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Budget phone pricing had an unusually volatile year in 2026, and if you’re reading a “best unlocked phone under $300” list from earlier this year, there’s a real chance it’s already wrong. Component and memory chip cost increases pushed several popular budget phones above the $300 mark after they launched, in some cases by $100 or more. Here’s what’s verified to actually still be under $300, unlocked, right now.
Why Older Budget Phone Lists Are Getting Outdated Fast
Several budget Android phones launched at one price in late 2025 or early 2026 and then got quietly repriced upward within months, driven by rising memory chip costs across the industry. Motorola’s own lineup is the clearest example: the Moto G Power (2026) launched at $299.99 in January and now retails at $399.99 unlocked, a $100 increase that pushes it out of this price bracket entirely.
The standard Moto G (2026) launched at $199.99 and now sits at $299.99, right at the edge of qualifying. This isn’t a temporary sale price fluctuation, it’s a sustained MSRP increase.
The practical takeaway is that a phone’s original launch price isn’t a reliable guide to what it costs today. Before buying anything in this category, check the current unlocked price directly from the manufacturer rather than trusting a review or list that could be a few months stale.
What’s Actually Under $300 Right Now
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G is priced at $249.99 unlocked directly from Samsung for the 128GB model. It comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, a triple camera system with optical image stabilization, IP54 splash resistance, and Samsung’s commitment to six years of OS upgrades and security updates, which is unusually long…
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