KEY POINTS
- Those looking for affordable smartphones still have some options in the market
- The Galaxy A50, iPhone 7 and Moto G Stylus are available for less than $30
- These devices offer decent specs and features for their price
Looking for a smartphone but don’t want to spend much? Here’s a quick look at some of the best smartphones from top brands such as Samsung, Apple and Motorola that cost $300 or less. These might be cheap, but they offer features that some top-tier smartphones don’t have anymore.
Samsung Galaxy A50
The Galaxy A50 might be a year old, but its specs and features still make it a good midrange smartphone today. It is powered by an Exynos chip that’s backed by up to 6GB of RAM.
The Galaxy A50 comes in 64GB and 128GB storage configurations (expandable via microSD card) and runs on Android 9 out of the box, upgradable to Android 10.
This handset features a solid triple-camera setup at the back comprised of a 25MP wide, 8MP ultra-wide, and 5MP depth sensors. At the front, resting within a teardrop notch atop a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, lies a 25MP camera for selfies and video calls. The device has a 4,000 mAh battery that can be charged using a 15W fast charger and a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones.
This currently sells for $250 via Walmart.
iPhone 7
By now, everybody should be familiar with the iPhone 7. This device, hailing from 2016, runs on Apple’s A10 Fusion processor, uses Touch ID for authentication, has a solid 12MP rear camera and has a small 4.7-inch display.
The device might be old, but it can still be upgraded to the latest iPhone operating system version, iOS 14.2. This means users will get to enjoy some of the best software features Apple offers in an iPhone for less than the price of the 2020 iPhone SE.
The iPhone 7 is still available for $200 via Walmart.
Motorola Moto G Stylus
Those who are looking for a smartphone with a stylus like the Galaxy Note series but don’t want to spend much can get the Moto G Stylus from Motorola. It’s a midrange device capable of doing most tasks and has a stylus for those who like to write notes or draw by hand.
This handset is powered by a Snapdragon 665, backed by 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD). It has a 6.4-inch FHD display with a punch hole at the top-left corner for a 16MP selfie camera.
The Moto G Stylus has a triple-camera array at the back comprised of a 48MP main, a 2MP Macro Vision sensor and a 117-degree ultra-wide “Action Cam” that lets users record horizontal videos even when holding the device vertically.
The Moto G Stylus is available for $150 via Best Buy if activated while purchasing and $200 if activated later.