Budget Cell Phone Buying Guide

Buying a budget cell phone doesn’t mean settling for a featureless phone. Most service providers offer budget cell phones for free, or at a discount, if you sign a contract. And most budget cell phones come packed with features from digital cameras to GPS receivers. But cell phone selection comes down largely to personal preference. Some favorite features are more frivolous than functional. So read ahead to find out which features are worth talking about and which ones are only worth a mention.

Features Worth Talking About

Talk Isn’t Always Cheap: Price

Before you buy a cell phone, determine a budget. Service providers offer budget cell phones for free or as high $200-plus. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles, don’t get caught up in buying the latest and greatest gadgets like digital players and GPS. Stick to your budget.

All the Rage: Cell Phone Style

For most people, cell phone choice comes down to aesthetics—color, size and style. Cell phones come in three styles (flip, candy-bar and slider) with endless variations on each. Pick a cell phone you like the look of and feel comfortable using.

Say Cheese: Digital Camera

Essential for some, extravagant for others, cell phone cameras vary in quality. Many cell phones come standard with cameras. Even if you never use it, you might end up with a camera anyway. Look for a cell phone camera with between two and three megapixels. Keep an eye out for extra features, too, like zoom and video capabilities.

Sweet Tooth for Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology transmits cell phone signals to an ear piece or car stereo. An earpiece frees you up to talk and work at the same time—which is handy (and safer) when driving. Some states, like California, have passed laws that require hands-free devices when driving. Check your local laws for hands-free regulations.

Talking Out Loud: Speakerphone

If you don’t want to spring for Bluetooth, speakerphone still lets you talk and work simultaneously without trying to pin your cell phone between your ear and shoulder.

Walkie and Talkie: Battery Life

Cell phone battery life is measured in two ways: standby time (when your cell phone is idle) and talk time (when you’re using your phone). Focus on talk time. Making and receiving calls, texting and playing games all drain power. Three to five hours are standard and should last most days. But determine how much you talk and pick a cell phone accordingly.

Systemizing 101: Organizer Functions

Even budget cell phones come with a package of organizing features. Pick a cell phone that meets your needs. Not all cell phones come with the same features, but these are pretty standard: alarm clock, calculator, calendar, text messenger, to-do list and voice recorder—to name a few.

Features to Mention

The Almost-Sound of Music: Polyphonic Ringtones

Polyphonic ringtones synthesize sound to mimic real music. Most cell phones come standard with polyphonic ringtones, if not the ability to play recorded music.

Making Music: Digital Players

For real music, digital players play MP3 files on your cell phone. You can download songs for ringtones or your listening pleasure, but you probably won’t give up your separate MP3 player. Don’t buy a cell phone just for the digital player.

Satellite Connection: GPS Capability

Very few budget cell phones feature GPS—the ability to pinpoint your geographic location anywhere in the world. If GPS is important to you, visit our GPS page to compare receivers and buy the one that works best for you and your needs.

Multilingual: Multi-Language

Most cell phones come with multi-language settings—English, French, Spanish and more depending on the country in which you buying your cell phone.

In Conclusion

A budget cell phone isn’t a featureless phone. Find a budget cell phone with the most and best features for a price you want. And remember: many budget cell phones are free with a contract through your service provider. Visit our side-by-side comparison chart for the functional and the frivolous. Remember, at TopTenREVIEWS—We do the research so you don’t have to!