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thegoatgamer 75.9K Views
Aug 21, 2026 11:17 AM

Cricket Wireless: 128GB Apple iPhone 16e (Locked) + 3-Mo. Supreme Unlimited Plan

$190

$780

75% off
w/ Port-In + Free S&Hat Cricket Wireless
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Deal Details
Cricket Wireless has 128GB Apple iPhone 16e (Locked, Black) + 3-Months Prepaid Supreme Unlimited Plan on sale for $189.99 when you port in a number. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member thegoatgamer for sharing this deal.

Note: Ensure the offer on the product page is checked. New customers may see an additional $25 off coupon when you add the item to your cart and wait a few minutes; a popup offer may appear with a coupon code. See device unlock policy.

Specs:
  • 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED (2532 x 1170 pixels at 460 ppi)
  • Apple A18 chip (3nm) with 8-core Neural Engine
  • 8 GB LPDDR5X
  • 128 GB NVMe (non-expandable)
  • Single 48 MP Fusion camera (f/1.6 aperture, OIS, 2x optical-quality telephoto via crop)
  • 12 MP TrueDepth camera
  • iOS 18 (upgradable)
  • 4,005 mAh (approx. up to 22 hours video playback)
  • USB-C port, Qi wireless charging support
  • Face ID and Action Button (lacks Camera Control)
  • IP68 water and dust resistance (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes)
  • 5G, Wi-Fi, and Apple C1 custom cellular modem
  • 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm; 167 grams

Editor's Notes

Written by Nate650 | Staff
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the wiki and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by thegoatgamer
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Cricket Wireless has 128GB Apple iPhone 16e (Locked, Black) + 3-Months Prepaid Supreme Unlimited Plan on sale for $189.99 when you port in a number. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member thegoatgamer for sharing this deal.

Note: Ensure the offer on the product page is checked. New customers may see an additional $25 off coupon when you add the item to your cart and wait a few minutes; a popup offer may appear with a coupon code. See device unlock policy.

Specs:
  • 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED (2532 x 1170 pixels at 460 ppi)
  • Apple A18 chip (3nm) with 8-core Neural Engine
  • 8 GB LPDDR5X
  • 128 GB NVMe (non-expandable)
  • Single 48 MP Fusion camera (f/1.6 aperture, OIS, 2x optical-quality telephoto via crop)
  • 12 MP TrueDepth camera
  • iOS 18 (upgradable)
  • 4,005 mAh (approx. up to 22 hours video playback)
  • USB-C port, Qi wireless charging support
  • Face ID and Action Button (lacks Camera Control)
  • IP68 water and dust resistance (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes)
  • 5G, Wi-Fi, and Apple C1 custom cellular modem
  • 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm; 167 grams

Editor's Notes

Written by Nate650 | Staff
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the wiki and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by thegoatgamer

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Top Comments

Community Reviews

The Cricket iPhone 16e deal stands out as a low-cost way to get an iPhone with a fresh battery, and the phone can also be traded at Apple for about $310 in gift card value. The included 3 months of service are prepaid, and the main catch is Cricket's 365-day paid-service unlock rule, so the phone stays carrier-locked for a year. Porting and activation can be smooth, though some orders were cancelled and in-store pricing can add fees. It is most compelling if the Apple trade-in angle matters more than immediate unlocking.

  • Apple Store trade-in can accept carrier-locked iPhone 16e units for an Apple gift card.

  • The deal can work out near the advertised low cost when the Apple $310 trade-in credit is applied toward a newer iPhone.

  • eSIM transfer and Apple Store trade-in execution can run smoothly after activation and a factory reset.

  • Unlocking requires continuous active paid service for about a year, but Apple trade-in can happen immediately after purchase.

  • Cricket's published unlock requirements require at least 365 days of paid service before unlocking is available.

  • Porting and activation steps can take several days and may show failed status before switching to pending or delay.

  • Apple trade-in value for the 16e can drop after the deal period, including a reported $40 decrease.

  • The deal may not be available for upgrades and can require new-customer eligibility with a ported number or new number.

Common Questions (5)

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138 Comments

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Aug 21, 2026 2:21 PM
940 Comments
Joined Oct 2006
anthem_the_catAug 21, 2026 2:21 PM
940 Comments
delete
Aug 21, 2026 2:24 PM
1K Comments
Joined Jul 2018
ChaosBaitAug 21, 2026 2:24 PM
1K Comments
It requires a port-in. Does Google Voice number work for Cricket?
Aug 21, 2026 2:36 PM
25 Comments
Joined Oct 2022
IndigoKestrel199Aug 21, 2026 2:36 PM
25 Comments
Would I need to wait 3 months before trading in the phone with Apple in order to be considered paid off? It looks like the final price of 165/190 pays off the phone for the 3 months, correct? Would trading this in get the $310 credit from Apple?
Aug 21, 2026 2:37 PM
80 Comments
Joined Nov 2012
Zhoutai7218Aug 21, 2026 2:37 PM
80 Comments
I got an iPhone 16e for around the price from metro with port in a few months back it was $99 + a month of service. I think they still unlock after 365 days I could be wrong 🫣
Aug 21, 2026 2:51 PM
940 Comments
Joined Oct 2006
anthem_the_catAug 21, 2026 2:51 PM
940 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from ChaosBait View quoted comment :
It requires a port-in. Does Google Voice number work for Cricket?
Google Voice does not work. I tried entering in my GV number and it claims "landlines cannot be ported over". I ended getting an esim via Tello for $10 after taxes. Chose the 300 minutes w/ no data plan.

