Don't know where you live, but I saw a new 4” Huawei (Ascend?) cellphone at Walmart for $150 from Net10(AT&T network). Their plan is around 49$ w/tax, fees, etc. included with unlimited talk, text & data(capped @ 2 or 2.5GB -I forget which...) if you sign up for automatic debit from your card or bank account.
I'm using Net10 with an HTC Inspire 4G that I got when I was under contract with AT&T and there is no detectable difference in service except my bill is about half what it was when I was under contract with them! Around here the choices are mostly limited to Verizon or AT&T networks as the others are spotty at best.
You can buy an Unlocked used HTC Inspire 4G for under 90$ in nice condition, or a refurbed or new one for not a lot more on Amazon or EBay, pick up a Net10 (BYOP -Bring Your Own Phone) sim card and $50 monthly plan online or at various stores and have a 4.3" 800x480 SVGA display cheap. I know it's not 720P or HD, but it looks pretty good for a 4.3" display. Android 2.3.5, but it works well, has gorilla glass and a mostly aluminum body. Mine is three years old and still taking a beating -plus, if you like flashing phones there are a ton of firmwares for the HTC Inspire 4G also known as the Desire HD. I'm debating buying an HTC ONE unlocked and putting it on Net10 unless I can find a better monthly deal. Hard to beat HTC's aluminum body phones for durability.
You might also look at
www.merimobiles.com they have a bunch of phones around $200 or less with larger displays that will work on Net10 or similar MVNO Networks. They even have some with 4G LTE and larger displays for $3-400. Xiaomi has some nice high spec phones available through them for around $200 with larger displays. You absolutely need to speak with them about network compatibility at 3G as well as 2G, but they do have nice pricing on new devices many of which seem to work on AT&T or MVNOs using their network.
I think I'm done with contracts and will likely buy unlocked phones outright from now on, the overall savings makes it worthwhile and I love getting the benefits of AT&T's network at half the price. It makes me feel so much better about the fours years of screwing I received as a customer at twice the price and higher!
Edit: Well, if Boost Mobile or Republic on Sprint works well for you coverage-wise I suppose you could do a lot worse than that Moto G!