In early 2026, budget smartphones continue to impress with balanced performance, long battery life, and a reliable everyday experience. So, for those looking for a new device for under $300, here’s a list of some globally available smartphones around this price range. From long-lasting batteries to tuned cameras and clean software, here are the 5 best phones under $300 you can buy this February.

Moto G Play (2026)

The Moto G Play 2026 stands out in the under-$300 class thanks to its thoughtful blend of features and solid everyday performance. It typically offers a smooth everyday experience, a sizable display for media consumption, and Motorola’s near-stock Android software, which means you have fewer bloatware apps to deal with. Battery life is a highlight here, with big capacity cells delivering reliable all-day use even under heavy browsing or streaming. The camera performance won’t rival flagship models, but for everyday photos and social posts, it’s more than capable.

Preview	Product
	Motorola Moto G Play – 2026 | Unlocked | Made for US 4/64GB | 32MP Camera | Pantone Tapestry	Check Price on Amazon Global

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Moto G Power (2026)

If you prioritise battery above all else, the Moto G Power 2026 is a compelling pick. True to its name, it packs a large battery that easily lasts more than a full day, even with heavy usage, and it continues Motorola’s trend of delivering dependable battery performance at a budget price. While the display and camera setup might feel a bit utilitarian compared with some rivals, you won’t need to worry about mid-day charging.

Preview	Product
	Motorola Moto G Power – 2026 | Unlocked | Made for US 8/128GB | 50MP Camera | Pantone Evenng Blue |…	Check Price on Amazon Global

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Samsung Galaxy A36

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is one of Samsung’s strongest mid-range contenders in the under-$300 segment. It offers a well-rounded package with a bright and crisp AMOLED display, smooth performance for everyday tasks, and decent camera hardware that captures reliable shots in various conditions. Samsung’s software polish and long-term update promise add extra value, especially if you plan to keep the phone for multiple years. It strikes a great balance between design, performance, and ecosystem support.’

Preview	Product
	Samsung Galaxy A36 5G (Awesome Lavender, 8GB, 256GB) | Awesome Intelligence – AI Smartphone: Circle…	Check Price on Amazon India

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Preview	Product
	SAMSUNG Galaxy A36 5G 2025 | 256GB, Dual SIM | 6.7″ 120Hz AMOLED, IP67 Water Resistant, Android 15 |…	Check Price on Amazon Global

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Redmi Note 15 4G

The Redmi Note 15 4G is consistently one of the most feature-rich phones under $300, delivering specs that punch above its price. You’ll typically get a large, vibrant display, capable mid-tier chipset performance for everyday use and light gaming, and a useful camera system that covers most casual scenarios. HyperOS’s customisation also gives you flexibility for personalising your experience. Battery life and charging speeds are solid, making it one of the best value options in this price bracket. It trades 5G connectivity for the impressive battery capacity and a 108MP main camera.

Preview	Product
	XIAOMI Redmi Note 15 4G LTE (Compatible with Tmobile Mint Tello & Global) (128GB + 6GB) 6.77″ 120Hz…	Check Price on Amazon Global

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Samsung Galaxy A17 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G delivers a well-balanced hardware and software mix for a budget price tag. While its performance tier is closer to everyday use than heavy gaming, 5G support gives it future-ready connectivity for streaming, browsing, and light cloud-based tasks. Its design language feels modern, and Samsung’s UI experience is refined and user-friendly.

Preview	Product
	Samsung Galaxy A17 5G (Black, 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage) | with Travel Adapter | 50 MP No Shake Camera…	Check Price on Amazon India

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Preview	Product
	Samsung Galaxy A17 5G Smart Phone, 128GB, Large AMOLED, High-Res Camera, Durable Design, Super Fast…	Check Price on Amazon Global

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How We Picked These Phones

When choosing the best under-$300 phones in February 2026, we looked at a bunch of key factors:

• Global availability: Only models that are widely available in multiple regions, and not just the impressive Asia-exclusive releases.
• Balanced hardware: Good performance for daily tasks, cam quality, battery life, and software longevity.
• Brand support: Reliable update policies and ecosystem compatibility.
• User experience: Displays, battery endurance, and real-world usability.

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The post Best Smartphones Under $300 in Feb 2026 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Motorola has just announced two new phones in its budget ‘G’ lineup. Called the Moto G and Moto G Play, both carry the 2026 suffix as well. The announcement comes late in 2025, which might explain why Motorola’s already stamping next year’s date on them.

Don’t go by the names, though. These are classic Motorola slabs built for the basics.

Moto G (2026) and G Play (2026) Specifications

The two phones share most of the essentials, including a 6.7-inch display with 120Hz refresh rates, up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, and, for the first time on a Play model, 5G support. 

On the camera front, the Moto G 2026 sports a 50-megapixel main sensor with Quad Pixel processing and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The Play version keeps things simpler with a 32-megapixel rear shooter and an 8-megapixel front camera.

Of course, no phone in 2025 is skipping the AI hype. Motorola’s adding a few light AI photo tricks here, like Night Vision and auto-smile detection, which should come in handy for casual shooting.

Power comes from a 5,200mAh battery that Motorola claims can last up to two days. However, the Moto G supports faster 30W wired charging, while the Play is capped at just 18W.

Both devices get Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front and IP52 water resistance, meaning they’ll survive the occasional splash but not much more.

Motorola isn’t saying much about what’s powering these phones under the hood, but on the software side, they ship with Android 16, Motorola’s usual software extras, and baked-in Google Gemini tools. 

Price and Availability

The Moto G 2026 will sell for $199.99 in the U.S. starting December 11, first through Motorola’s website and later through major retailers and carriers.

The Moto G Play 2026 launches earlier, on November 13, for $169.99, and will also roll out across multiple retail and carrier channels. Both phones will arrive in Canada around the same time.

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The post Motorola launches budget Moto G and Moto G Play (2026) in the West appeared first on Gizmochina.