1. Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
Price: $399
Why It’s Great?
✔ 6.6″ 120Hz AMOLED (easy on eyes for long study sessions)
✔ 5,000mAh battery + 25W charging (all-day endurance)
✔ 4 years of updates (security until 2029)
✔ Samsung Notes + DeX mode (laptop-like multitasking)
Best For: Students who need reliability & longevity.
2. Best Budget: Poco M7 Pro
Price: $249
Why It’s Great?
✔ 6.7″ 90Hz LCD (good for e-books)
✔ 7,000mAh battery (2-day battery life)
✔ Snapdragon 6 Gen 2 (smooth for Zoom/Google Docs)
Best For: Budget-conscious students.
3. Best for Note-Taking: Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025)
Price: $349
Why It’s Great?
✔ Built-in stylus (no charging needed)
✔ 6.8″ FHD+ display (great for PDFs)
✔ 128GB + microSD slot (store lectures/books)
Best For: Handwritten notes & annotations.
4. Best Performance: OnePlus Nord 5
Price: $449
Why It’s Great?
✔ Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (handles coding/virtual labs)
✔ 6.5″ 120Hz AMOLED (smooth multitasking)
✔ 65W fast charging (0-100% in 35 mins)
Best For: Engineering/design students.
5. Best for iOS Fans: iPhone SE 4 (2025)
Price: $499 (expected)
Why It’s Great?
✔ A17 Bionic chip (5+ years of updates)
✔ Compact 6.1″ LCD (fits in lab coat pockets)
✔ iOS ecosystem (AirDrop for group projects)
Best For: Med/law students tied to Apple.
Key Features Compared
| Phone | Battery | Performance | Student Perks | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy A35 | 5,000mAh | Exynos 1480 | DeX Mode | $399 |
| Poco M7 Pro | 7,000mAh | SD 6 Gen 2 | Huge storage | $249 |
| Moto G Stylus | 5,000mAh | Dimensity 7050 | Stylus | $349 |
| OnePlus Nord 5 | 4,500mAh | SD 7+ Gen 3 | Blazing fast | $449 |
| iPhone SE 4 | 3,900mAh | A17 Bionic | iOS exclusives | $499 |
What Students Should Look For
✔ Battery >5,000mAh (for all-day lectures)
✔ 128GB+ storage (or microSD slot)
✔ OLED screen (less eye strain)
✔ Software updates (security matters!)
Avoid:
❌ Fragile glass backs (opt for plastic/metal)
❌ 64GB storage (apps + notes fill up fast)
Pro Tips for Student Phones
- Use dark mode (saves battery + reduces eye strain)
- Cloud backup notes (Google Drive/OneDrive)
- Buy refurbished (like iPhone 13 for ~$300)
FAQ
Q: Best phone under $300?
A: Poco M7 Pro (7,000mAh battery + SD card).
Q: Which has the best camera for scanning notes?
A: Galaxy A35 (50MP + OCR in Samsung Notes).
Q: Best for online exams?
A: Moto G Stylus (offline mode + no distractions).
Final Verdict
- 🏆 Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A35
- 💰 Best Budget: Poco M7 Pro
- ✍️ Best for Notes: Moto G Stylus (2025)