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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

Community Voting

Deal Score
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Top Comments

SD_new
353Comments
67Reputation
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
Go to Comment
anthem_the_cat
940Comments
318Reputation
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.
Go to Comment
Lunathelunatic
18Comments
10Reputation
All these year unlock periods now. The poor billionaires weren't making enough!
Go to Comment

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.

    gnoixHotsoupthegoatgamerpamadaro

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

    pamadaropamadarognoixHotsoup

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

    JaTaNdirks7649c2nah777

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

    thegoatgamerSD_new

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

    SD_newc2nah777

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

    anthem_the_catNeatCircle1

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

    NeatCircle1c2nah777

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

    Bigsteve05

Common Questions (5)

AI-generated summary based on comments from the community. Updated ago

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138 Comments

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Original Poster
Pro
Aug 21, 2026 4:26 PM
132 Comments
Joined Mar 2018
thegoatgamerAug 21, 2026 4:26 PM
Original Poster
Pro
132 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 believe so.
Aug 21, 2026 4:28 PM
3.9K Comments
Joined Aug 2006
niceperson77Aug 21, 2026 4:28 PM
3.9K Comments
for two people this my math

$330 (plus tax) for phones + 3 months (slight discount for more than one line plus $25 coupon).

cheapest service with hotspot is $75/month for two lines. $75 x 9 =$675.00

$675 + $330 =$1,005.00 for two phones with 1 year of service.

basically the same price as the straight talk deal if you plan on using the service until the phone is unlocked.

straight talk may actually be cheaper if you're doing 1 line and getting the 1 yr service plan.
Original Poster
Pro
Aug 21, 2026 4:28 PM
132 Comments
Joined Mar 2018
thegoatgamerAug 21, 2026 4:28 PM
Original Poster
Pro
132 Comments
Quote from nikolgjonikolov View quoted comment :
"I remember the days" you mean last month?
They're referring to carrier lock release. Yes you can trade in to apple same day you get it, but you couldn't change the device to another carrier until the full year of activated service is complete.
Aug 21, 2026 4:39 PM
152 Comments
Joined Mar 2013
Bigsteve05Aug 21, 2026 4:39 PM
152 Comments
Deal doesn't look available to customers looking to upgrade their phone. You need to be a new customer bringing your number or a new customer needing a new number.
Aug 21, 2026 5:01 PM
597 Comments
Joined Apr 2011
UNevernoLuvAug 21, 2026 5:01 PM
597 Comments

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

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?
You can trade it in whenever you want, but just transfer the eSIM to a different phone so you don't waste the remaining 3 months of service.
2
Aug 21, 2026 5:19 PM
565 Comments
Joined Dec 2003
nrjankAug 21, 2026 5:19 PM
565 Comments
Quote from LovelySnow1360 View quoted comment :
Yes, I did that
just avoid activating on the new line and do the immediate sim swap to the current number? or have to activate then switch?
Aug 21, 2026 5:20 PM
403 Comments
Joined Dec 2014
boybradyAug 21, 2026 5:20 PM
403 Comments
Quote from Lunathelunatic View quoted comment :
All these year unlock periods now. The poor billionaires weren't making enough!
Unfortunately the U.S. voted for this.
1
10

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Aug 21, 2026 5:21 PM
1.1K Comments
Joined Jul 2013
cyberchoAug 21, 2026 5:21 PM
1.1K Comments

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

I'm going to wait until all the MVNO's offer the 16e and possibly the 17e's around black friday and determine how much trade-in value is assigned by Apple around then. In the past, I've bought a few 16e's and traded them in to Apple for $310 making about $110 (or a bit more) in Apple gift cards, this essentially bakes in a discount in all Apple purchases I make on Apple.com. I kept one to use as a beta tester for new iOS operating system updates. I can't take credit for this. I learned from other Slickdealers who are amazing. On a different note, don't buy this 16e unless you're doing this hack. The 16e had compromises that are not acceptable. The 17e is a much better value. In addition, it's a better value if you buy a used 14, 15 or even 16 unlocked iPhones on eBay from a reputable seller. Filter sellers you see by those offering free shipping + authorized seller to weed out undesirables. I've been doing this for friends on a regular basis for years and there were no problems. Reputable ebay sellers are out there, you just have to create the filter. By the way, I work in IT support doing this for over 25 years and specialize in Apple tech.
1
1
Aug 21, 2026 5:31 PM
12 Comments
Joined Jun 2021
SwaggyboyAug 21, 2026 5:31 PM
12 Comments
Anyone know where can I get a number to port in? I heard GV doesn't work no more.
1
Aug 21, 2026 5:31 PM
6.1K Comments
Joined Jun 2008
mrk43Aug 21, 2026 5:31 PM
6.1K Comments
I currently have mint $15 a month for 2 lines, our unlocked iPhones are old, charging bad and 64gb is causing space issues upgrading. Apple stopped selling the devices 0% for 12/24 mths on Apple Card so for someone who needs basic service and phones would this be a good deal? is cricket ok? can I port mint into cricket? thanks.
Aug 21, 2026 5:40 PM
326 Comments
Joined Oct 2018
WeekendVampireAug 21, 2026 5:40 PM
326 Comments
All these complicated ways to save 200 on a phone.

Why don't you just sign up for a new bank account and get the $325 bonus there and just pay outright for the phone?
1
1
3
Aug 21, 2026 5:45 PM
1.1K Comments
Joined May 2004
BunduckieAug 21, 2026 5:45 PM
1.1K Comments
Quote from SD_new View quoted comment :
365 days of paid service required for unlocking: From cricketwireless.com:Revised July 1, 2026General Device Unlock RequirementsIf you have a Cricket phone, it may have been programmed with a lock that prevents it from operating with other compatible wireless networks. Cricket will unlock your device upon request, if you have met the following unlocking requirements:The device you want to unlock has been active for at least 365 days of paid service on that device.The device is designed for use on and is locked to Cricket's network.The device has not been reported lost or stolen.The device is not associated with a fraudulent account.
This kills any deal
1
Aug 21, 2026 5:48 PM
694 Comments
Joined May 2013
igoogleAug 21, 2026 5:48 PM
694 Comments
Quote from gnoix View quoted comment :
Can confirm, just traded my Cricket 16e yesterday at the Apple Store.
Do apple have good deals like other retailers along with buy back ??
1
Aug 21, 2026 6:35 PM
353 Comments
Joined Oct 2017
SD_newAug 21, 2026 6:35 PM
353 Comments
Quote from denaiser View quoted comment :
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 costA little bit more than $220 for new iPhone 16e.Eventually, it's a slickdeal.
The $30 x 9 =$270 is for the remaining 9 months of service that a new Cricket customer would require to meet the 12 month service requirement to have the phone unlocked. The first three months are already covered in the original cost as detailed in the OP.

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Aug 21, 2026 6:44 PM
23 Comments
Joined May 2026
NeatCircle1Aug 21, 2026 6:44 PM
23 Comments
You know when you go in store the deal is better, only one month upfront and device cost is not too much 29-79 bucks. Activation 25 though

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