Need a dumb phone recommendation - AT&T

[CurseTheSky]

My family all have AT&T with dumb phones. They're all out of contract at the moment, but I'm trying to convince them to stay that way if possible. Unfortunately, their phones are 3+ year old flip phones that have seen their better days. Some barely make it through a day of battery life with light use now.

I'm looking for suggestions on basic flip or non-flip phones to use with AT&T. The only requirements are that they MUST charge on Micro USB, and they must NOT be touch screen. I'd like to keep the costs low (under $100 each if possible), but would pay more for nicer phones.

What do you guys recommend? They just need something basic and reliable.

Thanks.

 

[Kenmitch]

Basic cheap phones....Google for att pay as you go phones they should work once you put your sim cards in them. It's what I did for my son when he broke his phone.

 

[pm]

This is pretty good - I haven't used this exact model, but I used a SE "Elm" which is very similar and it was pretty good for call quality, MP3 quality, and had an above-average camera:
Sony Ericsson Cedar - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875212162

My wife's Elm charged on microUSB and this one has the same port (in the same spot) but it doesn't explicitly say that it charges on microUSB.

This looks pretty good:
Samsung Stratus Black - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875176157
It looks like it charges on microUSB as well (it has the port, google sells microUSB chargers for it).

There are some good Nokia flip phones out there from Amazon that are unlocked, under $70, but my experience is that Nokia's may have microUSB ports but won't charge through them.

Before you buy, double-check the charging on microUSB thing. I wouldn't want to steer you wrong. I was mostly looking at Amazon and Newegg for phones that I recognized with good "star" ratings.

 

[alent1234]

there is a whole selection of dumb phones on their website. they are all the same. i think my inlaws have samsungs now. don't think they were microUSB though. why would anyone pay more than $0 for a dumb phone in 2011?

 

[pm]

there is a whole selection of dumb phones on their website. they are all the same. i think my inlaws have samsungs now. don't think they were microUSB though. why would anyone pay more than $0 for a dumb phone in 2011?

He said he was trying to keep them off-contract... My wife is off-contact, so I tend to buy unlocked phones so she'll stay off contract. If I'm going to sign a contract, I want a lot more than a $50 phone...

 

[alent1234]

not like AT&T gives you a break in monthly fees for being off contract

amazon and fleabay will have cheap batteries

 

[CurseTheSky]

not like AT&T gives you a break in monthly fees for being off contract

amazon and fleabay will have cheap batteries

No, but it's nice to have the option to give them the finger without eating an ETF if they piss you off. Not to mention, even if they DID renew their contracts (4 lines total), they would still be getting dumb phones anyway. None of them text, browse the web on their phones, etc., so they have no use or want for anything more.

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.

 

[quest55720]

It does not have a micro usb charger but I really like the samsung rugby. that is the phone my dad has. He delivers home heating oil and fills up contruction equipment with Diesel. This is in northern minnesota and wisconsin. That phone has held up like a champ even when he is outside for hours at -10f out or drops onto the pavement

 

[alent1234]

check sprint and t-mo, i think their dumb phone plans are cheaper than at&t. except if you have family texting with at&T you get unlimited mobile to mobile minutes to any network any time. i have this on a 4 line plan and use maybe 200 of 700 minutes every month. total minutes is in the thousands

 

[lifeblood]

It does not have a micro usb charger but I really like the samsung rugby. that is the phone my dad has. He delivers home heating oil and fills up contruction equipment with Diesel. This is in northern minnesota and wisconsin. That phone has held up like a champ even when he is outside for hours at -10f out or drops onto the pavement

My wife is constantly taking hers into the Great Dismal Swamp where she does her research. Its held up nicely there. If you need something tough, the Rugby is worth a look.