Prepaid Smartphone Comparison - You've Got Options!

Best Prepaid Wireless Smartphones
Are you looking to compare available prepaid smartphones to help you decide what your no-contract smartphone options are?  When I first built this page, if you can believe it, there were only a small handful of smartphones available on prepaid!  It's fair to say that you can now get virtually any smartphone in existence on the major postpaid carriers on prepaid as well.  Thus, it became essentially meaningless (and enormously time intensive!) to simply list every available prepaid smartphone in the tables below.  As a result, I have retired the table below (i.e. it's no longer being updated).

When I look at the data I have for this site that shows me how people find this particular page, I can see that visitors are looking for:  What's the best prepaid smartphone, where can I get the best price, and what's the best prepaid plan.  In terms of what's "the best" phone or plan, the features and quality is so high these days that no one can truly state that something is "the best".  It really depends on your wants and needs, your expectations, your budget, etc.  No doubt, you can find many available options that meet your needs!

To help guide you in terms of deciphering and narrowing down what might be important to you, please check out the discussion on identifying the Best Smartphone, and you can learn about different plans, and compare them at Compare Prepaid Plans. To address the question around finding the best price, you'll find that every carrier has deals and promotions around holidays, including New Years, Valentine's Day, Father's/Mother's Day, summer, back to school, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  So once you identify the few phones you're interested in, you can monitor your top two or three carriers for these deals.  I also announce big deals in my newsletter, Prepaid Wireless Tracker.  Lastly, I've become a big fan of considering "previously enjoyed" smartphones by using credible companies like Gazelle, where you can find fantastic deals that allow you to buy higher performance smartphones at affordable prices.


