It wasn't long ago that budget-level Android phones were universally dreadful devices.

For years, paying less than $300 for an unlocked smartphone got you a barely usable handset with subpar performance, ancient software and an appalling display. It was only around 2013 that the standard started to evolve.

And boy, has it ever. Nowadays, you can find pretty compelling Android phones for as little as $120 -- and that's $120 unlocked, with no contracts or carrier commitments. (Most flagship phones, in contrast, actually cost around $600 to $700; carriers sell them for lower up-front rates and then recoup the costs by locking into you two-year agreements with elevated monthly rates.)

With an unlocked phone, you can get service anywhere you want, with no strings attached -- including at a prepaid carrier that'll charge you as little as $30 to $45 a month for the same basic service you're getting now.

These six devices will let you cash in on the savings while still enjoying a nice smartphone experience.