Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Android
  4. Mobile
  5. News

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

Add as a preferred source on Google

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.

Recommended Videos

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.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Everything Apple announced at its September event: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, new Apple Watches, and AirPods 5
Apple packed its biggest September event in years with a foldable iPhone, new watches, and smarter AirPods.
Computer, Electronics, Tablet Computer

The "Surprise and Shine" September launch event was one of Apple's crispest, most elaborate, and most loaded launch events in a while. Instead of leaving the minute details in the spec sheet or fine print, Apple actually included them in its keynote presentation, not just for its big reveal but for all the devices it unveiled on September 9, 2026. 

While the 'Surprise' bit was covered by the new iPhone Duo, 'Shine' probably refers to the new colors in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Beyond these, Apple also announced two new Apple Watches and a refresh for the regular AirPods (not the Pro ones). Given that there's a lot of ground to cover, here's everything Apple announced at its September 2026 event. 

Read more
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Should you upgrade?
A 2nm A20 Pro chip, variable aperture camera, improved cooling, longer battery life, and faster charging make up the iPhone 18 Pro’s biggest upgrades.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro in their unique colors

Apple gave the iPhone Pro lineup a fairly substantial makeover last year. The iPhone 17 Pro ditched titanium, introduced the massive camera plateau, added vapor chamber cooling, and brought some major camera upgrades. Apple had plenty of room to spend another year refining that formula, but the iPhone 18 Pro does more than that.

Its A20 Pro is Apple’s first 2nm smartphone chip, the main camera gets a physical variable aperture, the native Camera app finally has proper manual controls, battery life improves, charging gets quicker, and the Dynamic Island takes up less space.

Read more
How to pre-order Apple’s new iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5
Apple's latest lineup is finally official. If you're interested in one of the new devices, here's how you can pre-order them to get your new iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods as soon as they launch.
Apple Fall 2026 devices featured 2

Apple has refreshed its hardware portfolio with its most ambitious lineup yet. Headlining the company's September 9 event is its first-ever foldable, the iPhone Duo, and it's joined by the iPhone 18 Pro series, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and the AirPods 5. Pre-orders for all devices, except the iPhone Duo, begin September 12, with general in-store and online availability starting September 18. The iPhone Duo will be available for pre-order starting October 16, with retail availability set to begin October 23.

Apple will handle pre-orders through its official website and the Apple Store app. The devices will also be available for pre-order through major US carriers and authorized retailers. Here's a breakdown of available configurations, colors, and where to secure your pre-order.

Read more