The 7 Best Unlocked Cell Phones Under $50 Dollars

Who says that it’s impossible to find unlocked cell phones under $50 dollars? Well, not everyone needs a smartphone. Also, not everybody wants to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a new smartphone. The latest flagship phone is great, but not all of us need that. Sometimes, all we need is just a simple phone. Whether it’s a feature or a smartphone, we just need a phone that gets the job done, right? A simple phone that’s enough to handle calls and texts. As long as we can stay connected to our loved ones, that’s all that matters. It also comes in handy in case of an emergency.

Suppose you already have the latest smartphone as your daily driver. In that case, a secondary phone can also help you to be more productive. This way, you have a different number for different occasions. One is personal, and one is for work or business. Spending a few hundred dollars just for a secondary phone can be such a waste of money. Why spend a lot if you can get a phone for under 50 dollars, right? A basic feature phone is fine as long as you’re able to activate one extra number.

On the list below, we’ll show you the best phones to get for under 50 dollars. These phones are capable enough to get the basic things done. Essential features you need from a phone like making a call, replying to texts, reading emails, light browsing, or even playing a simple game, can be handled easily. It’s okay not to have the latest and greatest smartphone. At least, you’re not disconnected from the outside world and your loved ones, right?

7 Best Unlocked Cell Phones Under $50 Dollars

7. ZTE Zinger Z667T

This little phone from ZTE is your next compact and elegant companion to make you stay connected to family and friends. The ZTE Zinger Z667T is a reliable smartphone for calling, texting, reading emails, and browsing the internet. This phone features a vibrant 3.5-inch touch screen, making it easy to navigate all the menus. It’s one of the best unlocked cell phones under $50 dollars because you get so many features at such a low price.

With Android OS inside, this phone provides a brilliant experience. It’s also powered by the Qualcomm snapdragon 200, which is powerful yet power efficient. Qualcomm snapdragon 200 is a dual-core processor that’s excellent for handling basic tasks and even playing lite games.

The internal memory of this phone is 4GB. Still, it’s easy to expand the storage since it comes with a dedicated micro SD slot. The best thing about the ZTE Zinger Z667T is that it comes with A-GPS technology and an accelerometer sensor. It ensures more accuracy compared to conventional GPS technology. At this price range, it’s pretty rare for a phone to have this sophisticated technology. This phone comes with a Li-Ion 1500 MAh removable battery which means it can last for a day. It offers a talk time for up to 6 hours and 192 hours of standby time, which is quite impressive.

Pros:

• 192 hours of standby time
• Expandable storage
• Advanced GPS technology
• 1500mAh battery

Cons:

• Heats up pretty quickly

6. BLU Dash C Music

BLU is the market leader when it comes to affordable smartphones. You’ll find it easy to buy a phone under 100 dollars or even under 50 dollars. BLU has plenty of options for entry-level consumers. BLU Dash C Music is one of the latest releases, and it’s packed with all the features you need to stay online. The great thing about BLU Dash C Music is its form factor. The size makes it easy for you to hold it with one hand. With this compact size, it’s difficult to drop the phone accidentally. This phone is compatible with most GSM providers like AT&T and T-Mobile.

The BLU Dash C Music is powered by MediaTek Dual-core 1.0 GHz with Mali 400 GPU. It’s powerful enough to do basic tasks as well as playing your favorite games. Even though the processor is not the best on the market, it’s great for daily use as it is power efficient. In addition to the power-efficient processor, this phone comes with a stock

Android. Stock Android is much better because there isn’t much bloatware which might slow down the phone. And last but not least, the BLU Dash C Music already comes with a rear and front camera to snap your beautiful moments.

Pros:

• HD video recording
• LED flash
• Dual-sim
• 4 inch TFT screen

Cons:

• The screen is quite fragile

5. Nokia 3310 3G

Nokia 3310 was legendary in its era. And because of that popularity, Nokia decided to bring back the Nokia 3310 to life with updated technology. The modern version of the Nokia 3310 is ten times better than its predecessor. This phone now comes with a colorful screen and a much better build quality. It provides you with a colorful experience with a variety of vibrant new colors and a customizable UI. Some popular chatting apps are also compatible with this phone. This way, you don’t need to worry about getting disconnected from family and friends. It’s a modern classic reborn with 3G capability and exceptionally long battery life.

