Best Android Phones under $300: Motorola, Samsung, Nokia, TCL, & more

Smartphone prices have been escalating out of control for a few years now, and the recent move towards more affordable flagship-level phones (or really, really great mid-rangers, depending on your view) from Samsung (Galaxy S20 FE), Google (Pixel 5), and Apple (iPhone 12 Mini) is likely good news to most consumers. But, to some, getting the best flagship smartphone is often out of the budget, and they are likely to settle for a cheaper phone instead.

Thankfully, phone brands have gotten really good at making phones, to the point that you can get something very capable at a stricter budget of $300 or less. Of course, you’re not going to have all the bells and whistles of a pricier device, but these devices are enough for your daily use.

Navigate this guide:

• Best phone for heavy users: Moto G Power
• Best bang-for-your-buck phone: Samsung Galaxy A50
• Best phone for those who want their screens big and bright: TCL 10L
• Best phone for stylus lovers: LG Stylo 5
• Best phone for Nokia enthusiasts: Nokia 5.3
• Best phone for those open to importing: Poco X3 NFC

Best phone for heavy users: Moto G Power

 

Motorola is responsible for some of the best entry-level phones in the US and its Moto G Power is a great option for those who don’t want to spend more than $300. You get a 6.4-inch display, a solid 16MP camera, Snapdragon 665, a near-stock version of Android, plus a 5,000 mAh battery.

You’re missing NFC, the 8MP ultra-wide camera is just okay, and the 4GB of RAM is a bit low, but thankfully the software is lean and clean, so the phone remains super fast. If you’re a heavy user and battery endurance is of high importance, then this is your phone.

Moto G Power

Clean Android software with arguably the best Always-On display on the market, plus a 5,000 mAh battery that will almost certainly not run out before your day ends.

View at Amazon

Best bang-for-your-buck phone: Samsung Galaxy A50

The Samsung Galaxy A50 is usually priced higher than the $300 mark, but there’s a special deal at Wal-Mart right now that pushes the price below the limit. This makes this the best value on this list by default because this phone is normally over the $300 mark. With a Samsung AMOLED display and thin bezels, this is the best panel on this list. The triple cameras system captures sharp and vivid images, and the Exynos 9610 brings enough power for all daily tasks.

However, you will have to put up with a plastic back and chassis, but hey, you can’t win them all. If you want to stick to the Galaxy ecosystem, here are some other great Samsung Galaxy devices worthy of your attention.

Samsung Galaxy A50

View at Wal-Mart

Best phone for those who love a big and bright screen: TCL 10L

Television brand TCL entered the Android space with this debut handset that packs quite a punch, offering a quad-camera array, hole-punch screen design, and an impressive 6.5-inch, bright LCD screen at a very reasonable price. Like many phones on this list, you get a Snapdragon 665 processor, but the software zips around thanks to strong optimization from TCL.

The quad-camera system on the back houses a 48-megapixel primary shooter that produces good shots, but the other three lenses — an 8-megapixel ultrawide, and a pair of 2-megapixel macro and depth sensors — are just average. The Snapdragon 665 processor and a clean and light UI make for a good combo. And this is perhaps not surprising considering its roots in making television, but the TCL 10L is one of the last phones left (other than Xiaomi) to offer an IR blaster which allows it to double as a TV remote control.

TCL 10L

With a bright and vibrant LCD screen and a versatile quad camera array, this is quite the solid smartphone debut for Chinese television brand TCL.

View at Amazon

Best phone for stylus lovers: LG Stylo 5

If you sign a lot of digital documents, or like to sketch on your smartphone, and you don’t want to pay Samsung Galaxy Note levels of money, the LG Stylo 5 is for you. It’s got a clean, no-notch design, a bright LCD display, a headphone jack, and of course, that stylus. Unfortunately, the Snapdragon 450 here is a bit long in the tooth, but it is still enough for productivity tasks. Ultimately, if you’re getting this, it’s because you want and need a stylus, and this one performs fine, with respectable software that prevents palm rejection and acceptable latency.

