Best phones on Boost Mobile (2018)

High end

Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max

Apple iPhone X

Apple's 2017 iPhone X is still a pretty cool phone to buy. It looks identical to the iPhone XS, so it's not like you are missing out on the new design. Its A11 chip is still super robust and its camera, while noticeably not as good as on the XS, is still a pretty great phone camera. It was among the best in 2017, you can be sure it still takes great photos and video in 2018!

Apple's iPhone X is, of course, famous for being the first iPhone to update the iconic device's designs after 3 generations of iterating the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus looks. The company stopped selling it from its official stores, since it has the capacity to cannibalize both the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, but it's still being stocked at carriers, Boost included. It usually goes for $899, but the carrier sells it it at a $100 discount.

Samsung Galaxy S9

Oddly, Boost doesn't offer the Galaxy S9+, but instead has its smaller sibling. The Galaxy S9 will set you back $699, but will give you almost everything Samsung has to offer on its top-tier devices. A Snapdragon 845 processor, the variable aperture camera, that curvy Infinity Edge display, Bixby with its own hardware button, and lots and lots of software features in the Samsung Experience UI.

Do note that this phone does not have the dual camera that the S9+ bears.

Affordable flagships

from $649.99

Released a month after the iPhone XS, the XR is the "affordable option" this year around. Its display is LCD instead of OLED, its bezels – a bit thicker, its body is made of aluminum, and it only has a single camera on the back. But, it comes in 6 vibrant and aesthetically pleasing colors, and it still rocks the Apple A12 chip on the inside. So, you get a slightly worse camera experience, and a slightly downgraded construction, but the device is just as powerful as the iPhone XS. iOS powerusers will be sad to know the iPhone XR doesn't support 3D Touch, but casual phone wielders will probably barely notice.

With the Boost Mobile discount, you can grab an iPhone XR with 128 GB of storage for just $699.99, which sounds very reasonable by today's price standards.

Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus rock the traditional... or outdated design, which we got used to seeing over four years of iterations. Still, they do have glass backs, which enable wireless charging. They are also powered by the same Apple A11 chip that hums inside the iPhone X, and they also have great cameras. The iPhone 8 in particular is extremely compact by today's standards, yet it's a flagship phone through and through, will be getting updates from Apple for years to come, and will not disappoint in the performance department. The iPhone 8 Plus feels a bit unwieldy, with its huge bezels around its 16:9, 5.5-inch display. Yet, one can argue its screen is a bit better than the one on the newer (and more expensive) iPhone XR, since its resolution is sharper and it still has 3D Touch!

Consider pre-owned

There is a very distinct gap in the $300-$500 price range in Boost's portfolio. This is where the carrier offers a bunch of old, pre-owned and refurbished flagship phones. That's not a bad deal — you get top-tier performance at a fraction of the cost.

Certified pre-owned iPhones get a 1 year Apple warranty, the rest have a 90-day warranty, which covers mechanical or electrical failures

Samsung's 2017 flagship still isn't too shabby. It looks almost identical to the Galaxy S9 and performs just as well today as it did on release. You have some future-proofing concerns here, as the Galaxy S8 doesn't support Google's Project Treble, so it won't be getting the timely updates, which the S9 — in theory — should. You also don't get the fancy-pants variable aperture camera, but the S8's shooter is still more than adequate.

The bigger Galaxy S8+ will set you back $349.99, which is quite a deal for Samsung's year-old top-tier phone. A rocking camera, a huge Infinity Display, and everything the Samsung Experience UI has to offer. Sure, you don't get the recent advancements like a dual camera with Live Focus (Portrait Mode), but any $350 Android midranger will have a hard time beating what the Galaxy S8+ has to offer.

Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

The Galaxy S7 generation is already showing its age, but we are still quite fond of the Galaxy S7 edge. It's powered by the quad-core, 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 820, which may be 2 years old now, but still has some wind left in it. Its camera is also hard to underestimate. And there'a also something about the design of the S7 edge — it's thin and light and feels great in the hand. To top it off, it has a satisfyingly clicky hardware home button with a fingerprint scanner right below the display.

In other words, if you are strapped for cash, but want some flagship experience, a certified pre-owned S7 edge is not a bad option.

Affordable category

LG G6

$149.99

LG made absolutely no attempt to challenge Samsung's Galaxy Note line with a high-end, stylus-equipped phone of its own. However, it does have an entry level device that it ships with a stylus in the box. Sure, it's not powered by Wacom technology and it's not as accurate or as functional as the Samsung one. But hey, the Stylo 4's price is five time less that of the Galaxy Note 9. So yeah, if you're on a budget and want a phone with a stylus — LG has this offering for you.

Moto's most affordable E line still aims to give you the most bang it can for your buck. $130 here gets you a Snapdragon 435 and 3 GB of RAM and a massive, massive 5,000 mAh battery. So, it's not a performer to write home about, but boy is it a marathon runner! The E series is good for casual usage, talks and chats, emails and social media browsing. But gaming or heavy apps... that'll be a tough job.