Best Android Phones Under $300 in 2018

• Best overall
• Best for navel-gazing
• Best for stock Android

Best overall

Moto G6

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Motorola’s Moto G series just keeps getting better, and this year’s Moto G6 is as good as it gets for under $300. The 5.7-inch 18:9 display is as vibrant as it is modern, and the combination of 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a Snapdragon 450 processor will keep things running smoothly.

The benefits don’t stop at the specs, though. The Moto G6 has great build quality with metal and glass, along with a water-repellent coating to protect it in the rain — but don’t go dunking the phone in your pool, it’s not IP-rated. There’s a quick fingerprint sensor under the display, and a flashy dual camera array on the back. On the software side of things, you get a clean build of Android 8.0 Oreo, along with Moto Actions and Moto Display for quick access to convenient features.

Bottom line: Even though it’s priced well below the $300 limit, the Moto G6 is the most well-rounded phone in its category.

One more thing: The Moto G6 is compatible with all four major U.S. carriers.

Why the Moto G6 is the best

In our review of the Moto G6, we praised it for its build quality, excellent main camera, and good battery life. It suffers from the occasional software hiccup and doesn’t feature NFC, but overall it’s hard to beat its overall value and performance.

The Moto G6 has just about everything you could ask of a phone at this price. The software is clean yet clever with the addition of Moto Actions and Moto Display, and it’s quick to recharge with Motorola’s TurboPower charging. The Prime Exclusive version comes loaded with Amazon software, of course, but for an extra $15, you can buy the Moto G6 directly from Motorola without any bloat.

Best for navel-gazing

Huawei P20 Lite

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If you like a little pizazz, the Huawei P20 Lite is a great alternative to the Moto G6. Its 19:9 display is big and vibrant, with a notch up top for better or worse, and the flashy finish is eye-catching, to say the least. The Kirin 659 chipset is speedy and powerful, and the 3000mAh battery provides excellent longevity. Stock Android purists may not love its EMUI software, but it’s at least running on top of Android 8.0 Oreo.

Bottom line: The EMUI software isn’t for everyone, but at $299.99, the Huawei P20 Lite is a terrific phone with good camera performance, great battery life, and an excellent modern design.

One more thing: The P20 Lite is not compatible with the major CDMA networks in the U.S.

Best for stock Android

Nokia 6.1

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At $269, the Nokia 6.1 (otherwise known as the 2018 Nokia 6) is the best way to get stock Android for cheap. It’s part of Nokia’s Android One lineup, combining unadulterated stock Android with an aluminum unibody design that feels far more premium than its price tag would have you believe. The 5.5-inch 1080p LCD display looks fantastic, and it has one of the better cameras in its segment. On top of that, Nokia releases monthly security updates to keep its phones protected — a rarity for low-cost phones.

Bottom line: You’d be hard-pressed to find a better-made phone at this price point, and the regular software updates are icing on the cake.

One more thing: The Nokia 6.1 ships with Android 8.0 Oreo, not 8.1.

Conclusion

The Moto G6 and Nokia 6.1 are very close competitors, but the Moto G6 pulls ahead with its 18:9 display, dual cameras, Moto Actions, and most importantly, its support for all four major U.S. carriers. The Nokia 6.1 is still a great option for those in search of the cleanest possible version of Android, while the P20 Lite wins out in fashion and form.

Best overall

Moto G6

See at Amazon

Motorola’s Moto G series just keeps getting better, and this year’s Moto G6 is as good as it gets for under $300. The 5.7-inch 18:9 display is as vibrant as it is modern, and the combination of 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a Snapdragon 450 processor will keep things running smoothly.

The benefits don’t stop at the specs, though. The Moto G6 has great build quality with metal and glass, along with a water-repellent coating to protect it in the rain — but don’t go dunking the phone in your pool, it’s not IP-rated. There’s a quick fingerprint sensor below the display, and a dual flashy camera array on the back. On the software side of things, you get a clean build of Android 8.0 Oreo, along with Moto Actions and Moto Display for quick access to convenient features.

Bottom line: Even though it’s priced well below the $300 limit, the Moto G6 is the most well-rounded phone in its category.

One more thing: The Moto G6 is compatible with all four major U.S. carriers.

Update June 2018: Replaced the Moto G5S Plus with the Moto G6, and the Honor 7X with the Huawei P20 Lite.

Moto Z3 Play: Everything you need to know!

Motorola packs a punch for round three of the Z Play.

Motorola’s Moto Z Play line has gone through a lot of changes in the few short years it’s existed. The original Z Play was an excellent alternative to the much more expensive Moto Z and offered tremendous battery life with support to take it even further with Moto Mods.