LG Stylo 5

Tired of poking around with your fingers? Use a stylus for finer control of your smartphone. The LG Stylo 5 is the cheapest phone with a stylus on the market right now.

View at Amazon

Best phone for Nokia enthusiasts: Nokia 5.3

The Nokia 5.3 isn’t just light in cost, but software too, with a near-stock version of Android that’s guaranteed to get updates for at least two years thanks to it being part of the Android Go program. The outside of the device also stands from the sea of slab phones with a circular camera module housing a reliable 13MP camera and 5MP ultra-wide camera.

Inside, you get a Snapdragon 665 with a 4,000 mAh battery that should be enough to power the 6.5-inch screen with ease. The waterdrop notch is a bit outdated by now but we think at this price point, it’s acceptable.

Nokia 5.3

One of the original big mobile phone brands is back with a $200 smartphone. None of the specs will pop off the spec sheet but its affordable price, near-stock Android software, and a 4,000 mAh battery give it plenty of appeal.

View at Amazon

Best phone for those open to importing: Poco X3 NFC

If you are open to importing and the risks that could come with it (such as difficulty getting it fixed if it breaks), Xiaomi’s spin-off brand Poco has a jaw-droppingly good value device. We are talking about a 120Hz FHD+ display, Snapdragon 732G, 5,000 mAh battery, and a very good Sony IMX 48MP main camera. There’s even IP53 water and dust resistance and some great haptics. We’ve confirmed the Poco X3 NFC works fine on AT&T and T-Mobile, but not with Verizon. Also note that if you’re importing, you’re for sure paying a marked up price anywhere from $50 to $80 over the official retail price — but it still falls under $300.

Poco X3 NFC

The Poco X3 NFC offers truly impressive specs at this price point; too bad it doesn't sell officially in North America.

View at Amazon

Conclusion: so which one to get?

If you’re open to importing and potentially using a phone without warranty, the Poco X3 NFC offers the most bang for your dollar, however, we know most buyers will want some protection or peace of mind with their purchase. So with that in mind, we like the Samsung Galaxy A50 the most here, as it’s the most polished of the bunch.

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Simple Search is a browser extension that strips Google Search of all its bloat

Google Search has become much more sophisticated over the last several years, and is relied upon by millions of people around the world. But as great as Search is, it’s become rather bloated, often returning results that are filled with ads and highlight its own products. That’s where Simple Search comes in.

Simple Search is a Chrome and Firefox browser extension made by The Markup.

Simple Search is an extension that highlights the “traditional” or “ten blue link” search results provided by the search engine, laying them over the info boxes and other content. Close the window to view the full results page. Compatible with Bing and Google search engines.

Essentially, the extension brings users back to a time before Google Search was seemingly less focused on directly selling products, and more focused on returning relevant results. To get an idea of what Search is like today, The Markup analyzed 15,000 popular search results and found that the search engine gave 41 percent of the first page and 63 percent of the first screen on mobile devices to Google properties.

In some instances, Google apparently gave 75 percent of the search page to itself, while other searches were taken over by “direct answers,” which are widgets that highlight information copied from other sources. Google allegedly favors its own results so much that politicians have started to take notice. Following The Markup’s analysis of those 15,000 popular search results, representative David N. Cicilline (D-RI) accused Google of building a walled garden that negatively impacted companies online.

In response to Cicilline’s accusations, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said Search is designed to give users what they want, nothing more. “We conduct ourselves to the highest standard,” Pichai said.

If you long for a bygone era when all Google did was return ten blue links, The Markup’s Simple Search extension is worth checking out.

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Google Search will rank websites based on “page experience” starting May 2021

Update 1 (11/11/2020 @ 06:31 ET): Google has announced when they’ll roll out the new ranking algorithm that takes into account “page experience signals”. Click here for more information. The article as published on May 28, 2020, is preserved below.

Google Search is responsible for a huge amount of web traffic. Anyone that runs a website knows how important it is to rank highly on Google. So it’s always a very big deal when the company changes the way it ranks websites. Today, Google announced a new ranking algorithm that will start taking “page experience” into consideration (via Search Engine Land).