Smartphone Device Name Price Operating
System		 Screen Size Screen Quality Keyboard CPU Rear
Camera		 Front
Camera		 Storage
AT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid SmartphoneAT&T Prepaid Smartphone
AT&T Huawei Fusion 2 Huawei Fusion 2 $100 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 4GB
AT&T Huawei Fusion Huawei Fusion $100 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480 Virtual 600MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 512MB
AT&T ZTE Avail ZTE Avail $110 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480 Virtual 600MHz
(single core)		 5MP None 512MB
AT&T Samsung Galaxy Appeal Samsung Galaxy Appeal $150 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480 Slider QWERTY Slider 800MHz
(single core)		 3MP None 4GB
Boost Mobile No Contract SmartphonesBoost Mobile No Contract SmartphonesBoost Mobile No Contract SmartphonesBoost Mobile No Contract SmartphonesBoost Mobile No Contract SmartphonesBoost Mobile No Contract SmartphonesBoost Mobile No Contract SmartphonesBoost Mobile No Contract Smartphones
Boost Mobile LG Venice LG Venice $200 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 4.3" 480x800
(IPS)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP VGA 768MB
Boost Mobile Samsung Galaxy Rush Samsung Galaxy Rush $130 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 3MP 1.3MP 768MB
Boost Mobile ZTE Warp Sequent ZTE Warp Sequent $150 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 4.3" 540x960
(qHD)		 Virtual 1.4GHz
(single core)		 5MP 1.3MP 768MB
Boost Mobile Kyocera Hydro Kyocera Hydro $80 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 100MB
Boost Mobile BlackBerry Curve 9310 BlackBerry Curve 9310 $60 Blackberry Operating System
OS 7.1		 2.44" 320x240
(qVGA)		 Physical QWERTY Keyboard 800MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 512MB
Boost Mobile LG Marquee No Contract Android Smartphone LG Marquee $200 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 4" 480x800
(WVGA)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP VGA 4GB
Boost Mobile ZTE Warp No Contract Android Smartphone ZTE Warp $100 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 4.3" 480x800
(NOVA)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP 2MP 2GB
Boost Mobile Samsung Transform Ultra Android Smartphone Samsung Transform Ultra $150 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480 Slider
QWERTY Keyboard		 1GHz
(single core)		 3MP VGA 2GB
Boost Mobile Samsung Galaxy Prevail Android Smartphone Samsung Galaxy Prevail $75 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 2MP None 124MB
Cricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket WirelessCricket Wireless
Cricket iPhone 5S Apple iPhone 5s $600 Apple iOS
iOS7		 4" 640x1136
(Retina)		 Virtual 1.3GHz
(A7 dual)		 8MP 1.2MP 16GB
Cricket iPhone 5c Apple iPhone 5c $500 Apple iOS
iOS7		 4" 640x1136
(Retina)		 Virtual 1.3GHz
(A6 dual)		 8MP 1.2MP 16GB
Cricket Samsung Galaxy Discover Samsung Galaxy Discover $180
$20		 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 3MP None 4GB
Cricket Waterproof Kyocera Hydro Kyocera Hydro
Waterproof!		 $80 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.5" 320x480 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 983MB
Cricket No Contract ZTE Groove ZTE Groove $80 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP VGA 1GB
Cricket No Contract iPhone 5 Apple iPhone 5 $600 Apple iOS
iOS6		 4" 640x1136
(Retina)		 Virtual 1GHz
(dual core)		 8MP 1.2MP 16GB
Cricket Prepaid iPhone iPhone 4
iPhone 4S		 $400
$500		 Apple iOS
iOS6		 3.5" 640x960
(Retina)		 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 5MP
8MP		 VGA 8GB
16GB
Cricket No Contract HTC One V HTC One V $200 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.7" 480x800 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP None 4GB
Cricket HTC Desire C HTC Desire C
(H1000C)		 $150 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.5" 800x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP None 4GB
Cricket ZTE Engage ZTE Engage $180 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 4.3" 800x480
(WVGA)		 Virtual 1.4GHz
(single core)		 8MP VGA 1GB
Cricket BlackBerry Curve 9350 Blackberry Curve 9350 $130 Blackberry Operating System
OS 7.1		 2.4" 480x360
(HVGA)		 Physical QWERTY Keyboard 800MHz
(single core)		 5MP None 512MB
Cricket Huawei Ascend Q Huawei Ascend Q
(M5660)		 $110 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Physical QWERTY Keyboard 800MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 2GB
Cricket ZTE Score Prepaid Smartphone ZTE Score
(X500)		 $60 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 600MHZ
(single core)		 3.2MP None 110MB
metroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCSmetroPCS
MetroPCS Huawei M835 No Contract Smartphone Huawei M835 $69 3G No Contract Android Froyo
2.2 Froyo		 2.8" 240x320
(QVGA)		 Virtual 500MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 256MB
MetroPCS LG Optimus M+ LG Optimus M+ $129 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 5MP None 2.8GB
MetroPCS HTC Wildfire S HTC Wildfire S $129 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 600MHz
(single core)		 5MP None 153MB
MetroPCS Samsung Admire No Contract Smartphone Samsung Admire $99 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 196MB
MetroPCS ZTE Score M ZTE Score M $99 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 600MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 153MB
MetroPCS Blackberry Curve 8530 Prepaid Smartphone BlackBerry Curve 8530 $89 Blackberry Operating System
OS 6		 2.5" 320x240
(TFT)		 Physical QWERTY Keyboard 530MHz
(single core)		 2MP None 256MB
TracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk SmartphonesTracFone StraightTalk Smartphones
Straight Talk Walmart iPhone 5 Apple iPhone 5 $649
$749
$849		 Apple iOS
iOS6		 4" 640x1136
(Retina)		 Virtual 1GHz
(dual core)		 8MP 1.2MP 16GB
32GB
64GB
Straight Talk LG Optimus Dynamic LG Optimus Dynamic $80 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 3MP None
Straight Talk Huawei Ascend Y Huawei Ascend Y $100 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(TFT)		 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 512MB
Straight Talk Motorola Defy XT Motorola Defy XT $200 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.7" 480x854
(TFT)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP VGA 380MB
Straight Talk LG Optimus Zip LG Optimus Zip $180 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480
(TFT)		 Slider QWERTY Keyboard 800MHz
(single core)		 3MP None 150MB
Straight Talk Samsung Galaxy Proclaim Samsung Galaxy Proclaim $150 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(TFT)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 3MP None 2GB
Straight Talk LG Optimus Black LG Optimus Black $300 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 4" 480x800
(IPS)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP None 1GB
Straight Talk LG Optimus Q LG Optimus Q $130 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480
(TFT)		 Slider QWERTY Keyboard 800MHz
(single core)		 3MP None 150MB
Straight Talk Samsung Galaxy Precedent Samsung Galaxy Precedent $80 3G No Contract Android Froyo
2.2 Froyo		 3.2" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 2MP None 384MB
Straight Talk Huawei Ascend 2 Huawei Ascend II 480 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(TFT)		 Virtual 600MHz
(single core)		 5MP None 256MB
Virgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid SmartphoneVirgin Mobile Prepaid Smartphone
Virgin Mobile Prepaid iPhone iPhone 4
iPhone 4S		 $450
$350		 Apple iOS
iOS6		 3.5" 640x960
(Retina)		 Virtual 800MHz
(single core)		 5MP
8MP		 VGA 8GB
16GB
Virgin Mobile Samsung Galaxy Reverb Samsung Galaxy Reverb $200 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 4" 480x800 Virtual 1.4GHz
(single core)		 5MP None 768MB
Virgin Mobile HTC One V HTC One V $150 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.7" 480x800 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP None 512MB
Virgin Mobile Kyocera Rise Kyocera Rise $100 3G No Contract Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich		 3.5" 320x480 Slider QWERTY Keyboard 1GHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 983MB
Virgin Mobile LG Optimus Elite 4G Prepaid Smartphone LG Optimus Elite $130 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.5" 320x480
(HVGA)		 Virtual 600MHz
(single core)		 2MP None 512MB
Virgin Mobile ZTE Chaser ZTE Chaser $60 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2" 320x480 Virtual 600MHz
(single core)		 3MP None 512MB
Virgin Mobile LG Optimus Slider Prepaid Smartphone LG Optimus Slider $50 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 3.2"
(HVGA)		 Slider QWERTY Keyboard 800MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 512MB
Virgin Mobile ZTE Venture Prepaid 4G ZTE Venture $40 3G No Contract Android Gingerbread
2.3 Gingerbread		 2.8" 240x320
(QVGA)		 Physical QWERTY Keyboard 600MHz
(single core)		 3.2MP None 512MB
Virgin Mobile Motorola Triumph No Contract Smartphone Motorola Triumph $180 3G No Contract Android Froyo
2.2 Froyo		 4.1"
(WVGA)		 Virtual 1GHz
(single core)		 5MP VGA 512MB


