The best Straight Talk phones of 2021

Straight Talk Wireless is a great solution for people who want a cellphone without being locked into a contract.

Available both online and at Walmart, Straight Talk offers mobile phone plans with no contracts, no credit checks and no activation fees. While an initial service plan is required with the purchase of a phone, you do not have to sign any long-term contracts. All of the service plans are prepaid and most are 30 days in duration.

Straight Talk currently offers over 65 cellphones from all the major brands, including Apple, LG, Motorola and Samsung. There are phones available for people in every price range, from the $60 Samsung Galaxy J2 to the top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G and iPhone 12 Pro.

Cheap Straight Talk phones

Straight Talk offers 25 cellphones under $50. Some are refurbished, while others are new out of the box.

Samsung Galaxy J2

The Straight Talk phone offering the largest savings is the reconditioned Samsung Galaxy J2. Available for $29.99, it is $70 off its regular price. The 4.55-ounce phone offers a 4.7-inch display and a 5 MP main camera in the rear of the phone and a 2 MP front-facing selfie camera. Talk time lasts up to 18 hours, while it has up to 17 days of standby time.

LG Journey LTE

At $39.99, dropped from its original price of $79.99, the 5.18-ounce LG Journey LTE is one of Straight Talk’s top sellers. With a 5.45-inch display and an 8 MP autofocus rear camera, the LG Journey LTE offers up to 14 hours of talk time and 13 days of standby time.

TCL A1X

At the top end of the spectrum in Straight Talk’s cheaper line is the TCL A1X at $49.99. Weighing 4.62 ounces, this phone features a 5.5-inch display and dual rear cameras. It provides 20 hours of talk time and up to 450 hours of standby time.

Moto G7 Optimo Maxx

Reconditioned, the Moto G7 Optimo goes for $49.99, $50 off the price of a brand new phone. At 5.9 ounces, the Moto G7 Optimo offers a 5.7-inch display, with up to 40 hours of talk and standby time. A 13 MP rear camera includes an LED flash. You can preview notifications and updates without unlocking the phone.

Best Straight Talk phone deals

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Straight Talk offers 29 phones that run $200 or more, including 13 iPhone and 16 Samsung Galaxy models.

iPhone SE

One of Straight Talk’s top sellers in this category is the iPhone SE. It encompasses the technology of the iPhone 11 Pro in the smaller frame of the iPhone SE. Weighing 5.22 ounces, it offers a 4.7-inch display, 13 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time. It has a 12 MP rear camera and a 7 MP front, selfie camera, which offers portrait mode to blur the background and bring you into the photo’s primary focus. You can purchase it outright for $199 or pay $8.29/mo. over 24 months.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

At 6.9 inches, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G offers the largest display of any phone on this list. Weighing 7.83 ounces, it offers 37 hours of talk time and 15 days of standby time. It has dual 12 MP cameras — on both its back and front. It also features 8K Video Snap, improving the quality of the video captured on the phone. It runs $58.29/mo. for 24 months or $1,399 in one payment.

iPhone 11 Pro

The 64GB iPhone 11 Pro, offers a 5.8-inch display and 18 hours of talk time. Weighing 6.63 ounces, the iPhone 11 Pro has three rear 12 MP cameras — ultra wide, wide and telephoto. It comes with ear pods with a lightning connector and a lightning to USB cable. It’s available for $899.99 — $100 off retail price.

iPhone 12

If you want a great deal on one of the new iPhone 12 models, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Straight Talk does sell them, but not at a discount. You’ll pay the full sticker price for all of their phones: $730 for the mini, $830 for the 12 and $1,000 for the 12 Pro. Straight Talk doesn’t currently sell the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Straight Talk flip phones

For people who want a basic phone, primarily for making and receiving phone calls, Straight Talk currently sells two flip phones.

Alcatel MYFLIP

The lightest Straight Talk phone on our list, the Alcatel MYFLIP, priced at $29.99, comes in at only 4.18 ounces. It offers up to 6.5 hours of talk time and 12 days of standby time. While it’s not a smartphone, it does have a 2 MP front-facing camera and provides you with access to email, your calendar and the web. A reconditioned version is available for only $9.99.

LG CLASSIC Flip

Also priced at $29.99, the LG CLASSIC Flip is another solid option for those looking for a more basic flip phone. It’s slightly bigger than the Alcatel MYFLIP — 4.48 ounces compared to 2.8 — but with that added weight, you’ll get a slightly larger screen and Bluetooth capability. 

Straight Talk trade-in program

Straight Talk Wireless will pay you cash for your old iPhone or smartphone. Start by entering details of your phone on the Straight Talk website, including brand, model, condition, carrier and if you’re including the charger. You’ll instantly receive the trade-in value of your old phone. Then, you simply ship the phone to Straight Talk at no charge to you and receive a check within two to four weeks.

By Laurie Garrison