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Today, the perfect Android telephones underneath $300 do not require you to compromise a great expertise. As cell expertise will get higher and extra reasonably priced, you’ll be able to get pleasure from options like full 5G connectivity, good software program assist, and quick charging, all with out having to pay a fortune. Know what’s even higher? These sub-$300 telephones typically have some goodies like 3.5mm audio ports and growth slots, that are not discovered on flagship gadgets.
At Android Central, we check dozens of telephones per yr, together with ones which can be cheaper or flashy, so our suggestions include first-hand testing and opinions.
My prime choose is the CMF Telephone 1 by Nothing, a $200 telephone that feels nothing like a finances choose. Not solely does it have a novel modular design, nevertheless it’s received a top-class OLED show, cameras you’d usually discover on $400+ telephones, nice software program options, and a powerful software program replace dedication. However Nothing needed to compromise someplace to fulfill that $200 worth level, which suggests NFC is not included.
That is why there are such a lot of different picks on this record, as a result of whereas the CMF Telephone 1 is the one good $200 telephone I’ve ever used, another telephones right here would possibly fill a specific area of interest higher for you. Able to spend much less and nonetheless love the telephone you get? Listed here are the perfect Android telephones you will get for lower than $300.
Nick grew up in a telecom-savvy family and has been reviewing telephones since 2011. Whether or not it is waxing poetic about Nokia’s glory days or flipping open the newest foldable telephones, he is aware of what makes a great telephone and may also help you perceive which one to select.
At a look
Finest total
Sporting a novel modular design with hot-swappable equipment and backs, the CMF Telephone 1 stands out among the many crowded pack. It is even received highly effective cameras and a implausible processor, making this the perfect total choose.
Finest assist
The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G presents an superior Tremendous AMOLED display, a giant battery, class-leading software program replace assist and an entire lot extra, at a worth that is simply too good to withstand.
Finest design
There lots to like in regards to the Poco X6 Professional, however its design would be the first standout function you see—particularly should you select the yellow vegan leather-based model. Plus, quick 67W charging, an excellent predominant digicam, and many options spherical it out.
Finest digicam
Is it any actual shock that we have chosen a Google Pixel telephone for class of finest digicam? The Pixel 6a will constantly seize a implausible photograph regardless of what specs would possibly make you suppose, and that is what makes it actually nice.
Finest show
The Redmi Notice 13 Professional is a well-rounded telephone with nice total specs and a good higher AMOLED show, that includes eye-friendly options and a beautiful 12-bit coloration palette.
6. Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
Finest with stylus
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) makes jotting down notes and exact display interactions a cakewalk. It is the perfect mid-range telephone Motorola has ever made, but simple to seek out for underneath $300.
Finest total
Nick has been reviewing telephones since 2011, utilizing every little thing from dirt-cheap no-name manufacturers to the most costly flagships from corporations like Samsung and Google. He is an enormous fan of folding telephones and something breaks the mildew. He is additionally an avid photographer and might generally be discovered carrying round three or 4 telephones at a time for digicam comparisons.
The CMF Telephone 1 is probably the most thrilling finances telephone I’ve ever used. It is also the one actually good $200 telephone I’ve ever used and recurrently feels extra like a $400 telephone. The very first thing you will discover about it, although, is the distinctive modular design. The again is held on with 5 detachable screws and will be swapped out with a number of totally different colours and types from the corporate.
Nothing additionally launched official 3D printing guides, that means you may make your personal equipment and backs or purchase one from the 3D printing neighborhood! A plethora of distinctive equipment are hot-swappable through the only massive thumbscrew on the underside proper, making it simple to pop on a kickstand, lanyard, or anything you’ll be able to dream up.
Other than the design, the remainder of the telephone is solely good. The brilliant OLED panel up entrance shouldn’t be solely great to have a look at in any mild nevertheless it’s additionally extremely eye-friendly. It is received probably the most highly effective processor in its worth class by far, providing you with loads of energy for on a regular basis duties and surprisingly wonderful gaming efficiency, as nicely.
