since you've already had a great recommendation for a uke about $100 over your price range (The Opio will definitely be my next uke), let me give you one on the low end -
Have you considered a flea/fluke. They have a great sound, amazing durability, the setup and playability are awesome, and for your price point you could get some great options - cool designs, a pickup, etc. A majority of people I play with/for prefer the sound of my concert flea over the Pono MT.
My recommendations are: Don't get wood fretboard (unless you can't live without wound strings), do consider the peghead geared tuners (friction can have a bit of a learning curve) and if you want to go cheaper, call Magic Fluke company and ask about seconds.