4 Best Smartphones Under $50

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

The seemingly constant stream of new mobile devices keeps early adopters happy and manufacturers' pockets full. It also has a wonderful side effect for frugal shoppers: Anyone unfazed at the prospect of owning "last year's model" can find a high-end smartphone for under $50 down.

Related: iPhone vs. Galaxy: which is cheaper to own in the long run?

Cheapism.com highlights four such phones in a recently updated buying guide. To get the discounted upfront price, consumers must agree to a two-year plan with a carrier. Although typically this is a service contract, oddball T-Mobile has done away with contracts and instead offers a monthly payment plan for the retail cost of the phone (plus $10 for a SIM card). Be sure to check multiple retailers to find the best deal when upgrading to a new phone or signing a new contract. The HTC One is $99.99 for new customers through the Sprint website, but the same phone can be yours for 1 cent with a Sprint contract if you buy through Amazon, where Cheapism found the lowest prices.

Related: Which cell phone carrier charges the lowest fees?

Be careful of making a hasty decision: Once you're locked into a new contract, switching can be a costly endeavor, as some carriers charge as much as $350 to get out early. T-Mobile again stands apart by doing away with early termination fees -- and offering to pay the fees new customers incur when switching to T-Mobile from a competing carrier.

Related: Ultra cheap cell phone plans comparison

All four recommended phones are Android devices with 4G LTE, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. They have front- and rear-facing cameras and record high-definition video. The cheapest versions come with either 16 or 32 gigabytes of storage space for photos, videos, apps, and other digital stuff.

More from Cheapism:
Which cell phone carrier offers the lowest iPhone 5C plan
Best ultra cheap Chinese smartphones

For more ways to save, follow Cheapism on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.
To stay on top of the latest posts, read the Cheapism Blog.