Device Device Pricing Plan Pricing Notes

Kyocera Zio PLS-8600
i-wireless Sanyo Kyocera Zio M6000 Prepaid Smartphone
PlatinumTel Prepaid Smartphone		 $249.99 $60/mo. Unlimited talk, text, 200 MB

$75/mo. Unlimited talk, text, 1 GB
  • Google Android (v2.1 Eclair)
  • 800x480 3.5" WVGA touchscreen
  • WiFi
  • Stereo Bluetooth
  • 3.2 megapixel camera
  • Expandable memory

LG APEX
US Cellular LG Apex Prepaid Smartphone
US Cellular Prepaid Smartphone
 $249.99 Plans range from $49.99 to $109.99
  • Google Android (v2.1 Eclair)
  • Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
  • 3.2" touchscreen
  • 3 megapixel camera
  • WiFi
  • Bluetooth v2.1

LG Optimus U
US Cellular LG Optimus U Prepaid Smartphone
US Cellular Prepaid Smartphone		 $199.99 Plans range from $49.99 to $109.99
  • Google Android (v2.2 Froyo)
  • 3.2" touchscreen
  • 3.2 megamixel camera
  • WiFi
  • Bluetooth v2.1
Motorola CLIQ XT
Walmart Motorola CLIQ XT Prepaid Smartphone
Walmart Prepaid Smartphone
 $339.99 $45/mo.Unlimited Talk & Text + 100MB Data (single line)
  • Google Android (v1.5)
  • 320x480 pixel 3.1" HVGA touchsreen
  • 5 Megapixel camera w/ flash
  • WiFi
  • FM radio
  • Stereo Bluetooth
  • Expandable memory
  • Music player
  • Note: Walmart allows you to bring your own device for use on their plans!

T-Mobile Prepaid Smartphone
NOTE:  Any T-Mobile smartphone can be activated on a prepaid plan so long as you're either out of contract, or you purchase your handset without a Subsidy.


› › No Contract Smartphone Comparison Table

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