Technologies

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

These phones prioritize essential features while providing a few productivity perks.

The best phones under $300 offer a taste of premium features, but in a device that still very much feels like a budget phone. That’s not a bad thing: These phones can make calls, send texts and run most apps and games for hundreds of dollars less than the iPhone 14 or Galaxy S23. They also provide access to 5G, which is important if you want to hold onto your device for a while, and some even come with a built-in stylus.

But I’m going to level with you: We have yet to use a phone in the $200 to $300 price range that feels like an excellent value. The absolute best picks in this category tend to be more expensive devices that are frequently discounted to $299 when on sale. For instance, Google’s $449 Pixel 6A is our current best phone for under $500, and it’s often discounted to $299.

That’s not to say phones in the $200 to $300 price range should be avoided. Some include decent cameras, a headphone jack, expandable storage and NFC support for mobile payments.

What are the tradeoffs with phones that cost $300 or less?

These cheaper devices tend to scale back significantly in one area or another in order to achieve those low prices. Most commonly, these drawbacks include limited software support, carrier support or bloatware (preloaded apps that you never asked for). These tradeoffs often mean that these devices should not be used after two to three years, especially after security update support ends.

It’s also notable that while these phones retail for $200 to $300, many of them are often available at a deep discount — or even for free — as part of a carrier subsidy deal. If you are planning to stick with the same wireless carrier for two years, these phones could just become part of the cost of your service.

Best phones under $300

Eli Blumenthal/CNET

OnePlus Nord N20 5G

Best overall phone under $300

The $299 OnePlus N20 5G isn’t an exciting phone, but it more than gets the job done for most situations. Unlike several phones on this list, you can buy it unlocked from OnePlus. It also provides high-end features we don’t always see at this price, like an in-screen fingerprint reader, faster 33W charging, 6GB of RAM and NFC for mobile payments. Despite being available directly from OnePlus, the N20 works with AT&T and T-Mobile but does not work with Verizon. The phone’s 5G support also only works through T-Mobile.

In his OnePlus N20 review, CNET Senior Editor Eli Blumenthal found the phone’s 64-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel macro camera and 2-megapixel monochrome lens to take decent photos during the daytime. But its cameras struggle in the evening, which is a common issue on cheaper phones. The N20 also includes a 16-megapixel front-facing camera located in the top left of the phone’s display.

The phone is also only getting one major software update from Android 11 to Android 12, but will receive three years of security updates. As a result, despite the phone’s decent specs and slightly wider availability, it only makes sense to hang onto this phone for two to three years.

$299 at OnePlus

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

TCL Stylus 5G

Best for a stylus

Reviewing the $258 TCL Stylus 5G was a journey for me last year. Specs-wise, it has a lot that I enjoyed. The phone’s TCL NxtVision HDR setting provided enhanced colors when I played games, TCL made minimal changes to Android 12 and I especially enjoyed the magnetic stylus that fits securely into its own slot on the phone.

However, the big reason why my review took four months is because of repetitive software bugs that make the phone otherwise tough to recommend. I experienced frequent restarts while using the phone and Bluetooth connectivity issues, the latter of which was eventually fixed through a software update. This phone is also locked to T-Mobile completely, so it can’t be used on other carriers and is filled with T-Mobile apps that are challenging to remove.

Yet if you absolutely must have a stylus and your budget is under $300, this is one of the better overall picks. But be wary of software issues, and remember the phone is only getting one major software update along with two years of security updates.

$258 at T-Mobile

Mike Sorrentino/CNET

OnePlus Nord N300 5G

Best for T-Mobile

The $228 OnePlus Nord N300 5G is my favorite phone under $300. The only reason why I cannot recommend it above the N20 is because this phone is locked to T-Mobile. Despite being around $80 cheaper than the other OnePlus phone, it still has 33-watt fast charging, a 90Hz refresh rate display and a 48-megapixel main camera that does a decent job with photos and video. Its matte black look that highlights its two camera lenses also makes it one of the nicer-looking budget phones I’ve tested. The N300 improves on the N20 with its dual stereo speakers, over the single speaker on the N20, and I personally prefer the side fingerprint sensor over in-screen options like on the N20.

But apart from the availability issue, the N300 also suffers from a short software support timeline. The N300 will only get one major software update from Android 12 to Android 13 and two years of security updates. Even though that’s somewhat normal for the category, I still consider it a major drawback. There’s also a dose of T-Mobile bloatware, but at this price it’s easier to swallow.

If you are shopping specifically for a phone that works with T-Mobile or its Metro brand, the $228 OnePlus Nord N300 is definitely a solid choice. Just recognize you cannot take the phone to other carriers, and it won’t be a great option after two years of use.

$228 at T-Mobile

Jessica Fierro/CNET

Light Phone 2

Best for bougie minimalists

The Light Phone 2 is a very different kind of phone. It’s meant for people seeking freedom from the constant stream of notifications, but still want a phone that looks nice. But despite its somewhat limited functionality, this phone still costs $299.