The one motive this telephone would not get the award for finest digicam underneath $300 is as a result of the Pixel 6a exists, nevertheless it’s barely a step down from that telephone. Plus, the CMF Telephone 1 takes a lot better portrait images than the Pixel due to the devoted portrait digicam on the again and a greater background blurring algorithm than Google’s.
Lastly, Nothing OS is an outstanding OS that I want over most flavors of Android. It not solely has a novel dot matrix-like fashion but additionally options loads of enjoyable house display widgets, nice options, and three years of promised updates. Nothing recurrently updates its OS with new options and safety patches, too, so that you by no means have to fret about feeling outdated.
Finest assist
In typical A-series vogue, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G manages to ship wonderful worth for cash. The smartphone incorporates a 6.5-inch Tremendous AMOLED panel with a decision of 1080×2340 pixels and a 120Hz refresh price. Positive, the waterdrop-style notch has develop into a little bit lengthy within the tooth at this level, however the display will get fairly brilliant and works nicely for on a regular basis utilization.
Powered by the corporate’s homegrown Exynos 1280 SoC, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of inner storage. Whereas these aren’t top-of-the-line specs, they’re greater than sufficient for dealing with duties like internet searching and a few informal gaming. You even get an growth slot that may take up microSD playing cards of as much as 1TB in dimension, permitting you to hold just about your complete media library in your pocket.
The smartphone runs Android 14 (with Samsung’s latest One UI 6 overlay) and can rise up to 4 years of OS updates, in addition to 5 years of safety updates. Which means you get Android updates till Android 18! This wonderful replace coverage alone makes the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G the most effective Android telephones in its worth vary.
Talking of cameras, there is a triple-lens setup on the again with a 50MP major unit, an 8MP ultra-wide module, and a 2MP macro sensor. The smartphone can shoot some first rate photos in well-lit situations, however low-light images are largely unimpressive. As you’d count on, the macro lens is generally ineffective and solely exists to pad the spec sheet. Up entrance, there is a 13MP unit for all of your selfies and video calls. The entire package deal is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that comes with 25W wired charging assist.
Finest design
Harish Jonnalagadda tries to make sense of the befuddling maze that’s the Asian smartphone business. Earlier than switching to telephones, he used to write down about PC {hardware}, overlaying motherboards and video playing cards. When he isn’t taking part in with the newest telephones, he is both studying on his Kindle or making an attempt to clear his backlog of video games on Steam. He may also be discovered shouting on the TV over the weekends at Arsenal’s continued woes.
If the image above would not already clue you in, the Poco X6 Professional has appears to be like to kill and the construct high quality to match. The yellow coloration appears to be like notably hanging and stylish with its vegan leather-based again, and the AMOLED show on the entrance is among the many perfect you will discover on mid-range telephones, a lot much less within the sub-$300 worth class.
Poco’s selection of a quick processor, loads of RAM, and quick UFS 4.0 storage imply this telephone feels quicker than most in its class, providing you with loads of energy for multitasking and gaming, alike. The draw back is that the processor is a little bit too highly effective to run and not using a dearer inner cooling answer, so the telephone will get fairly scorching throughout longer gaming classes.
Fortunately, that highly effective processor would not negatively have an effect on battery life. Fairly the other, truly! Our reviewer, Harish, mentioned that the Poco X6 featured “standout battery life” with ultra-fast 67W wired charging assist.
The Poco X6 comes with Xiaomi’s HyperOS, constructed on Android 14, which sports activities loads of handy options, nice UI design, and three years of promised updates. Which means you will see Android 16 plus one further yr of safety updates earlier than it’s best to contemplate upgrading once more.
Lastly, the primary digicam is sort of good however the the rest of the cameras aren’t price utilizing in any respect—notably that ineffective 2MP macro digicam. We’re nonetheless undecided why some corporations really feel like a 2MP digicam is price placing on any telephone in 2024 however we would advocate simply not utilizing it.
