technology news: Best Boost Mobile phones (November 2015)

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If you're looking to move to a prepaid carrier in the United States, you have a ton of options. One of the best quality prepaid carriers out there is Boost Mobile, powered by Sprint. We've already taken a look at the best phones you can buy on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, and now it's Boost Mobile's turn. This prepaid carrier has a wide selection of premium devices, and to be honest, it can get a little confusing at times. So, we're here to help you make that decision.

Many of the best options from Boost Mobile are pretty pricey when buying directly through the carrier. Keep in mind that these are all off-contract prices. You'll likely be able to find them a bit cheaper on Amazon. Without any more hesitation, let's get started!

Editors' note – we will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.

#1 – Samsung Galaxy S6

The latest addition to Samsung's Galaxy S flagship line brought with it an overhaul to design and build quality – something that was definitely needed for the Samsung Galaxy S6 to better compete with the arguably more premium high-end smartphones on offer from the competition. A metal and glass unibody design allowed for the more elegant look and feel that is expected from a Samsung flagship, and worthy of the high price tag that the device commands, even if the new build did result in previously staple features like expandable storage and replaceable batteries going by the wayside.

Of course, Samsung is still Samsung, and the Galaxy S6 is certainly not lacking in extras, with it retaining hardware features like a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint scanner, as well as a camera package that allows for one of the best smartphone camera experiences currently available. While replaceable batteries may no longer be available, Samsung also attempted to alleviate any battery life concerns you may have with the inclusion of fast charging and wireless charging capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is one of the best smartphones on the list, and also the most expensive, with its price point of $649.99, and is certainly worth it.

Specs

5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution, 577 ppi
2.1 GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 processor
Mali-T760Mp8 GPU
3 GB RAM
32/64/128 GB storage, not expandable
16MP rear camera with OIS
5MP front-facing wide angle lens camera
2,550mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop (Marshmallow update coming down the pipeline)
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams

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Buy now from Boost Mobile

#2 – LG G Flex 2

LG kicked off 2015 with a bang, with the launch of its second attempt at a curved display smartphone. While its predecessor may have been more experimental in nature, the LG G Flex 2 was definitely intended for the mainstream, with features and specifications to match up to current flagship standards. All of these features are packed in a beautiful curved body that's not only aesthetically pleasing, but allows for a fantastic handling and unique display experience as well.

Of course, the G Flex 2 is also much more than its curve, with it being the first smartphone to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. Given the general trend in 2015, this is also one of the few devices to offer both expandable storage and replaceable batteries – features that many users will appreciate. The LG G Flex 2 is not without its issues, but if you are looking for a uniquely-designed smartphone that is bound to turn heads, this device is certainly a good choice. The LG G Flex 2 is available from Boost Mobile, currently priced at $329.99.

Specs

5.5-inch Curved P-OLED display with 1080p resolution, 403 ppi
2.0 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
Adreno 430 GPU
2/3 GB RAM (depending on storage option)
16/32 GB, further expandable via microSD up to 2TB
13MP rear camera with OIS+ and laser auto focus system
2.1MP front-facing camera
3,000mAh battery
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop (Marshmallow update coming down the pipeline)
149.1 x 75.3 x 7.1-9.4 mm, 152 grams

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Buy now from Boost Mobile

#3 – LG G3

The LG G3 may be over a year old, but remains a very viable option even now. The device launched with one of the best processing packages available at the time – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801. Surprisingly, the 801 still isn't too far behind current processors found in today's flagships on the performance front. The LG G3 was also one of the first Android smartphones to feature a Quad HD display, and offers expandable storage and a replaceable battery, with the latter especially difficult to find with smartphones this year. In the camera department, it was the G3 that LG first introduced OIS and the laser auto focus system, and while the camera experience may not be as great as its successor, it is solid nonetheless. The LG G3 is priced at $329.99 from Boost Mobile.

Specs

5.5-inch IPS LCD display with Quad HD resolution, 538 ppi
2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
Adreno 330 GPU
2/3 GB RAM (depending on storage option)
16/32 GB storage, further expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
13MP rear camera with OIS and laser auto focus system
2.1MP front-facing camera
3,000mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm, 149 grams

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Buy now from Boost Mobile

#4 – Motorola Moto E (2015)

The original Moto E was one of the best low-cost Android smartphones around, and its successor, the Moto E (2015) brings even more value to the table, with it now being capable of high-speed internet access via 4G LTE. The latest edition of the device brings a lot of small enhancements along the way as well, including a slightly larger display, updated processing package, more built-in storage, a front-facing camera, and a larger battery that allows for extremely impressive battery life. The Motorola Moto E (2015) is currently priced at $49.99 from Boost Mobile.

Specs

4.5-inch display with 960 x 540 resolution
1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 CPU
1GB of RAM
8GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB
5MP rear cam, VGA front cam
Non-removable 2390mAh battery
129.8 x 66.8 x 12.2mm, 145g
Android 5.1 Lollipop

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Buy now from Boost Mobile

#5 – Boost Max+ by ZTE

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The Boost Max+, manufactured by ZTE, is a solid budget-friendly offering from the carrier, with its biggest selling point being its large 5.7-inch display. The specifications of the device are otherwise decidedly entry-level, such as the Snapdragon 410 processor, 16GB of storage, and an 8MP primary camera. However, the device also packs a large 3,400 mAh battery that allows for very impressive battery life. Priced at $159.99, if you are looking for a decent large display smartphone on a budget, the Boost Max+ should certainly be in consideration.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with 720p resolution. 258 ppi
1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor
Adreno 306 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB storage, further expandable via microSD card by up to 64 GB
8MP rear camera
1MP front-facing camera
3,400mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
165.1 x 82.6 x 10.2 mm, 195 grams

Buy now from Boost Mobile

#6 – LG G Stylo

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If you are looking for a smartphone with a stylus experience on a budget, your best bet is the LG G Stylo. The device features modest specifications overall, similar to what is available with the Boost Max+ above. The key aspect of the LG G Stylo is the fact that the device comes with an embedded stylus, which understandably doesn't offer the robust feature set available with something like the S Pen, but there are a few software features LG has baked in to take advantage of the stylus. The LG G Stylo is currently available for $149.99 from Boost Mobile.

Specs

5.7-inch IPS LCD display with a 720p resolution, 258 ppi
1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor
Adreno 306 GPU
1GB RAM
8GB storage, further expandable via microSD by up to 32 GB
8MP rear camera
5MP front-facing camera
3,000mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
154.4 x 79.3 x 9.4 mm, 166 grams

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Best LG G Stylo cases

Buy now from Boost Mobile

#7 – LG Volt 2

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LG introduced a slew of entry-level and mid-range smartphones earlier this year, with the best of the lot being the LG Volt 2. Apart from featuring signature LG design elements like the rear button placement, thin bezels on the sides of the display and software features like Knock Code, the big selling point of this otherwise entry-level smartphone is its slightly curved display. While the curve isn't as prevalent as LG's flagship G4 and Flex 2, it is a differentiating factor when compared to the slew of similarly priced and spec'd smartphones out there. The LG Volt 2 is currently priced at $99.99 from Boost Mobile.

Specs