Updated: March 9, 2026 
Update: We last updated this article on March 9, 2026, with the Moto G Power 2026 and the Samsung A36.
Are you in the market for a new smartphone under $300? The $300 segment offers a good price point for essential features in a smartphone, without the bells and whistles of modern iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. You don't get additional buttons, but you do get decent battery life and good enough cameras for scanning documents and taking photos. You don't need $1000 to send messages and make calls, or get wireless charging and a good UI. Budget phones have evolved with faster chipsets, better screens, and long-lasting batteries. Here is a list of the best phones you can buy for under $300 today.
Top 6 Phones Under $300 – Flagship Features on a Budget
To make it easier for you to make a decision, we have chosen the best smartphone under $300 for different categories and for different reasons. We recognize that different people are out there looking for different things on their mobile phones. Some want battery life, others need cool designs, and yet others need software support and a familiar UI.
1. CMF Phone (2) Pro: Best Budget Phone With Telephoto Lens
- Price: $279
- Availability: Nothing USA
- Display: 6.77-inch Full HD+AMOLED with 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro
- Camera: 50MP Primary+50MP Telephoto+50MP Ultrawide
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Charging: 33W wired (Charger not included in some regions), 5W reverse wired
Why We Recommend It
The CMF Phone (2) Pro is one of the few budget phones with a telephoto camera. It also offers a 120Hz AMOLED display, smooth Dimensity 7300 Pro performance, and a clean software experience. The unique accessories ecosystem also makes the phone stand out from other phones in this price range.
Who Should Buy This
This phone is ideal for users who want better zoom photography on a budget. If you also like experimenting with accessories and want a clean Android experience without bloatware, the CMF Phone (2) Pro is a great pick.
Who Shouldn't Buy This
If you prefer stereo speakers or a more traditional design, this phone may not be the best option. Some of the accessories can also get expensive, which adds to the overall cost.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ 6.77-inch AMOLED display with 3000 nits of peak brightness | ❌ Mono speaker setup |
| ✅ MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro for smooth performance | ❌ Accessories are expensive considering the phone's price |
| ✅ Clean User Experience | ❌ The Essential key cannot be remapped |
| ✅ Wide range of unique accessories | |
| ✅ Only phone with telephoto in this price range | |
| ✅ Essential Space support |
2. Motorola Moto G Edge (2024): The Complete Package
- Price: $299
- Availability: Amazon USA
- Display: 6.6-inch Full HD+ pOLED with 144Hz
- Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
- Camera: 50MP+13MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Charging: 68W wired, 15W wireless
Why We Recommend It
The Motorola Edge (2025) offers a premium experience at a budget price. You get a curved pOLED display with a high refresh rate, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 performance, and wireless charging support. Features like IP68 rating and the vegan leather design make it feel closer to a flagship phone.
Who Should Buy This
This phone is ideal for users who want a premium design and flagship-like features without spending too much. If you like curved displays, wireless charging, and Motorola’s clean software, the Edge (2025) is a great option.
Who Shouldn't Buy This
If you want long software support or faster updates, Motorola may disappoint. The phone also lacks a telephoto camera, so it may not be the best option for users who care about zoom photography.
Also Read:
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ 6.6-inch pOLED display with 144Hz | ❌ No telephoto lens |
| ✅ Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 | ❌ No Motorola Ready For Support |
| ✅ Clean User Experience | ❌ Slow software updates |
| ✅ Customizable Quick Button | ❌ No charger is included in the box |
| ✅ IP68 water and dust resistance |
3. Samsung Galaxy A36 5G: Best Budget Samsung Phone With Long Software Support
- Price: $349 (Often available under $300 with bank offers)
- Availability: Amazon US/ Samsung US
- Display: 6.7-inch Super AMOLED with 120Hz
- Processor: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
- Camera: 50MP + 8MP + 5MP, 12MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Charging: 45W wired
Why We Recommend It
The Samsung Galaxy A36 is a great budget phone if you want long software support. Samsung promises six years of OS updates, which is rare in this price range. You also get a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and the efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor.
Who Should Buy This
This phone is ideal for users who want a reliable Samsung device that will last for years. If you like Samsung’s One UI experience and want strong software support, the Galaxy A36 is a safe choice under $300.