You know what makes this phone so special? Now, you can play the old Classic Snake game that we all never forget. However, the game now comes with a modern look and feel. It brings so much beautiful memories and nostalgia. It’s one of the best cell phones under $50 dollars. If you’re looking for a secondary phone for backup or calls, this is a perfect choice. The voice and network quality of this phone is excellent. This phone can produce a loud and clear sound. And the best thing is, you have background noise cancellation.

Pros:

• Available in four vibrant colors
• Feature phone with 3G connectivity
• FM Radio

Cons:

• Text

4. BLU Advance L5

Just like its name, the BLU Advance L5 is the advanced version of other BLU phones at this price range. Unlike other phones, which usually come with very little storage, this phone features a 16GB internal storage and expandable card slot. If you’re planning to store many files on your phone, this is your perfect option. With this, you’ll be able to save hundreds of songs and plenty of pictures as well as various apps. Also, did we mention that it has an excellent quality screen? This phone comes with a 4 inch IPS LCD which is very rare at this price range. Most brands just give you a plain terrible screen that would break after a few uses.

The BLU Advance L5 is made in a simple form. It takes all the unnecessary elements and removes them to give you the best possible experience and a great design that’s pleasing to the eye. This phone comes in four beautiful colors, from Black to Cyan to Lime and Red. Just pick one that best suits your style. Equipped with a 1.3GHz Quad-Core processor, it gives you the ability to perform all tasks seamlessly. No more laggy and buggy phones! Now, it’s easy to execute all your tasks with just a single touch.

Pros:

• Vivid colors display
• 5MP camera with LED flash
• Android GO
• Dual sim

Cons:

• The voice quality isn’t that great

3. Easyfone Prime A1 3G

Just be honest. We all miss that classic flip phone because it’s so satisfying when you flip off the screen after a call, right? The Easyfone Prime A1 3G is a perfect phone for those who want that classic flip design. Just flip up the screen to answer calls and flip off the screen to end calls. It’s that easy! This phone also comes with big buttons for easy dialing and a big volume for easy hearing. The simple operating system makes it easy for you to navigate through the menu. We highly recommend this phone because it’s one of the most unique cell phones under $50 dollars available on the market. Nowadays, it’s pretty hard to find a working flip phone.

The Easyfone Prime A1 3G comes with a 2.4 inch HD display and a 1.4-inch external colorful screen with big font and icon for easy viewing. With the secondary screen, you don’t need to flip up your screen to check if you’ve got some messages or missed calls. This phone also comes with cutting-edge M4/T4 hearing aid compatibility, making it ideal for customers with hearing aid devices. There’s also a dedicated SOS button with an ICE manual in case of an emergency.

Pros:

• Hearing aid compatibility
• Dedicated SOS button
• Secondary screen for notifications
• Speed dial

Cons:

• The setup process is not intuitive

2. BLU S750P Black Studio Pro X8

Need an affordable phone with a big screen? BLU S750P Black Studio Pro X8 is the perfect answer for that. This phone comes with a vivid 5 inch IPS HD display. It’s a powerful entertainment machine. Now, you can watch your favorite shows or play games on a bigger display. There’s no limit anymore when it comes to watching movies and playing games. Aside from that, this phone is powered with a Mediatek MT6580 chipset and Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. The BLU S750P Black Studio Pro X8 can give you enough power to keep you entertained the whole day.

Capturing your beautiful moments is also easy as it comes with an autofocus dual-camera system. Everything is crisp and clear, just like the reality. This phone is also capable of recording 1080p video. And with a Li-Ion 2000mAh battery, you have 12 hours of talk time and 550 hours of standby time, which is impressive. The BLU S750P Black Studio Pro X8 features a dual sim slot, which means you have more numbers for extra productivity.

Pros:

• 2000mAh battery
• Dual camera
• Expandable memory

Cons:

• The internal memory is too small

Nokia 225 4G

Finally, we’re talking about the winner among all unlocked cell phones under $50 dollars on the list. It makes sense why the Nokia 225 4G made it on the top of the list. This is the only phone that features a 4G network among all the others. Discover a world of perks that comes with 4G. Enjoy a clearer call quality, multiplayer gaming, and seamless sharing. 4G brings you to a whole new world with its super-fast speed. We highly recommend this phone because it has excellent build quality. The premium design features a high-performance keypad, curved back, separate function keys, hard-coated colors, and easy-grip edge.

