Story by
Lauren Hockenson
ReporterLauren is a reporter for The Next Web, based in San Francisco. She covers the key players that make the tech ecosystem what it is right now. Lauren is a reporter for The Next Web, based in San Francisco. She covers the key players that make the tech ecosystem what it is right now. She also has a folder full of dog GIFs and uses them liberally on Twitter at @lhockenson.
Sometimes you’re in the market for a super cheap phone. Whether you’re just looking for a stopgap replacement, a backup or a burner, having a cheap and cheerful smartphone around is something worth considering.
Today, Motherboard spotted a TracFone on WalMart’s website, developed in partnership with LG, that has pushed the price of an Android smartphone down to less than $10.
$10! Depending on where you live, that’s less than a lunch at your favorite restaurant.
Of course, a smartphone this cheap isn’t anywhere close to cutting edge. It runs on Android KitKat — a couple of OS updates behind and a far cry from the current Marshmallow — and will probably never be able to upgrade.
It has a 3.8″ touchscreen display that is lacking any visual bells and whistles. But it does have a (3 megapixel) camera and functional Bluetooth, so you can definitely do smartphone things with it. Capable of 3G (but not LTE), the phone has a 4GB microSD slot that can be expandable, so there’s hope to upgrade from the initial poor storage found in the phone for a few bucks extra.
Did we mention it costs less than $10?
Currently, the phone is sold out, so you’ll have to be diligent at your local store or pick it up when it goes back on sale. It’s not the prettiest, most advanced or most secure phone, but it’s dirt cheap. Sometimes, that’s all you need.
➤ Walmart’s $10 Smartphone Has Better Specs Than the Original iPhone [Motherboard]
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