Smartphones are among the most expensive consumer electronic devices, with even mid-range smartphones costing hundreds of dollars. But what if your budget permits only $100 for a smartphone? Is there anything out there worth buying? Happily, the answer is yes. There are a number of decent budget smartphones for sale, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a new, unlocked, 4G phone at that price, though there are many more refurbished and prepaid phones available.
Looking for more? Check out our collection of the best Black Friday iPhone deals.
What to look for in a budget phone
Operating system: Google’s Android operating system has evolved over the last decade, but its deployment is all over the lot. Some smartphones get the newest
Components: Aside from the operating system, the processor, camera, battery, RAM, and storage are critical considerations in how well a cheaper smartphone can serve your needs. Since people tend to leave their cameras at home and use their
Model year: Cheaper smartphones may also be older models, several generations old. Be sure to double-check the initial release year and also which
We surveyed the landscape of $100 or lower smartphones and dug up a few new, unlocked, 4G smartphones that are worth considering.
Motorola Moto E6
It’s rare to find an up-to-date phone for under $100, but the unlocked Moto E6 is one of them. With a 5.5-inch HD display and an 18:9 aspect ratio, you get a large, clear, responsive touchscreen. The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon Octa-Core processor running
The water repellent body keeps your Moto E6 protected from splashes and spills. A smart camera with Google Lens features text recognition while the built-in camera shoots 13MP photos. You can use your phone on any carrier.
Nokia 1.3
The Nokia 1.3 is beautiful inside and out with a glass front buttressed by a 3D textured back with a choice of cyan, sand, or charcoal. But that’s just the beginning. You also get the up-to-date
The Nokia 1.3’s 3,000mAh battery promises all-day performance, and supports a powerful camera that delivers great images in low light. A dedicated Google Assistant Button gives you access to weather, phone calls, news, and more via your voice. The smart money says you can look forward to updating the OS to
ZTE Maven 3
The ZTE Maven is an unlocked GSM phone, which means it’s compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile carriers and any associated MVNO networks. Supported network bands include GSM, WCDMA, AWS, LTE, and GSM.
The ZTE Maven is not compatible with Verizon or Sprint. The ZTE Maven, which runs
Blu Vivo X5
The Vivo X5 is a worthy competitor for an unlocked mobile phone in this price range. The device sports a 5.7-inch HD+ curved glass display running
The Vivo X5 also includes an accelerometer, gravity sensor, proximity sensor, and light sensor. The supports 4G LTE and 3G and is compatible with GSM networks including AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, and Metro PCS.
Blackview BV5500 Pro
The Blackview BV5500 Pro — a rugged 4G unlocked
The Blackview BV5500 Pro boasts a 5MP selfie cam plus a pair of rear cameras — an 8MP primary camera and a 0.3MP lens. The phone’s face unlock feature protects your privacy, and it supports two nano sims or one sim + 1 TF (Transflash) card. You can use the phone with AT&T and T-mobile but not Verizon, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, or other CDMA carriers.
Blu Studio Mini
This compact phone is only 5.5 inches, so you can use it with one hand. Its HD 720 x 1440 resolution screen sits on an 18:9 curved glass display, and its Octa-Core 1.6GHz processor has an ARM Cortex-A55 chipset running
A 13MP camera and an 8MP selfie camera, both with LED flash, let you capture memories as they happen. The Blu Studio Mini has a 3,000mAh battery. It’s compatible with 4G LTE and 3G and can run on all GSM networks, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, Metro PCS, and more. It’s not compatible with CMDA networks like Verizon, Sprint, or Boost Mobile.
Editors' Recommendations
- Surprise Apple sale brings big discounts on iPad and Apple Watch
- The best voice-recording apps for iPhone and Android in 2023
- The best smartwatches in 2023: our 11 favorite picks
- The best Android phones in 2023: top 12 best you can buy
- Meet the Android phone that charges from 0 to 100% battery in under 10 minutes