Best AT&T Prepaid Android Phones
As good at the moment as it may be to be able to buy a flagship smartphone that costs upwards of $800 at a subsidized rate, not everyone is looking to get tied down in a 2-year contractual commitment to do so. Luckily, there are a lot of decent options when it comes to buying phones off-contract and opting for a prepaid plan. Apart from a slew of prepaid carriers, major network operators like T-Mobile and AT&T also offer such devices. Today, we’ll be exploring some of the best prepaid smartphones available from AT&T.
#1 Samsung Galaxy S5
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the best Android smartphone you can get if you decide to opt for a prepaid GO plan from AT&T. As is the case with any Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S5 packs a host of software and hardware features, including the new additions of a fingerprint scanner up front, integrated into the physical home button, along with a heart rate monitor at the back. Samsung’s TouchWiz UI on top of Android 4.4 Kitkat, which should soon be upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop, means that there is no shortage software enhancements either.
Of course, since you will be buying this device off-contract, you will have to pay the full price for this high-end smartphone. In the case of AT&T, that number is $649.
Specs
- 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
- 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU
- 2GB of RAM
- 16/32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 16MP rear cam, 2MP front cam
- Removable 2800mAh battery
- 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145g
- Shimmery White
- Android 4.4.2 KitKat (Lollipop update coming down the pipeline)
Read more
- Samsung Galaxy S5 review
- Samsung Galaxy S5 officially announced
- Best cases for the Samsung Galaxy S5
#2 Motorola Moto G 4G LTE
Not to be confused with the current iteration of the Moto G, the Motorola Moto G 4G LTE comes with features and specifications identical to the first generation device, while allowing you to take advantage of high-speed internet connectivity on AT&T’s 4G LTE network.
The Moto G 4G LTE will also receive Android 5.0 Lollipop soon, and while it is starting to show its age on the specifications front, it is still a fantastic option for those on a budget, with its impressive price point of just $179.99 off-contract.
Specs
- 4.5-inch LCD display with 1280 x 720 resolution
- 1.2GHz Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 400 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 3G/GSM
- 4G LTE and microSD
- 8GB and 16GB storage options
- 5MP rear cam, 1.3MP front cam
- 2070 mAh battery
- 143g weight, 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6mm
- Removable colored backs
- Android 4.4 KitKat
Read more
#3 Asus Padfone X Mini
If you’re in the market for a smartphone and a tablet, but are on a budget, the Asus Padfone X Mini might be the answer. As is the case with most mini iterations of flagship devices, the Padfone X Mini is decidedly mid-range in its specifications, featuring a 4.5-inch display, an Intel Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of expandable storage on-board.
Of course, the great news with this device is the fact that the phone can be docked into a Padfone Station to then use it as a 7-inch tablet with a display resolution of 1280 x 800, and a 2,200 mAh battery. Granted, you can’t use it as a tablet without the phone, but with the phone features carrying over to the tablet, including making and receiving calls, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. With an off-contract price of just $149.74, the Padfone X Mini is certainly a great option for those wanting a single device that can serve as both a phone and a tablet.
Specs
- 4.5-inch IPS LCD display, 480 x 854 resolution, 218 ppi
- Intel Atom Z2560 processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 8 GB internal storage, expandable up to 64 GB
- 5 MP rear camera, 2 MP front-facing camera
- 3G/4G LTE
- 132.1 x 66.3 x 12.7 mm, 148.8 grams
- Android 4.4.2 Kitkat
- Padfone Station: 7-inch IPS LCD display, 1280 x 800 resolution, 1 MP front camera, 2,200 mAh battery
#4 HTC Desire 610
HTC’s penchant for great design and build quality makes its way over to even its budget-friendly offerings, and that is exactly what you get with the HTC Desire 610. Even with its plastic build, the phone certainly doesn’t look or feel cheap in the hand. Also available is HTC’s signature front-facing BoomSound speakers, which may not pack as much of a punch as its more expensive siblings, but is still one of the better audio experiences you can get, especially at this price point.
The Snapdragon 400 processor performs quite well, and the Sense UI keeps things running smoothly and lag free. Except for the qHD display, the Desire 610 is a worthy competitor to the Moto G, with an equally impressive price point of just $139.99.
Specs
- 4.7 inch qHD (960×540) display
- 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 CPU
- 1 GB RAM
- 8 MP rear camera, 1.3 MP front camera
- 8GB internal storage, expandable up to 64GB
- 2040 mAh battery
- 3G/4G LTE
- 143.1 x 70.5 x 9.6 mm, 143.5 grams
- Dual front stereo speakers
Learn More:
#5 ZTE Compel
The ZTE Compel is an entry-level smartphone available from AT&T. While the specifications are decent, with its 4-inch display with 480 x 800 resolution, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, and 1 GB RAM, what is great about this device is the fact that it can also take advantage of AT&T’s 4G LTE network for high-speed internet access.
At a price point of $69.99, the ZTE Compel is a fantastic smartphone for anyone looking for a good entry point into the world of Android.
Specs
- 4-inch TFT display, 480 x 800 resolution, 233 ppi
- 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
- 1 GB RAM
- 4 GB internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB
- 3G/4G LTE
- 5 MP rear camera
- 1,820 mAh battery
- Android 4.4. Kitkat
While there a few options available, none of these smartphones are anywhere near the latest and greatest, instead mostly comprising of good mid-range and entry-level smartphones. The good news is that a lot of unlocked smartphones can work on AT&T’s network, so you do have the choice the pick one up separately and subscribe to AT&T’s Prepaid GO plans.
Looking for a good unlocked phone to bring over to AT&T’s GoPhone service? Some of the best budget-friendly choices include the following:
- Motorola Moto G 2nd gen – $180 unlocked
- Motorola Moto E – $112.99 unlocked
- LG Nexus 5 – $349 (limited (fluctuating) stock)
- OnePlus One – $300 (invite currently required, again)
None of these do it for you? Don’t forget to check out our roundups of the best Android smartphones, and the best budget-friendly smartphones currently available.
AIVAnet 