Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

The best Verizon prepaid phones you can get

Big Red has plenty of affordable prepaid phones to try, you just have to decide on your personal needs.
By
May 7, 2022
Verizon Wireless logo stock image 8
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Verizon isn’t necessarily known for its prepaid phones, but there are a few standouts. We already looked at the best Verizon phones, so now let’s go through the best Verizon prepaid phones. If you don’t find anything here, check out our general list of the best prepaid phones you can buy.

More: The best prepaid plans in the United States

The best Verizon prepaid phones:

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best Verizon prepaid phones regularly as new devices launch.

1. Samsung Galaxy S22 series

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Plus camera module black pink standing
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Samsung kickstarts every year with its most popular smartphone line-up, and 2022 was no exception. Samsung’s flagship trifecta was announced at its Unpacked event, revealing a trio of what are all but guaranteed to be among the most popular handsets for a while. These are the Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra.

More: These are the best Samsung phones currently available

The base Samsung Galaxy S22 is the most affordable of the three, followed by the S22 Plus, and the priciest one is the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Aside from the display and reduced battery sizes, though, differences between the former are kept to a minimum, which means the experience should be very similar across the board. In fact, it’s tough to tell either the Galaxy S22 or S22 Plus apart from its S21 predecessor.

The S22 Ultra is the one that stands out the most, thanks to its more impressive camera setup and S Pen support. It looks closer to a Galaxy Note 20 successor than a standard S-series flagship. However, all come with an impressive Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and all the high-end specs you’ve come to expect from a modern flagship handset.


Samsung Galaxy S22 specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: SD 8 Gen 1
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 128GB or 256GB
  • Cameras: 50, 12, and 10MP
  • Front camera: 10MP
  • Battery: 3,700mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus specs:

  • Display: 6.6-inch, Full HD+
  • Chipset: SD 8 Gen 1
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 128GB or 256GB
  • Cameras: 50, 12, and 10MP
  • Front cameras: 10MP
  • Battery: 4,500mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra specs:

  • Display: 6.8-inch, QHD+
  • Chipset: SD 8 Gen 1
  • RAM: 8 or 12GB
  • Storage: 128GB, 256, 512GB, or 1TB
  • Cameras: 12, 10, 10, and 108MP
  • Front cameras: 40MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 12

2. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE rear panel over tracks
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S series may be more popular, but it’s easier than ever to get flagship specs in a more affordable package. Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE might not be the same hit its predecessor was, but it makes for a great value from Verizon.

Read next: The Galaxy S21 FE buyer’s guide

The Galaxy S21 FE lands right in the middle of the vanilla Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus. It packs a 6.4-inch display with a Gorilla Glass Victus front and a plastic rear panel, yet it still offers 15W wireless charging. Samsung tapped the 2021 flagship Snapdragon 888 processor to keep the lights on, as well as up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

It feels more premium in hand, thanks to its metal frame. The rear panel of the Galaxy S21 FE comes in four clean colors: white, Graphite, Olive, and Lavender. You should have no problems with the 4,500mAh battery, and 25W wired charging will have you back on the go quickly. This is still among the best Verizon prepaid phones, so go get it!

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 4,500mAh
  • Software: Android 11

3. iPhone 13 series

iPhone 13 Pro review in hand facing the sky
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

No matter how much we love Android, it’s tough to deny that the iPhone 13 and its siblings are some of the best phones you can get right now. From the powerful A15 Bionic chipsets to the clever camera array, there’s a lot to like coming out of Cupertino. Sure, you’ll pay the Apple tax, but these are some of the best Verizon prepaid phones you can find.

See also: Apple iPhone 13 buyer’s guide

Apple’s flagship line has stayed at four devices for the second year in a row — improving on the flaws of the previous 5.4-inch iPhone 12 Mini. It matches the rest in terms of CPU and a pair of 12MP shooters, but Apple gave the battery a boost in hopes of it lasting a bit longer. You’ll find a glossy glass finish on both the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, though the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max opt for a frosted glass finish, and they jump to 6GB of RAM.

Overall, the blend of hardware and software makes Apple’s iPhone 13 line the best yet.

 

iPhone 13 Mini specs:

  • Display: 5.4-inch, Super Retina XDR
  • SoC: A15 Bionic
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 12MP
  • Front camera: 12MP + 3D depth sensor
  • Battery: 2,438mAh
  • Software: iOS 15.1

iPhone 13 specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR
  • SoC: A15 Bionic
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB
  • Cameras: 12 and 12MP
  • Front camera: 12MP + 3D depth sensor
  • Battery: 3,240mAh
  • Software: iOS 15.1

iPhone 13 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR
  • Chipset: A15 Bionic
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP
  • Front cameras: 12MP + 3D depth sensor
  • Battery: 3,095mAh
  • Software: iOS 15.1

iPhone 13 Pro Max specs:

  • Display: 6.7-inch, Super Retina XDR
  • SoC: A15 Bionic
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 12MP
  • Front cameras: 12MP + 3D depth sensor
  • Battery: 4,352mAh
  • Software: iOS 15.1

4. Google Pixel 6 series

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro lying on autumn leaves
Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Google flipped the script last year by offering a midrange Pixel 5. Now, it’s firmly back in the flagship camp with its latest Pixel 6 series. Not only that, but Google found a way to push high-end specs without the premium price tag. Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro pack plenty of updates, and they more than justify the cost.

