The best Android phones under $300 right now!
You can get a lot of phones for a modest price these days, and to prove it, we've rounded up a list of the best Android phones under $300 for your consideration. The best phones overall mostly come down to network compatibility and confidence that your software won't be out of date as soon as you activate it. The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G hits the mark with support for low-band and mid-band 5G, enough power to run just about any app, and Android 11 installed with Android 12 coming later in the year.
Best overall Android phone under $300: Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
The Mediatek Dimensity 700 CPU package in the Galaxy A13 5G isn't winning any awards in benchmarks, but when it comes to day-to-day tasks and even light 3D gaming, it can hold its own. Paired with a generous 4GB of RAM and a 5,000mAh battery, this phone can keep you connected until the end of the day with plenty of battery life to get you home. If you're someone that works away from an outlet and needs to drive or commute a long way to do it, the long battery life of this phone is a great perk, especially if you want to stream during or after work.
Samsung hasn't skimped on the software either with Android 11 out of the box. Android 12 is set to come to this device later in the year so you can use this phone even longer without losing any kind of compatibility. Even on this base software, you can download apps including games to the phone's 64GB of storage and if you need more, you can add a microSD card. They also look great on the 6.5-inch display thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate.
The Galaxy A13 5G also has great network compatibility for each carrier so you can pick the plan that makes the most sense for you and most importantly, has the coverage you need. You get 5G connectivity included and while not everyone needs the extra speed, it's worth remembering that carriers will be making the greatest improvements to their network with 5G in the coming years so it's good to be compatible. This also includes mid-band 5G support for greater speeds in urban and suburban areas.
Pros:- Powerful Mediatek Dimensity CPU
- 5G enabled with mid-band support
- Large 5,000mAh battery
- Large 90Hz display
- Samsung has confirmed an Android 12 update
- Boring design
- Cameras are passable but not great
$250 at Amazon$250 at Best Buy
Everything you need, for a great price
The Galaxy A13 5G is a great upgrade over the old A12 thanks to its performance with a new CPU and network compatibility with 5G.
Best alternative Android phone under $300: TCL 20S
You may be familiar with TCL for its low-cost televisions, but did you know the company also makes Android phones? The TCL 20S is part of the company's second-generation of U.S.-bound handsets. It's also one of the most well-rounded devices you can get in this price range.
Speaking of TVs, one of the best parts of the TCL 20S is its display. It features a 6.67-inch LCD panel with Full HD+ resolution, and thanks to TCL's custom NXTVISION technology, you're treated to increased sharpness, more vibrant images, and true-to-life colors. We also appreciate the slim bezels and hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera.
Under the hood, the TCL 20S has a Snapdragon 665 processor and 6GB of RAM, one of the most impressive setups on this list. The 5,000 mAh battery allows for outstanding endurance, you get an NFC chip for Google Pay support, and TCL's software is clean and fun to use. There are also four cameras on the back for you to play with. Of course, there are tradeoffs with any phone at this price point. The most notable exemptions on the 20S are the lack of 5G support and any official IP rating for water or dust protection.
Pros:- Very good LCD
- Ample performance chops
- Enjoyable software
- Google Pay with NFC
- Huge 5,000mAh battery
- No 5G
- No IP rating
$250 at Amazon$250 at Best Buy
A worthy competitor in the budget space
It may not be your first choice, but the TCL 20S stands out as one of the best cheap Android phones, thanks in part to its great display.
Best value Android phone under $300: OnePlus Nord N200 5G
You wouldn't expect to get a OnePlus device in the sub-$300 category these days. Thankfully, the uber affordable Nord lineup has made its way to the eager hands of North Americans. The OnePlus Nord N200 5G brings 5G to the masses, making it accessible for all. It may not look very impressive, but it has the right goods underneath that plastic hood.
The Nord N200 5G touts a generously large 6.49-inch Full HD+ LCD display. It has slim bezels all around, and the screen's 90Hz refresh rate makes everything appear all the better. We love that the demure design has an air of grace about it. It may be cheap, but it doesn't look or feel the part.
Powering this modest handset is the Snapdragon 480 5G with 4GB of RAM. There's 64GB of onboard storage, but you can expand it via Micro SD. That and the 3.5mm jack are two things you don't see in phones anymore. The triple camera setup is alright, with a 13MP primary camera on the back. What really impresses is the superb battery life delivered by the 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. There's a lot to love here, for very little money.
Pros- Smooth 90Hz display
- Excellent battery life
- Headphone jack & expandable storage
- Oxygen OS 11
- Underwhelming cameras
- No IP rating
- Only one major platform update
$240 at Amazon$240 at Best Buy$219 at Walmart
Oxygen OS on a budget
All phones on this list are good values, but the OnePlus Nord N200 5G strikes an excellent balance of features, specs, and price.
Best ultra low-cost Android phone under $300: TCL 20 SE
The TCL 20 SE is an interesting device, sitting a step below the better equipped TCL 20S. Apart from some minor differences, it's actually similar to the TCL 20S in more ways than one, but it makes a few cuts to reach an even lower price.
You get a lot of screen real estate with the 6.82-inch display powered by NXVISION, but the resolution is dropped from Full HD+ to just HD+. This means the TCL 20 SE's screen isn't as sharp or pretty to look at, but it still gets the job done. You also have the same 5,000mAh battery and fast charging support. Pop the hood, and you will find a Snapdragon 460 processor paired with 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. There's a microSD slot for easy expansion if you still need more room.
You get a 3.5mm headphone jack and Android 11 out of the box, along with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor built into the power button. What's cool is that you get reverse charge capabilities via an OTG cable. Somehow, they've thrown a 48MP primary sensor in the triple camera setup and still kept the price below $200.
