Deals
The Best Phones Under $300 Right Now
For under $300 you can get a former flagship that beats any new budget phone. Here are the best ones and who each is for.
For under $300, skip new budget phones and buy a refurbished former flagship. The iPhone 13 and Galaxy S23 are the best phones you can get for the money right now: better cameras, faster chips and nicer screens than anything new at this price.
Quick picks
Prices on this page update live from our store. Base storage and lower grades are the cheapest. Grades only describe looks.
iPhone 13: best overall
Still fast, a great dual camera, Face ID, 5G, and a battery that easily lasts a day. It'll get iOS updates for years yet. If you want an iPhone and have $300, this is it.
Smaller hands? The iPhone 13 mini is the last great small phone.
Galaxy S23: best Android
A compact flagship with a 120Hz screen, a 3x zoom lens and the excellent Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It gets 4 Android upgrades and 5 years of security updates from its 2023 launch.
Galaxy S24 FE: longest updates
Bigger screen, 3x zoom, and 7 years of updates from late 2024. If you keep phones forever, this is the safest pick on the list.
iPhone 12: big-name budget pick
Same flat-edge design and OLED screen as the 13 for less money. The battery is a bit weaker, so look for a high battery health or a Premium-grade unit.
Under $150: iPhone SE (3rd gen) and Galaxy A-series
The SE has a flagship A15 chip in a small body with a home button and Touch ID. The Galaxy A16 5G and A36 5G are the best-supported cheap Androids, with six years of updates.
How to spot a fake deal
- Check the launch year. A cheap phone that's out of updates is not a deal.
- Ask about battery health. Under 80% means you'll be paying for a battery soon.
- Look for a real warranty. "Tested" means nothing without one. Ours is a full year.
- Make sure it's unlocked and clean. No carrier lock, no previous owner's account, no blacklisted IMEI.
- Watch storage. 64GB fills up fast. 128GB is the sweet spot.
Want more phone for your money?
Trade in your old phone and put the cash toward a better one. Get your quote. Or see every phone under $300.
FAQ
What's the best phone under $300 in Canada?
A refurbished iPhone 13 or Galaxy S23. Both beat new budget phones on camera, speed and screen quality.
Is it better to buy a new budget phone or a refurbished flagship?
Usually a refurbished flagship. You get a better camera, chip and screen. Just check it still gets software updates and comes with a warranty.
Are cheap refurbished phones unlocked?
All of ours are unlocked and work with Canadian carriers.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the iPhone 13 pre-owned from $286.99, tested by real technicians with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.