Best Smartphone Gift Ideas Under $300

• Holidays are a great time to show your loved ones that you care with special gifts, but there’s no reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone
• You can find some of the best budget smartphones for under $300Refurbished and used phones are an excellent gift for anyone who doesn’t care for owning the latest and greatest tech devices straight out of the box

Buying a budget smartphone under $300 doesn’t mean you have to compromise the quality or features. If you look past the two top contenders in the smartphone industry, you can find plenty of great options from other brands, like the Motorola Edge 5G. It has excellent battery life, a large screen, and an incredible triple-camera system. What’s more? You can easily get it in under $300.

Below, we’ve rounded up some gift ideas under $300 for you. While most of these products are available under $300 if used or refurbished, you can also find some new or like-new with this price tag.

Let’s get started.

Best Phones Under $300 for 2022

$300 is a sweet spot for most people who want to buy a used smartphone for themselves or as a gift. So, we’ve reviewed some of the best cheap phones for almost every budget under $300 at least.

1. Best Overall: Motorola Edge 5G

What We Like

• Excellent battery life
• Large display
• Headphone jack and expandable storage
• 5G connectivity at an affordable price

What We Don’t Like

• No IP rating
• One software update only

A mid-range phone imitating a premium device, the Motorola Edge 5G is one of the best budget Android phones you can get under $300. This not-so-mainstream smartphone looks and feels good in the hand and packs almost all the features you could need in a good smartphone. It has an impressive battery life with a 5000mAh battery, and you get 5G connectivity without paying top dollar.

The used Motorola Edge 5G runs on Android 11 and is promised one software update. With the latest software, this smartphone handles the most demanding games well. The expandable storage is another welcome addition. All in all, it is an excellent smartphone with a few caveats that aren’t too big of a deal breaker.

2. Best iPhone: Apple iPhone XR

What We Like

• High-end design
• Industry-leading color accuracy
• Multiple color options
• Powerful internal components

What We Don’t Like

• Thicker bezels
• Single camera

Read the full review here: Apple iPhone XR review

The iPhone XR unlocked is one of the best tech gifts in the $100 to $300 range for Apple lovers in your holiday gift list. In fact, it is one of the most mainstream iPhones compared to newer models. A used iPhone XR offers good performance, Face ID, wireless charging, fast-performing software, and a decent camera. Plus, it looks more visually appealing and premium than the cheaper iPhone SE.

With the A12 Bionic chip, an iPhone XR ensures excellent performance without lagging. As far as iPhone XR colors are concerned, you get six attractive options, including red, yellow, blue, coral, black, and white.

3. Best Value: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

What We Like

• Better battery life
• Three years of Android updates
• Wireless charging support
• Unique color options

What We Don’t Like

• No external headphone jack
• No LED light flash in the front camera

Read the full review here: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G review

A used Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G features a Qualcomm processor, making it a beast of performance. This processor works with 128 GB built-in memory that isn’t expandable, but it tackles multi-tasking really well, making it one of the best phones under $300 for 2022.

It has a compact design, so it is best for users who are not fans of using a smartphone with both hands. You don’t have to worry about dropping the phone either, as it fits in one hand. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G features a glasstic back with a matte finish. Although it doesn’t look as appealing as glass or aluminum back, it has practical benefits. The glasstic back doesn’t attract excessive fingerprints and offers a great in-hand feel. 

4. Best with a Stylus: Samsung Galaxy Note 20

What We Like

• Improved S Pen
• Decent battery life
• Sleek design
• High-end chipset

What We Don’t Like

• No expandable storage
• Gets hot

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 unlocked comes with a big screen of 6.7 inches with high-resolution integrated bezels. It has a clean and easy-to-use user interface, making it one of the best unlocked 5G phones under $300.

The Galaxy Note 20 is a great gift for a techie in your family as it offers a top-notch gaming experience with its Qualcomm processor. It also provides an incredible 8k video recording with gyro-EIS.

5. Best Budget: LG Velvet 5G

What We Like

• Solid specs at a reasonable price
• Curved glass shell
• Excellent display size
• 5G connectivity

What We Don’t Like

• Slow fingerprint
• Slow charging

The LG Velvet 5G is the best 5G phone under $300. Despite not being as mainstream as Apple and Samsung phones, LG has a lot to offer with this smartphone. The LG Velvet 5G unlocked has a premium build, overall solid OLED, IP68 rating, exquisite color options, and Dual Screen feature.

This is the best budget smartphone for under $300 that offers incredible audio quality with a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also provides a decent battery life and wireless charging.

Final Thoughts

This guide shares some of the best gift ideas under $300 to help you find a phone that fits the bill. If you cannot find the best smartphone you can buy for under $300, we also have gift ideas under $500 and gift ideas under $100, depending on your budget situation. Plus, we also have some holiday shopping and budgeting tips for those who tend to overspend during the holiday season.