If you’re on a tight budget but need a new phone, there are many solid options that cost $300 or cheaper. Most of our favorite devices are from Motorola, which is unsurprising given that the company has made feature-rich budget phones for years now. In addition to its latest phones, which include the Moto G Stylus and G Power, we also recommend Samsung’s Galaxy A50.
A budget phone may be less expensive, but many of these still offer features that enthusiasts crave, including fingerprint readers, solid cameras and the elusive headphone jack. To see our top picks, check out the list below and read CNET’s reviews. We’ll update this list as we review new phones. Note that we’ve linked to the unlocked version of each phone, and they should run on most of the big four US wireless carriers, unless specified otherwise.
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If you’re looking for a cell phone that serves as a cheaper Note 20 alternative, the Moto G Stylus device features a stylus that you can store inside the phone along with built-in Notes app to help with productivity. The phone also has a triple-rear camera, 128GB of internal storage and a robust 4,000-mAh battery.
Read our Moto G Stylus review.
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Although the Galaxy A50 came out last year (and is the predecessor to the A51 phone), it’s still a great phone. Plus, you can find it cheaper than when it first launched, with current prices hovering around $250 to $300. The phone has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen, an in-screen fingerprint reader and a headphone jack. On the back, the three cameras include a wide angle lens as well as a “depth lens,” which is used to take portrait shots with blurry, dramatic backgrounds.
Read our Samsung Galaxy A50 review.
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The Moto G Power is currently $40 cheaper than the G Stylus, but it packs a robust 5,000-mAh battery. During our testing, it lasted an impressive four days without a charge. The phone has three rear cameras (one of which is a macro lens), a 6.4-inch display and expandable memory.
Read our Moto G Power review.
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