The Light Phone 2 supports texts, phone calls, music playback, podcasts, mobile hotspot functionality and limited GPS support for directions on its E Ink screen. It does not have a camera, web browser, email access or other common apps like news or messaging apps.

My colleague Jessica Fierro gave life with the Light Phone 2 a try, and she enjoyed how the phone helped her stay more focused on the world around her. However she found the slower texting speed on the E Ink display to be challenging to adjust to, and could not fully make the switch because for work she needs some degree of social media access in order to stay up on trends.

The absence of many modern features is the entire point of the Light Phone 2. It’s a device for people who intentionally just want essential communications on a screen that’s more like a Kindle’s display than the one you’d find on a Samsung Galaxy device.

The Light Phone 2 is certainly not for everybody, but it could be worth considering for someone who wants their phone to do less. Fans of conventional phones should consider the wealth of feature phones and flip phones that still exist first — which are often free with a carrier deal or available for under $100.

$299 at The Light Phone

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Google Pixel 6A

Best phone you should actually get — as long as it’s on sale

Admittedly I’m cheating by getting this phone into the list, but Google’s Pixel 6A has been discounted to $299 a lot lately and is an easy recommendation when it’s been discounted into a budget phone range.

Regularly $449, the Pixel 6A won our Editors’ Choice Award last year. In her review, CNET Senior Editor Lisa Eadicicco praised the phone for its great camera, Pixel-exclusive features like Magic Eraser, its colorful design and being among the first to get new Android updates.

While it’s likely that Google announces a sequel 7A phone as soon as the next Google I/O development conference, scheduled for May 10, the current Pixel 6A is still an excellent pick for the price if you can get it at its $299 price. But if you see the phone go back to its original $449 price between now and May 10, and you aren’t in dire need of a new device, I would then say wait for the rumored Pixel 7A.

$299 at Amazon

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How we test phones

CNET tests phones by using them daily and comparing them with competing phones to assess their value. We consider a variety of factors, such as the phone’s screen, cameras, battery life, software, performance, features and ease of use.

For low-priced phones, we make sure these devices consistently work well when used in a number of situations. This includes many day-to-day activities like reading the news, listening to music, watching videos, texting, playing games and multitasking.

We test phone cameras in a range of environments, taking test photos outdoors in the daytime and nighttime, and indoors in darker settings. We use cameras in active environments, like a concert or a sports game, and with a variety of subjects including people, objects and pets. We also test available camera settings, especially those that are rarer in these price ranges such as Night mode and Portrait mode.

These anecdotal phone experiences are also combined with benchmark tests such as Geekbench performance testing and battery testing. We monitor battery life in two ways: By seeing how much power is typically left after a day of normal usage and by seeing how much battery is depleted during a more intensive hour with the phone. For the latter test, we’ll check how the phone’s battery holds up to a series of video calls, gaming, video streaming and web browsing.

Phones under $300 FAQs

What about Apple’s iPhone?

Apple does not currently sell any iPhone options between $200 and $300. The cheapest new iPhone you can get is the iPhone SE at $429. That iPhone is a great value for its fast processor and great camera, but held back by its dated design that harkens back to the iPhone 6, 7 and 8.

If you don’t mind getting a preowned device and want something with a bigger screen, as of this writing Verizon sells a 64GB iPhone 11 for $275.

You can also get the 2020 version of the iPhone SE as a refurbished model between $200 and $300 on websites like Amazon and Best Buy, but beware of each store’s policies for refurbished devices. Especially make sure the refurbished device includes a warranty for repairs, since without one you may have to pay Apple or another retailer a high price for a screen repair or other accidental damage.

Best phones under $300: OnePlus Nord N20 5G vs. TCL Stylus 5G vs. OnePlus Nord N300 5G vs. Google Pixel 6A

	OnePlus Nord N20 5G	TCL Stylus 5G	OnePlus Nord N300 5G	Google Pixel 6A*
Display size, resolution	6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display	6.81-inch FHD+ display (1080 x2400 pixels)	6.56-inch IPS LCD display; 720p resolution; 90Hz refresh rate	6.1-inch OLED; (1080 x 2400); 60Hz
Pixel density	409ppi	395ppi	269ppi	429 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	6.2 x 2.8 x 0.29 in	6.67 x 3.01 x 0.35 in	6.4 x 2.9 x 0.3 in	6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 in
Dimensions (millimeters)	159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm	169.6 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm	163.8 x 75.1 x 7.99 mm	152.2 x 7.18 x 8.9 mm
Weight (ounces, grams)	173g or 6.1 oz	213g or 7.51 oz	190g or 6.7 oz	6.3 oz; 178g
Mobile software	Android 11	Android 12	Andorid 12	Android 12
Camera	64-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (monochrome lens)	50-megapixel (main), 5-megapixel (wide), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)	48-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (depth lens)	12.2-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel ultra wide)
Front-facing camera	16-megapixel	13-megapixel	16-megapixel	8-megapixel
Video capture	1080p/720p at 30 fps	1080p at 30fps	1080p/720p at 30 fps	4K
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G	MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G	MediaTek Dimensity 810	Google Tensor
RAM/Storage	6GB/128GB	4GB/128GB	4GB/64GB	6GB RAM/128GB storage
Expandable storage	Up to 512GB	Up to 2TB	Up to 1TB	None
Battery/Charger	4,500mAh; 33W charging	4,000mAh; 18W charging	5,000mAh; 33W charging	4,410 mAh capacity; 18-watt fast charging (adapter sold separately)
Fingerprint sensor	In-screen	Side fingerprint sensor	Side fingerprint sensor	Under display
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB C
Headphone jack	Yes	Yes	Yes	None
Special features	NFC, Face Unlock, HDR, Screen Flash, Face retouching	Stylus with built-in storage, producitivity software, NxtVision HDR mode	Dual speakers, NFC, Face Unlock, HDR, Portrait, Face retouching	5G-enabled, 18W fast charging, WiFi 6E, security updates for 5 years, Android OS updates for 3 years, dual SIM, IP67 water resistance
Price off-contract (USD)	$299	$258	$228	$449 (*$299 when on sale)

