Retail prices for premium, high-end smartphones are at an all-time high. While this is probably bad news for anyone on a tight budget, Swappa can help you find a cheap phone you’ll love, while still saving extra money for that trip to the Bora Bora you’ve been putting off.
Now, it’s entirely possible to find cheap phones that are brand new (Swappa Deals is the perfect place to look), but you can typically save even more money by picking up a gently used phone on Swappa. By sticking to high-end flagships from yesteryear, you can enjoy much of the same performance and features as today’s flagships, but at fraction of the price.
There are a ton of used phones in the Swappa marketplace and to help you sift through the best of them, here are the best cheap phones you can buy under $300.
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
When Apple first announced the iPhone 8, it debuted at $699, but today, prices look much different. In fact, you can find used iPhone 8 models in the Swappa marketplace for as low as $219. Not a bad deal considering the iPhone 8 has so many features that
The iPhone 8 features a 4.7-inch Retina HD True Tone display, Apple’s A11 Bionic chip, 2GB of RAM, 12MP rear camera with OIS, 7MP front facing camera, wireless charging, 20W fast charging, and long battery life with 13 hours of video playback. It also has IP67 water resistance and stereo speakers (but unfortunately, no headphone jack). The iPhone 8 Plus ups the ante with a larger 5.5-inch Retina HD display, a 2x optical zoom telephoto lens for Portrait mode shots, and longer battery life.
With average prices for the 64GB model only $280 on Swappa, the iPhone 8 is a steal. But if you have a little more money to spend, we recommend going for the iPhone 8 Plus which has a more versatile camera and larger battery. To browse our entire selection of iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models on Swappa, check out the widgets below.
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Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL
The Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL were both released in late 2018 and are still fairly young in smartphone years. Like the other “Made by Google” phones before it, the Pixel 3 has the unique perk of receiving major software updates directly from Google. That means when a new version of the Android OS is ready — complete with new features, emoji, and security patches — Google Pixel phones are the first to get it.
As we saw in previous generations, the Pixel 3 camera is one of the best quality cameras on the market, matched only by the newest, highest-end smartphones today. This is because Google’s proprietary HDR+ software feature uses machine learning to deliver superior low-light photos, even in near impossible lighting situations. If you’re looking for a cheap phone with the best camera, the Pixel 3 is definitely where it’s at.
The Pixel 3 also offers modern features like water resistance thanks to an IP68 rating, USB-C fast charging, and new to this model is wireless charging. It’s worth noting that although the Pixel 3 is capable of withstanding a drop in the toilet or bathtub, they’re only rated for around 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water submersion for about a half hour.
Arguably the best part is the price. The smaller unlocked Pixel 3 starts at $160 on Swappa, while the larger unlocked Pixel 3 XL starts at $190. There’s also a good chance that by the time you read this article, Pixel 3 prices will have dropped even lower. So don’t waste any time and grab your deal today.
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Google Pixel 2 XL
The Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL were the second generation “made by Google” phones that launched in 2017. A successor to the previous generation Pixel, the Pixel 2 XL originally launched at a retail price of $849 (64GB) and $949 (128GB). They’re only a year older than the Pixel 3, but you get most of the same hardware for a lot less money.
The Pixel 2 XL comes equipped with a 6-inch OLED display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 12.2MP rear / 8MP front facing cameras, USB-C port, and 3,520mAh battery. A few of the more noteworthy features include Google Assistant, Night Light (blue light filter), improved HDR+, Night Sight for extreme low light environments, and Google’s custom user interface designed exclusively for the Pixel.
The Pixel 2 XL is one of the best options for those looking for a clean, fast, and simple user interface, while the camera is by far one of the best you can find on any smartphone. With Pixel 2 XL prices starting at $120, you could grab one of the best Android experiences around for well under $200. Heck, with that kinda savings, you could buy some for the whole family.
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Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is one of the most feature-rich smartphones you can buy. With its gorgeous curved AMOLED display, the Galaxy S9 does it all and looks great doing it. Hardware wise, you’re looking at water resistance, stereo speakers, wireless charging, high quality camera (dual lenses on the S9+), and even the rare headphone jack. Needless to say, the Galaxy S9 has everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
The best part is the price. Released in 2018, the smaller Samsung Galaxy S9 starts at $178 on Swappa, while the larger Samsung Galaxy S9+ starts at $205. The S9+, although slightly more expensive than the smaller S9, featuring a larger battery, dual-cameras, and slightly better performance thanks to more RAM. If you’re looking for one of the best cheap phones you can buy well under $300, it’s definitely worth checking out.
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OnePlus 7 Pro
OnePlus is somewhat of a newcomer when it comes to mobile phones. Since 2014 the startup has grown its own cult-like following by offering some of the best value Android devices you can get for the money. Often times hundreds of dollars cheaper than competing flagships, OnePlus phones offer the best performance by equipping their phones with whatever the latest processors are at the time, crazy amounts of RAM, and a streamlined Android experienced that’s rare with smartphone makers.
Taking a look at the OnePlus 7 Pro, the phone comes equipped with a large, 6.67-inch AMOLED 90Hz edge-to-edge display and unlike most other phones on the market, there is no notch. OnePlus was able to do this by using a motorized pop-out front facing camera on the top of the phone. It’s incredibly unique and great way to deliver an all-screen smartphone.
Inside, the OnePlus 7 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 855 processor (more powerful than the S9 or Pixel 3) and comes in two storage/RAM configurations: 64GB + 6GB RAM, or 256GB + 8GB RAM along with a 12GB RAM model. You’ll also find a triple camera system on the back (48MP primary + 8MP telephoto + 16MP ultra wide), and 30W fast charging that can deliver “a day’s power in half an hour.”
It really is a beast-of-a-phone and easily one of the best — and cheapest — on this list. OnePlus 7 Pro prices start at $209 on Swappa and if you’re looking for a cheap phone that will provide you with years of unparalleled performance, the 7 Pro is a tremendous value.
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Looking for cheaper phones?
Cheap phones under $200
If you made it to the end of this list and are looking for something even more affordable, don’t worry — Swappa has your back. We’ve got a huge selection of cheap phones under $200 for you to shop.
Whether it’s an Apple, Android, or Samsung device, these phones are great for first time users, a quick replacement, or even a backup phone to keep the little ones occupied in the car. Whatever the reason, you can shop gently used cell phone under $200 by clicking that link below.