Also, Capital One Offers has a $7 back clickthrough offer.
5
Aug 21, 2026 3:03 PM
243 Comments
Joined Dec 2019
MaroonChannel5281Aug 21, 2026 3:03 PM
243 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from anthem_the_cat View quoted comment :
One year of "paid" service makes it so hard. I remember the days when you could pay for like one month of service and throw in a drawer and wait for 11 months.Just checked apple's website and trade-in value is $310...can someone confirm that Apple will accept locked phones?
I did traded 2 of these in march this year with similar cricket deal, apple accepted locked phones for gift cards
2
Aug 21, 2026 3:15 PM
1.9K Comments
Joined Apr 2016
wolfie14Aug 21, 2026 3:15 PM
1.9K Comments
In terms of unlock periods, I could have sworn that a few years ago, things were moving in a different direction and the terms were becoming more lenient.

Does anyone know what changed? Maybe I'm just misremembering.
1

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Aug 21, 2026 3:33 PM
48 Comments
Joined Aug 2015
needyduckAug 21, 2026 3:33 PM
48 Comments
Which carriers allow port in? Will number barn work? Looking to port in a cheap number
1
Aug 21, 2026 3:34 PM
565 Comments
Joined Dec 2003
nrjankAug 21, 2026 3:34 PM
565 Comments
have a full cricket family plan (5 lines) on the 25/line unlimited plan. can i just get a throwaway number for the deal then sim swap to a phone i want to upgrade?
Aug 21, 2026 3:42 PM
39 Comments
Joined Oct 2022
LovelySnow1360Aug 21, 2026 3:42 PM
39 Comments
Quote from nrjank View quoted comment :
have a full cricket family plan (5 lines) on the 25/line unlimited plan. can i just get a throwaway number for the deal then sim swap to a phone i want to upgrade?
Yes, I did that
Aug 21, 2026 3:55 PM
121 Comments
Joined Mar 2023
denaiserAug 21, 2026 3:55 PM
121 Comments
Quote from SD_new View quoted comment :
Let's do the math; the device and 365 days of service will cost:

Device cost if porting a phone number: $9.99

3 months of service after factoring the $25 "new customer" pop-up coupon OP mentioned: $165

9 months of service @ $30: $270

9.99 + 165 + 270 = $444.99 + tax on device cost
Why do you add $270? Nevermind, you pay for service wherever you have a phone line. I pay $25/line for Visible now, so it will be +$5/line for me. I will pay whether or not I will use the deal, so for me it will be $9.99+165+45 = $219.99 + tax on device cost
A little bit more than $220 for new iPhone 16e.
Eventually, it's a slickdeal.
1
Aug 21, 2026 3:59 PM
227 Comments
Joined May 2015
nikolgjonikolovAug 21, 2026 3:59 PM
227 Comments
Quote from anthem_the_cat View quoted comment :
One year of "paid" service makes it so hard. I remember the days when you could pay for like one month of service and throw in a drawer and wait for 11 months.Just checked apple's website and trade-in value is $310...can someone confirm that Apple will accept locked phones?
"I remember the days" you mean last month?
1
2
Pro
Aug 21, 2026 4:17 PM
582 Comments
Joined Dec 2004
Hotsoup
Pro
Aug 21, 2026 4:17 PM
582 Comments
Quote from anthem_the_cat View quoted comment :
One year of "paid" service makes it so hard. I remember the days when you could pay for like one month of service and throw in a drawer and wait for 11 months.Just checked apple's website and trade-in value is $310...can someone confirm that Apple will accept locked phones?
I can confirm that trade-in at Apple Store accepts locked phones.


I was on a similar deal for a "free" 16e back in March when I'd pay $60/month x2. After that, phone was still locked. My plan was to trade it in for a 17e at Apple Store for $310. My net discount would be +190$ on the 17e. Other people used similar strategies to get other iPhones or Apple accessories.

And one of the key factors was that Apple Store accepted the carrier-locked 16e for the trade.
Last edited by Hotsoup August 21, 2026 at 10:29 AM.
Original Poster
Pro
Aug 21, 2026 4:24 PM
132 Comments
Joined Mar 2018
thegoatgamerAug 21, 2026 4:24 PM
Original Poster
Pro
132 Comments
Quote from IndigoKestrel199 View quoted comment :
Would I need to wait 3 months before trading in the phone with Apple in order to be considered paid off? It looks like the final price of 165/190 pays off the phone for the 3 months, correct? Would trading this in get the $310 credit from Apple?
Yea, I think you pay it off at time of purchase. The 3 months of service you must prepay, so it's not like you will get a fee for not finishing paying the 3 month period when it's prepaid.
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Original Poster
Pro
Aug 21, 2026 4:25 PM
132 Comments
Joined Mar 2018
thegoatgamerAug 21, 2026 4:25 PM
Original Poster
Pro
132 Comments
Quote from MaroonChannel5281 View quoted comment :
I did traded 2 of these in march this year with similar cricket deal, apple accepted locked phones for gift cards
probably why they extended it to prepay 3 months instead of 2 knowing people do this.

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