Tips for How to Buy a Prepaid Phone

If you’re interested in making the switch to a prepaid plan, then you probably have some questions about how how to buy a prepaid phone and how to pick the best one. Just like with a postpaid plan, getting the right phone is important in order to get the most out of your prepaid service. Here are a few tips for buying a prepaid phone:

Understanding Price Points

Because prepaid plans don’t include any phone subsidies, phones must be purchased outright. So, naturally, the first question most people have when looking at buying a prepaid phone is: how much will I have to spend? Ironically, that’s probably one of the harder questions to answer because it really depends on your budget versus your needs and what you’re willing to live with. Keep in mind that even though you might have to spend a bit more upfront, the savings over time will usually even out. Here is a brief idea of what you can expect at each price tier:

• $0 – $100 – At this level, you are looking at mostly feature phones which will not have a lot of technical pizzazz to them, and little internet connectivity. You might find a couple of cheaper smartphones, but they will have substandard specs, old operating systems and often few features. These phones are mostly good as backup or occasional use phones.
• $100 – $300 – Here, we get into the low to midrange smartphones. Most prepaid users have phones in this category as they are not only more affordable, but also functional. The specs will vary widely from mediocre to good and the closer you get to the $300, the more features you can expect. At this range, most of the phones are pretty similar and can do pretty much everything your basic user could want including surfing the internet, downloading apps and taking photos. This level is excellent for entry-level and light to normal users.
• $300 – $500 – These phones are solidly in the ‘midrange’ phone category, although some of the upper levels could even be classified as low-cost flagship phones. These phones generally have good to excellent specs with good cameras, lots of extra features (only some of which are actually useful) and fast processors. These phones are usually going to be functional for far longer than their cheaper counterparts and in my opinion, are well worth the investment.
• $500+ – At this price point, you are looking at flagship phones, which are the top-of-the-line phones that not only cost the most, but have the newest features, the most bells and whistles and the best specs. Generally, each phone company will have one or two flagship phones per year which will carry the main portion of their sales. These phones will last for several years before becoming too outdated, and often have quite a bit of prestige attached to ownership. Keep in mind that phones at this level are newest and therefore cannot be activated on all prepaid plans. Double check with your carrier before buying.

Where to Buy a Prepaid Phone

When you’re in the market for a prepaid phone, there are a lot of different options for where to buy your new phone, and each option has its pros and cons. Here are some of the most common ways to buy a new prepaid phone:

From the Carrier’s Store

Pro: The phone is guaranteed to work on the carrier’s network, and they will walk you through activation

Con: Limited selection, and sometimes the prices are higher

Online (carrier)

Pro: Many carriers have special deals and cheaper refurbished phones online

Con: Customer support is generally not as good if you have questions or run into problems

Online (third party ie Amazon)

Pro: You can shop around and get the lowest price for the exact phone you want, and it will be unlocked

Con: Not all phones are 100% compatible with every carrier, so you run the risk of getting the wrong phone

From a Box Store

Pro: Phones are very cheap

Con: Selection is limited, and you can’t try out the phone first, like you would in a carrier’s store

Other FAQ

Q: Can I switch phones at any time if I end up not liking the one I buy initially? A: In short: no. With prepaid phones, you are buying the phone outright and it is yours, whether you decide you like it or not. For this reason, research is important, and I might even suggest going to a carrier and playing with the sample phones they have if you’re looking at getting a more expensive model. Q: How can I transfer my contacts, pictures and other files to a new prepaid phone? A: There are a variety of methods, and it all depends on your old phone and your carrier. If your carrier has a store, then you can go there and they should be able to transfer it for you. Alternatively, if both phones have Bluetooth, you may be able to wirelessly move files from one device to another. Gmail and many antivirus apps can also back up your contacts and/or files as well so you can just download them on the new phone. Check out this guide to switching all your stuff to your new phone. Q: What apps are available to me if I buy prepaid? A: If you get a smartphone, then all of them! As far as hardware goes, prepaid phones work exactly the same as postpaid phones–the difference is in the network, not the device itself. Keep in mind, however, that many apps will require data, which is usually more expensive on prepaid plans. If you like to play lots of games, make sure you are connected to Wifi so you don’t use up all your data. Check out some of our fun app reviews for ideas! Q: How do I decide which carrier to choose? A: Postpaid is easy: you really only have four or five options. Prepaid, on the other hand, is a lot harder. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at your choices, check out this simple guide for finding the best carrier for you!   Have other questions? Leave me a note in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer!]]>