Skip to main content

Looking for a cheap phone? Cricket Wireless to offer two new sub-$50 devices

Cricket Wireless
Kārlis Dambrāns/123rf
Cricket Wireless is making it a little easier to get a decent phone at an ultra-low cost. The company has announced two new phones available on its network — the ZTE Overture 3 and the Alcatel QuickFlip, two phones that come in at under $50.

As the name suggests the Alcatel QuickFlip is actually a flip phone — and as such it’s really targeted at being someone’s first phone or at those looking to have a simple device they can use to call and text friends and family. It offers a 2.8-inch display and 4G connectivity, along with a 1,350mAh battery — which may not sound like much, but should be enough to power your phone for quite a while, given its size.

Perhaps more interesting is the new ZTE Overture 3, which comes in at $50 and, unlike the QuickFlip, has a smartphone form-factor. Cricket Wireless is actually offering the phone to free for those that switch from another carrier — though current customers can get it for the aforementioned price of $50.

So what does the Overture 3 have to offer? Well, it offers a 5-inch display, along with a five-megapixel rear-facing camera, and HD Voice capabilities. It also has support for an FM radio. Apart from that, however, we don’t really know too much about the phone, except that it will be available on November 10 and that it seems to be a pretty decent choice for those looking for an ultra-budget device. There aren’t a ton of devices available for under $50, but as companies expand their offerings into new markets, we are seeing more super-cheap phones.

Of course, if you do like the phone, you have to either be on Cricket Wireless or be willing to make the switch. Thankfully, Cricket has some pretty decent prepaid plans. For example, you could pay $30 per month for unlimited talk and text and 1GB of data, or you could pay double that for unlimited talk, text, and data. That is not bad, especially when the likes of Verizon offer unlimited data for $75 per month, or $85 if you don’t want the company to limit your speed in times of high congestion. If you want other phones on Cricket Wireless, the company recently announced that it’s offering the ZTE Blade X.

In any case, both of the phones will be available from Cricket Wireless starting on November 10. The QuickFlip will cost $30, while the Overture 3 comes in at $50.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Visible’s affordable 5G plans just got even cheaper
The Visible logo on a smartphone.

Visible has a new offer that can help you save significant money when switching to its service. Both Visible and Visible+ packages are now available for purchase upfront on an annual basis. These new annual plans are available for new Visible customers starting today, while existing customers will gain access to them this May.

With this new deal, the Visible+ plan costs $395 per year when paid upfront instead of $540 when paid in 12 monthly installments of $45 each. This means you can save $145, which is 26%. That's an incredible savings. When paying upfront for the regular Visible plan, it will cost $275 per year, saving you $25. If you pay for it monthly, the standard Visible plan costs $25 per month (or $300 per year).

Read more
iPhone SE 4: news, rumored price, release date, and more
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) and Apple iPhone SE (2020) together.

While the spotlight always seems to be on Apple’s mainline iPhones, the iPhone SE is a great pick for those who are on a budget. If you want an iPhone that doesn't break the bank, the SE is the way to go.

The original iPhone SE came out in 2016, and then Apple revamped it in 2020 and 2022 by giving it some more modern hardware. The iPhone SE tends to get updated every two or so years rather than annually like the traditional iPhone. This means  that we should see a new iPhone SE 4 this year, but it’s not so cut-and-dried with this particular model.

Read more
Hurry! This Apple Watch just had its price slashed to $189
The app grid view on the Apple Watch SE 2.

For great smartwatch deals, head to Amazon immediately. Today, it has the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) for $60 off bringing it down to just $189 from $249. A fantastic price for an exceptionally well-made smartwatch, this tops our list of the best Apple deals right now. If you’re keen to buy a watch that will motivate you to move more while also looking good, check it out by tapping the button below. Alternatively, read on while we explain all.

Why you should buy the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen)
One of the best smartwatches around, the Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) is best described as “simple, cheap, and brilliant”. It’s designed to help you exercise more effectively, while keeping connected with your digital life, and also staying safe.

Read more