FREE iPhone 16e when you port in an existing number and prepay a total of $180 for 3 months plan

FrugalForever

Pro

May 29, 2026 7:40 PM

1.6K Comments

Joined Dec 2023

FrugalForever

Pro

May 29, 2026 7:40 PM

1.6K Comments

Quote from Mike85c

:

Tmobile is bad in my area. AT&T is the best in my area. Plus Metro you need to be after 1 year to unlock. Cricket has 2 version to pick from 128GB OR 512GB. Metro PSC does not. I don't mind being tied for 6 months becuase I don't need to go anywhere at all.

You are conveniently ignoring the cost difference ...

Metro device is $155+tax total. Nothing to be paid further and after 365 days from activation, the phone will unlock automatically.
With this deal, you have to first pay for three months $180 + additional 3 months to get the device unlocked. Assuming the cheapest plan of $35, that amounts to $180+$135 = $315 minimum, which is close to double of what you would need to pay with Metro. The advantage - you the phone unlocked 6 months earlier than Metro.
Now on picking 512GB variant, it's not the same cost, in fact its far worse with additional $350 to be paid making the total cost to be $665 + taxes (this time, since phone is not $0 like the 128GB variant).

Having said that, may be its worth for a few with preference of network etc but definitely not for majority.

Last edited by FrugalForever May 29, 2026 at 12:43 PM.

1

ctr11

May 29, 2026 8:02 PM

1.6K Comments

Joined Apr 2016

ctr11May 29, 2026 8:02 PM

1.6K Comments

Quote from koge811

:

180? Yep more expensive than metro. 16e isn't worth it at all. Trade in values also 1/2 of full iPhone. Yeah no. Why bother. After fees and everything flip and you get 50 bucks. Too much work very little gain. Service is also meh. Why should I vs visible 15 plan unlimited and unlimited hotspot.Sorry not. Go with metro deal instead this isn't competitive. Carriers are screwed up. Apple phones also no you ain't worth that much. It's an e as well.Even the family plan sucks. Might be worth it if you have 3m of gift cards laying around discounted by 20-30%. Usually 15%. When you see gc discounted it means the products are over priced At least discount it the camera you can get from 60 dollar android deal. You paying 100 extra for brand.Previous deal was also 120 not 180. This is truly a crap deal. Cite AI chip shortage all you want and push crap all you want we know the price just because hf bought this website and pushing bad deals more now doesn't mean shit. Old timers know the game.Also apple will be dropping the price soon. For trade in with that goes this value. Likely 250 from 310 and BB etc don't even pay this much even now. They give like 200-300 max for trade in better off buying 13 on promo and wait for trade in promo but likely need 14 iPhone instead for 800 off sign up.But now that you need 2-3 yrs even worse than 2 yrs. It's not even worth it at all. Just use old gen iPhone and androids free after promo if you want. buy unlocked don't even play their game

Wait, where do you see a visible $15 plan?

2

Hogan773

May 29, 2026 10:28 PM

3.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2012

Hogan773May 29, 2026 10:28 PM

3.5K Comments

I was literally about to order 2 of these at 79.99 plus 180 because kids need new ones. I am already on cricket so a good deal for my needs because I can use them on the kids current lines

2

koge811

May 29, 2026 10:40 PM

2.5K Comments

Joined Jun 2013

koge811May 29, 2026 10:40 PM

2.5K Comments

Quote from ctr11

:

Wait, where do you see a visible $15 plan?

port in promo 1-2 yrs ago.

for a time some like total wireless offered 15 as well to compete but for 1-2 yrs with port in.
theres literally no point using anyone else right now as i also get unlimited hot spot

now there are ways to get 10 dollar plans but there are ones for 1 yr only on port in promo during that time.

I guess inflation right?? no way to get a free phone/cheap phone though. plan is to use them as google voice and then just use my hot spot instead and wait a full year for metro so much sucky sucky.

2

ctr11

May 29, 2026 11:07 PM

1.6K Comments

Joined Apr 2016

ctr11May 29, 2026 11:07 PM

1.6K Comments

Quote from koge811

:

port in promo 1-2 yrs ago.for a time some like total wireless offered 15 as well to compete but for 1-2 yrs with port in.theres literally no point using anyone else right now as i also get unlimited hot spotnow there are ways to get 10 dollar plans but there are ones for 1 yr only on port in promo during that time. I guess inflation right?? no way to get a free phone/cheap phone though. plan is to use them as google voice and then just use my hot spot instead and wait a full year for metro so much sucky sucky.

Okay but as many would say, go ahead and supply the time machine, it sounds like what you're doing is actually just describing why this is not a good deal for you because of your current wireless setup, that's not really objective. I'm not saying this is a good deal, but what you're doing is like someone coming on here and chiming in saying yeah not a good deal because I don't like AT&T, or yeah not a good deal because visible $15 plan is better, none of that is helpful because it's either very specific to you and only your situation or the plans you're referencing just don't exist for people currently to be able to sign up on. No hard feelings, just trying to provide some perspective.

