Best Cricket phones
We’ve already covered the best smartphones you can buy from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, but what if you don’t want to sign a contract? If you’d like to go the prepaid route, Cricket Wireless is a great option. The prepaid carrier has a wide selection of phones and decent coverage all around the United States. It also offers some of the most aggressive rates around, especially if you’re willing to sign up for auto-pay (smartphone plans as cheap as $35 a month, all fees included).
So, what are the best Android phones you can buy on Cricket? While we’ll admit there aren’t tons of phones sold directly through Cricket, there are a few gems. Most of Cricket’s offerings are relatively low cost, so this is a list of all the best smartphones available on the carrier. If none of these devices are your cup of tea, check out our best cheap Android phones or best Android phones list — as any unlocked GSM phone compatible with AT&T’s network will play nicely with Cricket.
Editors note – we will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.
#1 – Motorola Moto G 4G
Topping out our list is the Motorola Moto G, Moto’s first real attempt at a budget-friendly smartphone. The original Moto G was one of our favorite smartphones of 2013. It offered an insanely low price without sacrificing too much when it came to software or hardware. It boasts a 4.5-inch 720p display, great battery life and a stock Android experience. It fits great in the hand and doesn’t feel like a budget phone by any means. So, when Motorola announced the 4G variant of the device with MicroSD card expansion, it made the deal even sweeter.
You can purchase the Moto G 4G for $99.99 on Cricket Wireless, and after a mail-in rebate, you’ll only end up paying $24.99. For one of 2013’s best smartphones, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal than this.
Note: The review below is the Moto G 3G variant, so disregard the “no 4G LTE connectivity” portion of our review in this case.
Specs
- 4.5-inch IPS LCD with 720 x 1280 resolution
- 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 8GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB
- 5MP rear cam, 1.3MP front cam
- Non-removable 2070mAh battery
- 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6 mm, 143g
- Black, White
- Android 4.4.2 KitKat (Lollipop update rolling out now)
Read more
- Motorola announces Moto G LTE variant with MicroSD card slot
- Best Moto G cases
- 5 problems with the Moto G and how to fix them
#2 – HTC Desire 510
HTC has long been successful in the mid-range market, and the Desire 510 is no exception. With this device you’ll get a solid build quality, smooth-running HTC Sense 6.0 software, and loud and clear front-firing speakers. The Desire 510 is very similar in build to the HTC One M8, which we praised for its build quality. The 510 is made of a premium-feeling plastic and though its rear camera is only 5MP, it can still take some great shots.
THe HTC Desire 510 is available on Cricket for $74.99. After the mail-in rebate, you can snag this device up for free. Probably our only major qualm with the device is its low resolution display, but if you can look past this, it’s a pretty solid phone for the price.
Specs
- 4.7-inch display with 480 x 854 resolution
- 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 8GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 5MP rear cam, .3MP VGA front cam
- Non-removable 2100mAh Li-Po battery
- 139.9 x 69.8 x 10 mm, 158g
- Dark Gray
- Android 4.4.2 KitKat (Lollipop update coming down the pipeline)
Read more
- 64-bit capable HTC Desire 510 coming to Sprint, Boost, Virgin Mobile and Cricket
- HTC Desire 510, a solid budget mid-range entry to the Desire family
#3 – ZTE Grand X Max
If you’re looking for a device on Cricket Wireless that has a big display, look no further. The ZTE Grand X Max boasts a big 6-inch 720p display, perfect for consuming all types of media. The 3200mAh battery should keep you going all day, not to mention the included 8MP rear camera for taking high quality pictures wherever you go. The Carbon Black edition feels smooth to the touch, and really does feel premium.
The ZTE Grand X Max is available on Cricket for $199.99. It may seem a little pricey give the CPU is just a Snapdragon 200, but we think you’ll like ZTE’s Grand X Max phablet as long as your needs aren’t too demanding.
Specs
- 6-inch TFT display with 720 x 1280 resolution
- 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 8GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB
- 8MP rear cam, 1MP front cam
- Non-removable 3200mAh battery
- 162.1 x 83.1 x 7.9 mm, 171.8g
- Carbon Black
- Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Read more
#4 – ZTE Grand X
If you’re looking for something not quite as large as a 6-inch device, maybe you should check out the ZTE Grand X. It’s 5-inch display is the perfect size for those that want a pocketable device with a screen that’s still solid for media consumption. Now, the ZTE Grand X may not boast the most impressive specifications on the market, but it’s a quality 4G LTE-capable device for a low price tag.
You can buy the ZTE Grand X from Cricket Wireless for $149.99, but with the mail-in rebate, you’ll end up spending $99.99 in all. That’s not a bad deal for a phone with a nice 5-inch display.
Specs
- 5-inch LCD display with 540 x 960 resolution
- 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB
- 5MP rear cam, 1MP front cam
- Removable 2300mAh battery
- 145 x 73 x 9.4 mm, 172g
- Black
- Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Read more
#5 – LG L70
For those who aren’t looking for the sheer power and performance of LG’s G series, the L70 will do just fine for you. The build quality and design is based off of the LG G3, though it comes in a much more affordable package. It brings a 4.5-inch LCD display and a decent 2040mAh battery that should have no problems lasting throughout the day. Now, this device is moving towards the lower end of the spectrum in terms of specifications, but that means you’ll get to save some money in the process.
The LG L70 is available at Cricket Wireless for $59.99. Honestly, this is a steal for a device that’s based off of one of LG’s best phones.
Specs
- 4.5-inch LCD display with 480 x 800 resolution
- 1.2 GHz Qualcomm MSM8210 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 4GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB
- 5MP rear cam, VGA front cam
- Removable 2040mAh battery
- 127 x 67 x 9.7 mm, 128g
- Black
- Android 4.4 KitKat (Lollipop update coming down the pipeline)
Read more
How do like our list? Is there any device you’d add or remove? Let us know your opinions in the comments!
AIVAnet 