For years, Metro by T-Mobile—formerly MetroPCS—was the go-to choice for budget-conscious users who wanted a no-frills prepaid experience. You got a cheap budget phone on a cheap plan and go about your day. Nowadays, owned by T-Mobile, Metro is actually more premium than you might think for the price.
What happens today when you pair one of the most powerful smartphones available, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, with Metro’s most affordable plan?
At first glance, this might seem like a mismatch. The Z Fold 5, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and Qualcomm X70 modem, represents the pinnacle of modern smartphone technology. Meanwhile, Metro’s cheapest plan is designed for those who prioritize savings.
I decided to see what would happen. How does a top-tier device perform on a budget cell plan?
Premium Hardware Meets Affordable Wireless
The Z Fold 5 isn’t just a premium phone—it’s a network performance powerhouse. The advanced hardware ensures blazing-fast performance, and the X70 modem offers enhanced 5G connectivity, superior signal reception, and improved battery efficiency.
Traditionally, these high-end specs would be paired with more traditional postpaid plans, but Metro’s network access ensures that even its most affordable option can still leverage top-tier hardware to its full potential.
This experiment isn’t just about proving the capabilities of Metro—it’s about demonstrating how a flagship phone can unlock the best experience possible on a budget-friendly carrier.
Metro’s Cheapest Plan: What Do You Actually Get?
I chose Metro’s most affordable budget plan at the time of writing, which was the $25/mo single-line plan that you can get when porting in your number from a competitor. In this case the plan includes:
- Unlimited allotment of high-speed data at 5G and LTE speeds (before unlimited deprioritized data after 35GB of usage)
- Unlimited talk and text
- Access to T-Mobile’s Scam Shield Core
- T-Mobile Tuesdays Deals
On paper, 35GB might seem limiting, but the question is: how far can a top-tier phone push that data to deliver a premium experience?
The Experience: Metro by T-Mobile Feels… Premium
From activation to daily use, Metro doesn’t get in the way of the phone’s performance. Here’s what I found:
Network Speeds: The X70 Modem Shows Its Strength
The Snapdragon X70 modem dynamically optimizes connectivity, meaning even Metro’s deprioritized data performs well. The device has every band imaginable for connecting to Metro services, so it can squeeze every bit of data out of the plan that it can.
In speed tests, I consistently achieved 200-400 Mbps down in strong 5G areas, proving that Metro customers aren’t stuck with second-tier speeds.
In congested areas, prioritization was noticeable—but thanks to the modem’s optimizations, even lower-priority data felt smooth for everyday tasks.
Battery Life: Efficiency at Its Best
The X70 modem isn’t just fast—it’s power-efficient. The Z Fold 5 handled Metro’s network without excessive drain, outperforming older devices on the same plan.
Unlike older flagships that struggle with radio efficiency, the Fold 5 stays connected without hunting for signal—a crucial factor in prepaid performance.
I was able to use my device for a full day with no issues. No hunting for a charger at 4pm.
Does Data Cap Matter?
35GB might sound restrictive, but smart data management goes a long way.
Wi-Fi offloading and Samsung’s data-saving tools help stretch usage, allowing the Fold 5 to make the most of what’s available. Plus, if needed, Metro offers top-ups, but for casual users, the basic unlimited plan is surprisingly sufficient—even on such a powerful phone.
In addition, being “deprioritized” simply means you’re at a lower priority, not at a capped speed. That means if you’re in an area or time of day with low tower usage, you might not even notice a speed decrease after that 35GB limit.
Metro’s Growth: More Than Just a Prepaid Carrier
Gone are the days of MetroPCS being a limited, budget-only brand. With full access to T-Mobile’s 5G network, Metro now provides a postpaid-like experience at prepaid prices.
Device compatibility has matured. Unlike the old MetroPCS era, where flagship devices often had activation issues, Metro now seamlessly supports even cutting-edge hardware.
Prioritization concerns aren’t as bad as expected. While Metro does have lower priority than T-Mobile postpaid, premium modems and carrier optimizations mean performance is still solid.
Final Verdict: Can a Flagship Thrive on a Budget Plan?
Absolutely. Metro by T-Mobile has evolved to the point where even its cheapest plan doesn’t feel like a budget experience—when paired with the right hardware.
You can, of course, spend more for a few extra perks. Metro’s Flex plans offer more value the more you pay. But even at the base level, Metro’s service performs great.
The Snapdragon 8 and X70 modem elevate Metro’s prepaid service, ensuring that network prioritization and data limits aren’t as noticeable as one might expect. Plus, it isn’t just Samsung devices that will benefit. You’ll see similar performance out of any modern smartphone, from Apple to Google and even modern Moto and OnePlus devices.
If you’re a light data user who mostly relies on Wi-Fi, Metro’s cheapest plan is an unbeatable value—even for flagship owners.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Flagship Phones on Budget Plans
With modem technology improving every year, Metro’s prepaid service will only continue to feel more premium. The traditional idea that prepaid means a “worse experience” is fading fast. In many cases, a well-optimized flagship on Metro’s cheapest plan can outperform an older, inefficient phone on a premium postpaid plan.
There’s also even more budget-friendly options for T-Mobile’s network. Mint Mobile, also recently acquired and now owned by T-Mobile, provides similar network access at even cheaper pricing.
In my eyes, the future of prepaid is bright.