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for July 5, #1477

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for July 5, No. 1,477.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a pretty tough one. I grew up on a farm, so I know the word, but I didn’t put it together right away, even though the letters are common ones. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

There is are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with the letter B.

Wordle hint No. 4: Down on the farm

Today’s Wordle answer describes a piece of farm equipment.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer refers to a machine for making paper, hay, or cotton into bales.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is BALER.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, July 4, No. 1476 was CURVE.

Recent Wordle answers

June 30, No. 1472: BLINK

July 1, No. 1473: MOLDY

July 2, No. 1474: INCUR

July 3, No. 1475: POPPY

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for July 5, #489

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 5, No. 489.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

The theme of today’s NYT Strands puzzle isn’t terribly tough, but at least one of the words is unusual and really, really long to unscramble. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Every second counts.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Does anybody really know what time it is?

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

DIAL, SOLE, MOLE, MOLES, SHAKE, CHEEP, ROLE, HOME, LOCK, MEAT, TAME, TAMES, ROLES, ROON, TRON

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

CLOCK, WATCH, SUNDIAL, HOURGLASS, CHRONOMETER

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is TIMEKEEPERS. To find it, look for the T that’s four letters down on the far left, and wind across.

Technologies

Microsoft Is Eliminating Passwords in August: Here’s What You Need to Do to Prepare

Microsoft Authenticator has already stopped autofilling passwords, but the biggest change comes next month.

In June, Microsoft Authenticator stopped letting users create new passwords. In July, it turned off the autofill password function. And in August, the login app will stop supporting passwords entirely, moving to more secure passkeys, such as a PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition.

Attila Tomaschek, CNET’s software senior writer and digital security expert, says that passkeys are a safer alternative to the risky password habits practiced by 49% of US adults, according to a recent survey by CNET.

«Passwords can be cracked, whereas passkeys need both the public and the locally stored private key to authenticate users, which can help mitigate risks like falling victim to phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks,» Tomaschek said.

Using the same password for several accounts or adding personal hints can be a convenient way to remember your login. But that puts you at a big risk for scammers, identity theft and fraud. Here’s more on Microsoft’s plan for eliminating passwords and how to make the switch to passkeys before August.

When will Microsoft Authenticator stop supporting passwords?

Microsoft Authenticator houses your passwords and lets you sign into all your Microsoft accounts using a PIN, facial recognition like Windows Hello, or other biometric data like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as verifying you’re logging in if you forgot your password, or using two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security for your accounts. In June, the company stopped letting users add passwords to Authenticator, but here’s a timeline of other changes you can expect from Microsoft.

July 2025: You won’t be able to use the autofill password function.
August 2025: You’ll no longer be able to use saved passwords.

If you still want to use passwords instead of passkeys, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting passkeys during this transition. «Passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users, rather than relying on users themselves creating their own (often weak or reused) passwords to access their online accounts,» Tomaschek said.

Why are passkeys a better alternative to passwords?

So what exactly is a passkey? It’s a credential created by the Fast Identity Online Alliance that uses biometric data or a PIN to verify your identity and access your account. Think about using your fingerprint or Face ID to log into your account. That’s generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or susceptible to a phishing attack.

Passkeys aren’t stored on servers like passwords. Instead, they’re stored only on your personal device. More conveniently, this takes the guesswork out of remembering your passwords and the need for a password manager.

How to set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft said in a May 1 blog post that it will automatically detect the best passkey to set up and make that your default sign-in option. «If you have a password and ‘one-time code’ set up on your account, we’ll prompt you to sign in with your one-time code instead of your password. After you’re signed in, you’ll be prompted to enroll a passkey. Then the next time you sign in, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your passkey,» according to the blog post.

To set up a new passkey, open your Authenticator app on your phone. Tap on your account and select «Set up a passkey.» You’ll be prompted to log in with your existing credentials. After you’re logged in, you can set up the passkey.