2

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 30, 2026 1:20 PM

344 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 30, 2026 1:20 PM

344 Comments

Quote from FrugalForever

:

You are conveniently ignoring the cost difference ...

Metro device is $155+tax total. Nothing to be paid further and after 365 days from activation, the phone will unlock automatically.
With this deal, you have to first pay for three months $180 + additional 3 months to get the device unlocked. Assuming the cheapest plan of $35, that amounts to $180+$135 = $315 minimum, which is close to double of what you would need to pay with Metro. The advantage - you the phone unlocked 6 months earlier than Metro.
Now on picking 512GB variant, it's not the same cost, in fact its far worse with additional $350 to be paid making the total cost to be $665 + taxes (this time, since phone is not $0 like the 128GB variant).

Having said that, may be its worth for a few with preference of network etc but definitely not for majority.

I see how the Metro PCS works. Yes you are correct the advantage is faster then Metro. I think most people want to unlock the phone faster.

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 30, 2026 1:21 PM

344 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 30, 2026 1:21 PM

344 Comments

Quote from KanjoosBaaniya

:

Hey nothing personal. By that logic (on whats advertized on website) all deals from telecom operators are mostly free phones.
Generally on SD the deal price is the out of pocket amount that one has to pay.

Yes I agree but there always "some catch to it" like paying X amount before it can unlock it.

FrugalForever

Pro

May 30, 2026 1:35 PM

1.6K Comments

Joined Dec 2023

FrugalForever

Pro

May 30, 2026 1:35 PM

1.6K Comments

Quote from Mike85c

:

I see how the Metro PCS works. Yes you are correct the advantage is faster then Metro. I think most people want to unlock the phone faster.

But not by paying double the amount

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 30, 2026 1:41 PM

344 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 30, 2026 1:41 PM

344 Comments

Quote from FrugalForever

:

But not by paying double the amount

What you said is true not paying double amount.

Vesp206

May 31, 2026 12:22 AM

31 Comments

Joined Nov 2017

Vesp206May 31, 2026 12:22 AM

31 Comments

Is there anything better than this deal assuming you need a new working iphone for current use and arent currently on contract or a super good grandfathered plan? I see how metro is cheaper if you are gonna toss it in a drawer for a year, but seems the 6 month unlock is a much better situation to get back on a mint/visible/us mobile 15-25 dollar plan at 6 months instead of paying 50-60 dollars a month for another 6 months (on top of not dealing with hoping the 100 dollar gift card actually shows up and is usable for what you need it for).

1

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 31, 2026 12:53 AM

344 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

Mike85c

Original Poster

May 31, 2026 12:53 AM

344 Comments

Quote from Vesp206

:

Is there anything better than this deal assuming you need a new working iphone for current use and arent currently on contract or a super good grandfathered plan? I see how metro is cheaper if you are gonna toss it in a drawer for a year, but seems the 6 month unlock is a much better situation to get back on a mint/visible/us mobile 15-25 dollar plan at 6 months instead of paying 50-60 dollars a month for another 6 months (on top of not dealing with hoping the 100 dollar gift card actually shows up and is usable for what you need it for).

Yes this deal is pretty good if you need a new phone Applause

. For Metro yes, you have toss it in a draw when you are not using it but I believe to get it unlock it has to be active service for 1 year. Yes you just have to wait for 6 month to unlock the phone with Cricket.

Last edited by Mike85c May 30, 2026 at 06:13 PM.

1

ThatMeskinOD

Jun 1, 2026 2:26 AM

864 Comments

Joined Nov 2013

ThatMeskinODJun 1, 2026 2:26 AM

864 Comments

This title is misleading. The price of 3 months of service should be included

Mike85c

Original Poster

Jun 1, 2026 11:56 AM

344 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

Mike85c

Original Poster

Jun 1, 2026 11:56 AM

344 Comments

Quote from ThatMeskinOD

:

This title is misleading. The price of 3 months of service should be included

Thank you. In the description I did put it you have to pay 3 months service if you also read the description. I am try change the title, but I can't find a way to change it after you posted it.

dmart9

Jun 1, 2026 5:59 PM

525 Comments

Joined Nov 2016

dmart9Jun 1, 2026 5:59 PM

525 Comments

Quote from Mike85c

:

Thank you. In the description I did put it you have to pay 3 months service if you also read the description. I am try change the title, but I can't find a way to change it after you posted it.

If my memory is correct, to modify your title…
on your opening post, click —edit— then —go advanced— and you can change the thread title there

1

Mike85c

Original Poster

Jun 1, 2026 11:17 PM

344 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

Mike85c

Original Poster

Jun 1, 2026 11:17 PM

344 Comments

Quote from dmart9

:

If my memory is correct, to modify your title…
on your opening post, click —edit— then —go advanced— and you can change the thread title there

Thanks for the tip and help. It worked! and I appreciate your help. Wink

FREE iPhone 16e when you port in an existing number and prepay a total of $180 for 3 months plan

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