Cricket Wireless offers one of the best prepaid wireless services in the United States. For significantly less money than you'd pay as a postpaid customer, you can get unlimited talk, text, and data on the AT&T network. However, you might be wondering which are the best Cricket phones you can buy to use on that network? Don't worry, we're here to help you out with that!
Cricket Wireless offers a limited selection of phones you can buy just by walking into a store or shopping online at the Cricket site. Most of the best Cricket phones are budget and mid-range offerings, but there are a few flagships in there, too. Keep in mind that pretty much any device that works on AT&T (or T-Mobile) will also work on Cricket. That means, in some cases, the best Cricket phone is the one that's currently in your pocket.
Best Cricket phones:
Editor's note: We'll be updating this list of the best Cricket phones regularly as new devices launch.
1. Samsung Galaxy S10
Of all the Cricket phones available, none can top the Samsung Galaxy S10. Not only is it the newest phone on the list, but it's the most powerful since it's built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and comes with Android 9 Pie out of the box.
The device also has all the 2019 flagship features you would expect: wireless charging, a triple-lens camera on the rear, an IP68 rating, tons of RAM, tons of internal storage, and long battery life. It even has a headphone jack and a microSD card slot, two features that a lot of flagships are abandoning, unfortunately.
Simply put, this is not just one of the best Cricket phones for sale — it is the best Cricket phone for sale.
Unfortunately, Cricket Wireless doesn't sell the larger sibling of the Galaxy S10, known as the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. It also doesn't sell the smaller, cheaper sibling, the Samsung Galaxy S10e. However, you can buy both of these devices unlocked from a third-party retailer and use them on the Cricket network. Continue on to read more about Cricket's bring-your-own-device program!
Samsung Galaxy S10 specs:
- Display: 6.1-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: Snapdragon 855
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Rear cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 3,400mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
2. LG V35 ThinQ
The LG V35 ThinQ is a bit old — it launched in June of 2018. However, it was at the top of its class when it dropped, so don't be fooled by its age: this is still a top-tier smartphone and one of the best Cricket phones you can get.
One of the best features of the V35 ThinQ is its built-in Hi-Fi Quad DAC. This allows for unbelievably good audio quality when you plug in your headphones using the 3.5mm headphone jack. The Quad DAC makes the V35 a top choice for audiophiles!
Elsewhere, the phone runs on last year's flagship processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. It comes with a solid amount of RAM (6GB) as well as an OK amount of internal storage (64GB). There's a microSD card slot onboard so you can expand on that storage if necessary.
Unfortunately, the LG V35 ThinQ is still stuck on Android 8.1 Oreo. LG has promised that Android 9 Pie is on the way, but when you take it out of the box you will see the older operating system.
LG V35 ThinQ specs:
- Display: 6-inch, Quad HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 845
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Rear cameras: 16 and 16MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,300mAh
- Software: Android 8.1 Oreo
3. LG Stylo 5
LG's Stylo line is akin to an entry-level Samsung Galaxy Note line. That's because Stylos offer big displays and come with a built-in stylus, just like Samsung's Note line. However, Stylo phones are considerably cheaper than Note phones due to several cut corners.
For example, the stylus you get with a Stylo phone is not powered like it is on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, nor does it connect to the phone via Bluetooth. It's essentially just a plastic stylus.
The latest Stylo is the LG Stylo 5, and it's one of the best Cricket phones on offer in the $200 – $400 price range. It's perfect for people who want a big, hefty phone, but don't want a big, hefty price.
Granted, you're going to lose out on specs. The Stylo 5 comes with a mid-range chipset, a small amount of RAM, a low internal storage capacity, and a low-grade camera system. However, it does come with Android 9 Pie out of the box as well as a decent-sized battery.
LG Stylo 5 specs:
- Display: 6.2-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 450
- RAM: 3GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Rear camera 13MP
- Front camera: 5MP
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
4. Motorola Moto G7 Supra
The Motorola Moto G7 Supra is actually just the Motorola Moto G7 Power — the Cricket version gets a slight rebranding for some reason. Other than the name, though, there is no difference between the Moto G7 Supra and the Moto G7 Power.
