New phone with best value

[PotRoastMan]

I'm looking for the "best value" or best bang for your buck phone in the next couple of months.
I currently have an A51. I don't really care for OneUI so Samsung is kind of at the bottom of the list now.
Prior to A51 I had Moto, and prior to that I had a bunch of LG's.

So whats the current hot stuff? Must be Android. Prefer not Samsung (don't love OneUI). It can be from another carrier as long as it can be unlocked and used on Tracfone. Apple is a hard no.

thanks!

[kc classic]

I can read that you do not like Samsung. But the Samsung A53G bundled with one year of unlimited talk and text plus 24 gbs of data for 149.00 from QVC seems like a pretty good deal too me.
I just ordered one for my wife.

[arny56]

Moto G Power 5G 2023 is good bang for the buck and gets good reviews but is currently out of stock.

Alternatively, if you're not set on buying from Tracfone, OnePlus Nord N30 plays in that same arena and also gets good reviews.

[hpham]

If you can wait 6 months for the phone to get unlocked so it can be used with TF, Metro -by-T-mobile has a very good deal on the OnePlus Nord N30. The phone costs $20+tax and $40 for one month of service. It'll be unlocked after 180 days even if you used it one month with Metro. I bought one at the end of July. Its IMEI passed all the whitelists of AT&T, T-mo, Verizon, TF, other providers.

They also have the Moto G Stylus 2023 for $0 + $40 for one month service. I don't have one so I don't know if it passes the whitelists of AT&T, Verizon. It should work with TF/T-mo when unlocked.

If you're interested in those phones, order online on Metro web site as a new customer and get a new phone number. Do not go to a Metro store because their salespeople will pile on a bunch of extra costs (activation fee, insurance, etc).

[Digital Rules]

Too bad you're not fond of Samsung's OneUI. After using Moto phones for many years I don't notice much difference after a few small tweaks.(OK, I do hate Bixby)

Got the A53 5g bundle deal from TracFone for $129.00 and really liking the phone. Could never go back to an LCD after having an OLED screen.

Sent from my SM-S536DL using HoFo mobile app

[formercanuck]

I'm looking for the "best value" or best bang for your buck phone in the next couple of months.
I currently have an A51. I don't really care for OneUI so Samsung is kind of at the bottom of the list now.
Prior to A51 I had Moto, and prior to that I had a bunch of LG's.

So whats the current hot stuff? Must be Android. Prefer not Samsung (don't love OneUI). It can be from another carrier as long as it can be unlocked and used on Tracfone. Apple is a hard no.

thanks!

I tend to agree with you on the OneUI. I prefer the (free) Moto Edge 2022 or even the OnePlus Oxygen OS (not color OS). It doesn't make sense on the UI to have effectively 2 rows of apps. One from homescreens, then one 'just like it' with all apps. Moto (or stock Android) allows the home screen to be similar, but the 'all app' is a simple scroll, not a dual set of pages.

[PotRoastMan]

If you can wait 6 months for the phone to get unlocked so it can be used with TF, Metro -by-T-mobile has a very good deal on the OnePlus Nord N30. The phone costs $20+tax and $40 for one month of service. It'll be unlocked after 180 days even if you used it one month with Metro. I bought one at the end of July. Its IMEI passed all the whitelists of AT&T, T-mo, Verizon, TF, other providers.

They also have the Moto G Stylus 2023 for $0 + $40 for one month service. I don't have one so I don't know if it passes the whitelists of AT&T, Verizon. It should work with TF/T-mo when unlocked.

If you're interested in those phones, order online on Metro web site as a new customer and get a new phone number. Do not go to a Metro store because their salespeople will pile on a bunch of extra costs (activation fee, insurance, etc).

So let me get this straight, I could get the phone and pay for 1 month, then cancel? And then I have to wait for them to allow it to be unlocked (about 6 mo)?

[PaulCrawhorne]

That is correct.

I like Boost as a cheap AT&T provider, $15/mo re-doing the promo every 3 months but IMO too much hassle to use for phone subsidies.

