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About Rob
Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.
Rob's Expertise
5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services
Editor
About Amanda
Amanda has 20+ years of experience as an educator. Her teaching career, paired with her love for research and technology, has led her to MoneySavingPro. Her personal experience with eSIMs and MVNOs after switching her entire family away from big wireless in the last few years has taught her the ins and outs of the industry. And saved her hundreds per month.
Amanda's Expertise
Writing, editing, proofreading, researching, blogging, collaborating, communicating, CMS, eSIMs, MVNOs, 5G home internet & comparison
Last updated on October 23rd, 2023
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Are you looking for the best budget iPhone? We can help you find the best deal while saving up to $600 a year, per line.
At a time when all your household costs are increasing, your cell phone bill doesn't need to be one of them.
At MoneySavingPro, we can help you find the iPhone you want, on your favorite network, at a much lower cost.
We've compiled a list of the best budget iPhones from low-cost carriers, so you can find the best phone deal at the cheapest price without sacrificing your wireless service.
Cheapest iPhones in December
Best budget iPhone deals
Apple iPhone SE (2nd Gen)
- 64GB storage
- Verizon 5G & 4G LTE networks
- NEW condition
- $229 $160 full price
The Apple iPhone SE (2nd Gen) has 64GB storage capacity. It includes a 4.7 inches screen and 12 MP camera. This new iPhone SE (2nd Gen) is available from Twigby with Verizon network coverage and prices starting from $40/mo.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Water-resistant
- Amazing A13 chip performance
- Affordable price
- Touch ID
Cons
- Battery capacity
- Night mode is missed
- Only a 5W charger
Apple iPhone 12 mini
- 64GB storage
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
- NEW condition
- $499 full price
The Apple iPhone 12 mini has 64GB storage capacity. It includes a 5.4 inches screen and 12 MP camera. This new iPhone 12 mini is available from Mint Mobile with T-Mobile network coverage and prices starting from $21/mo.
Pros
- Great compact size
- Excellent camera
- 5G compatible
- Brilliant OLED display
Cons
- Battery life
- No tele lens
Apple iPhone 12
- 64GB storage
- AT&T 5G & 4G LTE networks
- NEW condition
- $729 full price
The Apple iPhone 12 has 64GB storage capacity. It includes a 6.1 inches screen and 12 MP camera. This new iPhone 12 is available from Red Pocket with AT&T network coverage and prices starting from $30/mo.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Fantastic audio quality
- 5G compatible
- Amazing OLED display
Cons
- No charger or headphones included
- Battery life
- Not much camera upgrade
Apple iPhone 13 mini
- 128GB storage
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
- NEW condition
- $729 $629 full price
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has 128GB storage capacity. It includes a 5.4 inches screen and 12 MP camera. This new iPhone 13 mini is available from Mint Mobile with T-Mobile network coverage and prices starting from $26/mo.
Pros
- A15 Bionic chip
- Improved battery life
- Affordable price
- 5G compatible
Cons
- No design upgrade
Apple iPhone 13
- 128GB storage
- T-Mobile 5G & 4G LTE networks
- NEW condition
- $629 full price
The Apple iPhone 13 has 128GB storage capacity. It includes a 6.1 inches screen and 12 MP camera. This new iPhone 13 is available from Mint Mobile with T-Mobile network coverage and prices starting from $26/mo.
Pros
- Super Retina XDR OLED display
- 4K video recording
- 5G compatible
- Improved battery
- A15 Bionic chip
Cons
- No design upgrade
How to choose the best budget iPhone
You'll find all the same iPhone models as with the big three, and low-cost carriers offer the cheapest iPhones with a number of benefits.
- Save money: MVNOs have the best budget phones which can save you up to $600 per year, per line.
- Latest cell phones: Offering the same phones as the big three, but without the three-year contract.
- Cheap monthly payments: Many low-cost carriers offer affordable interest-free payment plans on their phones along with cell phone plans starting from only $10 a month.
- Unlimited data plan: There's still the option of unlimited data phone plans, however unlimited doesn't always mean unlimited, so be sure to check the small print.
- 5G compatible: If you want access to the fast 5G network, there is a selection of budget 5G iPhones to choose from.
- Phones for seniors: Find a variety of budget iPhones suitable for seniors, at affordable prices.
- Phones for kids: Low-cost carriers have plenty of budget phones including the latest iPhones. For even more savings they offer the best family phone plans with multi-line discounts.
Cheapest phone plans for iPhones
| Carrier | Network | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tello 2GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 2GB | $10/mo |
| Boost Mobile 5GB plan | AT&T & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 5GB | $5/mo $15/mo |
| Mint Mobile 15GB plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 15GB | $10/mo $20/mo |
| Mint Mobile unlimited data plan | T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | Unltd | $15/mo $30/mo |
| US Mobile 30GB plan | Verizon & T-Mobile 5G/4G Coverage | 30GB | $0/mo $50/mo |
T-Mobile vs Boost Mobile comparison
Keep your T-Mobile phone, number & coverage: Save $612 per year
| Carrier | Network Coverage | 4G/5G Data | Price | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $75/mo | $900/yr |
| Boost Mobile | T-Mobile 4G & 5G | Unlimited | $25/mo | $288/yr |
| Savings | $50/mo | $612/yr | ||
Switch to a cheap cell phone carrier
Thinking about switching carriers? Now's a great time. Save about $600 a year by switching to one of the best MVNOs.
MVNOs - Mobile Virtual Network Operators - are cheap cell phone providers that use the same networks as the big three carriers.
The low cost carriers operate mostly online and have lower overhead, which means they can offer you cheap cell phone plans starting at just $10 per month without compromising your quality of service.
Budget iPhones FAQs
The iPhone 11 is a popular choice for a premium phone at an affordable price. If you're looking for a basic option the Apple iPhone SE is good value for money at under $400.
MVNOs offer a variety of phones, but you'll also find great deals on refurbished iPhones. With a refurbished phone you'll get an iPhone that's been tested and like new, but saving you a few hundred dollars off the original price tag.
Recap
Whether you're looking for the latest iPhone or a cheap iPhone SE, Mobile Virtual Network Operators can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
MVNOs, like US Mobile or Mint Mobile, offer iPhones with cheap prepaid phone plans, often with interest-free payments over 12-24 months.
Although the major networks offer to finance over 36 months, being tied into their over-priced unlimited data plans for 3 years could mean wasting as much as $2,000!
Compare deals on the cheapest iPhones from low-cost carriers.
Budget cell phone guides
- Best Budget iPhones
- Best Budget Cell Phones
- Best Cell Phones Under $200
- Best Cell Phones Under $300
- Best Cell Phones Under $500
- The Best Cell Phone Plans under $10
- The Best Cell Phone Plans under $15
- The Best Cell Phone Plans under $20
- The Best Cell Phone Plans under $25
- The Best Cell Phone Plans under $30
- The Best Cell Phone Plans under $40
- The Best Cell Phone Plans under $50
