If you are looking for a bargain smartphone

[HeatherC]

Thought I would share our latest "deal" if you will. Had Virgin Mobile smartphone for $35 a month with 300talk min, and unlimited text and data. BUT...service was very spotty in our area.

We wanted to switch to Verizon since they have best coverage for our area, but for a contract for four phones, monthly bill would start at $260. Not happening since I was paying Only $150 with Virgin.

Well..long story short...sons phone died. Not willing to pay $500 for IPhone and don't want a contract. So I found out Straight Talk has a phone called the LG Optimus Fuel for $30. Monthly unlimited plan is $45, but it is on Verizon Network. I bought it for him last week to use until he can save up for an IPhone. It has a 15 day return so I figured it was worth a shot. Well...the phone has been terrific. Really!

Has the latest version of Android(kitkat) along with a 1.2 dual core processor which a lot of more expensive phones don't have and which makes it pretty zippy. Reviews are great on it as well.

Liked it so much, I went out today and got myself one. They are sold at Walmart.

No...its not an Iphone and this isn't to debate the pros and cons of each. But if you simply want a smartphone to use for apps, surfing, texting, email, etc.. it is really great. Touch screen is very responsive and it was easy to activate. Camera is only 3 megapixels so if you take a lot of pics you won't like that.

Thought it might be worth mentioning in case others are looking for a smartphone on Verizons network but don't want to pay contract prices.

 

[1Princess1Prince2006]

Thanks for the info! I'm wanting to get phones for both my kids, but I'm not wanting to pay a fortune for them. This sounds like it would work really well for them.

 

[crazelion]

I have the LG Optimus Fuel and I am just as cheap ipod touch just run perk tv and great in little phone. It does get excellent reviews too.

My kids and mom all Tracfones smartphones on the Verizon network. I am seriously thinking of switching over myself.

 

[mrudman]

Well..long story short...sons phone died. Not willing to pay $500 for IPhone and don't want a contract. So I found out Straight Talk has a phone called the LG Optimus Fuel for $30. Monthly unlimited plan is $45, but it is on Verizon Network. I bought it for him last week to use until he can save up for an IPhone.

Not sure how old your son is (whether he would want/need the latest Iphone version), but just fyi...

wanted to give you a heads up that a lot of the pre-paid or pay as you go companies are letting you use Iphones now.

My daughters were wanting Iphones and I wasn't about to spend $100 or more per month to get them added to my Verizon plan.

So I started researching and Ting lets you use Iphones with their plan (Sprint-based). I bought 2 used Iphone 4s's, and so far my bill has not exceeded $30 per month for *both* of their IPhones (talk,text,&data)

With them, you only get charged for what you actually used the previous month.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

We have StraightTalk also. It uses both Verizon and ATT towers. We are on ATT more often due to our location.

Have the Samsung Centura Galaxy smart phone. DD16 has same phone and it does what she needs--competes with friends' iPhone. I think you have done a smart thing.

 

[threecrazykids]

This thread is perfect timing for me! My husband and I are both done with our VZ contract, but my oldest isn't up until January I think and we are all on the same contract.

We have been toying with adding our two younger kids (12,14) to some sort of a plan because they are now doing more traveling with sports, etc. and would like to get them either their own phone, or one to share (they will LOVE that I'm sure )

These are great options to look into I think - I have refused to add them to the VZ plan simply due to the cost.

I'm gonna have to run the numbers to see what the best option is for us. I actually work for VZ (not the wireless side) and I do get a discount, but I still think it will be much cheaper to have the younger 2 on a StraightTalk plan.

 

[DaretoDis]

That means that Tracfone will be offering them soon. Plan to upgrade to the Fuel anyway.

 

[HeatherC]

So far the phones have been great. Signal is nice and strong and price was definitely right.

For the poster who mentioned the IPhone. I know a lot of prepaids Do have them available. BUT...you have to pay full price for them...which is close to $500 for each phone. This does basically the same for $30.

This phone is a great substitute to get on Verizons network for a lot less than their contracts. For a family of four it costs $30 per phone and then $180 a month. $45 each. Verizons plan starts at $260 for their contract and that is with limited data. And that $260 doesn't include taxes so it's probably closer to $270.

Hoping that with all the cell phone competition, we will start to see prices come down a bit over time.

In the meantime, hope this helps someone out.

 

[sherry7]

Just a FYI....the Straight Talk Optimus Fuel phone can also be activated on Page Plus (which also uses Verizon Wireless towers). Page Plus has a larger variety of plans than Straight Talk, with the majority of them being less expensive. Page Plus service can be activated/bought through a variety of dealers, but I personally use Kitty Wireless since their website is very detailed.

I'm currently using the Optimus Fuel on a Page Plus plan for $12 a month. I get 250 minutes, 250 texts, and 10 mb of data (which is virtually none). I keep the data option turned off, and get my emails, weather, etc over WiFi.

 

[mrudman]

So far the phones have been great. Signal is nice and strong and price was definitely right. For the poster who mentioned the IPhone. I know a lot of prepaids Do have them available. BUT...you have to pay full price for them...which is close to $500 for each phone. This does basically the same for $30. This phone is a great substitute to get on Verizons network for a lot less than their contracts. For a family of four it costs $30 per phone and then $180 a month. $45 each. Verizons plan starts at $260 for their contract and that is with limited data. And that $260 doesn't include taxes so it's probably closer to $270. Hoping that with all the cell phone competition, we will start to see prices come down a bit over time. In the meantime, hope this helps someone out.

