5 Best Cheap Smartphones [March, 2014]

Buyers looking for the best cheap smartphone in March aren’t in search of the latest and greatest smartphone, but don’t want to lock in to a contract with a budget smartphone that doesn’t deliver a good user experience. While we routinely talk about the best smartphones overall, there are a small collection of cheap smartphones that are also quite good.

Users looking for the newest technology will need to look somewhere else. This guide to the best cheap smartphones is aimed at users on a budget that need to get a new phone today, and want to spend less than $100 on contract or around $300 off contract. Our list of cheap smartphones includes on and off contract options and even the best free smartphone available today, if you are willing to sign a contract.

The iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S5 aren’t going to show up on our list, even though T-Mobile often sells them with a $0 down option. If you can get in on an iPhone 5s deal like the $1 after trade at Best Buy, that’s perfect. But that assumes you have an old iPhone to trade in and are eligible to sign a new contract.

You won’t be scrapping the bottom of the barrel, the best cheap smartphone for March include an iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, a Windows Phone and more.

If you are shopping for a smartphone on a budget, here are the best cheap smartphones you can buy today, with or without a contract. You may be surprised to see that there some crossover with the best smartphones we shared earlier this year. For users that can spend a little more, the Nexus 5 is $349 off contract, and arguably one of the best off contract smartphones that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

You won’t get the best deals on cheap smartphones by going into a local carrier store. Instead you’ll need to go to a retailer like Best Buy or Target or shop on Amazon. This works very similar to buying in store, but you will need to call to activate it or install the SIM card from your old phone. You can still get help from the carrier if you have problems.

When we are asked by friends and family what cheap smartphones are OK to buy, this is the list we share. You will undoubtedly see other cheap phones and even some free smartphones that aren’t on this list, but in most cases you’ll want to avoid them.

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