Our Experts Written by Mike Sorrentino Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to Consider iOS or Android If your family and friends are on Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime, stick with an iPhone. If youve been deep on Samsung, stay on Android. Know that switching between the two has never been easier. Size Phones are big in general with the smallest ones having a 6.1-inch screen and large models topping out at 6.8 inches. That makes visiting a store and trying a phone out before you buy it quite important. Cameras Phone cameras have gotten better over the past five years. Dont be fooled by how many cameras a phone has; more is not necessarily better. Software support Phone makers promise varying lengths of long-term software and security support ranging from just one year to as many as seven. These updates not only ensure you get many of the latest features but also keep your phone secure. Table of Contents Our Picks Best phone under $300 Motorola Moto G Power (2024) View details $100 at Best Buy View details Best cheap phone for long-term use Samsung Galaxy A25 5G View details $300 at Best Buy View details Best phone for fast charging OnePlus Nord N30 5G View details $230 at Amazon View details Best phone to get on sale Google Pixel 6A View details $337 at Walmart View details SMARTPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK Google Pixel 9 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian): $649 (save $150) Apple iPhone 12 64GB Straight Talk Phone (Prepaid, Black): $199 (save $50) Apple iPhone 14 128GB Unlocked Phone (Refurbished, Midnight): $394 (save $236) Motorola Edge Plus 512GB Unlocked Phone (Intersteller Black): $450 (save $350) Moto G Power 5G 128GB Unlocked Phone (2024 Model, Midnight Blue): $200 (save $100) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. Table of Contents Phones that cost $300 or less, like Motorola's Moto G Power 5G (2024) and Samsung's Galaxy A25 5G, offer a lot more features and functionality than you might expect. Sub-$300 phones have NFC for contactless payments, 120Hz high refresh rate displays for gaming and smooth animations, support for wireless charging and years of software updates, making them more versatile than ever.That doesnt mean that every phone in this category is perfect. Cameras are a mixed bag across all of these phones. And when buying a cheap phone, you have a major choice: Do you want a phone thats fun or one that lasts a long time? Unfortunately, you cant have both. Luckily for you, there are a number of great smartphones that cost $300 or less to choose from. We tested and reviewed every phone on this list.If you're looking to save money on your next phone purchase, check out our roundup of the best Cyber Monday deals. Keep in mind that you may find some Cyber Monday phone deals this holiday season that bring these affordable models down to an even lower price. What is the best phone under $300? The best phone you can buy for under $300 is Motorolas Moto G Power 5G for 2024. It comes with a colorful vegan leather back that adds to an eye-catching design that we dont typically see in lower-cost phones the Pale Lilac color is definitely something to behold. The Moto G Power 5G also has standout features like support for Google Pay contactless payments, 30W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. We were able to take some decent photos with the Moto G Power, and its multitasking capabilities make it a great choice for most daily tasks. We just wish that Motorola overhauled its software and security update promises alongside its design, as the phone will receive only one OS update to Android 15 and three years of security updates. Best phones under $300 Photo Gallery 1/1 Pros NFC/Google Pay Good battery life Wireless charging Moto shortcuts Cons Short software support timeline Screen is too dim in sunlight Lacks IP rating for dust and water resistance Screen size 6.7 inchesProcessor Mediatek Dimensity 7020Cameras 50-megapixel (main), 8-megapixel (ultrawide), 16-megapixel (selfie)Colors Pale lilac, midnight blue The Motorola Moto G Power 5G is the most versatile option in this roundup, offering wireless charging, a 120Hz high refresh rate screen, Google Pay for contactless payments and a fantastic vegan leather design. Combine that with a camera that takes decent photos in bright environments, and a processor that is capable for most daily tasks, and you have a phone thats both fun to use without cramming itself with the extra bells and whistles we see in higher priced phones.Even though this phone does suffer from having a shorter software and security support timeline (1 year of major Android OS, three years of security updates) than Samsungs Galaxy A25 5G, it is a more useful device. And it's this appeal that makes the Moto G Power 5G our top recommendation for a phone that costs $300 or less.