the best Samsung prepaid phones. Now we go to Motorola, makers of the infamous RAZR. Back in 2005, that model propelled them to one of the premier handset makers in the country, even the world. Now, though, they’ve slipped. They’re sliding down the world rankings, and don’t seem to have a major device around the corner to pick them back up. Regardless, they still do have a number of useful phones out there, especially on the prepaid end. So let’s take a look through our pay as you go phone providers to see what they’ve got.
Top Phones
MOTORAZR V3
Nearly every carrier is going to have the original RAZR in stock. It’s the standard to which thin phones were held back in the day, though it is currently outdated. But outdated can be a good thing, since that means a low price tag. Well, that is, if you’re getting one from a major carrier. From Verizon INpulse and Alltel you can get a V3 for under $100. Through MetroPCS and Cricket Wireless, though, you’re looking at a price tag around $180.
Still, it’s tough to go wrong with an old, trusty phone. Walking down the streets, I still see more RAZRs than any other single model phone. Except maybe BlackBerry when I’m in New York City. Dollar for dollar, this might be one of the best prepaid values out there.
Available through: Verizon, Alltel, MetroPCS, Cricket, SunCom, AT&T Go Phone, Earth Tones
MOTOKRZR K1
The follow-up to the RAZR wasn’t met with nearly as much fanfare. That could be because the KRZR doesn’t offer a ton of upgrades over the original RAZR, though it is a bit narrower and handles music a bit better. The biggest complaint I’ve heard and seen about the KRZR is the scratches and fingerprints that are easily left on the phone’s faceplate. Available through: Alltel, Boost Unlimited, SunComMOTOROKR Z6
Surprisingly, the ROKR hasn’t done as well as many had thought. It’s a slider, giving it an aesthetic different from the RAZR and KRZR. But they still have those four capital letters, ROKR, which is getting a bit tiresome. The camera features an upgrade over its predecessors, notching a full two megapixels. The phone, of course, bosts the best music system offered by Motorola.
It’s new, though, and as such is going to command a decent price tag. Heading over to MetroPCS, where they don’t subsidize phones at all, you’re looking at a price of $279.00. That’s not good for our wallet-minded friends out there. It’s a full $100 cheaper with Alltel. If you’ve got deep pockets and a love of music, the ROKR might be right up your alley. If money’s an issue, well, just wait a bit for it to come down in price. They all do.
Available through: Alltel, Cricket, MetroPCS, SunCom
MOTORAZR2 V9
Here it is, the behemoth, the alleged iPhone Killer. No, it’s certainly not that. But that doesn’t mean the RAZR2 doesn’t deliver in ways that the other Motorola models do not. The screen is clearer, and it even features an external color screen with decent resolution. Some carriers will even let you send template text messages through it. The camera hits 2 megapixels, so it’s on the level of the ROKR and the KRZR. And have we mentioned that it’s ultra-thin?
Once again, this is a newer model, so only deep pockets need apply. Though as far as prepaid phones go, this is the cream of the crop. But the price means that not many prepaid carriers are willing to carry it. Surely you’ll never see it on Virgin Mobile or really any MVNO. Right now you can get it on Cricket for $379.99, or for $100 cheaper from Allel.
Available through: Alltel, Cricket, SunCom
Phones by carrier
Despite the above being the top of the Motorola line, at least as far as current prepaid standards go, there are plenty of quality older Motorola phones out there. Check out what you can find by carrier.
Alltel:
w315AT&T:
V190, V365 (individual links not available)Cricket:
w315T-Mobile:
V195Boost Unlimited:
W385, c290 (individual links not available)Boost PayGo:
i855e, i425e, 1425t, i335 (individual links not available)Tracfone:
W175, C139, W260g, C261, W376gNet10:
W375, W370, V176, C261, V170, C139, V171 (individual links not available)Earth Tones:
L2, V197 (individual links not available)]]>
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