For starters, Google ditched Qualcomm for its latest devices. Instead, you’ll find a Google Tensor chip at home on both models. This allows for better use of Google’s machine learning and image processing, as well as longer future updates. You can choose between the 6.4-inch Pixel 6 and the 6.7-inch Pixel 6 Pro, along with a solid set of colors.

Related: Google Pixel 6 buyer’s guide

Google’s other key change is in the camera department. It’s impossible to miss the hefty camera bar across the rear Gorilla Glass Victus panel. Said camera bar packs an all-new 50MP primary lens backed up by a 12MP ultra-wide option. If you go for the Pixel 6 Pro, you get a 48MP telephoto lens to boot, good for up to 4x optical zoom.


Google Pixel 6 specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Tensor
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 50 and 12MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4,614mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Google Pixel 6 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.7-inch, WQHD+
  • SoC: Tensor
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB
  • Cameras: 50, 48, and 12MP
  • Front camera: 11.1MP
  • Battery: 5,003mAh
  • Software: Android 12

5. Motorola One 5G Ace

Silver Motorola One 5G Ace on a colorful blue book.
Adam Molina / Android Authority

If you’re in the market for a mid-range smartphone, Motorola should find its way towards the top of your list. It’s a leader when it comes to budget-friendly devices, and you have a whole host of options to choose from.

See also: Motorola One 5G Ace review

The One 5G Ace handset packs the Snapdragon 750G chipset under the hood and 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage. There’s also the old-fashioned headphone jack onboard. Motorola’s triple camera setup is another important feature, capped off by a 48MP main lens. The 8MP ultra-wide camera and 2MP macro shooter offer extra flexibility, even if they’re not the sharpest around.

You should have no problem bingeing the day away on the large 6.7-inch Full HD display, and a water-repellent coating can offer at least a little bit of peace of mind. There’s no real IP rating, but that doesn’t stop the One 5G Ace from landing among the best Verizon prepaid phones.


Motorola One 5G Ace specs:

  • Display: 6.7-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 750G
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Camera: 48, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 11

6. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

samsung galaxy a53 standing
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a great alternative on the Verizon prepaid phones list for those not looking to splash out on a flagship device. The A53 comes with a four-lens camera array that impresses, a large OLED display, and an Infinity-O display.

Also: These are the best cheap phones available

It’s equipped with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1280 SoC and packs 128 or 256GB of storage space for all of your favorite apps and photos. Samsung opted for a plastic construction for its Galaxy A53, but it feels premium in hand thanks to the metal frame.


Samsung Galaxy A53 5G specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, FHD+
  • Chipset: Exynos 1280
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 64, 12, 5, and 5MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 12

7. TCL 10 5G

TCL 10 5G UW rear pattern
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The TCL 10 5G is no powerhouse, but it’s one of the best Verizon prepaid phones for affordable 5G. For starters, the price is just $299.99 with a special promo code right now. Add the fact that you get a triple camera experience with a 16MP selfie lens on the front, and you have a solid all-around performer. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G is the beating heart of the operation, and 6GB of RAM help to round things out.

You’re also looking at a 6.53-inch Full HD+ display and a headphone jack for some added media enjoyment.


TCL 10 5G specs:

  • Display: 6.53-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 765G
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 48, 8, and 5MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,500mAh
  • Software: Android 10

8. Apple iPhone SE (2022)

iphone se rear
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Budget premium phones are all the hype these days, with the Pixel 6a and iPhone SE offering amazing quality at very accessible price points. The iPhone SE is easily one of the best Verizon prepaid phones and one of the best Apple handsets on a budget.

More: iPhone buying guide

The iPhone SE offers the Apple promise at about $430. It includes the familiar glass and metal design we saw on the iPhone 8 and has a very competitive camera, even if there’s only one lens. Users will also love that Apple didn’t skimp out on the processor, as the iPhone SE uses the same Apple A15 Bionic processor we see in iPhone 13 handsets. Other benefits include wireless charging and an IP67 rating, two features that have become popular in the budget realm.


Apple iPhone SE (2022) specs:

  • Display: 4.7-inch, 1334 x 750
  • SoC: Apple A15 Bionic
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64/128/256GB
  • Camera: 12MP
  • Front camera: 7MP
  • Battery: 2,018mAh
  • Software: iOS 15