People usually choose a smaller carrier, or MVNO like Cricket Wireless, to save money. The companies know their customers and that's why their phones largely consist of affordable and super-budget devices. That doesn't mean they don't have something to offer on the higher end, however.

Pairing a $1,000 phone with a budget plan like the ones Cricket tends to offer doesn't make much sense, so we're straying away from the best possible phones and suggesting something more reasonable instead. 

Cricket Wireless is using AT&T's network and if you're considering it as an option for your next contract, then this article will give you a good idea of what to expect.

Without further ado, it's time for the best Cricket phones you can buy right now!

Best Cricket Wireless cell phones, a summarized list:

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

The most advanced iPhone

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is without a doubt the most complete new iPhone. With a 120Hz screen refresh rate, Always On display functionality, and a Dynamic Island punch hole, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple's latest and greatest. It's also powered by the Apple A16 Bionic chipset, which was reserved for the true iPhone flagships this year. 

The camera is another key improvement. Apple introduced a new 48MP camera system that will definitely stick for a few years and could score tons of potential updates down the line, with improved picture quality and new features likely planned for future iPhones. 

And yet, its current iteration on the iPhone 14 Pro Max is good enough, with tons of detail and exceptional sharpness in the dedicated 48MP RAW mode, but even the regular camera mode takes excellent pictures. There's also a 4K@30fps Cinematic Video mode, which takes superb videos with a bokeh background. 

Admittedly, the iPhone 13 Pro Max could be a better value, but if you truly want the best, you should go with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which goes for $1100 for the 128GB version on Cricket Wireless. 

Apple iPhone 15

The iPhone to buy in 2024

The iPhone 15 is the best phone you can get right now. Surely, it lacks some of the features that make the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max so exciting, but on the other hand, it's affordable, it's fairly compact, and it's familiar. 

There is a brand new 48MP main camera and a brighter display on the new vanilla iPhone. There have also been some improvements made to the camera app and some of its AI features, making the iPhone 15 a smarter camera phone compared to previous iterations.

We also get the Dynamic Island design feature, which is now universal on the iPhone 15 lineup. The only major downside? The display is only 60Hz, so it's noticeably choppier than even most mid-range phones out there. 

Apple iPhone 11

Insane value, the no-frills iPhone experience

Despite that's it a bit older, the iPhone 11 is still offering insane value for the price you could land it on Cricket Wireless. Yes, it comes with the older iPhone design and the somewhat aged LCD screen (Apple thankfully switched to OLED with the iPhone 12 onwards), but as an upside, the iPhone 11 comes with excellent performance and battery endurance. There's also the well-known dual-camera setup that's still being used in Apple's latest affordable iPhones, albeit with tons of software improvements to make it take better photos. 

The iPhone 11 comes with the Apple A13 chipset, a powerhouse of its time that's still a perfectly adequate chipset to this day. Well, the newer iPhones have much better performance, all things considered, but you are mostly unlikely to notice that much of a significant difference in your regular day-to-day usage of this 2019 iPhone. 

It's also the last iPhone to utilize the ergonomic non-chamfered design that was kickstarted by the iPhone 16 back in 2014, and while Apple's new iPhones are a better feast for the eyes, you simply can't beat the ergonomics of the slightly curved chassis that sadly died away with the iPhone 11. 

Finally, there's the price. At the time of writing, the iPhone 11 goes for $399.99 on Cricket, which is an excellent price for a no-frills iPhone that will definitely get the job done. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G

The Galaxy S23 FE is a mid-range Samsung device that's one step beneath the Galaxy S23, but above all A-series and M-series devices you can get in the US. It comes with a new camera system, a great display, excellent performance, but most importantly, a lower price tag than the previous model. Currently, the device retails for $300, which is a great price at which you can score this splendid Samsung phone. 

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

The mid-range Samsung experience
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is Samsung's latest upper mid-range phone that definitely gives off the newer Galaxy S23 flagship a run for its money. The phone has a 6.42" AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, a triple camera setup (50MP wide-angle + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro), a 32MP selfie camera, 5000mAh battery with quick 25W wired charging, and 128GB of native storage with a microSD card on board. Powered by a 5nm Exynos 1380 chip with 6GB of RAM, the phone is an able-bodied performer. 

On Cricket Wireless, the Galaxy A54 5G is currently available for $409.99. That's a good price for what you get, but you should probably wait for a discount as the Galaxy A54 is often available at lower prices. At the time of writing, however, Cricket had no good deals on the handset. 

Are Cricket phones sold unlocked?

No, Cricket Wireless sells unlocked devices. To unlock a Cricket Wireless phone, you need to have had it active on the Cricket network for at least six months and to have never reported as lost or stolen or associated with a fraudulent account. 

Does Cricket offer free phone upgrades?

No, all Cricket Wireless phone upgrades cost $25. Also, Cricket will only upgrade your device if you meet the following requirements: you must have an existing line with Cricket, a monthly plan on the carrier that costs at least $30 per month, the upgrade phone must be new and purchased from a Cricket store or online, and to not have upgraded in the past 180 days. 

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.

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