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The best AT&T prepaid phones currently available

AT&T's prepaid phones are few, and they're not necessarily mighty.
By
July 13, 2022
ATT logo stock image 2
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

If you want a prepaid carrier in the United States, AT&T Prepaid is one of the best to choose from. It relies on the Big Blue network for far-reaching and fast coverage. While AT&T’s postpaid phone selection has some of the best options around, the company’s prepaid offerings are low- to mid-range at best. To make things worse, there are only half a dozen devices to choose from. Honestly, we have a hard time recommending any AT&T prepaid phones.

See also: AT&T prepaid buyer’s guide

If you plan to go with AT&T prepaid service, you should consider bringing your own phone, where they provide a SIM card for you to put into a device you already have. You can also check our best cheap Android phones and best Android phone lists for great options that will play nicely with the AT&T network. If you decide to stick with what AT&T prepaid phones are on offer, here are the best options.

Read next: These are the best AT&T plans to get

The best AT&T prepaid phones:

  1. Samsung Galaxy A03s
  2. Samsung Galaxy S10 series (pre-owned)
  3. Motorola One 5G Ace
  4. AT&T Radiant Max
  5. Samsung Galaxy A13

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best AT&T prepaid phones regularly as new devices launch.

1. Samsung Galaxy A03s

galaxy a03s rear angle
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

As we said, AT&T skews toward the affordable end of the spectrum with its prepaid devices. There’s not much better of an example than Samsung’s Galaxy A03s. It’s one of the most affordable options in Samsung’s catalog, and you’ll find a reasonably modest spec sheet to keep you going.

Related: The best cheap Samsung phones available

This wallet-friendly option kicks off with a 6.5-inch HD Plus display and an Infinity-V notch for the selfie camera. You get a hefty 5,000mAh battery, though it’s no longer removable. Samsung’s budget-friendly option offers up to 64GB of onboard storage, and a dedicated microSD slot means you can boost it by up to 1TB. MediaTek’s Helio P35 processor is passable, and the triple camera setup stars a 13MP primary shooter.


Samsung Galaxy A03s specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, HD+
  • Chipset: Helio P35
  • RAM: 3GB
  • Storage: 32GB
  • Camera: 13, 2, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 5MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 11

2. Samsung Galaxy S10 series (Pre-owned)

Samsung Galaxy S10 rear camera module
Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority

Nobody has ever said that AT&T has a robust set of prepaid devices. However, it’s now one of your only options if you want to revisit a Samsung flagship from years past. The entire Galaxy S10 series is now available in a refurbished capacity, with some options as affordable as $149.

We can’t recommend the Galaxy S10 series as a top-notch Samsung option in 2022, but it may fit the bill for those on prepaid service. The series launched to great reviews back in 2019, and the horizontal camera setup has only recently been imitated by Google’s Pixel 6. It introduced the idea of a punch-hole camera to the masses, as well as an ultrasonic fingerprint reader and the Snapdragon 855 chipset.

See more: Samsung Galaxy S10 redux

The battery life might lag a bit these days, as the standard Galaxy S10 packs just a 3,400mAh cell. Samsung’s Galaxy S10e is even smaller at 3,100mAh, but the Galaxy S10 Plus packs a decent punch at 4,100mAh. At the very least, the Galaxy S10 series is a great way to revisit some of the best phones from past years.


Samsung Galaxy S10e specs:

  • Display: 5.8-inch Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 16MP
  • Front camera: 10MP
  • Battery: 3,100mAh
  • Software: Android 9, upgrade to Android 12

Samsung Galaxy S10 specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/512GB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP
  • Front camera: 10MP
  • Battery: 3,400mAh
  • Software: Android 9, upgrade to Android 12

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/512GB/1TB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP
  • Front camera: 8 and 10MP
  • Battery: 4,100mAh
  • Software: Android 9, upgrade to Android 12

3. Motorola One 5G Ace

Motorola One 5G Ace on top of colorful coffee table book.
Adam Molina / Android Authority

Motorola’s One 5G Ace is one of the newer devices on this list and one of the most powerful. It’s one of a select few 5G-ready options that the carrier offers, and it packs specs that most AT&T prepaid phones can’t match. For starters, you’re looking at a 5,000mAh battery. Pair that with a Snapdragon 750G chipset, and you should be good to go for a while.

Read: The best Motorola phones you can get

The Motorola One 5G Ace won’t set the world on fire, but it’s a solid phone for the price. It’s deeply discounted now, and you can boost the 64GB of internal storage by up to 1TB. You’re also looking at three cameras on the back, but your results may vary slightly.


Motorola One 5G Ace specs:

  • Display: 6.7-inch, FHD+
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 750G
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Camera: 48, 2, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 10

4. AT&T Radiant Max

at&t radiant max
AT&T

The Radiant Max marks AT&T’s return to branded devices, and it’s one of the most affordable prepaid options you can get. It’s similar in many ways to the Galaxy A02s, though it offers a few sacrifices to keep the cost even lower. If you want a phone that can get you through the day without any bells or whistles, the Radiant Max might be the place to start.

Read: The best 5G phones

AT&T’s triple rear camera and 6.5-inch HD Plus display are pretty standard among its prepaid options, as is the 32GB of storage. You can only expand up to 128GB with the microSD slot, so keep that in mind as you add apps and games. A MediaTek MT6762 processor keeps everything moving along, and the 3GB of RAM should handle most light tasks.


AT&T Radiant Max specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, HD+
  • Chipset: MediaTek 6762
  • RAM: 3GB
  • Storage: 32GB
  • Camera: 13, 5, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 10

5. Samsung Galaxy A13

samsung galaxy a13 angle
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Samsung’s next batch of budget-friendly phones is well on its way, and AT&T already has the Galaxy A13. It packs plenty of the same specs we enjoyed on the Galaxy A12 — a beefy battery, a solid display, and Samsung’s reliable updates. However, you get the added benefit of 5G connectivity thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset.

Samsung even packed its latest affordable option with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to get you off the ground, and you can expand it with up to a 1TB microSD card. The Galaxy A13 ships with a trio of rear cameras, topped off by a 50MP primary lens. You can also check out the 2MP macro lens, and there’s a 5MP selfie camera on the 6.5-inch Gorilla Glass 3 display.


Samsung Galaxy A13 specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, HD+
  • Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 700
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Camera: 50, 2, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 5MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 11

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can bring an unlocked and paid-off phone to AT&T Prepaid. You will, however, have to buy a new SIM card.

Yes, you can use any device with AT&T Prepaid so long as it’s compatible with the GSM network setup.

You can activate your phone using your AT&T account online, by calling customer service at 877-426-0525, or through the AT&T app.