“Page experience” is all about how users perceive the experience of interacting with a webpage. Simply put, if Google thinks people don’t enjoy using a website, it will not rank it as highly in Search results. There are a number of metrics and considerations used to understand how a user perceives the experience.

Some of these considerations include page loading speed, interactivity, and the stability of content as it loads. Google calls these things “Core Web Vitals.” In addition, Google is using some existing signals, including mobile-friendliness, safe-browsing, HTTPS, and intrusive ads. All of these things together make up the “page experience” secret sauce.

If you’ve ever accidentally tapped the wrong thing because content on the page was jumping around, that’s something Google Search would consider a bad experience. It’s important to note, however, that page experience isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to ranking. The company says it will still rank pages “with the best information overall, even if some aspects of page experience are subpar.” In other words, delivering the information that the user is looking for is still ultimately the goal. But if there are pages with similar content, page experience becomes a differentiating factor.

Google says these changes will not be going live this year. The company will give 6-months notice before they go live sometime in 2021. If you have a website, it’s time to get ready for the changes.

Update: Google Search rankings to use page experience from May 2021

In a post on the Google Webmaster Central Blog yesterday, Google announced that the page experience signals they’ll be using to determine Google Search rankings will roll out in May 2021. In addition, the changes for non-AMP web content to become eligible to appear in the Top Stories feature in Search for mobile devices will also roll out in May 2021. Google says that any page that meets the Google News content policies will be eligible, but Search will prioritize showing pages with “great page experience”, regardless of whether or not they’re implemented with AMP or not. Finally, Google says they’re planning to test a visual indicator that identifies pages that “have met all of the page experience criteria.” If this test is successful, Google will show this visual indicator for search results in May 2021.

Google recommends publishers get ready for these changes now by conducting a site-wide audit of pages using the Google Search Console’s report for Core Web Vitals followed by using Page Speed Insights and Lighthouse to fix any issues that are uncovered.

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Google Calendar adds cross-profile work and personal account support

Update (11/11/2020 @ 06:18 PM ET): Google Calendar is now rolling out the ability to see your personal calendar events when you’re using a work profile on Android 11. Click here for more information. The article as published on September 9, 2020, is preserved below.

Work profiles in Android let you keep your work and personal life separate by isolating all apps and synced account information from the personal profile. But there are some disadvantages to using a work profile on your device. For instance, several calendar apps, including Google Calendar, don’t support cross-profile calendar sync. This means that you have to check the calendar app in each profile to make sure you don’t miss an appointment. To address this issue, Google added support for cross-profile calendar visibility in Android 10. But in order to enable the feature, calendar apps have to be updated to support the new APIs.

Google has been working on bringing cross-profile visibility support to Google Calendar for a few months now. Evidence regarding the feature was first spotted in an APK teardown of Google Calendar version 2020.14-1 earlier this year. And now, the company has finally confirmed that cross-profile calendar support will be added to the app soon. In a recent blog post titled Championing employee privacy, productivity with Android 11, the company notes:

“Google Calendar will soon allow people to see personal events in their work calendar, helping to better schedule around commitments across their day. Personal calendar events will remain privately stored on device in the personal file, invisible to both colleagues and IT.”

Interestingly, the blog post also mentions a new secure mechanism for merged experiences that will allow trusted apps to connect between work and personal profiles. This leads us to believe that the cross-profile visibility feature won’t be limited to calendar apps, and we could see more apps receive similar functionality in the near future. As of now, Google hasn’t shared a release timeline for cross-profile visibility on Google Calendar. We will update this post as soon as the feature starts rolling out to users.

Google Calendar (Free, Google Play) →

Update: Rolling Out

In a post on the Google Workspace Updates blog, Google confirmed that it’s now rolling out cross-profile calendar visibility in the Google Calendar app. If you’re using a work profile and your device is running Android 11, you’ll be able to connect your personal and work Google Calendar profiles so you don’t have to exit your work profile to see your personal events. Google says this feature is gradually rolling out starting today, but before you can enable this feature in the app, your Google Workspace admin has to enable it.

