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T-Mobile is launching an even costlier new 5G plan for yearly phone upgraders

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Aug 21, 2023, 9:49 AM

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T-Mobile is launching an even costlier new 5G plan for yearly phone upgraders

If it feels like T-Mobile's plans have been getting pricier and pricier over the last few years and you expected the "Un-carrier" to return to its old Un-carrier ways with a new entry-level option or at least a cheaper unlimited everything service tier, we're afraid today's announcement is not really for you.

Instead, we're bringing good news right now for folks who looked at the decidedly expensive Go5G and Go5G Plus plans Magenta unveiled just four months ago and wanted to pay even more for the privilege of upgrading their phones even more frequently.

Enter Go5G Next!

Remember when T-Mo used to advertise "ONE" plan to rule them all... only to break said plan into several different price tiers with different perks and benefits? Well, now we have three Go5G-branded options alone (with annoyingly similar names), as well as an entry point very simply and clearly dubbed Essentials.

Fortunately, there's a neat little chart that explains and illustrates all the distinctions between these four current "value-packed" plans, although we imagine it's still going to be pretty easy to get the Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next features and limitations mixed up by both new customers and existing ones looking for a change for some reason.

Of course, if that reason happens to be to obtain more flexibility over your smartphone upgrading process, the newly introduced Go5G Next option is definitely right for you. This is pretty much identical to the "old" Go5G Plus option in every single aspect apart from one small but potentially crucial detail.

With Go5G Next, you'll be able to switch from an old handset to a new one every 12 months instead of 24 without paying a dime. Obviously, nothing's ever as simple as that, so you will need to trade in your existing device to qualify for your free yearly upgrade and said device will have to be paid off in half (not in full) at the time of the upgrade.

Those are certainly not the most difficult requirements to meet, but the cost of your new Go5G Next plan might be a bit hard to swallow, at $100 for your first line, $70 for your second one, $10 (!!!) for a third, and $225 for a fourth.

T-Mobile vs the competition

In a separate chart, the "Un-carrier" is doing everyone a favor by comparing the prices and benefits of its freshly unveiled top-tier plan with Verizon's Unlimited Plus and AT&T's Unlimited Premium options.

As you can imagine, T-Mobile is making sure the comparison is as flattering as possible for its Go5G Next plan, but at the end of the day, you simply can't hide the fact that this is costlier than the competition's best plans pretty much across the board, from one to four lines.

Is there a reason to snub the competition's elite unlimited offers and go with T-Mo? Absolutely. But there's also very clearly a key reason why this new plan was not announced at a glamorous dedicated "Un-carrier" event, getting instead a super-low-key unveiling via a simple press release on a random Monday near the end of the summer.

Only a small portion of wireless users care about upgrading to the newest and greatest phones on the market every... single... year, and this offer is of interest solely to that group of people. But diversity is definitely always a good thing, so there's no reason to get angry at T-Mobile today just because you're not part of the new plan's target audience. For that, there's plenty of other stuff to focus on.

Top 3 T-Mobile phone deals right now:

$299 ⁹⁹

$1299 ⁹⁹

$1000 off (77%)

You can purchase the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a plan by T-Mobile at fantastic prices. The offer is available at the Samsung Store and lets you save up to $1,000 on the high-end phone with a trade-in and Go5G Plus or a Go5G Next plan.

Buy at Samsung

$899 ⁹⁹

$1899 ⁹⁹

$1000 off (53%)

Trade in an eligible device and save up to $1,000 on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. To get that discount, you also need to pick, upgrade to, or have a Go5G Next or a Go5G Plus plan. The discount is received over 24 monthly bill credits.

Buy at Samsung

$199 ⁹⁹

$999 ⁹⁹

$800 off (80%)

The Samsung Store also offers a $800 max trade-in discount on the Galaxy S24+ with T-Mobile. To get the discount over 24 monthly bill credits, you need to provide an eligible trade-in and set up a new line on a suitable plan.

Buy at Samsung

View Full Bio

Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.