Best Budget Smartphone (Under $300) in 2024

scrimshaw on 10/04/2024 - 15:46

Moderators at OzBargain are now running yearly polls to decide the best products in popular categories that get asked repeatedly in the forum. Our aim is to have a central thread where users can vote on the items, suggest options and also change their vote throughout the year. For more information on how these polls work, or if you want to suggest a new poll that isn't covered already, please refer to our announcement thread here.

Question

What is the best budget smartphone under $300 in 2024?

Once again we'll discuss options and recommendations for smartphones in the budget category. We asked the question last year … and it seems that most of you prefered Motorola when it came to budget devices.

Remember: You can change your votes at anytime, and suggest more than 1 product over the course of the poll.

How do I suggest products to What Should I Buy polls?

If you have a product that you would like to suggest for the poll (that is currently not in the Poll Options), you'll need to make a top-level comment (i.e. not replying someone else's comment) and fill up "Suggestions" text box just above your comment:

Suggestion box

Do try to make a sensible suggestion (e.g make sure the phone is still widely available to purchase, is usable with Australian networks (check if it is VOLTE / VoWIFI compatible) and isn't a model from more than 2 years ago) and include a brief argument as to why you would recommend the product. You can only suggest 1 product at a time.

Poll Options Wed, 01/01/2025 - 00:00

This is part of What Should I Buy poll for 2024. Check out other recommendations from the OzBargain community.
Mobile Mobile Phone What Should I Buy

Comments

  • shxhshzhz on 10/04/2024 - 19:29
    Suggested Motorola Moto G54

    Definitely OzBargain's favourite under $300.

    • MeesusEff on 11/04/2024 - 01:27

      I got this for my mum, not having a native photo album kinda bugs me though

  • NoisyMiner on 12/04/2024 - 21:35

    I bought the G54, it’s alright, nice screen, and does the job, camera is average bit on the slow side. Cant go wrong with E sim and dual speakers. Hopefully will last long.

    Had a Nokia before, do not recommend.

    • non-core promise on 13/04/2024 - 12:21

      Which Nokia? Was it the G60 or something?

      What was wrong with it?

      • NoisyMiner on 13/04/2024 - 13:17

        Had a Nokia 7.2, screen had some weird contrast issue, GPS couldn’t find me, finger print scanner had a ghost scroll, camera app lagged and sometimes didn’t open missing photo opportunities. I emailed Nokia, they never responded.

    • freedomj on 15/06/2024 - 17:41

      How's it compare with the G04?

      I want a bin android phone to be a home assistant remote and not much else

      Currently on an iPhone 6S if that helps for understanding how little I care

      G04 is here
      https://www.mobileciti.com.au/motorola-moto-g04

      G54 is here (amaysim customers $179 delivered)
      https://www.amaysim.com.au/devices/phones/motorola/motorola-…

  • qaz182 on 07/06/2024 - 17:48
    +1
    Suggested Motorola Moto G84

    Motorolla Moto G84 can be had under $300 now https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/849986

    • peteru on 15/07/2024 - 16:15

      Not anymore.

      The typical best price for a Motorola G84 is definitely over $300, which puts the G84 into the next price category.

        • peteru on 16/07/2024 - 14:44
          +1

          Yep, it looks like there was a couple of weeks where the price went down and that was the time to grab it. You were smart / lucky.

          I missed the boat on the G84. :-(

          Here's hoping that another sub $300 G84 deal comes by before my POCO X3 Pro dies.

          • qaz182 on 17/07/2024 - 12:05
            +1

            @peteru: There will always be another deal (at least when it comes to rapidly depreciating items like phones)

      • McFly on 25/07/2024 - 20:02
        +2

        There have been 5 deals under 300 over the past 5 weeks…

      • liongalahad on 23/08/2024 - 07:36

        now price is back under $300

  • wisdomtooth on 09/06/2024 - 01:35
    Suggested Xiaomi Redmi Note 13

    $247 @ AliEx

  • BargainCowboy on 14/06/2024 - 14:51

    Moto G84 now, $269 in Big W.

