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If it feels like T-Mobile's plans have been getting pricier and pricier over the last few years and you expected the "Un-carrier" to return to its old Un-carrier ways with a new entry-level option or at least a cheaper unlimited everything service tier, we're afraid today's announcement is not really for you.
Instead, we're bringing good news right now for folks who looked at the decidedly expensive Go5G and Go5G Plus plans Magenta unveiled just four months ago and wanted to pay even more for the privilege of upgrading their phones even more frequently.
Enter Go5G Next!
Remember when T-Mo used to advertise "ONE" plan to rule them all... only to break said plan into several different price tiers with different perks and benefits? Well, now we have three Go5G-branded options alone (with annoyingly similar names), as well as an entry point very simply and clearly dubbed Essentials.
Fortunately, there's a neat little chart that explains and illustrates all the distinctions between these four current "value-packed" plans, although we imagine it's still going to be pretty easy to get the Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next features and limitations mixed up by both new customers and existing ones looking for a change for some reason.
Of course, if that reason happens to be to obtain more flexibility over your smartphone upgrading process, the newly introduced Go5G Next option is definitely right for you. This is pretty much identical to the "old" Go5G Plus option in every single aspect apart from one small but potentially crucial detail.
With Go5G Next, you'll be able to switch from an old handset to a new one every 12 months instead of 24 without paying a dime. Obviously, nothing's ever as simple as that, so you will need to trade in your existing device to qualify for your free yearly upgrade and said device will have to be paid off in half (not in full) at the time of the upgrade.
Those are certainly not the most difficult requirements to meet, but the cost of your new Go5G Next plan might be a bit hard to swallow, at $100 for your first line, $70 for your second one, $10 (!!!) for a third, and $225 for a fourth.
T-Mobile vs the competition
In a separate chart, the "Un-carrier" is doing everyone a favor by comparing the prices and benefits of its freshly unveiled top-tier plan with Verizon's Unlimited Plus and AT&T's Unlimited Premium options.
As you can imagine, T-Mobile is making sure the comparison is as flattering as possible for its Go5G Next plan, but at the end of the day, you simply can't hide the fact that this is costlier than the competition's best plans pretty much across the board, from one to four lines.
Is there a reason to snub the competition's elite unlimited offers and go with T-Mo? Absolutely. But there's also very clearly a key reason why this new plan was not announced at a glamorous dedicated "Un-carrier" event, getting instead a super-low-key unveiling via a simple press release on a random Monday near the end of the summer.
Only a small portion of wireless users care about upgrading to the newest and greatest phones on the market every... single... year, and this offer is of interest solely to that group of people. But diversity is definitely always a good thing, so there's no reason to get angry at T-Mobile today just because you're not part of the new plan's target audience. For that, there's plenty of other stuff to focus on.
Top 3 T-Mobile phone deals right now:
Galaxy S24+ with T-Mobile and trade-in: save $600
Get the Galaxy S24+ with a subscription to T-Mobile via Samsung.com, and you can save up to $1,000 with a trade-in from participating carriers (this includes T-Mobile.) Alternatively, choose Samsung's trade-in option to save up to $600 on the S24+.
Galaxy S23 is up to $535 off with T-Mobile and a trade-in
Alternatively, you can trade in a suitable phone and sign up to T-Mobile through Samsung.com to save up to $535 on the Galaxy S23. Extra savings are available via Samsung's Offer Programs.
Save up to $1,050 on Z Flip 5 with T-Mobile at Samsung
Currently, you can get the Z Flip 5 with a subscription to T-Mobile through the official Samsung store at up to $1,050 off, including a $50 instant Samsung Credit with your selected carrier. As you might have guessed, the deal requires a trade-in.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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