Finest digicam
Nick has been reviewing telephones since 2011, utilizing every little thing from dirt-cheap no-name manufacturers to the most costly flagships from corporations like Samsung and Google. He is an enormous fan of folding telephones and something breaks the mildew. He is additionally an avid photographer and might generally be discovered carrying round three or 4 telephones at a time for digicam comparisons.
For generations now, Google Pixel telephones have been lauded for his or her wonderful cameras that take probably the most consistently-good photos round. That is largely partially to Google’s unbelievable software program, which makes use of an clever HDR+ algorithm that continually takes images, then combines a number of into one wonderful image routinely.
Should you examine the spec sheet for this telephone versus different cameras—even ones on this record—you will in all probability marvel how a 12 megapixel digicam might probably outclass a 50MP or increased sensor. The reply is that Google would not want extra megapixels to make an excellent image, and that is all due to what I mentioned within the paragraph above.
I’ve recurrently known as Pixel telephones the finest telephones for folks and pet house owners due to their means to seize crisp photos of objects in movement—on this case, which means the children and pets that refuse to carry nonetheless for a photograph.
However whereas the digicam is best-in-class, you will even be pleasantly stunned on the efficiency of the Tensor G1 processor contained in the Pixel 6a. It is twice as quick because the processor within the Galaxy A25 above and might play video games and multitask higher due to it. Tensor is understood for getting a bit on the nice and cozy facet, although, so do not plan to play cutting-edge video games for too lengthy at a time.
The true draw back to choosing up a Pixel 6a at this level is that Android 15 is the final main OS replace the telephone will obtain, as official OS updates finish in July 2025. You may nonetheless get two extra years of safety updates, a minimum of, however know that the brand new options you get subsequent Summer season are the final new options you will get.
Finest show
Harish Jonnalagadda tries to make sense of the befuddling maze that’s the Asian smartphone business. Earlier than switching to telephones, he used to write down about PC {hardware}, overlaying motherboards and video playing cards. When he isn’t taking part in with the newest telephones, he is both studying on his Kindle or making an attempt to clear his backlog of video games on Steam. He may also be discovered shouting on the TV over the weekends at Arsenal’s continued woes.
With regards to shows, few look pretty much as good because the one on the Redmi Notice 13 Professional. This beautiful 6.67-inch AMOLED panel options these deep blacks and vibrant colours AMOLEDs are recognized for, and it punches that second half up a notch with 12-bit Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist.
Should you love watching motion pictures in your telephone, that is the one to get as that show will ship probably the most correct colours, widest dynamic vary, and loads of brightness to see clearly even in brilliant daylight. Higher but, Xiaomi outfitted the show with eye-friendly capabilities together with TÜV Rheinland certifications for low blue mild, circadian pleasant, and even flicker-free due to DC-like dimming at excessive brightness and 1920Hz PWM dimming at low brightness.
On prime of that show is tremendous sturdy Gorilla Glass Victus, a sort of glass you usually solely discover on telephones a whole bunch of {dollars} dearer. And final however actually not least is Xiaomi’s Moist Contact function which makes it simple to make use of the contact display even when your palms are moist. Strive that along with your present telephone and you will find that it is unimaginable to precisely kind or swipe when water is on the glass.
Whereas our reviewer Harish wasn’t impressed with the telephone when it launched in September 2023, Xiaomi has since up to date the telephone with Android 14, fastened tons of bugs, and the brand new lower cost all come collectively to make this a considerably higher worth than it was.
Whereas Xiaomi was very gradual to replace this telephone to Android 14—seven months after the telephone and Android 14 formally launched—the Redmi Notice 13 Professional nonetheless will get two extra years of OS and safety updates, although, so Xiaomi has loads of time to make up for the gradual first platform replace.
Finest with stylus
Derrek resides on the Finest Coast, initially from San Diego, and now dwelling in Seattle. He is a long-time cell tech fanatic, beginning with an obsession with Nokia that started on the age of 12. Since then, he is been lovingly recognized by most of his mates because the “Telephone Man.” When he isn’t speaking tech, he is both figuring out, mountain climbing, taking part in video video games (Ps), or making movies.
