UP
Our takeEditorialThe Cricket Icon 2026 puts 5G in a $105 Android. Slow charging and 4 GB of RAM are the honest limitations; it does what entry-level asks of it.
Cricket
Cricket Icon - 2026
6.0/10 UpPhone score
Cricket's 2026 entry-level phone - 5G and a 5000 mAh battery at $105, with 4 GB of RAM and slow charging as the trade.
Screen
6.6"
Chip
MediaTek 2.4GHz Octa-Core
Camera
50 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Cricket Icon - 2026?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“Five-thousand mAh and 5G under $105 - hard to undercut for someone who just needs to stay connected.”
“Four gigabytes of RAM and a chip too generic to even name: the bare minimum with a generous battery bolted on.”
Our take
Cricket's 2026 entry-level phone - 5G and a 5000 mAh battery at $105, with 4 GB of RAM and slow charging as the trade.
The Cricket Icon 2026 is a no-frills Android that lands at $104.99 on Cricket Wireless with one job: give someone a 5G-capable phone for as little money as possible. It delivers on that narrow brief. The 6.6-inch display, 50 MP rear camera, 5000 mAh battery, and MediaTek octa-core processor at 2.4 GHz cover everyday communication tasks - calls, texts, social apps, light browsing - without demanding much of the buyer or the budget. Wireless charging is absent. The MediaTek chip specification stops at model number, not named family, which points toward a lower-tier derivative than the Dimensity 6000 or 7000 series. RAM is 4 GB, enough for Android to run but tight once background apps stack up. The 10W wired charging is the real-world constraint: a 5000 mAh cell at 10W takes about eight to nine hours to fully charge, which means this phone lives on overnight charging or regular top-ups. Cricket Wireless exclusivity is by design - Cricket is AT&T's prepaid brand, and this phone is optimized for customers entering the prepaid ecosystem with a minimal cash outlay. It is not a phone for power users, but it is not priced like one either.
What we love
- 5G capable at $104.99
- 6.6-inch screen handles media and messaging at a comfortable size
- 5000 mAh battery supports all-day use
- 50 MP rear camera produces acceptable daylight shots
- Available on Cricket Wireless AT&T-based network
What we don't
- 4 GB RAM is tight for multitasking and background app management
- 10W wired charging is slow - roughly 8-9 hours to charge from empty
- No wireless charging
- MediaTek chip specification is vague - no named Dimensity family
- No documented IP rating or water resistance
- No telephoto lens; no secondary camera listed
- Cricket-exclusive
Full specifications
Display
Size6.6"
Performance
ChipMediaTek 2.4GHz Octa-Core
Camera
Rear camera50 MP
Frequently asked questions about the Cricket Icon - 2026
What kind of display does the Cricket Icon - 2026 have?
The screen is 6.6 inches. Resolution is not confirmed in the specs - the data lacks a resolution figure for this model. At a $105 price point and given the unspecified MediaTek chip, the panel is almost certainly LCD. Expect accurate-enough colors for everyday use and moderate brightness outdoors. The 6.6-inch size is workable for video and reading without being unwieldy. There is no confirmation of refresh rate, but a standard 60 Hz panel is the likely assumption at this tier.
What kind of camera does the Cricket Icon - 2026 have?
The main lens is 50 MP. Budget phones in this class typically apply heavy pixel binning to produce a 12 MP effective output with improved light gathering. In good daylight the results should be usable for social media sharing. Low-light performance depends heavily on the processing software, which is unspecified. There is no secondary camera listed, no telephoto, no ultrawide. Front camera resolution is absent from the spec data. The camera covers the basics - snapshots, video calls - but should not be the primary reason to pick this phone.
What is the battery life of the Cricket Icon - 2026?
A 5000 mAh battery is the main drawing card here. On an entry-level chip with a 60 Hz LCD display the power draw is relatively low, so a full day of moderate use is realistic. The charging story is the catch: 10W wired charging is slow. Expect 8 or 9 hours from near-empty to full. This phone rewards the habit of charging overnight. No wireless charging is supported.
What processor does the Cricket Icon - 2026 use?
The MediaTek chip is described only as a 2.4 GHz Octa-Core without a Dimensity family designation. That vagueness is a signal - named Dimensity chips get named. The 4 GB of RAM pairs with whatever this chip is to handle basic Android tasks: calls, messaging, light browsing. Launching multiple apps quickly or sustained streaming will push this setup. For 2026, it is functional rather than capable.
How much storage does the Cricket Icon - 2026 have?
Storage capacity is not listed in the available data. Cricket entry phones in this era typically shipped with 32 or 64 GB of internal storage. MicroSD expandability is common at this tier but unconfirmed. Anyone running a lot of local media or app-heavy workloads should verify at the point of purchase.
What kind of speakers does the Cricket Icon - 2026 have?
Speaker configuration is not documented. A single bottom-firing speaker is standard at this price. For calls and casual media playback it will do the job. Stereo audio is not expected. A headphone jack is plausible but unconfirmed in the available specs.
Does the Cricket Icon - 2026 support fingerprint or face unlock?
Biometric details are not listed. An entry-level 2026 Android at $105 will likely include either a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor or face unlock via the front camera. Neither is confirmed in the available data.
Is the Cricket Icon - 2026 water-resistant?
No IP rating is listed. Treat this phone as not water resistant. Rain exposure may be fine in practice, but submersion or sustained moisture contact carries real risk.
