It might surprise some of you to know that companies like Visible and Cricket Wireless operate on the Verizon and AT&T networks, respectively. These network operators license the towers and coverage from the tier-one providers and offer their own phones, rate plans, and customer service.
Let’s take a look at another, similar situation. Metro, formerly known as MetroPCS, is a prepaid brand that uses T-Mobile’s network for coverage.
About Metro and its network
Founded in 1994, the carrier ultimately merged with T-Mobile in 2013 and became one of the first companies to offer unlimited data plans. Although it was first established as General Wireless, it later changed to MetroPCS; in late 2018 it was changed again to Metro by T-Mobile.
Thanks to T-Mobile, Metro gets to lay claim to being the first MVNO or prepaid brand to offer 5G. Its nationwide coverage went live in early December, 2019.
What are Metro Rate Plans?
Things are pretty simple when it comes to rate plans at Metro. Customers choose from four options with prices starting at $30 per month. Taxes and fees are included so the monthly bill is nice and flat.
Rate Plans
- $30 – Unlimited talk, text, and 2GB high-speed data
- $40 – Unlimited talk, text, and 10GB high-speed data (with unlimited music streaming)
- $50 – Unlimited talk, text, and unlimited high-speed data (with 5GB hotspot and 100GB Google One)
- $60 – Unlimited talk, text, and unlimited high-speed data (with 15GB hotspot, 100GB Google One, and Amazon Prime)
What about multiple lines?
Metro’s multiple line plans are rather straightforward, too. It’s as easy as picking the starting plan and adding the number of lines. There are discounts applied for each additional phone number, with them priced around $30 a piece, on average.
Are there any special deals at Metro?
Certainly. There are a number of options available from Metro, including discounts, free phones, and bundled rate plans. Things are always subject to change, especially around holidays, so be sure to check the dedicated deals page.
How is Metro’s phone selection?
Metro offers a decent array of phones, from very basic from brands you might not be familiar with, up to current flagships. Interestingly enough, there’s a decent selection at the upper end, particularly the Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer iPhones.
Keeping pace with its growing 5G coverage, Metro has added a number of phones with support for the faster nework.
Metro, formerly known as MetroPCS, is a prepaid wireless service provider which operates under the T-Mobile umbrella. Launched more than 20 years ago, it offers customers a couple of rate plan options for those who don’t need many of the extras that come with tier-one carriers.
With more than two dozen smartphones in its portfolio, Metro has something for everyone. Figuring out which one is right for you can sometimes feel a little bit overwhelming; we know the paradox of choice can be quite real.
If you are a current Metro subscriber, or are considering a switch to the prepaid brand, you’ll ultimately need a new phone. Should you be in the market for a new handset now there’s a lot to cut through.
We’ve looked through the Metro lineup and have come up with a handful of phones to recommend. Each fits a slightly different niche, but all are worth checking out.
Motorola One 5G Ace
A very solid all-around experience in the middle of the pack, you get a lot of phone for about half of what you’d get from a certain other brand.
For your money you get a large screen at 6.7-inches , a triple-camera setup, and a battery that lasts well into two days. Oh, and it’s a 5G-ready handset, which means you’ll be ready for that super-fast data that carriers keep promising.
A stock Android experience that’s got just the right amount of extra touches, it’s intuitive, user-friendly, and cohesive.
Shop Motorola One 5G Ace at Metro
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
Getting back to its roots, the Nord N10 5G is an affordable phone designed for the every man, with a little bit of extra frills thrown in. It’s one of the most budget-friendly 5G phones on the market, but it’s not a entry-level model whatsoever.
For your money you get a large 6.49-inch FHD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate and an equally impressive 4,300mAh battery supported by a crazy fast charging system.
The phone is powered by Android 10 with a custom OxygenOS that sprinkles in just the right amount of goodies. There’s plenty of internal storage and processor performance; four cameras and a fingerprint reader are located on the rear.
Shop OnePlus Nord N10 5G at Metro
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
If you’re on the hunt for a phone that you plan to own for a few years, you don’t want to cut corners. You want a flagship phone. The problem is that too many of them cost way more than we’re willing to spend.
The Fan Edition of the flagship S20 is what happens when you keep the most important stuff and toss aside the frills (and extra cost).
Here, you get a large screen with high refresh rate, a large battery, three rear cameras, and a modern Android and user interface. Offered in three colors, it’s the S20 you deserve.
Shop Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition at Metro
LG Stylo 6
The LG Stylo 6 is an excellent option for customers looking for a massive display without breaking the bank. With 6.8-inches of screen, pictures and movies look great and text is really easy to read. You’ll have to tread into tablet territory to get anything bigger.
The high-powered octa-core processor, paired with 3GB memory is all you need to play games and get your work done without stutters or lags. You’ve got 64GB internal storage space to work with but a microSD expansion card slot allows for a whopping 2TB of external media. That’s more room than your laptop.
Available in a variety of colors, the Stylo 6 is slim with a very modern design. The triple-camera backside and 13-megapixel front-facing camera are all you need to capture your goings-on to be shared over social media.
Boost your productivity with the included stylus; mark up documents, jot down notes, or use it for editing purposes. Last but not least, we like this one because it runs Android 10 right out of the box.
Samsung Galaxy A51
The Galaxy S series gets all of the fanfare, but the Galaxy A line is just as good for many users. Indeed, these lower cost options give consumers the same great Samsung design but with just the right amount of features. We’re talking maybe half the price yet still no noticeable difference in performance.
Standout features in the Galaxy A51 include a 6.5-inch HD display, and quad-camera (16MP main lens, 120 degree ultra wide, 2MP depth camera, and 2MP macro) array. An octa-core processor is paired 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The phone runs Android 10 with a 4,000mAh battery should most users far beyond a full day.
Shop Samsung Galaxy A51 at Metro
Motorola One 5G Ace
Big screen, bigger battery, and 5G on a budget? Yes, please. There’s just so much to appreciate about this phone, best of all its price tag.
The high-resolution 6.7-inch HD+ Max display is just as beautiful to behold as it is to physically hold. Yes, it’s about the same size screen as you’d find in early tablets.
Under the hood we find an octa-core processor and 128GB of space. Should that not be enough for some reason, you can toss in a microSD card for up to 1TB of external media.
Other things we appreciate? A 48-megapixel triple camera setup, USB Type-C charging, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Shop Motorola One 5G Ace at Metro
Can I use my own phone with Metro?
Do you already have a phone or possibly looking to buy an unlocked device for use on Metro? If the equipment is GSM unlocked, or previously used on T-Mobile you can order a SIM card if you wish to bring your own device. Check to see if your phone is compatible.
