Prepaid smartphones. Those two words would not have gone together a couple of years ago, but times have changed.

 

Several people have asked me recently if they can get a smartphone with a data service without being on contract and the answer is a resounding YES. We're not talking about getting an iPhone for cheap, but there is a burgeoning market of low-cost, but competent, Android smartphones which you can run for as little as $30 per month.

 

These are perfect for those wanting their first smartphone, for kids or just for people who prefer to spend money on things other than expensive cellphone bills! Have I piqued your interest? Then read on for some quick reviews... 

 

The phone I use mostly is the LG Optimus V on Virgin Mobile. It noirmally costs $129, but I'm hearing that it might be going down to $49 at some retailers on Black Friday. It's a well made phone with a beautifully bright screen, but it's behind the times now in terms of speed and the screen is also on the small side. It's a good bet if you want a smartphone that covers the basics without spending too much money.

 

You could also look at the new Samsung Exhibit II 4G on T-Mobile's no-annual contract plans. That one costs $199 but has a larger screen and faster processor so it keeps Andoid moving along nicely. Here's is our in-depth review of the Samsung Exhibit II 4G. We did notice that the screen on the LG Optimus V is more readable in both daylight and sunlight, which is important here since the Durham and Chapel Hill area sees so much sunshine.

 

If you need a prepaid smartphone with a physical keyboard, the Samsung Transform Ultra offers a slide out keyboard with a 3.5 inch screen on Boost Mobile for $229. For that amount of money we would prefer to see a better camera than just three megapixels, but the rest of the specifications of the Samsung Transform Ultra are not bad.

 

There's also a new larger phone coming out right now for Boost called the ZTE Warp. It has a large 4.3 inch screen and a five megapixel camera. ZTE is a lesser known brand in the US but has been making big strides elsewhere in the world. The ZTE Warp is currently available on the Boost Mobile website and will hopefully be coming to our local stores in Durham soon.

 

These are all no-contract smartphones and the monthly costs range from around $30 to $60, normally including data service and texts, depending on how many voice minutes you need.

 

In terms of where to find these smartphones, a good place to start is the carrier's website if you're a mail-order fan. If you prefer to buy locally, the Durham and Chapel Hill branches of Walmart, BestBuy and Target carry most of them. Plus most of the prepaid carriers also have initial return periods so you can take the smartphone back if you don't like it.

 

Maybe it's finally time to give up that old flip phone!

 

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