Everyone loves a bargain, especially in the current economic climate. That’s why we’ve prepared a delectable feast of cheap smartphones for you to peruse. Grab any of these options with a two year contract and the carrier will subsidize your handset so you won’t have to splash out. You’ll need a plan anyway so it’s well worth taking advantage of the best smartphone discounts.
We’ve scoured the best cheap phones from the big four with a maximum price tag of $100 and an attractive minimum of free. These smartphones may be cheap but they are no slouches when it comes to performance.
Galaxy Nexus (Free on Sprint)
Screen: 4.65 inches, 1280×720 pixels
Specs: 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage
OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Camera: 5MP rear, 1.3MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPDA
Price: Free with two-year contract
Description: If you want a vanilla Google experience and the latest version of the Android platform then the Galaxy Nexus will be a real temptation. It also has a nice large screen, it’s fast, and it supports the latest features like 4G LTE and NFC. You can’t add storage but with 32GB to play with who needs to? The camera might not look great on paper but shutter speed is great. The only other downside is the average battery life. If you like a big screen and stock Android this is a good deal for $100.
Read our Galaxy Nexus review to find out more.
Motorola Droid Razr M (Free on Verizon)
Screen: 4.3 inches, 540×960 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
OS: Android 4.0 (ICS) upgradeable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 0.3MP VGA front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSDPA
Price: Free with two-year contract
Description: The Motorola Droid Razr M is a powerful Android smartphone that’s well worth considering for budget conscious Android fans. It has a svelte, unfussy design. The processor, the display, and the camera are all perfectly respectable without setting the world on fire. The big selling point for the Droid Razr M is the battery life. If you’re sick of running out of juice then you’ll be pleased to hear that the 2,000 mAh battery in the Razr M will see you through the day, even with heavy use.
Check out our hands-on video with the Motorola Droid Razr M.
iPhone 4 (Free on 2 year contract)
Screen: 3.5 inches, 640×960 pixels
Specs: 1GHz single-core processor, 512MB RAM, 8-32GB storage
OS: iOS 4 upgradable to iOS 6
Camera: 5MP rear, 0.3MP VGA front
Connection: 3G HSDPA
Price: Free with two-year contract
Description: Fans of Apple don’t have to break the bank for the iPhone 4 and it really isn’t that far behind the 4S. If you can live without Siri, you’ll still enjoy seamless integration with the iOS ecosystem giving you access to a world of entertainment through iTunes. In the Retina display you’ll also enjoy one of the best looking screens around. The design is minimalist beauty and Apple always squeezes the most out of the specs so, even though it looks underpowered compared to some of the competition, it performs well. You can get it from Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint. The iPhone 4S is now available on three major carriers for $100 with a two-year contract.
Read our iPhone 4 review.
Samsung Ativ Odyssey ($50 on Verizon)
Screen: 4.0-inch Super AMOLED, 480×800 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GBB RAM, 8GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 5MP rear (LED flash, 720p rec), 1.2MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: $50 with two-year contract
Description: The Ativ Odyssey was the first smartphone announced running the new Windows Phone 8 platform and it’s a serious step up from the last generation of Windows Phone devices. It’s fast, it’s packed with extra features like NFC, and it’s integrated with Microsoft services. The downsides are the camera and the resolution of the display, but considering the price tag, it still merits a look, especially if you’re keen to try out the WP8 platform.
Check out our Samsung Ativ Odyssey review for the full story.
LG Spectrum 2 (Free on Verizon)
Screen: 4.7 inches, 720×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Android 4 (ICS)
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.3MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, CDMA
Price: Free with two-year contract
Description: It’s slim pickings on Verizon for bargain hunters with refined tastes. The updated LG Spectrum 2 can be snapped up with no cash down and it could prove tempting. It’s not the best looking slab on the market, but that display is stunning and the performance is zippy. It also boasts a few extras, including NFC support, wireless charging, LG’s QuickMemo app, and Isis Mobile Wallet.