Motorola actually reinvented itself over the previous yr because it launched not solely our favourite foldable telephone ever, but additionally a line of budget-friendly telephones that feel and look wonderful. The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 is the proper instance of this, melding a stylus design glad in vegan leather-based, all whereas housing a beautiful stylus contained in the telephone’s svelte body.
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor inside is not the quickest chip on this record, nevertheless it’s nonetheless quicker than the one discovered within the Samsung Galaxy A25 close to the highest of this record. In fact, the primary draw of this telephone is not this efficiency although, it is the stylus home contained in the physique.
Motorola has a collection of software program customized to work with the stylus, and though this is not an energetic stylus such as you’ll discover on dearer Samsung telephones which have stylus assist, it is nonetheless good to have one to jot down fast notes or annotate photos and screenshots. Particularly because it’s all the time contained in the telephone ready to be rapidly used!
Motorola additionally upgraded the cameras this yr, outfitting it with some surprisingly good picture seize together with an ultrawide-angle lens. Our reviewer, Derrek, was actually impressed with the picture high quality and particularly lauded the telephone for that function.
Whereas Motorola ships this one with Android 14 and its wonderful Whats up UX—full with all our favourite Motorola gestures like double-chop to activate the flashlight—the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 will solely get up to date to Android 15, plus three years of safety updates to make sure you really feel protected on-line. Should you do not care about tons of updates and need to prioritize a stylus, this can be a nice selection for underneath $300.
How to decide on
Whereas there isn’t any doubt that the finest Android telephones give you an unmatched person expertise — full with options like top-tier cameras and wi-fi charging — these gadgets do not come low-cost. If you cannot (or simply do not need to) spend hundreds of {dollars} on a flagship telephone, we propose having a look at one of many many choices out there underneath the $300 worth level. Positive, these do miss out on some nice-to-have options present in costly telephones and are not supported for lengthy, however they cowl all of the fundamentals, whereas additionally having some extras. So, earlier than making your determination, do check out what options you want probably the most.
Our best choice is the CMF Telephone 1, a superb choose at simply $200 with an choice to improve the RAM and storage for $80 extra. Even at that worth, it is nonetheless a greater telephone than every other on this record, together with a brilliant and exquisite—but additionally eye-friendly—OLED show, a strong processor, the second-best cameras on this record, and a novel modular design which you can 3D print elements for. It is an unbelievably enjoyable telephone that blew me away from the second I attempted it.
And remember in regards to the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G should you’re in search of some critical long-term worth. Whereas the processor is not the quickest on this record, it has the longest software program assist promise of all of them—5 years! Which means it’s going to see Android 18 earlier than Samsung drops assist, one thing that no different telephone on the record can declare. That is nice should you like to carry on to your telephones for a very long time.
Lastly, if we’re evaluating reasonably priced telephones with people who aren’t so reasonably priced, we won’t ignore the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024). This factor comes with a swanky vegan leather-based again panel and an built-in stylus that makes it feel and look extraordinarily premium. There’s even NFC assist for contactless funds, one other function that is generally present in flagship telephones.
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Testing telephones at Android Central includes far more than merely booting up a tool to make sure it really works. We are able to use telephones with a client mindset as a result of we are customers, along with Android fanatics and product testers. Not like some websites that rely solely on benchmark applications and lab checks to confirm efficiency, we use smartphones in real-life eventualities to raised perceive how a tool will carry out throughout regular, day-to-day use.
This includes personally hitting the streets to see how a telephone’s digicam will carry out throughout the day and evening, and evaluating photos from two gadgets facet by facet to see how they differ. Our testing includes operating a number of performance-heavy apps concurrently to see if a telephone will overheat or swiftly lose battery life. It includes booting up graphics-intensive video games on the highest settings to see if the photographs will lag or stutter, and it means draining the battery of a telephone to zero to check the pace at which it should recharge.
This barely scratches the floor of each testing metric we apply to every new machine, so take a look at our information to how Android Central checks and opinions telephones to study extra.
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