Best budget smartphones 2026: the 8 best phones under €300

Best budget smartphones 2026: the best phones under €300

For a maximum of €300, in 2026 you can buy a smartphone that does almost everything well. The most complete choice under that limit is still the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G (around €289); if you want to spend less, the Samsung Galaxy A16 or the surprisingly keenly priced POCO M7 Pro already serve you well from around €150. The €300 limit is a deliberate one: above it you mainly pay for camera extras and more premium materials, below it you get all the essentials. When choosing, focus on software support, screen quality, battery life and storage — not the number of megapixels. All prices below are the lowest prices in our price overview at the end of August 2026; our verdicts are based on manufacturer specifications and pooled user reviews.

Best phones under €300

Eight handsets, in ascending order of price from around €150 to €289, so you can see exactly what each extra tenner buys you within the €300 budget.

Samsung Galaxy A16 — cheapest solid choice (€125-€185)

The cheapest solid choice in this overview. You get 128 GB of storage, a 6.7-inch Full HD screen, a 5,000 mAh battery that lasts a full day with average use and — rare at this price — the long update promise of Samsung's A series, which keeps the handset safe to use for years. Note: this is the 4G version; for most users in the Netherlands that is no practical drawback. The black version is the cheapest at around €150; other colours sit between €125 and €185. See the Samsung Galaxy A16 128GB.

POCO M7 Pro — price-performance king (€150-€240)

The price-performance king of this list has dropped sharply in price: the purple version now sits at around €150, where it previously cost €225 (other colours up to around €235). For that money you get 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, an AMOLED screen, a large battery and 5G — a combination where other brands often still leave you with 128 GB and an LCD. See the POCO M7 Pro 256GB.

Xiaomi Redmi 15C 5G — cheapest 5G entry point (€170-€180)

If you want 5G without hitting €200, the Redmi 15C 5G with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage is the logical entry point. The 6.79-inch FHD+ screen refreshes at 90Hz and the 50 MP main camera is fine for everyday snaps; good for WhatsApp, browsing and streaming, but heavy games are not its thing. See the Xiaomi Redmi 15C 5G.

Redmi Note 15 — AMOLED and 256 GB for around €200 (€199-€219)

New to this overview: the Redmi Note 15 without the Pro suffix already gives you 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage and the high-refresh-rate AMOLED screen the Note series is known for, at around €199. You give up 5G compared with the Pro version, but you also save around €90. For anyone who values screen and storage above all, this is the smartest buy around €200. See the Redmi Note 15 8GB/256GB.

Motorola Moto G67 — clean Android with 256 GB (€198-€219)

Motorola's strength is its software: a near-stock Android experience without intrusive extra apps. On the G67 that comes with a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED screen, a 50 MP Sony LYTIA camera, a body built to a military drop standard and 5G. With 256 GB of storage for around €199, the Moto G67 is one of the most generously equipped handsets in the mid-range. See the Motorola Moto G67 256GB.

Samsung Galaxy A37 5G — safe all-rounder with long updates (€259-€289)

The latest generation of Samsung's most popular budget line. The A37 5G is the safe all-rounder: a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen at 120Hz, a 50 MP main camera with optical image stabilisation, an Exynos 1480 with 6 GB of RAM and the same long software support that makes the A series a favourite with anyone planning to use a phone for four years or more. It is also the handset that can be compared across the most shops on our site. See the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 128GB.

Nothing Phone (3a) — the design pick (€262-€299)

The design pick. The semi-transparent back with Glyph lighting is not available anywhere else, and Nothing OS is among the cleanest and fastest Android versions around right now. The 6.77-inch AMOLED screen reaches 120Hz and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, and the camera set includes not only a 50 MP main camera with OIS but also a genuine 50 MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom — unique under €300. With 128 GB of storage and 5G, it stays neatly under the limit at around €262. See the Nothing Phone (3a) 128GB.

Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G — most complete under €300 (€283-€299)

The most complete phone under €300 in terms of specifications: 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, 5G and a high-refresh-rate AMOLED screen. The price has risen since our previous update from around €260 to around €289 — still under the limit. See the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G 8GB/256GB.

What to look for in a smartphone under €300

Within the €300 budget there are three distinct price bands. Here is what to expect in each:

Software updates matter most

In hardware terms, a budget handset easily lasts four years; software support determines whether that is safe. Samsung leads the way here with its A series, while Xiaomi and Motorola generally sit below that. If you want to keep one phone for a long time, a Galaxy A16 or A37 is therefore a better bet than a rival that is faster on paper.

You notice the screen and battery every day

An AMOLED screen with a high refresh rate is the difference you see daily — from roughly €150 (POCO M7 Pro) you no longer have to compromise on it. Fortunately, a battery of 5,000 mAh or more is the rule rather than the exception in this segment.

Storage: 128 GB is the minimum, 256 GB is comfort

Photos, videos and apps fill 128 GB faster than you think, and memory card slots are disappearing. Handsets such as the POCO M7 Pro, Redmi Note 15, Moto G67 and Redmi Note 15 Pro deliver 256 GB within budget — that is three years of peace of mind.

4G or 5G?

5G is available almost everywhere in the Netherlands, but in practice a good 4G handset hardly feels slower for streaming, navigation and social media. Under €200, choosing 4G (as with the Galaxy A16 or Redmi Note 15) is a perfectly good way to save money; if you plan to use the phone for four years, 5G is the safer investment.

Buying smart within €300

1. Wait for a deal. Budget handsets are regularly discounted around Black Friday and other sales periods.
2. Consider refurbished. A refurbished flagship a few years old often offers a better camera and build for the same money than a new budget handset.
3. Factor in the charger. More and more manufacturers no longer include an adapter in the box.
4. Compare prices in our smartphone overview — price differences between shops on these handsets regularly run to tens of euros.

You will find more general buying tips in the complete smartphone buying guide.

Frequently asked questions