HTC One X+ ($100 on AT&T)
Screen: 4.7-inch Super LCD, 720×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 64GB storage
OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.6MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: $100 with two-year contract
Description: This is a powerhouse Android smartphone that’s lightning fast and sports a high quality display. You can also get the original HTC One for the same price at AT&T, but this web-only deal for the One X+ is worth going for as you get a faster processor, more storage, a bigger battery, and a better front-facing camera for video calls. At $100 less than the Galaxy S3 and the 16GB iPhone 5, this is a great deal.
Read our HTC One X+ review to find out more about this smartphone.
Windows Phone 8X by HTC (Free on T-Mobile)
Screen: 4.3-inch, 720×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
OS: Windows Phone 8
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 2.1MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: Free with two-year contract
Description: This is a stylish smartphone with solid hardware and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 platform. The rear and front cameras are particular highlights, offering impressive performance, even in low-light conditions. HTC’s Beats Audio tie-in ensures good quality sound, as long as you have headphones plugged in. With nothing to pay upfront for the 8GB version, the 8X has dropped in price pretty quickly and it could be a good alternative if you want something different from Android or iOS.
You can get a closer look at the pros and cons of this device in our HTC Windows Phone 8X review.
Galaxy Nexus 4 ($300 no contract)
Screen: 4.7-inch, 768×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage
OS: Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.3MP front
Connection: 3G HSPA+
Price: $300 with no contract
Description: At first glance you might wonder why the Nexus 4 is included on the best cheap smartphones list, but consider this – your $300 upfront outlay leaves you to choose any contract and so, instead of being tied into an expensive two-year contract that subsidizes the handset, you’ll be able to choose the plan you want, and you’ll pay a lot less over the two years. The specs on offer at this price are phenomenal and you have all the benefits of the latest version of stock Android. The only obvious detraction is the lack of 4G LTE.
Our Google Nexus 4 review might just convince you.
Samsung Galaxy S3 ($70 on T-Mobile)
Screen: 4.8-inch Super AMOLED, 720×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 1.9MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: $70 with two-year contract
Description: The best-selling Android smartphone last year was Samsung’s Galaxy S3 and it’s still an attractive proposition. There’s a huge screen backed up by a fast processor. There’s a microSD card slot, if you should feel the need to boost the storage space, and the cameras are great quality. It has all the latest bells and whistles you could want. This is a great offer as the S3 is still an extra $100 or more on most other carriers (you can get it for $100 on a two-year contract at Sprint). Keep an eye on this one as the price should drop further when the S4 hits the market.
BlackBerry Z10 ($100 on T-Mobile)
Screen: 4.2-inch, 768×1280 pixels
Specs: 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage
OS: BlackBerry 10
Camera: 8MP rear (LED flash, 1080p rec), 2MP front
Connection: 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Price: $100 with two-year contract
Description: You won’t find BlackBerry’s flagship Z10 cheaper anywhere else right now. Featuring the all new BlackBerry 10 platform, this is a sleek, touchscreen handset with attractive specs. The Z10 could be the phone to tempt you back to BlackBerry. It’s well-designed, it’s fast, and the app selection is growing steadily. It might prove to be an ideal choice for busy multitaskers looking for a phone that can cope with work and play.
Is it the phone for you? Our BlackBerry Z10 review will help you to decide.
What do you think of our best cheap phones list? Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below.
Maybe an article on good inexpensive phones from pre-paid carriers?
Sounds like a good idea, watch this space.
Actully the iPhone 4 can update from ios 4 to ios 6
You’re right, well spotted, updated accordingly.
If you want to go Pre-paid Windows phone, AT&T has the older Samsung Focus WP7. I picked one up for 260 dollars a few months ago.
It doesn’t have 4G (of course), but the original Focus is an awesome device. Almost the same as the Focus 2 and any other Windows Phone. Good pick, Robert!