Who Shouldn't Buy This
If you want top performance or advanced camera features, the Galaxy A36 may feel limited. The processor is good for everyday tasks, but power users and mobile gamers may prefer something faster.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz | ❌ No telephoto lens |
| ✅ 6 years of OS upgrades | ❌ No 3.5mm headphone jack |
| ✅ Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor for balanced performance | ❌ No Charging Adapter in the box |
| ✅ IP67 water and dust resistance | |
| ✅ Ultrawide-angle sensor | |
| ✅ 45W fast charging |
4. TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G: E-Ink Display
- Price:$284
- Availability: Amazon USA
- Display: 6.78-inch LCD with 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6100+
- Camera: 50MP+5MP+2MP, 32MP
- Battery: 5,010mAh
- Charging: 18W wired
Why We Recommend It
The TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER is perfect for people who read a lot on their phones. Its special NXTPAPER display can switch to a paper-like mode that reduces glare and eye strain. You also get a large 6.78-inch LCD with 120Hz display and a big 5,010mAh battery which can last all-day easily.
Who Should Buy This
This phone is ideal for readers, students, or anyone who spends a lot of time looking at their phone screen. If you want a device that can double as an e-book reader, the NXTPAPER display makes it a unique option.
Who Shouldn't Buy This
If performance or gaming matters to you, this phone may not be the best choice. The Dimensity 6100+ processor is fine for everyday tasks but not designed for heavy workloads.
Also Read:
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ 6.78-inch display with e-ink capabilities | ❌ LCD screen feels outdated |
| ✅ Huge 5,010mAh battery | ❌ MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ isn't the fastest |
| ✅ 50-megapixel primary camera | |
| ✅ No ultrawide-angle sensor | |
| ✅ microSD card slot and 3.5mm headphone jack |
5. Motorola Moto G Power (2026): Built for Endurance
- Price: $299
- Availability: Motorola USA/ Amazon USA
- Display: 6.8-inch IPS LCD with 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6300
- Camera: 50MP+8MP, 32MP
- Battery: 5,200mAh
- Charging: 30W wired, 15W wireless
Why We Recommend It
The Moto G Power (2026) is a great pick if battery life and durability matter most to you. It packs a large 5,200mAh battery and comes with IP69 and MIL-STD-810H ratings, so it can handle rough usage. You also get Android 16 and Gorilla Glass 7i protection, which makes it a reliable budget phone.
Who Should Buy This
This phone is ideal for users who want long battery life and a durable device. If you travel often, work outdoors, or just want a phone that can survive drops and splashes, the Moto G Power (2026) fits the bill.
Who Shouldn't Buy This
If you want premium features like wireless charging or an AMOLED display, this phone may not be the best choice. The LCD panel and Dimensity 6300 processor are fine for everyday tasks but not ideal for power users or heavy gaming.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Massive 6.8-inch display | ❌ LCD display feels outdated |
| ✅ Large 5,200mAh battery | ❌ MediaTek Dimensity 6300 is average |
| ✅ IP69 rating | ❌ No Wireless charging support like the previous model |
| ✅ Military grade durability | |
| ✅ Android 16 out of the box |
6. OUKITEL WP39 PRO: Durable and Massive Battery
- Price: $249
- Availability: Amazon USA
- Display: 6.6-inch FHD+ IPS LCD with 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6100+
- Camera: 64MP+8MP+2MP, 32MP
- Battery: 11,000mAh
- Charging: 33W wired
Why We Recommend It
The OUKITEL WP39 Pro stands out for its massive 11,000mAh battery and rugged design. It can last multiple days on a single charge and even work as a power bank for other devices. The phone also offers IP68 and IP69K protection along with military-grade durability. The company claims it can last 60 days on standby and offers 50 hours of calling.
It is the only phone in this price range to offer 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which can be further expanded upto 2TB. Oh, and you get a 64MP triple camera setup on the back, which includes an 8MP night vision camera.
Who Should Buy This
This phone is ideal for people who need extreme battery life or a rugged phone for outdoor use. If you travel often, go camping, or work in tough environments, the WP39 Pro can handle it easily.
Who Shouldn't Buy This
If you prefer slim and lightweight phones, this device may feel too bulky. It also runs on Android 14, which is older compared to other phones on this list. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 is pretty average in terms of performance so you can't expect much power on the device.
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Massive 11,000mAh battery in this segment | ❌ LCD panel instead of AMOLD |
| ✅ Only phone with 512GB internal storage under $300 | ❌ MediaTek Dimensity 6300 is average |
| ✅ IP68+IP69K rating | ❌ Thick and heavy compared to other phones |
| ✅ Military grade durability | ❌ Runs on outdated Android 14 |
| ✅ 8MP Night Vision Camera | ❌ Not compatible with T-Mobile or Verizon |
That's it, with the list of best phones under $300 in the US. Since new phones are launched every month, bookmark this page so you can stay updated about the best options in every price range. Which budget phone is your favorite and why? Do let us know on our X handle.