Do more with Nokia 225 4G. With the signature sturdiness and long-lasting battery life, just leave your charger at home because a single charge can last for days. At only 90g, this phone is easy to throw in your bag or in your pocket and take it anywhere with you. The most incredible thing about the Nokia 225 4G is its battery life. You won’t believe that this phone can last for up to 24 days with a single sim or 16 days with a dual sim. Crazy, right? But it’s true. Many people have proven the 24-day claim.

Pros:

• 19 hours of talk time
• The battery lasts for up to 24 days
• Dual sim capability
• Included 16GB microSD card

Cons:

• S30+ operating system is limited

Things to Consider before Clicking the “Buy Now” Button

While your option is limited when it comes to cell phones under $50 dollars, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to find one. Just because the budget is low doesn’t mean there are only low-quality options. It’s possible to get a name-brand phone for under 50 dollars. Some top brands, like Nokia, ZTE, and BLU are still producing entry-level phones. But before you buy an affordable phone, you need to consider these things so that you won’t regret your purchase.

Features

The general rule is the more features the phone has, the better it is. With more features, you’re able to do more things instead of limited to just calling and texting. For unlocked cell phones under $50 dollars, you have two options. You can get a feature phone or a smartphone running Android OS. If you’re planning to use it just for calls, a feature phone is enough. But if you want to read the news or do some light browsing, an Android phone is much better.

Build Quality

What’s the point of having a phone full of features if the build quality is trash, right? You want your phone to be durable enough to handle minor drops and scratches. Nobody wants a phone that breaks after only falling once. Make sure to pick a phone that has a great fit and finish. Also, a phone with an easy-grip edge ensures that it won’t slip out of your hand.

Battery Capacity

Imagine carrying a phone that’s very power-consuming so that you have to charge it every few hours. That’s so annoying, right? That’s why battery capacity is also an essential thing to consider when buying cheap unlocked cell phones. If you want a phone that would last for a full day or even two days, it’s recommended that you pick a feature phone instead of an Android. A smartphone is generally more power-consuming.

Screen Size

If you like browsing the internet, screen size matters. Unless you’re planning to just use your cell phone for phone calls, a small screen size won’t likely be an issue. The bigger the screen, the more room you have to do things. Unlocked cell phones under $50 dollars come in various screen sizes. At this price range, you may expect to get a feature phone with 2.5 inches of screen size or an Android with about 4 inches of screen size.

Network

Lastly, you need to consider the network. Some phones at this price range only offer 3G, while some others provide 4G capability. Some phones also come with a Wi-Fi connection, while others are just pure feature phones that can only be used for calls and texts. At this price range, you may get a feature phone with a 4G network or an Android with a 3G network.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Why should you buy budget phones?

Not everyone wants to buy a thousand-dollar phone. While the latest and greatest smartphone is excellent, not everybody needs that. Sometimes, all you need is just a simple phone that can get the basic things done. Instead of spending a couple hundred dollars for a phone, you’d rather invest your money or spend it on other things that are more important, right?

Is there any disadvantage to buying an unlocked phone?

The most significant disadvantage of buying an unlocked cell phone is that you have to pay for the device entirely. But in this case, it’s not a problem since you get to buy a phone for under 50 dollars, which is not a lot of money. Even though you can’t get a special discount from a specific provider, at least you have the freedom of choosing your own favorite network.

Can you put any SIM card into an unlocked phone?

Yes! The biggest advantage of buying an unlocked smartphone is that you can pick any provider you like. Many cell phones are sold under one particular network, making it difficult for you to swap a sim card. Being locked in one specific network isn’t fun because you can’t change the provider when there’s a better deal. Read more about this on buying unlocked cell phone and using it with Verizon.

Can you unlock a phone yourself?

While it’s possible to unlock a phone by yourself, you may still need to contact your provider to help you activate the phone. First, you have to make sure that your phone actually needs unlocking. How? Just insert a sim card and see if a message appears on your home screen that your phone is locked. The easiest way to unlock your device is by asking for a Network Unlock Code from your provider.

Conclusion

Dozens of websites help you find unlocked cell phones under $50 Dollars. However, not all of those websites are trusted. We would say that Amazon is the best place to buy an unlocked cell phone because this website has been trusted by online shoppers for years. Another great place to buy a phone is on Best Buy and Walmart. So, whichever of these best 7 phones you like, we recommend checking those shops first and comparing the price.