The Z2 Play decreased the battery capacity while increasing the price by $50, and this year with the Z3 Play, we’re met with the same 3,000 mAh battery and $499 price tag of its predecessor while also getting dual cameras, a full glass back, and a new on-screen gesture system.

If your interest has been peaked by the Z3 Play, here’s everything you need to know!

The latest Moto Z3 Play news

June 29, 2018 — The Z3 Play is now certified for Verizon Wireless

Even though the Moto Z3 Play isn’t sold on Verizon, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it with Big Red.

On June 29, Verizon officially certified the Z3 Play for use on the network — meaning that you can bring it over with peace of mind knowing you’ll get talk, text, and LTE data without any problems.

June 21, 2018 — Pre-orders are open now!

If you want to be among the first to own the Z3 Play, you can pre-order it now from not only Motorola’s website, but at Best Buy and B&H, too.

The Z3 Play will set you back $499 at any of the above retailers, but if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can pick it up for just $449 through Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program.

See at Amazon

All the big details

Check out our hands-on preview

If you want to know what it’s like to play around with the Moto Z3 Play, why not take a look at our hands-on coverage?

AC’s Daniel Bader got a chance to go up close and personal with the Z3 Play, and you can read and watch his thoughts in both written and video form ✍️📺.

Moto Z3 Play hands-on preview: Three’s company

Review the specs

If you like playing the numbers game, the Moto Z3 Play does a pretty solid job at holding its own compared to other phones in its price range. Some of the highlights include a Snapdragon 636 processor, Android 8.1, and a healthy 4GB RAM.

To learn even more about what makes the Z3 Play tick, check out our full spec rundown below.

Moto Z3 Play Specifications

See how it compares to the Z2 Play

The Moto Z3 Play might be newer and flashier than last year’s Z2 Play, but should owners of its predecessor shell out another $499 to upgrade?

You’ll find a lot of improvements with the Z3 Play, such as a newer processor and slimmer bezels, but the Z2 Play still puts up a fight in mid-2018 with a 3.5mm headphone jack (something the Z3 Play doesn’t have), a more traditional fingerprint sensor, and sturdier aluminum back.

This one’s a toss-up in a lot of ways, so be sure to give our detailed, hands-on comparison a look.

Moto Z3 Play vs. Moto Z2 Play: Should you upgrade?

Motorola’s toying with a new on-screen gesture system

Previous Moto phones have featured a unique navigation system that replaces Google’s on-screen buttons in favor of a series of swipes performed on the front-facing fingerprint sensor.

With the Z3 Play, Motorola’s evolving that idea and taking some inspiration from Android P by moving those gestures from the fingerprint sensor and making them on-screen. Swiping left goes back, Swiping right brings up your recent apps, and a single tap takes you home.

It’s unclear if Motorola will continue to offer this once Android P rolls around, but it’s a fun and unique way to make your way around the phone.

The fingerprint sensor is in a unique place

A quick glance at the Z3 Play might lead you to believe that Motorola forgot to include a fingerprint sensor, but there is one there if you know where to look.

An indented area on the right side of the phone is where the Z3 Play’s fingerprint sensor lies, and because of its position, the power/lock button has been moved to the left.

This positioning of buttons could cause for some confusion/irritation in day-to-day use, but at the very least, it’s a unique implementation we really don’t see all that often.

There are dual cameras

One of the biggest upgrades to the Z3 Play over its predecessors lies with its camera. This is the first entry in the Z Play lineup to come equipped with dual rear cameras, and on the Z3 Play, we’ve got a 12MP and 5MP combo.

Motorola’s upgraded processing should allow for improved low-light photos compared to the Z2 Play and the secondary lens allows for much better (if not the best) portrait shots.

You’ll also find features such as 4K video recording at 30 FPS and a built-in cinemagraph tool.

It’s compatible with all existing Moto Mods

Motorola promised its lineup of Moto Mods would work on Moto Z phones for three full years, and it’s keeping that promise with the Z3 Play.

This is the last Z Play phone that’ll work with all existing Moto Mods, and in mid-2018, you have a lot of them to choose from.

Motorola’s done a great job at building up its library of Mods over the years, with some of the highlights including a Nintendo Switch-like gamepad, external speaker, an assortment of battery packs, and much more.

Here’s every Moto Mod you can buy for the Moto Z series

You’ll pay $499 to own the Z3 Play

If you’re interested in picking up the Moto Z3 Play, Motorola’s charging $499 for it.

For comparison’s sake, the Moto G6 offers a vastly similar experience for around $260 less and the OnePlus 6 costs $30 more while offering a much more capable processor, better cameras, and a headphone jack.

