Update: This promotion has unexpectedly ended early.
A lot of people are interested in Android Pay, because you can pay your rent through RadPad for free when you use Android Pay until the end of the year (you’ll also finally be able to use Chase cards in September and there are other promotions as well). We’ve had a lot of questions on what the cheapest way to get a compatible phone is, so I thought we better do a dedicated post.
Android Pay Requirements
To be able to use Android Pay, your device must meet the following requirements:
- Must be running Android 4.4 or higher
- Must have a NFC compatible phone
- Must be non-rooted
You don’t need any carrier service, using WiFi should work fine.
Cheapest Options
Now that we know the requirements to run Android Pay, finding the cheapest model should be easy! Unfortunately it wasn’t that easy (Amazon, you should really let people filter easier). Now let’s get stuck into some options:
- Use a friends device. There is no point in purchasing a new (or used) phone if you don’t have to, chances are somebody that you’re close to has a device you can borrow.
- Check Craigslist. You can usually find some really good deals on craigslist, another advantage on this route is you can get yourself a phone with some resale value as well so you can unload it once you’re finished it. Nexus 5x would be a good option.
- Samsung Galaxy Core Prime (Sprint Prepaid): $73.99 on Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy S4 mini Black Sprint Prepaid Android Cell Phone: $89.99 on Newegg
- Huawei Honor 4 Play (G620s): $107.99 on Amazon
- Walmart Family Mobile Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime Smartphone: $129 on Walmart
Our Verdict
Honestly wait 24 hours before you even buy any of these phones, I’m sure readers are going to find much cheaper options than I was able to find.
Thanks to everybody who helped on Twitter.
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