Best Budget Smartphone under $300 for Me?

[Deactivated] on 10/07/2021 - 18:22
Last edited 10/07/2021 - 18:50 by 1 other user

Hey guys,

In need of a phone that is under $300 ($220USD, 160 pound).

I'm tired of not being able to watch Instagram reels on my iPhone 5. I had bought a Poco X3 NFC at the start of the year but a few weeks ago it got bricked (fell outta my pocket into the urinal) and the bootloader wasn't even unlocked the so its useless right now especially because Xiaomi isn't even popular in Australia with their service centres and all.

((Please, pretty please don't come at me for the phone falling in the urinal part, its a hefty phone šŸ˜‚))

Just need something that I can run COD Mobile on (specs wise - allegorically)

Under 6.5 inches is preferred.
Minimum 64gb (hoping for 128gb).
Definitely NFC.

Don't really mind what UI though stock Android is more preferred due to updates I hear and Xiaomi UI was bugging me a bit. (I could've installed another OS i know, I know, my fault)

I do have my dads broken Oppo R17 Pro which has good specs and I can get the screen and back glass repaired for $250 but not sure if its worth it.

Considering Realme 7 5G from Officeworks but there's none in stock and I can't price match.

The cheaper the better. Pretty much - high quality, cheap price.

Thanks for the read! All help appreciated!

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • avoidfullprice on 10/07/2021 - 18:32
    +2

    How long you going to use this phone for before the next upgrade?

    For high quality and cheap price, I reckon is doable at cost of no further security updates.

    Oppo R17 Pro will likely not receive more security updates after 3 years of its release date (August 2018 accordi6to gsmarena), so you will be paying $250 to repair an soon obsolete phone. Not to mention the battery life of an old phone.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2021 - 18:40

      Thanks, planning to use phone for minimum 2 years. Probably not worth repairing it then.

      • avoidfullprice on 10/07/2021 - 18:48
        +1

        Right. Why don't you use the iPhone 5 for now, hold off playing COD, until you get your hands on Realme 7 5G?

        • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2021 - 18:49

          But I don't even know if their gonna restock or not or even have stock at my nearest shop. Been calling them for a while but they don't pick up. Thanks for your help!

  • DaddyJi on 10/07/2021 - 19:57
    +1

    Try the Oppo A53. It would surely be a downgrade from X3, but it runs CODM smoothly, has NFC, 64 GB storage and is smaller in size. You can get it around $160 at JB, OW or HN.

  • Chridim on 10/07/2021 - 20:45
    +1

    Why not the POCO X3 Pro 6/128 GB it's already a step up from the x3 NFC
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/636595

    • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2021 - 21:59

      Gotta wait a month for it to arrive.

      • jayboi on 11/07/2021 - 00:25
        +2

        Iā€™m sure you can survive without COD Mobile and Instagram reels for a month on an iPhone 5

        • [Deactivated] on 11/07/2021 - 09:54

          I ca survive but the phone still is pretty big, I might wait a few months till Xiaomi releases a phone which is smaller with the same features hopefully.

      • zrmx on 11/07/2021 - 09:38
        +2

        Classic situation of "cheap, fast, good quality - pick two".

  • Ritish on 10/07/2021 - 22:29
    +3

    You could get a used flagship (like Galaxy S10) from the past year or so on FB marketplace/eBay/Gumtree. You can research other phones too. The feature set will be better than any mid-ranger.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2021 - 22:34

      Will consider though I'm worried about software updates.

  • Presence on 10/07/2021 - 22:48
    +2

    Moto G 5G was for sale just over $300 not that long ago.

  • Mechz on 11/07/2021 - 04:44
    +5

    Sounds like you're just too difficult to please really. You want it all and you want it now and you don't want it covered in piss.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/07/2021 - 09:52

      I guess I won't really mind waiting but the quicker the better.

  • mranderson978 on 11/07/2021 - 07:41
    +1

    You can pick up a reconditioned iPhone 7 for under $200

  • Waltervp on 11/07/2021 - 09:22
    +1

    Definitely pick up a second hand flagship!!!
    Don't worry about possible android updates, they all get updated for many years and even if they didn't… You will love using a galaxy S9+ or 10+. If you want some warranty best get a refurbished one; https://shop.greengadgets.net.au/

  • archiexyz on 11/07/2021 - 11:15
    +1

    I've been very happy with my Oppo A52 which was easily the best at its price point with nfc when I got it 12 months ago. Find the model it's been superceded by. The do a decent job with system updates too and the UI is nice enough.

  • rocmelon on 11/07/2021 - 11:38
    +1

    Last yer bought Samsung A20 for wife
    A couple of months ago I bought a Samsung A11 for <$150
    Good budget phones both running well with good battery life
    nothing to complain here

    • avoidfullprice on 11/07/2021 - 19:27

      How do they perform playing COD Mobile?

  • Cheeper on 11/07/2021 - 14:55
    +1

    You had the best bang for the buck phone on the market and you killed it.
    As for MIUI it is faultless and stable, I prefer it over raw droid anytime.
    Plenty of phones around locally that meet your need in the listings in here.
    None of them bounce well though… :-)

  • smashman42 on 11/07/2021 - 15:30
    +1

    Moto G series in general, avoid the "power" models with their 720p screens, so the Plus or 5G ones would likely be the go, the plain G with no suffix is sometimes fine too. We got a G8+ for around $300 right when the G9 series was about to drop, so I'm sure with the numbered series out now the G9/G9+/5G should be marked down to your budget if you shop around

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join