Picking out the right wireless carrier isn’t all that difficult. After all, there are just a few names to choose from in the US, right? Hardly. For every one of the service providers you can name, we bet there are two others you don’t even know exist.
The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) space is a crowded one and there’s plenty to consider. While they each have their own rate plans, terms, and features, they rely on the network infrastructure built by the bigger names.
Take, for instance, Simple Mobile.
Who is Simple Mobile?
Simple Mobile is an MVNO that offers GSM coverage from T-Mobile; however it may not fully offer the exact same network speed, availability, and coverage. This isn’t it exclusive to Simple Mobile as even T-Mobile’s own Metro brand sees the same experience.
As often is the case with many MVNO and prepaid carriers, there are no contracts with Simple Mobile.
What are Simple Mobile rate plans like?
When it comes to options, Simple Mobile has a number of 30-day plans available for customers. Prices range from as low as $25 per month up to $60 with varying amounts of high speed data.
Limited time promotions will sometimes see extra data or features like mobile hotspot added at no cost. The 5GB plan is priced just $20 per month for the first three months with automatic bill payment.
- $25 per month for unlimited talk, text and 3GB of high speed data
- $30 per month for unlimited talk, text and 5GB of high speed data
- $40 per month for unlimited talk, text and 15GB of high speed data
- $50 per month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited high speed data w/ 5GB hotspot, 480p video streaming
- $60 per month for unlimited talk, text and unlimited high speed data w/ 15GB hotspot, 480p video streaming, 50GB cloud storage
Customers who sign up for automatic payment (Auto Reup) each month can save up to $5 per month on their plan.
What else should I know?
Simple Mobile customer can purchase add-on plans for extra data or international calling. Unused data does not roll over to the next month, but the international balance does.
There are other options and add-ons available to Simple Mobile customers, including global calling cards and extra data. Simple offers some modest international calling to 69 destinations and roaming.
Fine print and other details
It’s worth noting that most service plans include hotspot capabilities but it dips into the data allotment. The “Truly Unlimited” plan does get its own 10GB of data to share.
- $5 – 2GB data add-on
- $10 – 5GB data add-on
- $20 – 10GB data add-on
- $10 – Add-on International
Simple Mobile customers can earn rewards for referring others to its service, watching video clips, sharing on social media, and automatic bill payments. Credits can be used toward high-speed data or a free service plan. Get a friend to sign up for service and you’ll both get a month for free.
Any promos or discounts?
As of today there are a number of deals available through Simple Mobile, including a limited time Blowout Sale. A mix of instant discounts, price drops, last-chance buys, and promotions, it’s a great way to save money on purchases.
Can I use my own phone with Simple Mobile?
Customers can bring pretty much any unlocked GSM or T-Mobile phone to Simple Mobile. A $.99 SIM card can be purchased which fits all slots – nano, micro, or standard.
How is the phone selection at Simple Mobile?
Should you wish to purchase a phone from Simple you’ll find a range of devices from familiar brands like Samsung, Motorola, LG, and a few others.
The current crop of handsets isn’t overly attractive, but there are top-tier models like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G or Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
The phones are priced outright as well as monthly, with financing options for 24-month and 15-month periods. There are also certified pre-owned models and reconditioned handsets, too.
T-Mobile is one of the biggest wireless network operators in the US, providing nearly 100 million subscribers with coverage. As you’d expect, it features quite an impressive handset selection, including models with 5G support. But what about other brands that use its network, such as Simple Mobile?
Simple Mobile, as is the case with other MVNOs, has its own rate plans, customer service, and phone selection. Here, we’ll dig into the Android devices offered at Simple Mobile.
We’ve gathered up a handful of the best phones you can purchase at Simple Mobile today. Although we do select one as the best overall (Editors’ Choice), the list below offers phones that work for a variety of user types.
For what it’s worth, the handset selection at Simple Mobile is fairly lean, skewing toward older models and refurbished phones. To that end, we always suggest buying an unlocked phone for use with a carrier. The options are plentiful in both directions and you’ll likely get something more powerful.
Samsung Galaxy S21
“The flagship Samsung experience for 2021 is not only powerful, but it’s gorgeous, too. It looks unlike any of its predecessors on the surface and we couldn’t be happier.
Internally, the phone is as about as powerful as they come, and should be more than sufficient for the needs of pretty much anyone. Whether you’re gaming, snapping ultra-wide photos, recording 4K video, or just hitting up your social media platforms, the Galaxy S21 is here for it.
Key features for the phone include a 6.2-inch AMOLED display, at least 128GB storage, and an all-day 4,000mAh battery. You’ve also got an amazing camera setup, 8GB RAM, a monster of a processor, and an improved in-display fingerprint reader.”
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
The Biggest and Best
You can’t have a list of top phones without including the latest and greatest flagship. In this case, it’s the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. Sure, there are other versions of the S20 to consider but this reigns supreme. Outfitted with a large (6.9-inch) screen, lots of RAM (12GB), and an incredible camera experience, it’s a no-compromise device.
Powered by Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI, the phone is as powerful as it is sleek. Come for the 8K video recording, stay for the top-tier performance.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
LG Stylo 5 LTE
Big, practical, and (most importantly) affordable, the Stylo 5 LTE provides users with a large (6.2-inch) screen with stylus support. It’s perfect for scribbling notes, marking up documents, editing, and more.
Running Android 9 Pie, the phone is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. A microSD expansion card slot blows the door wide open for up to 2TB external media.
Wrapping things up, the LG handset has a 13-megapixel rear camera, front-facing 5-megapixel selfie camera, and a 3,500mAh battery with USB Type-C charging.
Motorola Moto G6
We really like how Motorola handles its smartphones. For the past few years it has employed a stock version of Android, adding only the smallest of custom features. Moreover, they’re priced considerably lower than what a lot of bigger name brands charge.
Here, you get a big (5.7-inch) screen, a fairly modern build of Android, and respectable smattering of mid-range hardware. Details include an octa-core processor with 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot for external media.
Other things we appreciate? The dual rear cameras, lightning fast charging, and a water resistant coating. Tthat extra money left in our wallets is always nice, too.
Samsung Galaxy A50
Knowing that we already have a Samsung phone on this list, we have to add the Galaxy A50. Why? Because it’s a fraction of what the Galaxy S models cost, yet it still gives users all the features they find important.
The Galaxy A series in itself is very interesting to watch, however this is the one we like most. Present are a generous 6.4-inch display and a multi-camera (25 MP/8 MP/5MP) array on the rear, and a battery that rivals most phones. You know, the stuff we love.
Under the hood are an octa-core processor with 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and a microSD expansion card slot for up to 512GB space. Rounding things out are a headphone jack, fingerprint reader, and USB Type C charging.