Yea, that's why I was asking if your son needed the latest Iphone,

I got my daughters the 4S's for $150 each. Then I pay about $25-$30/month for both of them ( this company combines all accounts, and charges by "buckets"). So over the course of a year, I'm paying approx. $660 for the upfront cost of the 2 phones plus all the useage. So about $55/month... but I'm hoping the phones will last my daughters beyond 1 year, so it'll actually be quite a bit less per month than that,

Definitely not saying that one way is better than the other.. Just giving more options to everyone,

 

[Momonthegogo]

We just switched from straight talk back to Verizon because the customer service was so bad.

 

[Dreamer Kevin]

Republic Wireless is my carrier. I have the unlimited text, talk, and data plan for $20/month and I think with the new phones it costs $25. They even have an unlimited text/talk 3G and unlimited wifi data plan for $10/month!

 

[threecrazykids]

So far the phones have been great. Signal is nice and strong and price was definitely right.

For the poster who mentioned the IPhone. I know a lot of prepaids Do have them available. BUT...you have to pay full price for them...which is close to $500 for each phone. This does basically the same for $30.

This phone is a great substitute to get on Verizons network for a lot less than their contracts. For a family of four it costs $30 per phone and then $180 a month. $45 each. Verizons plan starts at $260 for their contract and that is with limited data. And that $260 doesn't include taxes so it's probably closer to $270.

Hoping that with all the cell phone competition, we will start to see prices come down a bit over time.

In the meantime, hope this helps someone out.

ETA: Sorry - just re-read your first post...Walmart

 

[MillauFr]

For the poster who mentioned the IPhone. I know a lot of prepaids Do have them available. BUT...you have to pay full price for them...which is close to $500 for each phone.

No matter what plan you sign up for you are paying the full cost of the I*Phone. Its just that they charge you every month for it. If you sign up for the contract plans you could end up paying close to $1,000 for the phone.

 

[StephMK]

Republic Wireless is my carrier. I have the unlimited text, talk, and data plan for $20/month and I think with the new phones it costs $25. They even have an unlimited text/talk 3G and unlimited wifi data plan for $10/month!

Do you have to use one of the two phones they offer? The plan would be perfect but not sure about the phone choices. If you have one, do you like it?


OP - thanks for this thread!! I have been shopping for an even cheaper pay as you go and this phone sounds great. I may get one if I need to change phones for a new plan. We also need to buy a phone for DS12. DD14 is campaigning hard for an iphone but thankfully DS doesn't care. I agree about not needing to pay all that money for the "i" products. We have cheap smartphones and they do everything I need in a phone.

 

[Aaeolien]

Do you have to use one of the two phones they offer? The plan would be perfect but not sure about the phone choices. If you have one, do you like it? OP - thanks for this thread!! I have been shopping for an even cheaper pay as you go and this phone sounds great. I may get one if I need to change phones for a new plan. We also need to buy a phone for DS12. DD14 is campaigning hard for an iphone but thankfully DS doesn't care. I agree about not needing to pay all that money for the "i" products. We have cheap smartphones and they do everything I need in a phone.

My wife and I also jumped on the republic wireless plan just last week. We bought a pair of the Moto G phones we love them. Work great. First smartphones that we have had but for the money I feel it was the best place to go.

Yes you do need to use one of their phones as they have the tech built in that enables the wifi/cell handoffs.

 

[RitaE]

Do you have to use one of the two phones they offer? The plan would be perfect but not sure about the phone choices. If you have one, do you like it?


OP - thanks for this thread!! I have been shopping for an even cheaper pay as you go and this phone sounds great. I may get one if I need to change phones for a new plan. We also need to buy a phone for DS12. DD14 is campaigning hard for an iphone but thankfully DS doesn't care. I agree about not needing to pay all that money for the "i" products. We have cheap smartphones and they do everything I need in a phone.

I have the Moto X and I like it better than I liked my previous iPhone.

That said, if I was signing up today I'd probably go with the Moto G because I'm just not a heavy smartphone App user. If it can text, give me driving directions in a pinch, and play a few games like Angry Birds then that's pretty much ALL I need.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

My experience with Straight Talk and the Fuel phone has been a good news/bad news one.

The good: in our area (fairly rural, def not suburban!) the Straight Talk service has worked FABULOUSLY! Goodbye, Verizon! We will save over $100 per month with 4 phones.

The bad: my husband and I are ruined by our current HD phones, old LG Spectrums which they don't even make anymore. Our phones were one of the first HD-screen phones, and OH MY, what a difference! Especially with our middle-aged eyes. It's like trying to go back to regular TV after seeing HD TV. The HUGE drawback for our phones is the audio quality for calls is absolutely horrible. Get two of them together, like my husband and I talking to each other, and it's a real mess. The call quality for the Fuel is excellent.

Someone with younger eyes, or someone who hasn't had an HD screen phone, or someone who doesn't use the phone for much more than talking on the phone would be completely happy. We're going to have to keep looking but it will be a nice little phone to have as a spare.

We are not folks who have to have the latest thing, and will use a phone until it completely expires, but we definitely want HD, in retrospect.

A huge THANK YOU to the OP because we have been on the fence for a long time about letting go of our Verizon contract, and the extremely reasonable price of this phone gave us an opportunity to test out the service without losing anything we have currently.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Thanks for the info! I just checked and it is offered in my area as well. I love straight talk.

 

[disney1990]

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