  • migaloo on 02/07/2024 - 19:15
    +1

    Looking for an android phone for work, camera isn’t important. JB has the Motorola G54 for $199 and the G84 for $299. Which is the better device for longevity? Is the G84 worth $100 more?

    • freedomj on 03/07/2024 - 09:42
      +3

      Search up some deals that have both G84s and G54s in it, plenty of analysis in comments.

      My summation of what I’ve read is

      • G84 is better across the board if your don’t need e-sim

      • G54 has e-sim and is amazing value

      $100 may be a small price to pay for slightly more responsive every day usage, but 40% is a lot more with budget phones (+50% in your case).

      My conclusion was I wasn’t willing to pay an extra $100 for a G84 because I was barely willing to buy a G54 so now my plan is a marketplace phone (or one out of a battery recycling bin 😏)

      • peteru on 16/07/2024 - 14:55
        +1

        I think the major cost difference may be due to the screen. On the G84 you get OLED.
        Then there is also the increased DRAM and storage.

        If camera is not important, you probably don't need the extra storage or better screen, so the G54 might be the sensible choice.

        However, I can't find the G84 for $299 anywhere at this time.

        JB Hi-Fi prices as of today are:

        • G14 for $199
        • G54 for $299
        • G84 for $449

        Officeworks prices are within a few $ of the JB prices.

  • Daffy Duck on 05/07/2024 - 05:58
    +1

    I got the G54 when it was $149 @ JBHI Fi and been very happy with it,Great value and no issues so far Recently went to Android 14. Does everything I need, Swapped from Vivo X50lite

  • huntress_love on 11/10/2024 - 00:28
    Suggested Oppo A80

    How would the oppo rate compare to above?
    With perks, coupon can pick it up just under $300 for $297 (allphones less $2 with price match)
    it's quite new so no major sales on it yet.
    My needs are simple as 128G doesn't cut it anymore so needed more storage, it's 5G with fast charge and dual sim.

    Not sure about the other features, or how it would compare.

    • peteru on 11/10/2024 - 14:44

      Every Oppo I've seen has been poor value for money. That doesn't mean they all are. For what it's worth, I don't even look at Oppo phones any more.

      • huntress_love on 11/10/2024 - 15:51

        what do you mean, they are overpriced for the specs, or they break easily? I've had a couple previously and seems good in all aspects.

        • peteru on 11/10/2024 - 21:20

          Specs (at least those that I value highly) were poor for the asking price. But that was a while ago. I'm not up to speed with the latest offerings.

          I always prefer phones with a microSD slot so that I can expand the storage if needed. These days you need at least 8GB RAM on a new phone if you want to keep it for at least 3-5 years. Large battery / long standby time are also important to me. I want a phone that I only need to charge twice a week at most. Decent screen resolution and brightness and I also like to have a 3.5mm phone jack. An average camera is OK for me, but it has to support at least 1080p60 video recording.

  • eidm on 14/10/2024 - 11:47

    what about Samsung A35, how does it compare to Motorola G84?

  • ab c on 16/10/2024 - 20:00
    Suggested Samsung Galaxy A35

    The answer depend EACH-buyers criteria, preferences, access-to Amaysim $200 discount-voucher 😭 etc.

    Food for thoughts…
    G54 & G84 deals have gone quite…may be FINAL-clearances soon?
    Desperate & can't wait: consider $300 Samsung A35 5G, https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/859693
    Limited: for those who have Amaysim $200 discount-code, you can now buy it WITHOUT adding a $30 sim-plan: $99-> https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15809155/redir
    eSIM, dual-sim: govern by YOUR-usage?
    6Gb-RAM: if you're a LIGHT-user, may-be it's ok for 3+ yrs, https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15570776/redir ?
    Samsung bloatware: consider-> https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-a35-5g-uninstal…
    Camera & screen: will you pay more for this ?
    Samsung brand: will you pay more for this ?
    4 Android-updates & 5 yrs security-updates, released Mar-24 ish: will you pay more for this ?
    3-5 yrs ownership: a stronger-processor will min. the risk of laggy & slow-responses, Android & APPs will need more-grunt.

