This sneaky phone hack saved me a ton of money on my kid’s first Android phonePrepaid carriers are your best friend for cheap phones.

This sneaky phone hack saved me a ton of money on my kid’s first Android phone

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Earlier this year, I decided to get my son his first phone as he was entering middle school. I wanted something affordable, reasonably durable, and not so underpowered that it would feel sluggish. I strongly considered buying a phone unlocked outright, but even the cheapest options were well over $100 unless I wanted nothing more than a glorified paperweight. Considering some kids are less great with phones than others, I really didn’t want to spend much here at all.

That’s when I decided to try another path: buying a prepaid phone at a discount.

Prepaid carriers are your best friend for cheap phones.Andrew Grush2025-10-26T10:30:39.000Z{}