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$269.99 Samsung list price, 128 GB, unlocked, checked Oct 19, 2026
The only phone under $300 here with an AMOLED screen and six promised Android upgrades, plus optical stabilization on the main camera. GSMArena found the 4GB model sluggish, and IP54 means splash resistance only.
Tradeoff: The display tops out at 90Hz.
$299.99 Motorola list price, 128 GB, unlocked, checked Oct 18, 2026
A headphone jack, microSD, eSIM and Motorola-confirmed support for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, with security updates through December 2028. GSMArena praised battery life but found the HD+ screen and performance weak.
Tradeoff: The display resolution is 1604 x 720.
$249.99 TCL list price, 128 GB, unlocked, checked Oct 18, 2026
A matte 120Hz NXTPAPER screen with paper-style reading modes, a Full HD resolution and a headphone jack for $249.99. WIRED found the screen hard to read in direct sunlight.
Tradeoff: Wired charging is rated at 18W.
$299.99 Motorola list price, 128 GB, unlocked, checked Oct 18, 2026
IP68 and IP69 protection and 15W wireless charging, both rare at $299.99. GSMArena found battery endurance weak and the rear camera disappointing, so buy it for the build, not the battery.
Tradeoff: The phone weighs 208g.
$199.99 Motorola list price, 128 GB, unlocked, checked Oct 18, 2026
At $199.99 it costs $100 less than the Moto G (2026) and keeps the headphone jack, microSD and eSIM. Android Police reported two days of use per charge.
Tradeoff: Screen resolution is 1604 x 720.
| Spec | Galaxy A17 5G | Moto G (2026) | TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G | Moto G Power (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List price (unlocked) | $269.99 (128 GB), checked Oct 19, 2026 | $299.99 (128 GB), checked Oct 18, 2026 | $249.99 (128 GB), checked Oct 18, 2026 | $299.99 (128 GB), checked Oct 18, 2026 |
| Security updates until | Unknown | Dec 2028 | Unknown | Jan 2028 |
| OS upgrades promised | 6 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Display | 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, up to 90Hz | 6.7-inch HD+ LCD (1604 x 720), up to 120Hz | 6.78-inch FHD+ IPS LCD (2460 x 1080), 120Hz | 6.8-inch FHD+ LCD (2388 x 1080), up to 120Hz |
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 1330 | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 | MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5200 mAh | 5010 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Weight | 192 g | 202 g | 199.5 g | 208 g |
| Water resistance | IP54 | Unknown | Unknown | IP68/IP69 |
| 5G | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| microSD slot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless charging | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Yes |
| AT&T | Unknown | Compatible | Unknown | Compatible |
| Verizon | Unknown | Compatible | Unknown | Compatible |
| T-Mobile | Unknown | Compatible | Unknown | Compatible |
After this year’s price increases, $300 is where new unlocked phones stop feeling like compromises everywhere at once. You can now choose what matters most: a better screen (Galaxy A17 5G), a headphone jack and microSD (Motorola), a matte reading screen (TCL) or a tougher build (Moto G Power 2025).
What you still give up at this price:
Motorola confirms AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon support for the Moto G (2025), Moto G (2026) and Moto G Power (2025). For the other picks, we have not found an explicit statement from the maker or carrier yet, so the phone pages show Unknown. Use your carrier’s compatibility checker with the exact model before you buy. Our unlocked vs carrier-locked guide explains how.
The Moto G (2025) is still listed at $199.99 (see best phones under $200), and store sales can bring the others below their list prices. A refurbished phone can get you a higher-end model for the same money, as long as it still has a few years of updates left.
If you can spend a little more, the Galaxy A27 5G adds a 120Hz screen and a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip for $379.99.