The Best Prepaid Android Smartphones

Smartphones are replacing cellphones for more and more people. But the exorbitant cost of a data plan, from a wireless carrier like AT&T; or Verizon, puts them out of reach for many. Add in the fact that most smartphones require a two-year contract and in an economy where many, if not most, people aren’t sure if they’ll have a job in two years there’s an awful lot of people who are either staying with their old flip phones, or going into debt to upgrade.

Fortunately, there’s another way to get an Android smartphone, and that’s to go the prepaid route. Sorry, you can’t get an iPhone this way; but if you still want a capable smartphone, you’ve got several choices, from the low end to the medium-high range. If you do go for the more powerful prepaid Android smartphones, you’ll pay a premium since you’re not buying the device on contract … but since your wireless bills will be lower, it’ll pay for itself in not too long.

Here are the two best prepaid Android smartphones right now:

The LG Optimus V

This is basically the quintessential prepaid Android smartphone. Its specs are decidedly low-end, but it comes with a price tag to match, plus it’s solid, sleek and reliable. Performance wise, it’s roughly equivalent to my HTC Aria, which is an Android smartphone that I bought last year. And while my phone sometimes lags or has trouble with certain games, it’s still very capable, and there’s a solid selection of games and apps for it on the Android Market.

Perhaps the best thing about the LG Optimus V is that it’s available on basically every network, in some redesigned form or another. Want an AT&T; GoPhone? You’re looking for an LG Thrive. Maybe you’ve noticed prepaid Android smartphones at Kroger; they’ve got a functionally identical phone called the LG Optimus S. Virgin Mobile has the Optimus V itself, and Virgin’s “Beyond Talk” plans offer unlimited data. Not bad for a prepaid smartphone.

The Motorola Triumph

This is one of the best, if not the best, prepaid Android smartphones out there. It’s got a 4.1″ screen, an HD camcorder, and a front-facing camera for video chat. Its processor’s fast and capable, and it runs Android 2.2 “Froyo.” And unlike the Android smartphones that Motorola makes for the other wireless carriers, it lacks the annoying MotoBLUR interface, so you can customize it however you want. How cool is that?

The Motorola Triumph is only available on Virgin Mobile, for a whopping $299 … more expensive than even the newest iPhone. But with Virgin’s plans starting at $35 a month, you can see how the savings add up. Just keep in mind that that basic plan only gives you 300 talk minutes per month, so if you use your smartphone for more than web browsing and apps you may want a higher-tier plan.