PCMag.com's lead mobile analyst, Sascha Segan, has reviewed more than 1,100 smartphones, tablets and other gadgets in more than 15 years with PCMag. If you're a geeky parent, it is apparently possible to hack a fake gyroscope function into the Huawei Honor 5X , which is $119.99 today only for Amazon Prime Day. The cheapest way to get connected with Pokemon Go, if you're using the buddy system, is simply to use another phone as a hotspot. Update from Niantic (June 15, 2020): Niantic is postponing the Discontinued Support for 32-Bit Android Devices to a (TBD) future date. If you aren't a Prime subscriber, you'll have to spend about $200 for your Go phone. Any phone running Pokemon Go should support LTE, because you need that low 4G latency to catch anything. That makes the Moto G4, available on Amazon to Prime subscribers for $149.99, the cheapest phone that can play Pokemon Go well, as it has a gyro. But before we go to the list, let’s take a look at the system requirements of this game. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Bring an unlocked phone to TracFone and you can sign up for its $15 plan, which includes 200MB of data. Here are the cheapest ways to do it. PCMag Digital Group. The Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, LG G3, LG G2, and iPhone 5 all fit the bill here. Pokémon GO is a game tons of people are excited about. But not every kid in America has a phone—or should have a phone. While virtually any phone can run Pokémon GO, to make the most of it you'll need a phone with very long battery life, good outdoor screen visibility, and a gyroscope for the augmented reality portion. Related Article: BEST BUDGET Gaming Phones 2019. On Android, you need OS version 4.4 or greater, 2GB of RAM, and a non-Intel processor. Other than his home town of New York, his favorite cities are Barcelona and Hong Kong. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, The Best Battery Packs and Cases for Pokemon Go Players, Fortnite Adds Direct Payment Option to Bypass iOS, Android App Store Fees, Apple Explains Why Stadia and xCloud Aren't Allowed on the App Store, Apple to Remove Tens of Thousands of Games From Chinese App Store, Epic Wants a Mobile Version of Its Games Store on Android, iOS, Verizon Launches Powerful New 5G Home Router, First Look: Samsung's $700 Galaxy S20 FE 5G, T-Mobile: New 5G Bands Will Need New Phones, Samsung Brings Down Price With Galaxy S20 'Fan Edition'. Every kid in America seems to want to play Pokemon Go. If your Pokemon GoPhone needs its own plan, though, a $19 plan with 100 minutes and 1GB from US Mobile (using T-Mobile's network) is the cheapest appropriate plan. The really tricky part is that to use the augmented reality features, your phone needs a gyroscope, and it's sometimes difficult to know if your phone has one. Going onto eBay or other used marketplaces can find you some even better deals. TracFone might come in handy here, too. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The trick is that you can then add a $10, 1GB card for a total of $25 and 1.2GB. That costs nothing, and it should work just fine. He's the head of our Fastest Mobile Networks projects in the US and Canada, runs our Race to 5G tracker, and writes opinions on tech and society. Segan is also a multiple award-winning travel writer. Want to get your kids off your phone with their Pokemon Go? The cheapest way to get connected with Pokemon Go, if you're using the buddy system, is simply to use another phone as a hotspot. That can be disappointing. Apple devices need to be an iPhone 5 or greater, for example. That costs nothing, and it should work just fine. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. To enjoy it at its best, your phone can need network and GPS connectivity, a camera and gyroscope, and a large, hefty battery to get you through the day. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. While he's a fourth-generation Manhattanite, he now lives in Queens with his wife and daughter. Whereas it should sound appealing, Pokemon Go is serious business and it comes at a worth. We really recommend having an LTE data connection. I see used LG G2 phones for various US carriers under $100 on eBay. © 1996-2020 Ziff Davis, LLC. A used, unlocked 16GB iPhone 5 at Gazelle.com, meanwhile, runs $209. If you buy one of these used phones, make sure it works on your carrier's LTE network, because some gray-market imported phones don't. It can run Pokemon Go just fine, but it lacks a gyro, so you don't get to capture your Pokemon in the "real world" with the camera view. The Cheapest Phones for Pokemon GoPokemon Go's system requirements mean it won't work on many basic phones. The cheapest good phone in America today, the BLU R1 HD , runs $49.99 if you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, but it's still under $100 without Prime. The Cheapest Plans for Pokemon GoWi-Fi-only devices can play Pokemon Go, but it's frustrating, because you'll only be able to play it in Wi-Fi hotspots. With GSM phones like the unlocked phones mentioned above, TracFone will usually attach to the AT&T network, which may have more coverage than T-Mobile. US Mobile gives you a no-commitment 1GB for $19.79 including taxes and fees, plus an initial $3.99 for the SIM card. We made a list of the top 10 cheapest phones for Pokémon Go so that you can easily join the fun. I used 36MB of data in just a few hours playing Pokemon Go last weekend, so a 1GB plan looks right for true aficionados. If that's happening to you, and it's getting on your nerves, we looked into the cheapest way to set someone up for Pokemon Go. That's led, at least in our house, to a lot of "borrowing" of Mom's and Dad's phones for Go-related purposes.