The latest shiny new Android smartphones are more desirable than ever, but for the majority of Canadians spending nearly $1000 on a new phone is out of the question. Luckily, the competition in the more budget-friendly end of the market means you can buy a very good device for under $300, or you can pick up top-of-the-range refurbished Android phones from previous years for a fraction of their original retail price.
Here are five of the best smartphones you can buy right now for under $300:
Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC
Xiaomi has long been one of the brands to watch in the budget Android space, and in 2022 the Poco X3 NFC is arguably the best new smartphone you can buy for under $300. Right now, you can pick up the Poco X3 NFC with 6GB memory, a 2400 x 1080 display with HDR support and 120Hz refresh-rate, a fingerprint reader, and a Snapdragon 732G running the show with Android 11 (and 12 coming soon) – all for under $250!
Samsung Galaxy S10 (refurbished)
Samsung has long made some of the best Android devices around, and the Galaxy S10 was the flagship Android device a few years ago. And you can now buy it refurbished for just $270. It has an excellent 16MP camera, 6GB of memory, a stunning 1440 x 3040 6.1″ AMOLED display and is supported up until Android 12. It was a fantastic phone when it was released in 2019, and still holds up very well today – especially against the budget competitors.
Realme 8 5G
The budget phones on the market today can often compete on screen size, battery life, and other things, but most are missing 5G. However, there are a few exceptions and the Realme 8 5G is one of the cheapest 5G phones money can buy right now at a fraction under $300 and comes packing a 6.5″ 1080 x 2400 display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a large 5,000mAh battery. If you need the speed of 5G, then this could be the best budget device for you.
Moto G9 Power
Motorola is another budget-friendly manufacturer and is also known for using a near-stock version of Android, which is always a bonus for those that want the best Android experience. The device is a little heavy, but with its 6.8″ 720 x 1640 display and absolutely huge massive 6,000mAh battery, it will keep going longer than almost any other device on the market today no matter the budget. If battery life is what you’re looking for, then the Moto G9 Power is the answer and it retails for under $250.
Google Pixel 3XL (refurbished)
Google’s own Pixel series phones have always offered a lot for their price, and whilst the Pixel 3XL is a few years old now, it can still hold its own against many of the budget-friendly devices around today. You can buy a refurbished Pixel 3XL today for pennies under $300, with its beautiful large 2960 x 1440 OLED display, massive battery, and confirmation from the big G that the device will get the latest Android 12 update.