quad-camera setup that includes a 48 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, a 5 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The Galaxy A32 runs on Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI on top, which adds some extra features like edge panels, dark mode, and Bixby routines. The main drawbacks are that the display has a low refresh rate of 60 Hz, and the camera quality is inconsistent in different lighting conditions. The Galaxy A32 costs $279 unlocked ($199 through Straight Talk), but you can often find it for less on Amazon or Best Buy.
Pros:
- Large and sharp display with 90 Hz refresh rate
- Decent performance for the price
- Support for sub-6GHz 5G networks
- Versatile quad-camera setup
Cons:
- LCD display is not as colorful as AMOLED
- Inconsistent camera quality
Where to buy:
Conclusion
There are many budget smartphones under $300 that offer great features, performance, and battery life. Some of them even support 5G, the latest and fastest wireless network technology. Depending on your preferences and needs, you can choose from different brands, designs, and specifications. Our top pick is the OnePlus Nord N20 5G, which has a beautiful design, good performance, a solid battery life, and a nice display. However, you can also consider the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G, the Moto G Power (2022), the TCL 30 V 5G, or the Google Pixel 6A, which are all excellent budget smartphones under $300. We hope this article helped you find the best budget smartphone for you. Happy shopping!
