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 NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 21, #802

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Aug. 21, #802.

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

Are the NYT Connections puzzle editors OK? There were some wacky words in today’s puzzle. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Whoops!

Green group hint: Magical places.

Blue group hint: Old TVs had these.

Purple group hint: Scribble in the margins.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Blunder

Green group: Lands of the imagination

Blue group: Things with antenna/e

Purple group: ____ doodle

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is blunder. The four answers are boo-boo, flub, gaffe and no-no.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is lands of the imagination. The four answers are dream, fantasy, la-la and never never.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is things with antenna/e. The four answers are insect, radio tower, satellite dish and Teletubby.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ doodle. The four answers are cheese, Dipsy, Google and Yankee.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 21, #536

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 21, No. 536.

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.

Finally, a NYT Strands puzzle I can ace! If you know major superheroes, this will be a fun and easy one for you today. And the spangram makes a related and cool shape! 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: Marvel-ous and then some.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: So super.

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:

ERRS, STEP, STEM, SLOW, SLOWER, STORE, LIVE, LIVER, LIVED, DIVE, DIVER, SING, DEER, LUNE, EVIL

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:

HULK, ROGUE, STORM, THING, DAREDEVIL, WOLVERINE

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is SUPERHEROES. To find it, look for the S that is five rows to the right and two down, and then start going backward and make an S (for superheroes)!

Technologies

Everything Jimmy Fallon Helped Reveal at the Made by Google Event

At a star-studded event hosted by late-night host Jimmy Fallon, Google announced new phones, watches, earbuds and Android features.

Even though the Pixel 10 leaks and rumors felt as if they arrived in a steady firehose before today’s Made by Google event — compelling the company to release a teaser video pre-announcing the new phone’s existence a month ago — Google still delivered details it somehow managed to keep private until it was ready to share.

And that delivery was refreshingly fun for a tech event. The Tonight Show host Jimmy Kimmel led the proceedings in a very late-night talk show format, bringing on several special guests from media, sports and yes, Google’s own experts to show off the products and features they’ve been working on for today’s announcements.

Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL are real

Surprise, Google announced new phones! OK, this was the least surprising part of the event, but it still feels good to finally know what exists and when it’s coming. Preorders for the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL begin today and will be in stores and shipping starting August 28.

I’m Stoked That Google Made the Pixel 10 a $799 Value-Packed Feature Monster
I Tested Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris, and I’m Impressed
Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL First Look: Familiar Design, New AI Tricks

Pixel 10 Pro Fold opens the next chapter of foldables

Folding phones so far have shared an Achilles Hinge: small particulates like sand can get inside the case and really mess things up. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is one of the first to have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning you can take it to the beach.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold Is Tougher, Smarter and Totally Dust Resistant
Forget the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Foldables Should Look Like the Microsoft Surface Duo

Pixel Watch 4 talks to Gemini and is your new health coach

The Pixel Watch 4 includes new fitness options like real-time guidance while exercising. And if you forgot to start a workout, the watch (with AI help) can detect the activity in the background and remind you of it later, giving you credit for the effort you made. It’s also the only smartwatch that can detect a loss of pulse and call emergency services automatically.

Well Played, Google: The Pixel Watch 4 May Give Apple Watch Loyalists a Wandering Eye
Pixel Watch 4 First Look: Google Just Raised the Bar

Pixel Buds 2a are more affordable earbuds

Joining the Pixel Buds 2 Pro in the market are Pixel Buds 2a, an affordable ($130) pair of wireless earbuds that feature active noise cancellation, a smaller and lighter for all, and a twist-to-adjust stabilizer feature for setting a comfortable fit.

Google’s New Pixel Buds 2A Look a Lot Like the Pro 2, but Cost Way Less

Pixel Buds Pro 2 owners will see new features

Coming in a software update next month, Pixel Buds Pro 2 owners will be able to answer calls or send them to voicemail with a nod or shake of the head. You’ll be able to talk to Gemini live in noisy locations, and benefit from adaptive audio that applies noise cancellation while letting important sounds come through. At the other end, a new feature will protect your hearing from very loud sounds.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review: A Worthy Upgrade With One Caveat

Magic Cue is a Gemini assistant that pulls data from your correspondence

In the rollout of all the various AI technologies in the industry, the current stretch goal is «agentic» interactions with software: Having an AI that knows all sorts of details about you and can act to get the important stuff in front of you when needed. (And do it in a privacy-first way, one would hope.)

Magic Cue is Google’s implementation. It’s a new Gemini-based feature that can look through your earlier messages, emails and photos to pull details about things like restaurant reservations and flight times. Magic Cue runs on the Pixel device itself, so sensitive data stays private and not shared to the cloud.

The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL can zoom to 100x with AI help

Pro Res Zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro phones pushes zooming far beyond what would seem to be possible with typical small cameras. Usually when you zoom beyond the optical limits of the cameras, details get fuzzy as the software upscales the image. With Pro Res Zoom, when you go beyond 30x zoom, it uses generative AI to build a sharper version. CNET’s Andrew Lanxon got both impressive and head-scratching results while making photos in Paris using the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

I Took Hundreds of Photos With the Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris. These Are My Favs

Camera Coach uses AI to encourage better photos

Smartphone cameras have employed AI for several years, such as identifying subjects in order to blur the background for Portrait modes or quickly snapping several shots at multiple exposures and blending them together to create well-balanced lighting throughout. Now Google is using AI to help you take better photos.

Camera Coach is a new feature in the Pixel Camera app that looks at the scene in front of the lens and generates multiple suggestions for how to improve the photo before it’s captured. To show this off, podcaster Alex Cooper brought Fallon out to be her model and sat him down on a couch. When she activated the feature, Camera Coach suggested that she move the camera closer to the subject, position his head in the upper portion of the frame, lower the camera to eye level and turn on Portrait mode.

«To all the girls that are watching, I personally know how hard it is to train your boyfriend or your husband to get that perfect shot,» said Cooper. «And now Camera Coach can just train all the boys for us.»

Pixel 10 supports Qi2 magnetic charging

The Qi2 spec includes not just faster charging but also an array of magnets on the back for connecting to accessories. Sound familiar? The presenters mentioned Apple’s MagSafe system, then paused with the realization that they probably shouldn’t have name-checked it during the Google event. On the Pixel 10 phones, it’s called Pixelsnap and should work with accessories made for Apple’s ecosystem too.

Pixel 10 will be available in Mexico

In an impressive segment demonstrating Gemini live translation during a phone call, musician Karen Polinesia, who speaks Spanish, announced that for the first time, the Pixel 10 will be available for sale in Mexico.

This article is being updated; stay tuned for more.