Best answer: A phone that’s locked to T-Mobile will not work on Mint Mobile. T-Mobile will unlock your locked phone free of charge if you meet its requirements, or alternatively, you can buy a new, already unlocked phone that won’t break the bank.
- Amazon: Nokia 7.1 ($350)
- Amazon: Moto G6 ($200)
Mint Mobile does not work with locked phones
If you’re thinking about joining Mint Mobile and already have a phone you’d like to use with the service, it’s important to note that it must be unlocked in order to work.
What exactly does that mean?
Let’s say you have a phone that you bought from T-Mobile. That phone is locked to the carrier and, therefore, cannot be used with a competing network.
If you bought an unlocked phone from a store like Amazon or Best Buy, you’re in the clear.
T-Mobile will unlock your device free of charge
Most carriers provide unlocking services for customers that want to take their devices elsewhere, and T-Mobile is not an exception.
To unlock a T-Mobile phone, all you need to do is get in touch with the company and let a customer support agent know that you’d like to unlock your phone.
T-Mobile has a list of requirements you must meet in order to unlock your device, and you can read through all of them right here. Assuming you’re eligible for the unlock service, T-Mobile will send an unlock code to you completely free within two business days.
You can also just buy a new phone
Should you not meet all of T-Mobile’s requirements, you can also just purchase a new phone to use on Mint Mobile. Most unlocked phones should work just fine, and we have a couple options below that we recommend checking out if you decide to go this route.
Our pick
Nokia 7.1
$350 at Amazon
Way better than it should be.
The Nokia 7.1 is currently one of our favorite mid-range smartphones around. It has a premium metal + glass design, a stunning 5.84-inch display with HDR support, and a fantastic software experience with guaranteed updates for the next two years. It even has NFC for Google Pay!
Super affordable
Moto G6
$200 at Amazon
A great option for tighter budgets.
If $350 is more than you’re able to spend on a new phone, the Moto G6 is another great buy. It’s got a large 5.7-inch Full HD display, dual rear cameras, and a sleek glass body. The software is just as good (if not better) than the Nokia 7.1’s, but it doens’t come with the same guaranteed update support.