    https://www.notebookcheck.net/Samsung-Galaxy-A35-5G-review-A…
    https://nanoreview.net/en/phone-compare/samsung-galaxy-a35-5…

    • eidm on 18/10/2024 - 11:47

      Thanks for the very comprehensive reply. Unfortunately I did not get the Amaysim discount code, although I am an Amaysim customer and my phone Realme c21 behave kind of weird. Its OK with Amaysim or Boost but with Lebara I cannot make any calls or texts (it supposed to be a 4G phone). Anyway with the other features, I will probably go with this. I am just waiting because about 2 weeks ago when I contacted Amaysim they said, buying it will void my current credit (I had about 3 weeks left at that time), and the new credit cycle will start from that day.
      thanks again. Love ozbargain.

      • ab c on 19/10/2024 - 10:57

        Realme c21 behave kind of weird. Its OK with Amaysim or Boost but with Lebara I cannot make any calls or texts (it supposed to be a 4G phone)

        Lebara/Vodafone shutdown their 3G network in Jan-24. Boost/Telstra & Amaysim/Optus is about to shutdown their 3G network: starting 1-Nov-24.

        For all those who bought a 4G-phone distributed by a Brand that has AU-presence (NOT parallel/grey-import), give AU-warranty & you bought it via AU-retailers, eg JB-Hifi, TGG, OW etc, consider-> https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15820816/redir

        • huntress_love on 19/10/2024 - 18:03

          "For all those who bought a 4G-phone distributed by a Brand that has AU-presence (NOT parallel/grey-import), give AU-warranty & you bought it via AU-retailers, eg JB-Hifi, TGG, OW etc, consider-> https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15820816/redir"

          I've read the thread you linked to, is it saying that a warranty claim can be made if the phone stops working when 3g is switched off. So assume only within 2 years as most warranties are?

          • ab c on 19/10/2024 - 19:41

            @huntress_love: May be I was genuine & would have still use that phone, if it CAN make calls ?

    • ab c on 19/10/2024 - 12:08

      A35 'sometime UI-stutters & lag': internet-search & starting-point-> https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15814980/redir

      Visit JB-Hifi & play with their DEMO-models & SEE-them for YOUR-self.

      2 yrs warranty.

      Battery 5000mAh: many-users WILL experience reduce-life in their 3rd-yrs: heat & reduce recharge-cycle considerations, starting-point-> https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-808-how-to-prolong-….

      No-one can help you if you're accident-prone, lol.

    • ab c on 22/10/2024 - 10:34
      -4

      Here are reasons why many-users WILL-struggle to see their NEW-2024-SMART-phone being use as MAIN-phone in their 3rd-yr-of-ownership: 2yrs + ?d 🤔
      1.Poor battery-life due to convenient/ignorance/neglect: limited recharge-cycles & heat…even 5000mAh-> https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-808-how-to-prolong-…
      2.Access to features & functionality…poor-foresight?
      3.Desire to consume, new-toy.
      4.Keeping-up with-the-Joneses, peer-pressure, label-old-school.
      5.Persuade by heavy-discounting of clearance-models.
      6.Poor-homework & didn't read-widely, including NOT-able to read-thru bias & paid-reviews: NotebookCheck, NanoReviews etc
      7.Technical IN-compatibility with AU-carrier(s): parallel/grey-imports are high-risk.
      8.YOUR-circumstance/preference/justification etc…how did you justify a 2023/24-purchase which in-hindsight seems UN-founded: share REAL-reason to help-others ?

      Look @ YOUR-mobile purchases in-the-last-10yrs…getting shorter in recent-years?

  • doperst on 19/10/2024 - 14:06

    Are there any good options among less popular brands like TCL, HMD, Oppo, Vivo, ZTE? I'm looking for a good camera, good screen, ≥6GB RAM.

    • hambuger on 19/10/2024 - 20:14
      +2

      Spent the last week or so checking Oppo's range and none under $300 are decent. The 8/256gb A60 on Oppo's webstore looks kinda close at $280 but the chipset is old. JB etc have a 4gb version of the A60 for the same price lol, don't make that mistake

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