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In January, the Moto G Power went on sale for $299.99. By April, Motorola listed it at $399.99, and it raised the regular Moto G by $100 and the Moto G Play by $70 at the same time. Memory chips got more expensive across the industry this year, and the cheapest phones felt it first.
That changes the answer to “what is the best phone under $300.” A few phones that used to sit comfortably under that line no longer do, and a couple of popular picks can’t be bought new in the US at all anymore. This guide only includes phones you can actually buy new, unlocked, from a US retailer today.
The quick answer
For most people, buy the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G. It has a sharp AMOLED screen, and Samsung promises six years of Android and security updates. At its $249.99 list price, that works out to about $50 for every year of security updates you have left. No other phone here comes close.
If battery life matters most, get the Moto G 2026. If you need the lowest price, the Moto G Play 2026 is the floor. If you are rough on phones, wait for the Moto G Power 2026 to drop to $300.
We haven’t tested these four phones ourselves. This guide is built from each maker’s specs and update policies, plus patterns in recent owner reviews.
Who this guide is for
You want a new Android phone for calls, texts, WhatsApp, maps, banking apps, YouTube and social media, and you would rather not spend more than $300. You might be buying for yourself, a parent, or a teenager getting a first phone.
Skip this guide if you play demanding 3D games, care a lot about low-light photos, or want an iPhone. Nothing on this list handles heavy gaming well, and the cheapest new iPhone costs roughly twice as much.
1. Samsung Galaxy A17 5G: Best phone under $300 for most people
Best for: anyone who wants to buy one phone and keep it for years.
Why we picked it: The A17 5G launched in January at $199.99, and Samsung now lists it at $249.99. Even at the higher price, it is the phone on this list most likely to stay safe to use the longest. Samsung promises six Android upgrades and six years of security updates, counted from when the phone was first made in the third quarter of 2025. Buy one today and you still have about five years of security patches ahead of you.
The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen is the other reason. Blacks look black, colors pop, and it is easy to read outside. You also get a 50MP main camera with optical stabilization, which helps steady video and night shots, a 5,000mAh battery, a microSD slot, IP54 splash protection, Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, and Samsung Wallet for tap to pay.
What’s annoying: It only has 4GB of RAM and an Exynos 1330 chip. It handles one app at a time fine, but owners often mention it slowing down when lots of apps stay open in the background. The screen runs at 90Hz, not the 120Hz you get on the Motorola phones, so scrolling looks slightly less smooth. Charging tops out at 25W, and there is no charger in the box.
Good to know: Buy the US model, number SM-A176U. Some sellers list international versions (SM-A176B) that can have a different warranty and may miss some US network bands.
2. Motorola Moto G 2026: Best for battery life
Best for: people who are on their phone all day and hate hunting for a charger.
Why we picked it: It has a bigger 5,200mAh battery than the Samsung, faster 30W charging, and a 120Hz screen that feels smooth when you scroll TikTok or Instagram. You also get 128GB of storage with a microSD slot, stereo speakers, NFC, and a headphone jack, which is getting rare. It runs Android 16 with very little extra software on top.
What’s annoying: Two big things. First, the price. It launched at $199.99, and Motorola moved its list price to $299.99 in April. Retailers don’t always follow, so shop around before paying list. Second, support. Motorola promises two Android upgrades and security updates through December 2028. That is about two years and three months from today, compared with about five years on the Samsung. The screen is also only 720p, so text looks a little softer than on the A17.
Good to know: Like the A17, it has just 4GB of RAM, so it is built for everyday apps, not heavy multitasking.
3. Motorola Moto G Play 2026: The cheapest one worth buying
Best for: a backup phone, a first phone for a kid, or someone who mostly calls and texts.
Why we picked it: It keeps the parts of the Moto G that matter most for a basic phone: the same 6.7-inch 120Hz screen, the same Dimensity 6300 chip, and the same 5,200mAh battery. It launched at $179.99, the lowest price here, and it still gets you 5G.
What’s annoying: Only 64GB of storage. After Android and a few apps, that fills fast, so plan on adding a microSD card for photos. The single 32MP camera is fine for daylight snaps and not much else, and charging is slow at 18W. Motorola also raised its list price to $249.99 in April, which puts it close to the better Galaxy A17. If the two are within $30 of each other, buy the Samsung.
Good to know: Expect a short support window like the Moto G. Check the security end date on Motorola’s support page before you buy.
4. Motorola Moto G Power 2026: Toughest, but only at the right price
Best for: construction sites, kitchens, the beach, and anyone who drops their phone a lot.
Why we picked it: It is rated IP68 and IP69, which means it can handle being dunked and blasted with water, and Motorola says it passed military-style drop and stress testing. It is also the most complete phone in this group: a 6.8-inch Full HD 120Hz screen, 8GB of RAM, a 50MP camera with optical stabilization, a 5,200mAh battery, 30W charging and 15W wireless charging.
What’s annoying: It stopped being a $300 phone. It launched at $299.99, and Motorola raised the list price to $399.99 in April. Discounts do happen, so treat this as a “buy it on sale” pick. Support is also short: security updates run through January 2029.
