It's always tough to recommend budget smartphones to prospective buyers. For less than $200 (and no contract) there are a few standout offerings - we still recommend the Moto G and Moto E series around the $150 mark - but the situation is more complicated in the $200 to $300 price bracket.

It's almost always better to purchase a last-generation high end phone over a current mid-range device in the $200 to $300 market.

Here we see a mix of new mid-range devices competing against last generation flagships that are still sold new but at new reduced prices, and these usually win.

Flagship phones from a year or two ago routinely pack better hardware, superior cameras, better performance, and more software features. You won't be getting the freshest hardware; however you'll be surprised at the value some of these products can provide.

Below are my recommendations for the five smartphones from previous generations that you should consider instead of today's budget handsets. Forget everything in the mid-range; this is what you should be buying.