Pros- Large 6.82-inch display
- Huge 5,000mAh battery
- Headphone jack & expandable storage
- Easy-to-use software
- Display is only HD+
- Average cameras
- Not compatible with CDMA networks
Time to stretch your dollars
Despite its rock-bottom price tag, the TCL 20 SE touts a big, beautiful display and decent internals with minimal sacrifice.
Best software on an Android phone under $300: Nokia G50
Nokia has established itself as one of the market leaders for affordable Android phones, and one of its most compelling handsets is the Nokia G50. The Nokia G50 stands out for a few different reasons, but its strongest aspect is its software above all else.
The Nokia G50 ships with Android 11 right out of the box, and like all Nokia phones, it offers a clean and Pixel-esque user interface that's fast and smooth thanks to its Android One implementation. What's even better is that the Nokia G50 is backed by two years of major OS updates and three years of monthly security patches, offering a level of software support that's far too rare in this price range.
As for the hardware side of things, the Nokia G50 gives you a 6.39-inch HD+ display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 480 5G processor, a generous 5,000 mAh battery, 18W fast charging, and it even has NFC for Google Pay. Plus, it maintains the excellent cameras of the preceding Nokia 5.4, with a 48MP primary shooter, a 5MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP depth sensor.
Pros:- Android One software is top-notch
- Guaranteed updates
- Large 5,000 mAh battery
- Has NFC for Google Pay
- 5G enabled
- Only HD display
- No IP rating
$274 at Amazon$300 at Best Buy
One of the best software experiences you'll find
The Nokia G50 is an incredible value. It has awesome software, a premium design, and capable specs.
Best rugged Android phone under $300: Blackview BV4900
For the most part, modern smartphones are generic slabs of glass or plastic. There's nothing wrong with that, but it means that buying a case is a must for incredibly clumsy people. But what if there was a phone that was designed to not need a case in the first place? Enter the Blackview BV4900.
The BV4900 comes with fairly modest specs with a Mediatek A22 Helio MT6761 CPU, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. This storage can be upgraded with a microSD card, however. A fairly large 5580mAh can keep you running all day or longer with ease. This phone is designed to be tough with IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass 3 on the 5.7-inch IPS display at 720x1440.
Connectivity is quite limited compared to many others on this list with only LTE support on GSM carriers. That means no Verizon. It's also worth noting that this phone doesn't support all of either carrier's bands either, so you may find yourself with lower or no signal than others on the same carrier. Still, it's hard to find a rugged phone that competes with this one for under $300.
Pros- Rugged design is super durable
- IP68 dust and water-resistance
- Large 5580mAh battery
- Relatively weak carrier and band support
- The micro USB port is very 2006
- Older Android 10 software
Explore the outdoors
If you're someone that always drops their phone, the Blackview BV9100 is exactly the device you've been looking for
Best stylus on an Android phone under $300: Moto G Stylus (2021)
The Galaxy Note series is super popular for making the most of a stylus-touting phone, but if you don't have the cash for a flagship Note, the Moto G Stylus (2021) is worth a look. Just like the Note, it has an included stylus that you can hide inside the phone when you aren't using it. However, unlike the Note, the Moto G Stylus (2021) is very affordable.
With the Moto G Stylus (2021), you can draw, take notes, and navigate the UI - something that's quite handy when trying to tap small buttons on the screen. You also get a 6.8-inch Full HD+ LCD, Android 10, and 128GB of storage that can be expanded by another 512GB. There's also a 4,000 mAh battery, which should last you all day and then some on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 SOC.
There is also now a quadruple-camera system with a 48MP standard shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth/time of flight sensor. Unfortunately, you don't get NFC or wireless charging on the downside, nor does the MotoG Stylus (2021) sport official IP water or dust resistance.
It's worth noting that while the standard Moto G Stylus (2021) does not have 5G capabilities, there is a 5G version available, though we did not include it on this list because it costs over $300.
Pros- Comes with a stylus
- Big display for drawing and note-taking
- Quadruple camera system
- Large battery
- No IP water or dust resistance
- No wireless charging or NFC
- Ships with Android 10
$230 at Amazon$230 at Best Buy
The budget phone with a stylus
The stylus-touting Moto G Stylus (2021) is a great buy, allowing you to draw and take handwritten notes wherever you go.
Bottom lineAmazingly, plenty of the other best Android phones are available at affordable prices, but when you're looking to save money, there are going to be compromises. When shopping for these phones, take a close look at the specs to ensure you're not missing a feature you'd like to have. Many inexpensive phones will reduce display size, resolution, extra cameras, or bonuses like stereo speakers. However, when you shop around, you'll be able to get an excellent phone for just a few hundred bucks.
Buying a new Android phone can be a pretty daunting task, especially when keeping prices low. You want to buy something that'll be able to do everything you need, but getting a quality handset without breaking the bank is no easy task.
The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G gets most things right with a reasonably large display, huge 5,000mAh battery, and of course, support for 5G. Software is another important consideration, and Samsung has a strong record of providing security updates and even Android version updates to its cheaper devices. Samsung has already announced intentions to update the A13 5G to Android 12 in 2022 so you can be sure your phone will be compatible with all apps and have the newest security features included.
Credits - The team that worked on this guide
Jeramy Johnson is proud to help to Keep Austin Weird and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. When he's not writing about smart homes and wearable devices, he's defending his relationship with his voice assistants to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.
Namerah Saud Fatmi is a freelance writer for Android Central. She has a passion for all things tech & gaming and has been an honorary Goodreads librarian since 2011. When she isn't writing, she can be found chasing stray cats and dogs in the streets of Dhaka or slaying dragons in the land of Skyrim. You can reach her on her Twitter handle @NamerahS.