But then I ended up with dozens of leftovers from the 2022 Xmay/New Year deals including Pixel and Samsung flagships

[hpham]

So let me get this straight, I could get the phone and pay for 1 month, then cancel? And then I have to wait for them to allow it to be unlocked (about 6 mo)?

Yes. You pay for the $40 required one month of service + cost of the phone + any tax on phone when you place your order. If the order goes through, you should receive it in 2-3 days. Activate it, use it for a month then put it away. Auto-pay is OFF by default. So, don't turn on Auto-pay, don't pay the Due Amount for the 2nd month. After 30 days, they will suspend your account, then after 60 days they'll cancel the account. You don't have to call to cancel.

After 180 days, you turn on the phone, connect it to WiFi, use an Unlock function in Settings to unlock it. More info at Metro Unlocking Policy.

I've bought 3 phones from Metro:
* Samsung A54: bought in early May for $40 service + $50 phone + $5 tax on phone. It should be unlocked on Nov 5th.
* Nokia G400: bought in late May for $40 service + $0 for phone & tax. It should be unlocked in late November.
* OnePlus Nord N30: bought mid-July for $40 service + $20 phone + $2 tax. It should be unlocked in mid-January.

The A54 and G400 passed the IMEI check for T-mo, but not for AT&T nor Verizon. The N30 passed the IMEI Check for AT&T, T-mo, Verizon, and many more.

[Boz1]

The A54 and G400 passed the IMEI check for T-mo, but not for AT&T nor Verizon. The N30 passed the IMEI Check for AT&T, T-mo, Verizon, and many more.

Do these phones have a Metro boot screen? Thanks.

[medontknow]

Yes. You pay for the $40 required one month of service + cost of the phone + any tax on phone when you place your order. If the order goes through, you should receive it in 2-3 days. Activate it, use it for a month then put it away. Auto-pay is OFF by default. So, don't turn on Auto-pay, don't pay the Due Amount for the 2nd month. After 30 days, they will suspend your account, then after 60 days they'll cancel the account. You don't have to call to cancel.

After 180 days, you turn on the phone, connect it to WiFi, use an Unlock function in Settings to unlock it. More info at Metro Unlocking Policy.

I've bought 3 phones from Metro:
* Samsung A54: bought in early May for $40 service + $50 phone + $5 tax on phone. It should be unlocked on Nov 5th.
* Nokia G400: bought in late May for $40 service + $0 for phone & tax. It should be unlocked in late November.
* OnePlus Nord N30: bought mid-July for $40 service + $20 phone + $2 tax. It should be unlocked in mid-January.

The A54 and G400 passed the IMEI check for T-mo, but not for AT&T nor Verizon. The N30 passed the IMEI Check for AT&T, T-mo, Verizon, and many more.

People on Reddit Metro by T-Mobile are saying newer rules will not let you unlock phones now. If your account is cancelled, wouldn't Metro flag the phone and electronically block unlocking device?

How do you unlock Metro phones?

[PaulCrawhorne]

Lots of misinformation on Reddit, need to get to know who's reliable.

With locked phones from any provider, they unlock them as a result of your complying with their conditions.

Which you now know from above.

Third parties saying they can unlock for a fee are 99% scamming, avoid.

Unless a trusted member vouches for a specific service for a specific model/variant, but such discussions are often banned.

[hpham]

Do these phones have a Metro boot screen?

Yes, they do. I don't know if once they're unlocked and you flash them (especially the A54) with a non-Metro firmware if the splash screen will disappear.

Think some people said when they put in a genuine T-mo SIM (before activating installing & activating the Metro SIM) there was no Metro spash screen.

[hpham]

1. How do you unlock Metro phones?
2. People on Reddit Metro by T-Mobile are saying newer rules will not let you unlock phones now. If your account is cancelled, wouldn't Metro flag the phone and electronically block unlocking device?

1. Read my previous post.

2. I activated my Metro A54 on May 8, 2023 and let Metro cancel service on it after one month of service. I'll post here whether or not Metro unlocks it this weekend.

[advcomp2019]

I am still waiting to find out if your A54 will pass a Verizon check after getting unlock or not.

That is still my question because I have been looking a new phone, but I do not want to get a Tracfone branded phone.