Prepaid cell phones under $50: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Boost, Virgin

featured pay-as-you-go cell phone providers, that will cost you $50 or less. That’s not so common in prepaid land. Today we’ll go with the major carriers and their prepaid arms. Next week we’ll look at MVNOs and regional carriers. AT&T Get any of these handsets at AT&T’s website. Samsung SGH-a107

This is one of the simpler phones you’ll find. It calls and messages, but doesn’t do much else. Except flip open and closed, of course. Cost: $19.99 Samsung SGH-a197 This is much like the a107, except it adds a VGA camera. Cost: $39.99 AT&T R225 Another simple, straight forward phone without a camera. This one is in bar style, for those who prefer that. Cost: $14.99 AT&T F160 (refurbished) This bar-style phone features a 3-megapixel camera, which is one of the best you’ll find in a prepaid phone under $50. It is also refurbished, which means you’re getting a better handset for a lesser price. Cost: $14.99 Samsung Sunburst (refurbished) The Sunburst is one of the few touchscreen phones you’ll find under $40. It has a music player, messaging capabilities, web browser, 2 megapixel camera, and more. Cost: $39.99 Verizon Get any of these handsets at Verizon’s website. Samsung Gusto This is Verizon’s most basic flip phone. It has a VGA camera and not much else. Cost: $19.99 Verizon Wireless CDM7076 This is a small step up from the Gusto, as it adds a web browser. Cost: $29.99 LG Accolade The Accolade features a decent camera at 1.3-megapixels, and also has a media center. It’s still a basic phone. Cost: $39.99 T-Mobile Strangely enough, T-Mobile has no prepaid phones under $50. You can see the entire selection at T-Mobile’s website. Boost Mobile Get these handsets at Boost Mobile’s website. Motorola i296 The Motorola i298 is a basic bar-style phone that doesn’t pack many features. It does have Boost’s walkie-talkie service, though. Cost: $49.99 Motorola Rambler The Rambler is a flip phone that has a full QWERTY keyboard, which makes it suitable for messaging. Cost: $49.99 Samsung Factor This is a thin, sleek flip phone that features a VGA camera and messaging capabilities. Cost: $49.99 Virgin Mobile Get these handsets at Virgin Mobile’s website. Kyocera Loft A stubby phone that features a QWERTY keyboard, the Kyocera Loft is perfect for the messaging addict. It also features a 1.3-megapixel camera and access to social networking services. Cost: $49.99]]>