The Z3 Play certainly isn’t a bad phone, but unless you plan on making full use of the Moto Mod ecosystem, don’t be afraid to broaden your horizon’s and see what else is out there.

See at Motorola

Samsung Galaxy J3 and J7 mid-rangers now available in the U.S.

The J3 is currently available at Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and Boost Mobile.

We’re just a few short months away from the Galaxy Note 9, but before we can get our hands on Samsung’s latest and greatest, we’re going to be served with two typical and unsurprising mid-range phones. This year, we’re getting updated models of the Galaxy J3 and J7.

Samsung says the two phones “focus on the key features that users love: sharp displays for movies and apps, great-low-light cameras that let them make the most of every moment, expandable memory for more storage, and battery life that powers their phones all day.”

Looking first at the J3, the phone’s outfitted with a 5.0-inch HD display, 8MP rear-facing camera with f/1.9 aperture, and a 5MP f/2.2 selfie camera. With the J7, you’re getting a 5.5-inch HD screen, 13MP f/1.7 rear camera, and 13MP f/1.9 sensor on the front.

Further specs on the J7 are still unavailable, but we know the J3 will tout Samsung’s Exynos 7570 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a 2,600 mAh battery. Android 8.0 Oreo is also present out of the box.

The Galaxy J3 (left) and Galaxy J7 (right).

If you live in the U.S. and want to get the J7 or J3 for yourself, here’s where they’re currently available at:

• AT&T: The J3 is available for $209 outright or $7/month for 30 months.

• Verizon: On a post-paid plan, the J3 costs $7/month for 24 months or $168 outright. With a pre-paid plan, it costs $124.99.

• Sprint / Boost Mobile: The J7 is coming to Sprint and Boost Mobile as the J7 Refine and will cost $288. The J3 is launching under the J3 Achieve name and will set you back $192.

Updated June, 29, 2018: Added availability info for Verizon, Sprint, and Boost Mobile.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo update: Which versions have received it

Follow Oreo’s journey to the S7 series right here.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is far from Samsung’s latest and greatest, but it’s still kicking thanks to an update to Android Oreo. The new software has recently started making its way to the S7 and S7 Edge, and these are the versions of which it’s arrived on so far.

United States

AT&T

Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge owners started receiving the long-overdue Oreo update on Saturday, June 9, and it’s available as build number G93xAUCU4CRE4.

The update comes in at 1789MB (at least for the S7 Edge) and comes with the April 2018 security patch. That’s pretty outdated at this point, but it’s better than what we had before Oreo’s arrival.

Verizon

Oh, Verizon. Big Red tried rolling out the Oreo update for the S7 and S7 Edge twice, and each time, pulled it without much explanation. However, assuming that third time’s the charm, this third (and hopefully final) release of Oreo for the Verizon Galaxy S7 series should be the real deal.

Android 8.0 Oreo started hitting S7 handsets on Verizon shortly after AT&T on Monday, June 11 and the firmware version is updated to G930VVRU4CRE5 and G935VVRU4CRE5 for the S7 and S7 Edge, respectively.

Similar to AT&T, the April 2018 security patch is included with the update.

Sprint

Following AT&T and Verizon, Sprint began updating its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge during the week of June 18.

This is the exact same Oreo update you’ll find on other carriers, meaning you’ll get features like Google’s Autofill for easier password entry, notification dots, picture-in-picture video, etc.

T-Mobile

Last but certainly not least, T-Mobile announced its Oreo update for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on June 29.

Oreo will begin rolling out to phones starting this week (June 29), so be sure to keep an eye out for it!

Canada

Rogers / Fido

Rogers, one of the largest Canadian carriers, recently updated its Android Oreo release schedule for its supported phones to reveal that 8.0 Oreo is heading to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on Monday, June 11.

Also, since Fido is owned by Rogers, anyone that purchased a Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge through Fido should expect Oreo to arrive on their phones beginning on that same day.

Unlocked

UK

According to various reports on Reddit, the unlocked version of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have begun receiving over-the-air updates that bump them up to Android 8.0 Oreo / Samsung Experience 9.0 – the same software found on the Galaxy S9 series.

The model numbers getting the update include SM-G930F and SM-G935F, and Oreo should change their build numbers to G930FXXU2ERD5 and G935FXXU2ERD5, respectively.

You’ll know you’ve been graced with Oreo’s good fortune when you have a 1.27GB update file waiting for you.

Updated June 29, 2018: Updated this list to include T-Mobile.

Android Oreo

• Android Oreo review!
• Everything new in Android Oreo
• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
• Will my phone get Android Oreo?
• Join the Discussion