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Nokia Streaming Box 8000 is a new Android TV set-top box available in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

After a Nokia-branded set-top box launched in India, another streaming box bearing the Nokia name has been unveiled. This time, the streamer is coming to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The Nokia Streaming Box 8000 is an Android TV set-top box that features a robust remote and easy access to Google Assistant. It appears relatively similar to any other Android TV device on the market, providing users access to over 7,000 apps from Google Play, including Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+.

The hardware features a squared design and, as mentioned, a remote that includes dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, Google Play, and Prime Video. There are also dedicated buttons for home and Google Assistant, so you can easily search for content or ask a question.

The Nokia Streaming Box 8000 supports 4K resolution, Dolby Digital Plus audio, and comes equipped with Amlogic’s S905X3 chipset. It also features 2GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage. There’s one HDMI port, a single USB-A port, USB-C, and an Ethernet port for plugging the streamer directly into your router. The set-top box also comes with Android 10 and Chromecast built-in, so you can easily cast content from your phone to your TV.

You can purchase the Nokia Streaming Box 8000 now for 100€ in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

If that’s a little out of your price range, perhaps you’ll consider Google’s new Chromecast with Google TV, which we consider to be a gateway to live TV streaming. The little dongle is incredibly easy to use and supports 4K resolution. Best of all, it’s only $49 here in the U.S., making it an affordable option if you need something that’s quick and easy to use for streaming.

The Nokia Streaming Box 8000 is more advanced in a lot of ways, including its support for an Ethernet connection, a dedicated USB port for extra storage, and its more traditional remote, but the price could potentially throw people off.

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Best Pixel 5 Cases: What to Grab to Protect Your New Device

You’ve gone ahead and ordered the Google Pixel 5, Google’s latest flagship phone. What’s next? Well, you need a case that will protect that $699 purchase! Gorilla Glass 3 or not, there’s going to be a time where somehow pulling your phone out of your pocket ends up spiking the device onto the hard concrete… not that I’m speaking from personal experience or anything. In our Pixel 5 review, we say that if you’re looking for a fantastic software experience with good performance, the Google Pixel 5 is definitely worth looking at.

We’ve rounded up the best Google Pixel 5 cases, so you can pick anywhere between the toughest protection and barely-there slim cases.

Spigen Ultra Hybrid Case

Comfort and protection

If you want something that straddles the line between protection and style, you can't go wrong with the Spigen Ultra Hybrid. Available in black or with a clear back, the Ultra Hybrid will protect your phone from falls without bulking it out too much.

Buy from Amazon

Weycolor Google Pixel 5 Case

A splash of color

If you're disappointed with the Pixel 5's color choices, brag a case with a splash of unique color instead! Weycolor's thin, pastel cases will help you stand out from the Pixel 5 crowd and come in three color choices so there's something for everyone!.

Buy from Amazon

Google Pixel 5 Case

Eco-friendly and unique design

Google's own Pixel 5 case is an interesting design for sure. An eco-friendly case made from machine-washable fabric, the case provides a bit of grip while sticking to Google's pledge to lower their impact on the environment.

$40 at Google Store

OtterBox Defender Series Case

Maximum protection and bulk

If your Pixel 5 is really going to be put through the ringer, you can't go wrong with OtterBox. The thick case with a built in screen protector will protect your phone from even the hardest falls and shocks.

Buy From Amazon

DBrand Pixel 5 Grip Case

Customize your case

None of the other cases cutting it in terms of style? Customize DBrand's Pixel 5 case and make it your own! Choose from a variety of skin colors for your back case and really make it your own.

Starting from $30 at DBrand

Spigen Tough Armor

Tough protection with a stand

Spigen also has the Tough Armor line of cases. These protect against most falls and shocks, and has a helpful little stand to prop your phone up with. If you want protection without bulking up your phone much, this is your best bet.

