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Best prepaid carriers in 2024
Save big on wireless phone service every month with these prepaid carriers.
Prepaid carrier plans help you stay away from the hassle of dealing with traditional postpaid contracts. They're perfect for those who are looking to keep their expenses in check as you only pay for what you use instead of spending on unwanted hidden charges that come with a contract. Thankfully, a lot of carriers in the US offer prepaid plans to bundle with your phones. Whether you're looking for unlimited data, international calling, or flexible plans, these carriers have something for everyone. Here are the best prepaid carriers in the U.S. to consider in 2023.
Best Cricket Wireless phones in 2024
If you're looking to buy a new phone from Cricket Wireless, here are some of the best options you can get right now.
As much as we like testing and recommending flagship phones here at XDA, we understand that it doesn't make sense for many readers to spend thousands of dollars every year to buy the best devices out there. That's why we make it a point to curate and maintain an updated list of budget phones and carriers offering prepaid plans and more. Contrary to what you may think, you can still enjoy many of the latest and greatest features without spending a fortune. Additionally, there are carriers like Cricket Wireless that offer phones and cellular plans at a more affordable price. If you are already on Cricket Wireless or want to transfer over, there are a lot of options available. Many of our favorite picks from Cricket Wireless' catalog are considered entry-level or mid-tier phones, but we've also highlighted some premium options, including the iPhone 14 Pro.
T-Mobile Un-carrier event set for May 4
T-Mobile has announced plans for an event on May 4. The event will carry the Un-carrier branding, which could usher in some welcome changes.
After posting strong first-quarter numbers for 2022, it looks like T-Mobile isn't going to rest on its laurels. The U.S. carrier has announced a new event set for May 4. The teaser image has it pegged as an Un-carrier event, so things could become quite interesting.
Boost Mobile switches up mobile plans again, introduces $25/mo "Unlimited" option
Boost Mobile is updating its list of mobile plans again, with a new option to pay for a year of "Unlimited" data for $25/mo.
Boost Mobile has been a popular Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) for years in the United States, first using Nextel's network, then switching to Sprint in 2005. More recently in 2020, Boost was sold to Dish, as a concession to allow T-Mobile's acquisition of Sprint to move forward. Boost has been updating its plans and service options since then, and now the company is switching up its offerings again.
Carrier suspected of injecting ads into two-factor SMS messages
An unidentified carrier is suspected of injecting advertisements into two-factor authentication SMS messages from Google.
An unidentified carrier in Australia is suspected of injecting advertisements into two-factor SMS messages, according to Chris Lacy, the developer of Action Launcher. The text shows a Google sign-in verification code in the Google Messages app, which funnily enough, even flagged the text as spam.
Carriers agree to start sharing vertical location data for 911 calls
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have agreed to start sharing vertical location data for 911 calls in the U.S. within the next seven days.
Calling 9-1-1 in the United States (and many other countries) sends the caller's location to emergency services, so the dispatcher can send assistance as quickly as possible. However, the location data isn't perfect — most notably, it doesn't include the caller's vertical location, an important factor in taller buildings. The three major carriers in the US have now agreed to start providing vertical location data for 911 calls, though it might be a while before the data can be used by emergency services.
AT&T's data-only 5G plan for tablets and laptops just got cheaper
AT&T has dropped prices on its DataConnect plans, making them a better option for LTE and 5G-enabled tablets and laptops.
Mobile network plans that only offer cellular data, without the usual phone number and messaging services, started becoming more popular a few years ago. They're still not incredibly common, but they can be a cheaper method of adding LTE or 5G to a tablet or PC. AT&T is one carrier that has offered data-only plans for a while, and now the company is updating them with higher data caps and lower monthly bills.
[Update 3: Supreme Court declines relief] India stares at a carrier monopoly with Reliance Jio as Airtel and Vodafone Idea face uncertain future
The Indian telecom sector is staring at a future with a Reliance Jio monopoly, as Airtel and Vodafone Idea have been handed a massive debt by the Court.
India has the world's lowest call and data tariffs in the world right now, riding on the back of mega telecom operators and hyper-competition among them. But that hasn't always been the case in the country, as a lot of it can be traced back to a few key defining moments in the telecom sector's history. There is a good chance that the country is headed towards one more such moment, one that might turn a hyper-competitive market into a carrier monopoly with Reliance Jio at the helm.
Google Fi will support 5G thanks to Sprint's network
Sprint and Google announced Monday that Google Fi will gain 5G support in select markets through Sprint's network beginning in the first half of 2019.
If you use Google Fi you won't have to worry about missing the 5G revolution, provided you can afford the hardware and live in the right city. Google and Sprint announced Monday that Sprint will bring 5G to Google's signature Fi MVNO in the first half of 2019. Since Google Fi recently expanded its support to a much wider variety of devices, it shouldn't take too long to find a compatible phone to take advantage of Fi(veG).
Reminder: Free Your Phone! - American Carrier Unlock
The new CTIA standards mean that top American carriers now allow you to unlock your phone. Learn all about the procedure here!
We've been hearing about unlocking standard laws regarding American carriers and their branded smartphones for years, and it was in late 2013 when the CTIA officially pushed the development through. Something to note from that page is where it says "(...) the Code has a section on Mobile Wireless Device Unlocking, which includes voluntary standards to assist consumers by enhancing transparency and disclosure of wireless providers' device unlocking policies" - that bit implies you shouldn't necessarily expected these standards to make it to every carrier. But with these standards set in place, many of them have clearly defined conditions under which they must unlock your phones, tablets and other electronics that are tied to their network. If your device is paid off, you are eligible for unlocking, and the procedure's details aren't all that complicated.