Now that you understand how T-Mobile’s free phones work, you may be wondering if it’s a similar situation when you switch from another carrier. It may surprise you, but this can also net you a technically free phone. However, like the process above, this one comes with its own set of stipulations.
When you switch to T-Mobile from another carrier, you have the option of bringing your smartphone with you. Assuming your device meets T-Mobile’s eligibility requirements, you get a new SIM card, and T-Mobile will pay off your phone’s remaining balance. This process essentially gives you a “free” (or half-free) device on their network. Sounds great, right? The catch is that T-Mobile will only give new customers up to $800 per line (up to 5 lines) toward their device’s remaining balance with the previous carrier. This might work for some people, with the $800 being enough to cover the rest of their costs. If they initially receive the phone from the other carrier for free, T-Mobile pays off the remaining balance, and they can enjoy a free phone on the new network.
However, if the $800 isn’t enough to cover your remaining balance, you must pay the rest, regardless of whether you received the phone for free. Plus, T-Mobile gives you the $800 through a virtual prepaid card, so technically, you still have to pay off your phone yourself. Once again, the phone could be free, but the stars practically have to align for it to be truly free.