Buy from Amazon

Vena vCommute Wallet Case

Carry your cards, too

For the Google Pixel 5, Vena has a wallet case that is sure to please. Instead of the cards being on a flap, they're in a cutout back area. You'll still get a stand to prop your phone up on, too. You just don't need to worry about the cards scratching your screen!

$50 at Vena

Caseology Legion

Hard outside, soft inside

Caseology is a popular brand, and their Legion line is designed for life's bumps. Offering a soft inner-layer and a hard outer-layer shell, the Caseology Legion will protect your Pixel 5, and you'll still be able to use wireless charging and a screen protector.

Buy from Amazon

TopACE Case for Google Pixel 5

Crystal clear

Just need a simple, clear sleeve? Pick up TopACE's Pixel 5 case and there you have it. It's only 1mm thick and protect your device from minor sratches.

Buy from Amazon

Vinve Google Pixel 5 Case

Gradient protection

Vinve's Google 5 case is a pretty gradient color, so you'll be able to have your phone pop while offering it a little protection.

Buy from Amazon

Honey (Bee Edition) Google Pixel 5 Eco-Friendly Case

Buzzing for the Environment

Want a case that's cute and helps the environment? Pela's Honey Bee case is yellow, adorned with the helpful little honey makers, and is bio-degradeable and eco-friendly. You can't ask for much else!

$40 at Pela

Which Pixel 5 case will you grab? Honestly, you can’t really go wrong with Spigen’s line of products, and the Ultra Hybrid is the best compromise between protection and comfort. The shell will definitely protect against the drops and falls any average user will have over the course of the Pixel 5’s lifespan, but it’ll also not bulk out the phone so much that it’s uncomfortable to actually use. I have small hands, so something like an OtterBox, as protective as it is, can be too bulky for my hands. But, if you have a particularly labor-intensive job and need to protect against freak accidents, the OtterBox’s Defender series is definitely going to be the case to grab, bulk or not.

If you’re not prone to slippery fingers like me, a thin but colorful case like Weycolor’s selection of Pixel 5 cases are a great idea. They can liven up the drab black Pixel 5 easily and cheaply! If you just want a very basic, very slim cover, TopACE’s clear and 1mm thick case will give you exactly what you need. You might argue it’s better to go caseless, but let’s face it–we’ve all had our phone inexplicitly rub up against something sharp in a bag or purse. Do you want a nasty scratch against the back of your new device? These cases prevent your device against incidents just like that.

What Pixel 5 case is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more will start counting towards your Google Account storage next year

Google today announced important policy changes that will affect consumer accounts. Beginning June 1, 2021, files that are created in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more will count toward your 15GB of complementary account storage.

The good news is any existing files within those services won’t count toward your storage. However, if they’re modified on or after June 1, 2021, they will count toward your free 15GB of storage. The changes come on the heels of new policies for Google Photos.

Currently, not all files use your storage. Google’s support page explains what counts toward your storage, including most files in your “My Drive” on Google Drive, photos that are stored in original quality on Google Photos, and attachments in Gmail. However, after the change next summer, pretty much all files and media will take up space.

The company said more than 4.3GB of content is uploaded across Gmail, Drive, and Photos every day, adding that it’s implementing these changes so it can continue to provide users with a “great storage experience” and to keep pace with growing demand.

In addition to policy changes related to storage, Google announced a new policy for inactive accounts and accounts that are over their storage limit:

• If you’re inactive in one or more of these services (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, Jamboard, and Photos) for two years (24 months), Google may delete the content in the product(s) in which you’re inactive.
• Similarly, if you’re over your storage limit for two years, Google may delete your content across Gmail, Drive, and Photos.

The company will notify users multiple times to remove any content, so they’ll get numerous chances to take action. To keep your account active, Google recommends periodically visiting Gmail, Drive, Photos, and the other services where you have files while signed in to your account. Google also highlights its Inactive Account Manager to help users manage specific content when their account becomes inactive.

With more people working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Google’s services are becoming that much more important. While these policy changes don’t go into effect until next summer, you might want to consider a Google One plan, which starts at $1.99 per month for 100GB of storage.

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