The most notable aspect of the Moto G7 Supra is its enormous battery: at 5,000mAh, this is one of the biggest batteries you can get in a commercially-available smartphone. In regular usage scenarios, you should get much more battery life out of the G7 Supra than most other devices on this list.
Other than the battery life, though, the Moto G7 Supra doesn't have too many standout features. It's RAM and internal storage numbers are pretty low, and its mid-range processor is nothing to shout about. But with that massive battery — and the device's very low price — you're getting a great phone for what you'll spend on it.
Motorola Moto G7 Supra specs:
- Display: 6.2-inch, HD
- SoC: Snapdragon 632
- RAM: 3GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Rear camera: 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
5. Nokia 3.1 Plus
HMD Global has done an amazing job bringing back the Nokia smartphone brand, and the Nokia 3.1 Plus is a great example of its success. The device is very inexpensive but still packs some great features. It also runs Android 9 Pie and will get fast updates going forward.
Granted, the Nokia 3.1 Plus is no powerhouse. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor won't blow you away, and its very low amount of RAM will make multitasking a bit tough. But it does have a microSD slot to expand on internal storage, a decent-sized battery, and a sweet dual-camera system on the rear.
Generally, if you're looking to get the biggest bang for your buck and willing to spend more than $100 to get it, you can't go wrong with the Nokia 3.1 Plus.
Nokia 3.1 Plus specs:
- Display: 6-inch, HD
- SoC: Snapdragon 439
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Rear cameras: 13 and 5MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
6. Samsung Galaxy S9
As with the LG V35 ThinQ on this list, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is a flagship smartphone from 2018. As such, its specs and features will be over a year old at this point — but that doesn't mean this isn't still an awesome device.
Frankly, unless you're looking for the most cutting-edge features, the Galaxy S9 likely has everything you need. Just like the Galaxy S10 from this year, it has wireless charging, an IP68 rating, long battery life, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot.
It has less RAM and internal storage than the S10, but a 4GB/64GB pairing for that is not bad at all. It also has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, which is still an incredibly efficient chip, and is upgradable to Android 9 Pie.
If you want a flagship experience but don't want to pay a flagship price, the Galaxy S9 is one of the best Cricket phones you can grab.
Samsung Galaxy S9 specs:
- Display: 5.8-inch, Quad HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 845
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Rear camera: 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 3,000mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
7. Nokia 3.1 C
There are a lot of cheap devices available from Cricket which are specifically geared towards those people who don't care much about their smartphone's features or specs and just want to spend as little cash as possible. If that's you, look no further than that Nokia 3.1 C.
There are other devices available from Cricket that might be the same price — or even a little cheaper — as the Nokia 3.1 C. However, stay away from those because you're likely to get few (if any) software updates and won't find the great build quality of a Nokia-branded phone.
Since you'll likely be spending less than $100 on the Nokia 3.1 C, you're probably not expecting any awesome features or specs — and you'd be right not to. With the 3.1 C, you're getting the bare minimum you need to run Android adequately — but it will work just fine for you if that's what you expect.
On the plus side, you will get Android 9 Pie out of the box and also get relatively fast updates.
Nokia 3.1 C specs:
- Display: 5.5-inch, HD
- SoC: Snapdragon 429
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Rear camera: 8MP
- Front camera: 5MP
- Battery: 2,990mAh
- Software: Android 9 Pie
Your current phone
Although this list of the best Cricket phones only includes devices you can actually buy from the carrier, that doesn't mean those are the only devices you can use. Cricket has a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program which allows you to use almost any GSM-compatible device on the network.
With that in mind, if you are looking to switch to Cricket and already own an unlocked version of a compatible device, you don't even need to buy a new phone. In fact, if you do take advantage of the BYOD program, you can even earn some hefty discounts and bill credits.
Additionally, if you find a great deal on a smartphone that saves you some cash over buying directly from Cricket, you can just bring that device with you.
To check whether or not your current device is compatible, you'll need to visit this page and enter your phone's IMEI number. You can locate that number by dialing "*#06#" using your phone's built-in dialer app. However, in general, any device that works on AT&T, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Simple Mobile, etc., should work with Cricket. Just double-check before signing on the dotted line!
These are our picks for the best Cricket phones you can get as of July 2019. We'll be sure to update this post once new models hit the market.
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