Home The Best Smartphones Under $300 in 2022
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Smartphones have become a necessity in our modern age. Unfortunately, the most popular and top-of-the-line phones on the market come with a hefty price tag. Many people are willing to pay premium prices if they get top-notch specs, but there are still those who can’t afford or don’t want to splurge on a pricey smartphone. This is where budget phones come in, and you can even find phones that cost under $300. These devices share the same features as high-end models, like a touch display, Wi-Fi connectivity, app store, front and back camera, etc. Such phones also come with a decent battery life that will last you for an entire day. They’re extra affordable because the tech they use isn’t as advanced as upscale phones. If you only need a smartphone for calling, texting, and browsing through social media, you don’t need to spend more than $1,000 on a smartphone. Let’s look at some of the best budget smartphones under $300 in 2022.
It’s not hard to see why the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a popular budget option to many because, for about $200, you already get a 5G-ready smartphone. The phone features a 6.5″ HD+ TFT LCD Infinity-V display, and it only has a small notch on top of the screen for the 13 MP front camera. Behind the phone, the A32 has a five-lens 48 MP primary camera. You also get a 5 MP macro camera, a 2 MP depth camera, and an 8 MP ultra-wide camera. The phone can record 4K video at 30 fps. It runs decently with its 4 GB RAM, and even if it only initially comes with an internal storage space of 64 GB, customers have the option to expand it to 1 TB. The phone has a 5,000 mAh battery, which is enough to last you when you’re out during the day. Other cool features it has is a fingerprint reader and Bluetooth 5.0. Customers can get a low price of the Samsung A32 5G if they get it locked to a cellular network. Unlocked models of smartphones often come at a higher price.
AffordableImpressive battery life5G-ready
Comes with too much pre-downloaded appsBuild is bulkyIts screen doesn't have the best resolution
Another fantastic budget option from Samsung is the Samsung Galaxy A50. It features a 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It runs on Android 9.0 Pie with OneUI and comes with the Samsung Exynos 9611 chipset. It features a 2.29 GHz Exynos 9610 Octa Core Processor and a Mali-G72 GPU. The 64 GB variant costs $299.99, and the nice part is that it’s already a GSM Unlocked phone. There is also a 128 GB model available for a higher price, but you can also choose to expand its memory through its microSD slot. The front camera is 25 MP, while the back contains a 25 MP main camera, 5 MP depth sensor, and an 8 MP ultra-wide camera at the back of the phone. The A50 uses a 4000 mAH lithium-ion battery, and it uses a 15 W Type-C charger for fast charging. Users can also use two different sim cards with the phone since it has dual sim capabilities. Unlike the A32, the A50 only reaches 4G LTE reception. The smartphone has modern technologies like face recognition, a fingerprint sensor, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a gyroscope, a compass, and an accelerometer.
Slim designDecent battery lifeFantastic camerasVibrant 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
Not the best audio qualityIn-display fingerprint reader needs improvementsPerformance isn't always smooth
If you need a reliable and affordable phone that you won’t need to recharge multiple times throughout the day, the Moto G Power is the ideal choice for you. It has a 5,000 mAh battery, so you can expect it to last up to three days on a single charge, depending on your usage. The unlocked version of the phone is priced under $300, so you’re free to use it with whatever cellular carrier you choose. The Moto G Power features a 6.5″ HD+ display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, so it’s decent enough to enjoy movies, shows, and games. You can expect the phone to be fast and efficient thanks to its octa-core processor with HyperEnging technology. The phone’s storage capacity is 128 GB. Even though it’s enough to store your apps, songs, and videos, you might be tight on space if you’re the type who never deletes old content in your gallery. The Moto G Power can also take some pretty solid images because it has a 50 MP camera system. It has Quad Pixel technology that can take incredible pictures in low-light settings, and its Macro Vision camera allows you to take close shots of different objects. The phone also has a unique Dual Capture feature that allows you to simultaneously take photos on the rear and front camera. Users can take the smartphone with them to the beach or on a jog without worrying about damaging it because its design is water-repellant.
Impressive battery lifeLarge display with a 90Hz refresh rateFast and efficient performance50MP camera system with a Dual Capture feature
Built-in speakers are not the best720p display can have noticeable pixelation
As the name gives it off, the Moto G Stylus is a budget-friendly smartphone that comes with a built-in stylus. It allows users to write notes, sketch, and edit images precisely, something you can’t normally do when using your fingers. You will also enjoy watching videos or browsing through social media on the Moto G Stylus because it has a 6.8-inch Max Vision FHD+ display. You get smooth content without any lag because the phone’s screen has a 90 Hz refresh rate. Like the Moto G Power, this smartphone also has an octa-core processor and a storage capacity of 128 GB. You will also get a fantastic 50 MP camera system that will allow you to take breathtaking close-up or ultra-wide shots. The Moto G Stylus has a 5,000 mAh battery, and you can expect the phone to have enough juice for as much as two days on a single charge. The smartphone runs on Android 11, and it has a feature that allows you to create a Wi-Fi hotspot connection. Along with the phone, customers will receive a sim tool, a USB cable, and a 10 W rapid charger.
90Hz FHD+ displayHas a microSD slot and headphone jackTrendy and durable designBattery lasts up to two days per charge
Lacks 5G supportSo-so camera qualityDisappointing built-in speakers
OnePlus might not have the most popular smartphone lineup, but the brand is worth a look if you’re looking for affordable options. Their Nord N10 is an impressive budget smartphone because it features 5G connectivity, and you can easily find an unlocked version on the market. It promises a smooth performance 24/7 because it has the new Qualcomm octa-core 5G chipset and 6 GB RAM. The phone has a 4,300 mAh battery, and its Warp Charge 30T capabilities allow users to get enough juice for the days after charging it for only 30 minutes. It has a large 6.52-inch display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, perfect for watching videos or playing your favorite game. The Nord N10’s main camera is 64 MP, and it also has an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP monochrome camera. Its storage capacity is only 128 GB, but you have the option to expand it to 256 GB. The phone has a headphone jack for your non-lightning, non-USB Type-C earphones, but if you love listening to music without earphones, the phone’s dual stereo speakers would be enough for you to elevate your entire audio experience.
Qualcomm octa-core 5G chipset with 6GB RAMWarp Charge 30T64MP main camera5G readyLarge display with a 90Hz refresh rate
Camera doesn't perform well under low-light conditions
The OnePlus Nord N200 is yet another fantastic budget-friendly smartphone from OnePlus. It features a 6.49-inch Full HD+ LCD Display with a 90 Hz refresh rate. The phone is already 5G ready, but it will only work on Google Fi or T-Mobile. The Nord N200 comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, so one charge will allow you to use the phone throughout the day without worrying whether or not you have your charger with you. Once your juice runs out, it won’t take too long for the phone to recharge because it comes with an 18 W fast charger. The built-in storage capacity is only 64 GB, but you can expand it to 256 GB via a microSD card. All your apps will run smoothly without lag or crashes since the phone has 4 GB RAM. The phone has a 13 MP primary camera, and it also comes with a mono lens and macro lens.
5G capableImpressive speed and performance for its price6.49-inch Full HD+ LCD Display with a 90Hz refresh rate
Disappointing camera quality
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