The best burner phones are by definition so cheap you don't mind disposing of them. This means you can have two phones for not much extra cash. And if you can force yourself to set aside your smartphone for part of the day, that can be a way of weaning yourself off social media.
Burner phones also tend to have batteries that last for days or even weeks. And while they aren't the best camera phones, even that can be a bonus, as it can make you a better photographer.
Don't just buy any burner phone, though. For starters some, such as the Alcatel 1 (2021), are simply terrible. And while others are better, they may not support 4G, which is an issue as the last US-based 2G and 3G networks were disabled back in 2022. The situation is the same in Australia, where the last 3G networks were switched off in 2024. With that in mind, here are our top picks today.
Top 3 burner phones
With a removable battery, dual SIM slots and 16-day battery life, the Nokia 225 4G (2024) is our pick as the best burner phone today.
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If battery life is your priority, you won't find a better choice than the Nokia 110 4G. With minimal usage, it can stretch to nearly more than three weeks.
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If your budget is tight, the predecessor to our no.1 pick is worth looking at too. Costing around $45, the Nokia 225 4G (2020) provides the basic features you need.
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The best burner phones
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Best burner phone overall
The Nokia 225 4G (2024) is our top pick for the best burner phone overall today. At around US$59 / AU$109, this phone represents excellent value.
The T9 keypad delivers satisfying tactile feedback, while the 2.4-inch display remains perfectly adequate for basic functions. Build quality maintains Nokia's reputation for durability, with a lightweight yet robust plastic construction that can withstand everyday knocks. And the removable battery and dual SIM slots add a level of practical flexibility that's rare in modern devices.
You also get access to Nokia's new Cloud Apps portal, which provides access to news, weather updates, and even YouTube Shorts without the complexity or addictiveness of a smartphone.
The 1450mAh battery can last up to 16 days, and the inclusion of USB-C charging brings welcome modern convenience, eliminating the frustration of hunting for the right cable that's so common with burner phones. For more details, read our Nokia 225 4G (2024) review.
Best burner phone for battery
If battery life is your priority, you won't find a better burner phone than the Nokia 110 4G. With minimal usage, it can stretch to nearly more than three weeks between charges: a refreshing change from daily smartphone charging routines. This extraordinary longevity makes it ideal for emergencies, outdoor adventures, or extended travel where power sources are limited.
It's cheap too, at just US$40 / AU$80. As you might expect then, this bare-bones device focuses entirely on the essentials: clear voice calls, reliable text messaging, and basic 4G connectivity. The tiny 1.8-inch screen contributes to the excellent battery life while keeping the phone incredibly compact and lightweight at just 94.5g. The durable plastic construction feels sturdy enough to withstand rough handling, while the physical T9 keypad provides satisfying tactile feedback.
However, this phone makes significant compromises for its battery prowess. The minuscule screen makes web browsing challenging, the 0.3MP camera produces barely usable photos, and there's no video recording capability. Wi-Fi and app support are completely absent. For more details, read our Nokia 110 4G review.
Best burner phone for value
If you want something similar to our number one pick, but your budget is very tight, its predecessor is worth looking at too. Costing around $45, the Nokia 225 4G (2020) provides the basic features you need while keeping costs to an absolute minimum.
This 2020 model maintains the same durable plastic construction and familiar T9 keypad that made Nokia phones legendary for reliability. Its 2.4-inch display, while small by modern standards, is perfectly adequate for calls, texts and basic navigation. Battery life remains impressive with the 1150mAh cell delivering over six hours of talk time and several days on standby—more than sufficient for emergency or temporary use.
What you sacrifice for the lower price compared to the 2024 model becomes apparent in daily use. The smaller 1150mAh battery provides noticeably shorter runtime than the newer version's 1450mAh upgrade, meaning more frequent charging. The outdated micro-USB charging port requires hunting for the right cable in our USB-C world. Most significantly, you lose the Cloud Apps portal that transforms the 2024 model's internet capabilities—leaving you with only basic web browsing through a clunky interface.
However, for pure voice calls and text messaging, the 2020 model performs identically to its pricier sibling. So as it can often be found cheaper than the 2024 version, it represents outstanding value. For more details, read our Nokia 225 4G (2020) review
Best burner phone you can flip open
Want a flip phone but don't want to pay Samsung Galaxy Flip prices? Released in 2024, Alcatel’s 4G flip phone is a handy uses the same KaiOS seen on other feature phones, which makes it very adaptable. That, and of course the satisfaction of a handset you can slam shut on a call.
The 240x320 pixel screen and 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 will run basic apps nice and responsively on the generous internal display. 802.11 b/g/n wi-fi is available to prevent you using too much mobile data on those apps, and a smaller external display means you don’t need to open the handset to check the time or battery status. To extend the battery life to around two weeks, you can separately switch off data and geolocation (a system which gives approximate location using cell towers).
Best burner phone for seniors
If you’re looking for a simple candy-bar phone deliberately designed for the elderly user, this is a fine choice. The backlit keys are large and even the T3 text messaging letters are large enough to prevent squinting. The phone can also speak each button press to reassure users should they choose.
Battery performance, with a 1050mAh battery, is only average, but on the plus side there is a cradle-style dock to drop the phone into so it can take the place of a traditional landline. As traditional phone lines are being steadily retired – or might not make it to individual rooms in a retirement home – this might solve two issues in one fell swoop.
FAQs
How do I maintain privacy with a burner phone?
Pay cash, not so much for the handset but the service. You can buy top-up cards. Maintain anonymity on the device by avoiding apps / sites like Facebook which require a log in. You can manage the financial aspects and share bank details fairly safely with the major brands, saving trips to gloomy retailers at inconvenient times. Power the phone down when you’re not using it.
Will my current SIM card fit?
Most burner phones also use microSIMs rather than nanoSIMs, so you’ll either need to get a new SIM from your phone network or a converter: a little piece of plastic into which your normal SIM slots. You can buy these cheaply on eBay.
Can I still use social media?
A few burner phones will let you do this, but most won't. Let's face it, being free from the pressures and time drains of social media is a major plus point of burner phones anyway.
Do burner phones have a camera?
Yes, most burner phones will have a rear-facing camera, and some even have selfie cameras. But don't expect image quality to be anywhere near the standard set by today's full-on smartphones.
Other names for burner phones
The term 'burner' does carry some negative, crime-based connotations – as brilliantly dramatized in the US crime series The Wire. Consequently, some phone manufacturers and retailers instead prefer to use the label ‘feature phone’, meaning non-smartphone.
Others refer to them as dumphones to make the point that they are not smartphones. But bear in mind that some of the best dumbphones are actually quite expensive, so those particular models don't strictly qualify as burner phones, which are defined as so cheap they're disposable.
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