Our list of the 6 best cheap cell phones that manufacturers have to offer should probably be of use when you’re on the lookout for a cost-effective companion or a decent replacement to your handset. So here’s a little heads-up on what you can expect from these budget-friendly mobile devices. Firstly, there are the connectivity features that let you browse over Wi-Fi or 2G networks to stay in the grid and various other multimedia offerings to constantly keep you entertained. With the holiday season just around the corner, these handsets could make decent gifts for your loved ones, especially if they’re not strictly into the latest high-tech toys.
1. Samsung Star II –
First to feature on our list of cheap cell phones is the Samsung Star II which wraps in a 240 x 400p, 3-inch TFT display. It comes packed with 30MB of free onboard memory that can be extended to an additional 16GB through a microSD card. You can capture images through the 3.2MP rear camera that comes with the digital zoom capability, watch movies through the media player which supports H.263, H.264 as well as MP4 formats and even listen to music or FM radio. And if you feel like surfing the internet, the handset supports GPRS and EDGE as well as Wi-Fi b/g connectivity. And files are also sharable over Bluetooth. With this device, you can go on talking for approximately 780 minutes and the standby battery life reads at around 1,000 hours.
Price: $118.99
2. Sony Ericcson Mix Walkman –
By hosting a stylish design with a number of features for a low price, the Sony Ericcson Mix Walkman has earned a spot on our lineup of cheap cell phones. Just like any other smartphone, this handset can also connect to the internet over a 2G network or Wi-Fi when there’s a hotspot around. To provide you a convenient way of navigating through the phone’s menus, it sports a full touch UI. On its front rests a 3-inch TFT display whilst the rear sports a 3.2MP camera for snapping up those special moments. It can also deliver around 9 hours and 40 minutes of talktime over a single charge. The Sony Ericcson Mix Walkman phone is available in black with various side band color options.
Price: $119.99
3. Sony Ericcson txt pro –
Since most text buffs prefer a simple QWERTY keypad and social networking services, the Sony Ericcson txt pro seems to wrap in just that. Well, it sports many other features as well like a 3-inch TFT WVGA display, Wi-Fi connectivity, Google Chat, a full touch UI and Track ID, a music identification tool. The device also allows you to listen to or watch content in various formats through it’s media player. And if you feel like keeping yourself busy, there’s a 3.2MP camera resting on its back. It comes in three color options covering pink, black and white. On a full battery, the handset is capable of delivering up to 5 hours and 10 minutes of talktime.
Price: $116.84
4. Motorola EX119 –
The Motorola EX119 is another cell phone that’s targeted towards the texting audience. It sports a QWERTY keypad on the lower half and a 2.4-inch QVGA TFT LCD touchscreen on the upper part. You can store content on the device’s built-in 50MB memory or increase its capacity by inserting a microSD card of up to 32GB. Supporting class 10 EDGE connectivity, you can go online and stay in touch with friends. To keep you well entertained, there’s a 3MP camera and a media player which can run files encoded in H.263, H.264, MP3, MPEG-4, AAC, MIDI as well as AAC+ formats. With the 910mAh battery, the device is capable of delivering approximately 500 minutes of talktime even with dual SIM cards inserted.
Price: $109.99
5. LG Optimus Me –
It’s nice to know about the availability of an Android device within the cheap cell phones category. The LG Optimus Me is powered by the Android 2.2 OS and hosts a 2.8-inch QVGA display which portrays a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. There’s 200MB of available onboard memory for basic requirements and for adding media content, it sports a microSD slot capable of holding up to 32GB of memory. Connectivity-wise, you can surf the internet over a GPRS, EDGE or HSPA networks that support a maximum of 3.2Mbps in speed as well as Wi-Fi. Additionally, you can find a 3MP camera on the rear. The LG Optimus Me handset is capable of providing an approximate of 215 minutes of talktime and 320 hours on standby through the 1,280mAh battery.
Price: $131.52
6. Nokia C2-05 –
Revealed not long ago, the Nokia C2-05 is still to hit retailers. The device measures at 99.43mm x 47.77mm x 16.28mm and weighs 98.5 grams. This phone sports a 2-inch QVGA display portraying a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels and it is equipped with a VGA camera for capturing decent quality pictures. Media-wise, the device supports MP3 and MP4 files for playback and comes with memory options of up to 32GB through a microSD card. You can expect a battery life of up to 20 days in standby or 4 hours of talktime. The Nokia C2-05 will be available in shades of pink, peacock blue and dynamic grey.
Price: €50
So there you have it, our pick of the six best cheap cell phones. With this list, we’ve not only showed you the most cost-effective handsets, but also the ones with high offerings at low values. Do let us know which one of these devices made its way into your pocket.