Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Earlier this year, I decided to get my son his first phone as he was entering middle school. I wanted something affordable, reasonably durable, and not so underpowered that it would feel sluggish. I strongly considered buying a phone unlocked outright, but even the cheapest options were well over $100 unless I wanted nothing more than a glorified paperweight. Considering some kids are less great with phones than others, I really didn’t want to spend much here at all.
That’s when I decided to try another path: buying a prepaid phone at a discount.
With the holiday season right around the corner, I decided to write this up as a guide for parents considering picking up a phone for their young ones. Here’s why I bought a prepaid phone and how it saved me money, even after I brought it over to our family’s postpaid Verizon account.
Have you ever bought a prepaid phone with the plans to eventually take it to a postpaid provider? 3 votes Yes and it saved me a lot over the long-term. 0 % Yes, but it didn't work out and it was more hassle than it was worth. 33 % No, I prefer to buy unlocked. 33 % No, I prefer to get my phones from my postpaid carrier directly. 33 %
How I bought my son’s first Android phone for less than $100
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
I quickly settled on Straight Talk as a provider for a number of reasons. First, it is a Verizon Value brand. That matters because, in most cases, these phones now automatically unlock after just 60 days, at least in theory. This is not true of all prepaid carriers, as some lock phones for several months longer than this, and in cases like Boost Mobile, up to a year.
Straight Talk also has a decent variety, and there’s a Walmart within walking distance from our house, so my son could look with me and decide what he wanted in person.
Another major reason to pick Straight Talk is that it offers some of the best discounted pricing you will find with any prepaid brand. I would argue that Cricket is probably the best, but it’s also known for being more of a hassle when it comes to unlocking certain devices. The trade-off is that Straight Talk’s plan pricing isn’t as competitive as some other prepaid carriers’, but it all evened out in my situation.
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