Good to know: At $400 it is hard to recommend. At $300 or less, nothing else on this list comes close on toughness.
The math that decides it: what each year of updates costs you
Security updates are what keep your banking apps, passwords and photos safe. Once a phone stops getting them, it still works, but it gets riskier every month. So we took each phone’s price and divided it by how many years of security updates are left if you buy it on October 1, 2026.
| Phone | Price we used | Security updates until | Years left | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy A17 5G | $249.99 (current Samsung list) | About Q3 2031 | About 5 | About $50 |
| Galaxy A17 5G | $199.99 (January launch price) | About Q3 2031 | About 5 | About $40 |
| Moto G 2026 | $299.99 (current list) | December 2028 | About 2.3 | About $133 |
| Moto G 2026 | $199.99 (launch price) | December 2028 | About 2.3 | About $89 |
| Moto G Power 2026 | $399.99 (current list) | January 2029 | About 2.3 | About $171 |
| Moto G Power 2026 | $299.99 (launch price) | January 2029 | About 2.3 | About $128 |
Even if you find the Moto G Power on sale at $300, you pay more than twice as much per year of protection as you do with the Galaxy A17 at full price. That is why the Samsung is our top pick, even though the Motorola phones win on battery and screen smoothness.
All four side by side
| Phone | Best for | Key spec | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy A17 5G | Keeping it for years | 6.7″ AMOLED, 6 years of updates | 4GB RAM, 90Hz |
| Moto G 2026 | Battery life | 5,200mAh, 120Hz, headphone jack | Short support, 720p screen |
| Moto G Play 2026 | Lowest price | Same battery and screen as Moto G | 64GB storage, one camera |
| Moto G Power 2026 | Toughness | IP68/IP69, 8GB RAM, wireless charging | $399.99 list price |
Phones we removed from this guide, and why
- CMF Phone 2 Pro: Nothing only sold it in the US through a beta program, and that program has ended. You can’t buy it new here anymore.
- Redmi Note 15 5G: Xiaomi doesn’t sell it officially in the US. Imported units may miss US network bands and come with no US warranty.
- Galaxy A26 5G: Samsung replaced it with the A27 5G. What’s left is mostly international stock, so check for the US model number SM-A266U before you buy one.
- Galaxy A27 5G: A good phone, but it costs $349.99 in the US, so it is over budget.
- TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G: Its paper-like screen is lovely for reading, but TCL promised just one Android upgrade and two years of security updates from its 2025 launch. That is too little time left to recommend it now.
How we picked
We haven’t tested these phones ourselves for this guide. Here’s what the specs, the makers and owner reviews told us. We looked at every Android phone sold new and unlocked through major US retailers at or near $300, checked each maker’s spec page and update policy, read recent owner reviews at Amazon and Best Buy for repeat complaints, and checked list prices on September 30, 2026. Phones that aren’t sold officially in the US were left out.
What actually matters when you buy a cheap phone
Years of updates. This is the most important number and it is rarely on the box. Look for the security update end date, not just “Android upgrades.”
RAM. 4GB works for everyday apps. 8GB keeps more apps open without reloading.
Screen type over refresh rate. An AMOLED screen at 90Hz usually looks better day to day than an LCD at 120Hz. The 120Hz part mostly makes scrolling feel smoother.
Megapixels. Mostly marketing. A 50MP camera with optical stabilization beats a bigger number without it, especially at night.
The model number. Unlocked US models work on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon and come with a US warranty. International versions are often cheaper for a reason.
When to buy
Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days run October 6 and 7, and Black Friday is November 27. Budget phones often get small discounts during both. But with memory chip costs pushing prices up this year, don’t hold off for months hoping for a big drop. If your current phone is failing, buy the Galaxy A17 now. If you want the Moto G Power, set a price alert and buy it when it hits $300.
Common questions
Can a $300 phone last four years?
The Galaxy A17 5G can, because its security updates run into 2031. The Motorola phones here get security updates only into late 2028 or early 2029, so plan on replacing them sooner.
Why did cheap phones get more expensive in 2026?
Memory chips cost more this year as demand from AI data centers soaked up supply. Motorola raised US list prices on its Moto G line in April, and budget phones feel those costs the most because there is less profit to absorb them.
Should I buy a used phone instead?
It can make sense. A used Google Pixel 9a sells for around $300 and gets updates into 2032, with a much better camera than anything on this list. Buy from a seller that checks the battery and offers returns, and make sure the phone is fully paid off and unlocked.
Will these work on my carrier?
The unlocked US versions of all four phones work on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, plus the prepaid brands that run on those networks, like Cricket, Mint Mobile and Visible.
Are these good for gaming?
Casual games like Candy Crush and Wordle, yes. Big 3D games run with lower settings and can stutter. If gaming is the main reason you are buying, save up for a phone with a faster chip.
Official details: Samsung’s Galaxy A17 5G page and Motorola’s security update schedule.
See every pick in one place on the TechCity “Phones to Compare” list on Amazon.
