These days, its not easy getting a budget smartphone for gaming. Most of them may promise you the best graphics and speed when gaming, while in reality, the reverse is the case. Some of these budget phones even come with 6GB RAM, which is a gimmick to attract more buyers.
Although RAM plays a vital role in gaming, however, there is more to consider when choosing a gaming phone. You need to check if the processing speed is good and also the chip on the phone and then the GPU, which will ensure good graphics and lastly, the battery.
The fact is that any phone that comes with the best GPU, chip, and speed is always expensive. But there are still other budget smartphones you can buy under $300 that will give you unrivaled gaming experience. Let’s check them out.
Gaming Phones Under $300
1. Lenovo Z6
The Lenovo Z6 made our first list not because of anything special but because of the phone’s impressive body that will suit both gamers and selfies lovers. Lenovo introduced the smartphone with an upper midrange Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 chipset with an octa-core processing speed of 2×2.2 GHz. It has Adreno 618 GPU coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB inbuilt storage.
Apart from that, the phone has a large screen size of 6.39 inches with a Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen and a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. As for the camera setup, it has 24 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP and a front camera of 16 MP. The phone features a massive battery of 4000 mAh with fast charging technology.
2. Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2 might be looking old and unattractive, but the device is a beast of its own. It comes from Google, which means it will continue receiving an update from Google. Looking beyond the beauty is a premium body that is built with a combination of glass and aluminum.
The phone offers a standard screen size of 5.0 inches with AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. On the inside, it packs a powerful Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 chipset with 4GB RAM and 128GB inbuilt storage.
It runs on Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10.0. The phone’s only shortcoming is the battery of 2700 mAh, which is still not that bad considering the screen size.
3. Sony Xperia XZ2
The Sony Xperia XZ2 is a flagship smartphone that was announced in 2024. The good news is that the price has dropped, and it will make the best gaming phone grab under $300. The Xperia XZ2 comes with a premium body that is built with a combination of glass and aluminum frame.
It comes with both dust and water-resistant as well. The Xperia XZ2 has a Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage. There is Adreno 630 GPU, and it runs on Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10.0. The 3180 mAh battery on the phone has support for both fast and wireless charging.
4. Motorola Moto G8 Power
The Motorola Moto G8 Power top selling point is the massive battery of 5000 mAh, which will ensure gamers has a nice gaming session. Apart from that, the phone has a nice body that comes with a punch-hole display.
It has a screen size of 6.4 inches with 1080 x 2300 pixels. The Moto G8 Power has an upper-midrange Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 chipset, Adreno 610 GPU, and Android 10 operating system. It has an inbuilt storage of 64GB with 4GB RAM. Meanwhile, the camera setup on the phone is 16 MP + 8 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP and a front camera of 16 MP.
5. Xiaomi Pocophone F1
Here comes the last but not the least, Xiaomi Pocophone F1. This is the best smartphone ever from Xiaomi that has value for money. The Pocophone F1 brings a beautiful body design that features glass and plastics. It has a large screen size of 6.18 inches with 1080 x 2246 pixels resolution.
On the hardware, it packs a powerful Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 chipset with Adreno 630 GPU. The octa-core processor is running at a maximum speed of 4×2.8 GHz paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB.
There is a bigger model that comes with 8GB and 256GB inbuilt storage. The phone has a rear combo camera of 12 MP and 5 MP with a front camera of 20 MP. It has a nonremovable battery of 4000 mAh with fast charging.
Conclusion:
These are the best gaming smartphones to buy under $300. The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 will be my pick. The phone has beauty, a good camera, a big battery, and a powerful processor. Google Pixel 2 is not looking bad. It has a powerful processor and a premium body. The Sony Xperia XZ2 has water and dust resistant with ample RAM and good battery. As for the Moto G8 Power, it maintains a modern body design.
