Written February 2026
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Key Specs:
- Google Tensor G3 processor & 12 GB RAM
- 6.7″ QHD+ 489 PPI 120Hz LTPO OLED display with up to 2400 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, 213 g weight
- 50 MP Wide + 48 MP Ultrawide + 48 MP 5× Telephoto + 10.5 MP selfie camera
- 5050 mAh battery with 30W wired charging, 23W wireless charging (Qi-certified)
- Android 14 with 7 major Android updates (and extended security updates)
- IP68 dust and water resistance
The Pixel 8 Pro is a phone that has gone down in price significantly over the last few months, and can now easily be found in excellent condition around the $300 mark on websites like Amazon and eBay. For $300, this phone is a great buy, and everything about it feels premium and flagship despite the price tag. The Pixel 8 Pro has a large, vibrant, and high resolution LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, meaning it’s essentially everything you could ask for in a display at this price point. The cameras on the Pixel 8 Pro are amazing, and one of the main reasons you would buy this phone. The colors are extremely accurate and the images overall have a very detailed and realistic look to them, and the image over-processing has been significantly improved from the 7 Pro. Not to mention a 48MP 5x telephoto lens and 48MP ultrawide on a $300 phone is phenomenal value as well. Another one of the main selling points of this phone is the software, not only is it close to stock Android and essentially bloat-free, this phone will get enough major OS updates for it to last you for years to come. This phone is powered by Google’s Tensor G3 combined with 12GB of RAM, causing the performance of this phone to be quite good, maybe not as good as the Galaxy S24 which is in the same price range, but more than enough for some multitasking and light gaming. The Tensor G3 is also able to handle AI tasks and all of the AI features built into the phone, which is another selling point for many. The build quality and water/dust resistance of this phone are amazing as well, with flagship-level durability overall. This phone, in just about every way is a steal for the price it’s currently at and I would 100% recommend it for anyone looking for an Android phone on a $300 budget.
| Cons: | -Okay battery life, battery may need a replacement after a year or two of use depending on the battery health it has when you receive it. |
Samsung Galaxy S24
Key Specs:
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor & 8 GB RAM
- 6.2″ FHD+ 416 ppi 120Hz Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with 2600 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, 167g weight
- 50MP Wide + 12MP Ultrawide + 10MP 3x Telephoto + 12MP selfie camera
- 4000 mAh battery with 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging
- Android 14 with 7 years of major Android updates
- IP68 dust and water resistance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a very modern and premium phone, and I’m not just saying that, as this is a flagship phone released in 2024, which is not old or outdated by any means. At around $300-310 depending on the condition you get it in, a phone this new and value-packed is honestly quite a steal. First of all, this phone receives almost all of the same Galaxy AI features as the newer S25 series, which is a major selling point for many of those interested in these features. It has great build quality, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the same glass as Samsung’s newest offering, the Galaxy S25, covering the front and back of the phone, along with the same aluminum side rails as the S25. This phone’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor (Exynos 2400 outside the US) is extremely fast and can handle anything, even demanding gaming, and was the fastest non-Apple chipset on the market until the release of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also has noticeable power efficiency improvements, meaning the S24 has a jump in battery life over the previous generation (battery health when buying refurbished will affect this). The S24’s compact size makes it easy to hold, and its 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display also gets very bright at 2600 nits. The camera produces sharp images with vibrant colors along with decent low-light performance, and the 30x zoom is a big plus in my opinion, despite being a bit grainy. Overall, this is a great buy and will serve you well for at least a few more years.
| Cons: | -Image processing is said to be too heavy, oversaturating colors and making images appear less true to life, and some users have reported slightly blurry photos, but this phone is amazing other than those minor problems. |