It’s been a pretty clear trend lately that smartphones are coming with cheaper than ever prices while still maintaining respectable specifications. Just take a look at the Moto G or the Nokia Lumia 520 or 521 if you want some prime examples of smartphones that are like this. Still, even $100 or $175 phones could be considered an expensive drop for many, so when exactly can we expect smartphones to get really cheap?

According to an article from Engadget, it might not be much longer; the $20 Android smartphone is coming.

I know, I know; you’re probably thinking of the age old saying, “You get what you pay for,” and really, $20 doesn’t get you that far these days. For most people it won’t even stretch to a full tank of gas, so realistically, what can we expect from a $20 smartphone? To be honest, you really can’t expect much, but that’s not the point.

Personally, I find myself excited for a $20 smartphone. Not because I want to go out and show it off to the world, per se, but for a couple of other reasons.

First and foremost, this really puts just about anybody in the ballpark of being able to afford the luxury of a smartphone - and that’s what smartphones are. A luxury. However, as I mentioned before, even the “cheap” Moto G or Nokia Lumias are still pretty expensive to a lot of people and would need to be budgeted in if somebody is looking to purchase a phone at full price. $20? Easily attainable, and would get the job done.

I’m sure many of you have been in the position where you find that your own daily driver managed to run into a mishap or two that caused it to quit working on you. Even if you have insurance, it might take a couple of days before you see a replacement come in. Do you really want to drop $100 on an alternative right then and there to make it through the next couple of days? I’m willing to bet not. But a $20 replacement? Perfect! It keeps you in touch, gets you the services you need, and barely makes a dent in your wallet. What’s not to love about that?

Another reason that I think a $20 smartphone is a good idea is that it would also be a sound investment for parents who are looking to get their kids their first phone. As somebody who used to be a teenager, I can confirm that teenagers often exhibit destructional behavior and have tendencies to make rash decisions that can often involve precious personal belongings, cell phones definitely included. Not all parents are up to the challenge of providing their teenager with a pricey new iPhone or Android smartphone, at least without knowing that they’ll be responsible with it, so a $20 smartphone is just the thing to get them started. Plus, they’ll still be able to play with their Angry Birds and their Snapchats, just like all the other kids at school!

The phone can’t be expected to have top notch specs, but the fact that there are already plans in motion to sell a $20 smartphone without a contract is a really good starting point in my opinion. They might not be the most popular device around, but they do have a few good purposes that they can serve.

Readers, what are your thoughts on a $20 Android smartphone? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Images via CNet, Android VIP Club