Best Phone Under $300: 5G Phones at Starter Prices

$330 at Amazon

Google Pixel 6A

Greatest telephone you must really get — so long as it is on sale

The most effective telephones below $300 are now not boring. They provide a style of premium options, however in a tool that also very a lot looks like a funds telephone. These funds telephones could make calls, ship texts and run most apps and video games for a whole lot of {dollars} lower than the iPhone 14 or Galaxy S23. In addition they present entry to 5G, which is essential if you wish to maintain onto your system for some time, and a few even include a built-in stylus. 

However I’ll stage with you: We now have but to make use of a telephone within the $200 to $300 worth vary that looks like a wonderful worth. The very best picks on this class are usually dearer gadgets which are regularly discounted to $299 when on sale. For example, Google’s $449 Pixel 6A is our present finest telephone for below $500, and it is usually discounted to $299.

That is to not say telephones within the $200 to $300 worth vary needs to be averted. Some embody first rate cameras, a headphone jack, expandable storage and NFC assist for cellular funds.

What’s the finest telephone below $300?

The most effective telephone you should buy for below $300, if the Google Pixel 6A is not on sale, is the OnePlus Nord N20 5G. OnePlus well balanced nice options like like an in-screen fingerprint sensor, 6GB of RAM and quick 33-watt charging; whereas retaining compromises (one thing all sub-$300 telephones have) to a minimal like utilizing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip as an alternative utilizing a top-of-the-line one. The Nord N20 5G has a trio of rear cameras together with a 64-megapixel important shooter that takes first rate photographs in brighter situations. Total, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G handles most of the fundamentals properly, which might be sufficient for these on T-Cell or Mint Cell on the lookout for a stable, however reasonably priced possibility on the provider. 

Greatest telephones below $300

The $299 OnePlus N20 5G is not an thrilling telephone, however it greater than will get the job finished for many conditions. In contrast to a number of telephones on this listing, you should buy it unlocked from OnePlus. It additionally offers high-end options we do not all the time see at this worth, like an in-screen fingerprint reader, quicker 33-watt charging, 6GB of RAM and NFC for cellular funds. Regardless of being out there straight from OnePlus, the N20 works with AT&T and T-Cell however doesn’t work with Verizon. The telephone’s 5G assist additionally solely works by means of T-Cell.

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Reviewing the $258 TCL Stylus 5G was a journey for me final 12 months. Specs-wise, it has loads that I loved. The telephone’s TCL NxtVision HDR setting supplied enhanced colours once I performed video games, TCL made minimal adjustments to Android 12 and I particularly loved the magnetic stylus that matches securely into its personal slot on the telephone.

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The $228 OnePlus Nord N300 5G is my favourite telephone below $300. The one cause why I can’t suggest it above the N20 is as a result of this telephone is locked to T-Cell. Regardless of being round $80 cheaper than the opposite OnePlus telephone, it nonetheless has 33-watt quick charging, a 90Hz refresh fee show and a 48-megapixel important digital camera that does an honest job with photographs and video. Its matte black look that highlights its two digital camera lenses additionally makes it one of many nicer-looking funds telephones I’ve examined. The N300 improves on the N20 with its twin stereo audio system, over the one speaker on the N20, and I personally choose the aspect fingerprint sensor over in-screen choices like on the N20.

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The Gentle Telephone 2 is a really completely different sort of telephone. It is meant for individuals in search of freedom from the fixed stream of notifications, however nonetheless desire a telephone that appears good. However regardless of its considerably restricted performance, this telephone nonetheless prices $299..

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Admittedly I am dishonest by getting this telephone into the listing, however Google’s Pixel 6A has been discounted to $299 loads currently and is a simple advice when it has been discounted right into a funds telephone vary.

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What are the tradeoffs with telephones that value $300 or much less?

These cheaper gadgets are inclined to reduce considerably in a single space or one other with a view to obtain these low costs. Mostly, these drawbacks embody restricted software program assist, provider assist or bloatware (preloaded apps that you just by no means requested for). These tradeoffs usually imply that these gadgets shouldn’t be used after two to 3 years, particularly after safety replace assist ends.

It is also notable that whereas these telephones retail for $200 to $300, a lot of them are sometimes out there at a deep low cost — and even without spending a dime — as a part of a provider subsidy deal. If you’re planning to stay with the identical wi-fi provider for 2 years, these telephones might simply turn out to be a part of the price of your service.

How we check telephones

Each telephone on this listing has been completely examined by CNET’s knowledgeable critiques staff. We really use the telephone, check the options, play video games and take photographs. We assess any advertising and marketing guarantees that an organization makes about its telephones. And if we discover one thing we do not like, be it battery life or construct high quality, we inform you all about it. 

We study each side of a telephone throughout testing:

• Show
• Design and really feel
• Processor efficiency
• Battery life
• Digital camera high quality
• Options

We check all of a telephone’s cameras (each back and front) in a wide range of situations: from open air below daylight to dimmer indoor locales and evening time scenes (for any out there evening modes). We additionally evaluate our findings in opposition to equally priced fashions. We now have a collection of actual world battery exams  to see how lengthy a telephone lasts below on a regular basis use.

We keep in mind extra telephone options like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, quick charging, foldable shows and different helpful extras. And we, in fact, weigh all of our experiences and testing in opposition to the worth so you recognize whether or not a telephone represents good worth or not.

Learn extra: How We Take a look at Telephones

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