Cellular plans are pretty straightforward when it comes to phones, but it starts to get tricky once you start getting into the “secondary devices” category, such as laptops, tablets, and smartwatches. Some carriers might have specific plans for these types of devices, but prices are often all over the place.
T-Mobile wants to streamline the process, if you happen to have its creme-de-la-creme Go5G Next plan, at least. It’s quite the deal, too.
T-Mobile has announced that their Go5G Next and Go5G Business Next plans will now include connectivity for additional devices, like smartwatches, tablets, and laptops, for just $5 per month per device.
The company claims (rightfully) that this is a much cheaper alternative compared to AT&T and Verizon, which charge double to quadruple the price for connecting tablets and laptops. This doesn’t account for the cost of the base voice plan though, and the $5/mo offer isn’t available for the company’s other plans, including Go5G Plus.
Below is a chart where T-Mobile compares their new $5/mo pricing to the competition.
In addition, T-Mobile will cover the price difference between cellular-enabled devices and their Wi-Fi-only versions, including select laptops not sold by T-Mobile. Customers can receive up to a $200 reimbursement when they connect their eligible devices to T-Mobile’s network. Not too shabby.
If you already have a perfectly good laptop, T-Mobile has the solution there too. The company will offer the TCL LINKPORT IK511, a 5G USB-C Device that connects directly to compatible devices.
The device will cost just $50 for a limited time, which is half price, to Go5G Next customers adding a $5 line. A nearly identical device made by TCL is pictured above, and can be seen in more detail on the TCL website. Note that the version T-Mobile will offer is apparently exclusive to T-Mobile, so the specifications and features will likely vary.
T-Mobile also mentions they are upgrading device protection plans, called Protection 360, to include unlimited claims for accidental damages and screen repairs at no extra cost. We covered this change back in August.
Of course, these are great moves for eligible customers, but that’s exactly the downside: Go5G Next plans can be had right now for a whopping $180 a month for 3 lines and $105 a month for a single line. This is without counting add-ons like additional devices and Protection 360 on top. You’ll need to weigh your options, and see what’s cheaper for you, before pulling the trigger on a plan change.
This new $5/mo perk launches on October 17th and will be available to new and existing customers on Go5G Next.
