Big Features, Tiny Price: 5 Best Phones For Under $300 in 2026
Phones under $300 in 2026 are not messing around anymore. Seriously, these aren’t just your bare-bones budget devices of the past. Today’s affordable smartphones pack some real punch, giving you crazy value for not a lot of cash—from massive batteries and 120Hz displays to impressive cameras and even built-in styluses.
In this guide, we are going over the top five best phones for under $300 right now. We’ll look at what they do well, who should grab them, and which ones actually make sense to buy. Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
At a Glance: Top 5 Best Phones For Under $300
| Product Name | Processor | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola Moto G Stylus | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 | Built-in Stylus & pOLED | Productivity & Media |
| Samsung Galaxy A17 | Exynos 1330 | 6 Years of Updates | Longevity & Reliability |
| Motorola Moto G Power | Dimensity 6300 | 6.8″ Display & Huge Battery | Binge-Watching & Battery |
| TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER | Dimensity 6100+ | Matte Paper-Like Screen | Eye Comfort & Reading |
| Motorola Moto G 2025 | Dimensity 6300 | 120Hz Display | Best Budget All-Rounder |
The 5 Best Phones For Under $300 Reviews
1. Motorola Moto G Stylus
Best For: Productivity and Immersive Media
The Motorola Moto G Stylus is a rare gem in the sub-$300 category because, as the name suggests, it actually includes a stylus. It drops the cheap plastic feel for a premium soft vegan leather finish. With a gorgeous 6.7-inch pOLED display boasting over a billion shades of color and Dolby Atmos sound, it’s an immersive pocket cinema.
- Performance: Runs on the snappy Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, handling daily multitasking without drama.
- Camera: 50MP Ultra Pixel camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for great lower-light shots.
- Battery: 5000mAh battery that easily lasts over a day, complemented by 30W TurboPower charging.
- Value: Around $270 gets you 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, plus microSD expansion.
2. Samsung Galaxy A17
Best For: Longevity and Reliability
The Samsung Galaxy A17 is all about sticking around for the long haul. While the design is understated, it features a tough build with an IP54 rating, Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, and a reinforced polymer back. The absolute biggest selling point? Samsung promises six years of OS and security updates—unheard of in this price bracket.
- Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display for vivid, punchy colors.
- Storage: Supports up to a massive 2TB of expandable memory.
- Camera: Versatile triple-lens camera system for detailed shots.
- Trade-off: The 4GB of RAM can struggle if you have more than four apps open, leading to occasional UI freezing.
3. Motorola Moto G Power
Best For: Epic Battery Life and Big Screens
As the name implies, the Motorola Moto G Power screams battery life. The 5000mAh battery easily provides more than a full day’s use, with some users charging it every other day. It is a massive phone featuring a 6.8-inch 120Hz display and stereo speakers with Bass Boost, making it the perfect device for binge-watching your favorite shows.
- Power: Runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset with 5G speeds.
- Multitasking: Features “RAM Boost” allowing up to 24GB of total virtual/physical RAM.
- Camera: 50MP camera with OIS gets you clear images and stable video.
- Price: Sits right around $200, offering fantastic hardware value.
4. TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER
Best For: Eye Comfort and Reading
The TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER is a highly unique device. Its standout feature is the NXTPAPER 3.0 display, a matte screen that cuts blue light by up to 61%. If you read a lot on your phone or suffer from eye strain, this is the phone for you. It includes an Eye Care Assistant and reading modes like “Ink Paper.”
- Display: Matte, glare-free screen that makes videos look surprisingly great.
- Cameras: 50MP main lens with ultrawide and depth sensors, plus a sharp 32MP front camera.
- Drawback: Users report the Bluetooth audio quality is noticeably poor, and the built-in speakers are loud but tinny.
- Price: Around $220, making it a fantastic value for readers.
5. Motorola Moto G 2025
Best For: The Budget All-Rounder
The Motorola Moto G 2025 combines performance, solid battery life, and excellent design into an incredibly affordable package (around $200). You get a big 6.7-inch, 120Hz display and stereo sound with Bass Boost. With a vegan leather back and Gorilla Glass 3 up front, it feels far more expensive than it is.
- Performance: Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset with up to 12GB of RAM (via RAM Boost).
- Battery: 5000mAh battery with fast TurboPower charging.
- Camera: 50MP Quad Pixel main camera that performs respectably in low-light situations.
- User Feedback: Highly praised for ease of use, though heavy multitasking can cause occasional app freezing.
Final Verdict
If you love taking notes or doodling, the Motorola Moto G Stylus is an unbeatable value at under $300. For those who want a phone that will still be getting software updates in half a decade, grab the Samsung Galaxy A17. However, if you have sensitive eyes and love reading eBooks on your commute, the innovative matte screen on the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER is a game-changer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a $300 phone play modern mobile games?
Yes. Phones featuring chips like the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 or MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (like the Moto models listed above) handle casual games effortlessly and can play heavier 3D games on medium or low graphics settings.
2. What is “RAM Boost” or “Virtual RAM”?
Many budget phones now feature “RAM Boost.” This technology takes a portion of your phone’s internal storage (ROM) and temporarily uses it as extra RAM to help keep background apps open without closing them.
3. Is a 5000mAh battery good?
Absolutely. A 5000mAh battery is currently the gold standard for large smartphones. Combined with the power-efficient chips found in budget phones, it easily translates to 1.5 to 2 days of moderate usage without needing a charger.
Last update on 2026-02-28/Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
