Best unlocked phones under $50

Top pick: BLU Studio Mini. It's the most complete phone here for the money — a real 5.5" Android smartphone, dual SIM, and sold by several stores, so you have a fallback if one is out. It's an older Android version, so treat it as a calls/texts/light-apps phone, not a daily driver for heavy apps.

Who the others suit:

• Orbic Maui — a step up in memory and storage if you want smoother everyday use; check carrier compatibility before you commit.
• TCL FLIP — best for anyone who just wants calls and texts in a simple flip.
• Maxwest Nitro N62 / G56 — budget Android options from a small brand; fine as a spare or first phone.
• iPhone 5S — only if you specifically want iOS; it's ancient and won't run current apps.

Skip the tiny 2G/3G mini phones and the no-name models with poor ratings — they're toys, not reliable phones.