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Times are tough right now, and everyone is being hit hard in the wallet. Customers are looking to save as much money as they can, and that includes on their wireless plan.
T-Mobile is responding to this, in a way only T-Mobile can, by offering an exclusive low-cost plan in select Walmart stores. This plan is known as “Super Essentials Saver”.
The plan isn’t available online, nor is it available at T-Mobile locations. It’s exclusive to select Walmart stores across the country, and was first spotted via a post on Reddit a few weeks ago. The plan offers a single line for $25 per month plus taxes (SOC code C26SLES) or two lines for $50 per month plus taxes (SOC code C26FAMES).
So what’s the catch? It’s for new customers only, for one, so no switching over to it for existing customers. But there are some other serious limitations to the plan that potential customers should be aware of.
No device promos
This new Super Essentials Saver plan is nearly identical to the more commonly known “Essentials Saver” plan offered by T-Mobile directly. The standard Essentials Saver plan is mostly excluded from device promos, aside from very rare targeted promos from T-Mobile. The Super Essentials Saver plan, however, is specifically blocked from Recurring Device Credits entirely.
This means, if you want to finance a device with T-Mobile on this plan, you’ll have to spread the full MSRP cost out over the length of the installment. At this time, it’s not clear if that installment length would be 24 months (like older plans), or 36 months (as it is with the newer “2.0” plans). If we had to guess, though, it’s probably 36 months.
Two line maximum
Both the OG and Super variants of Essentials Saver have a max line cap of just two lines. However, if that’s all you need, Super is quite a savings over the standard Essentials Saver. Each line is just $25 per month (with autopay, before taxes) on Saver, while the OG is $50 for a single line and $80 for two lines.
That being said, if you need more than two lines, you can get the 4 for $100 Essentials 2.0 offer direct from T-Mobile, which is $25 per line for four lines.
Other than those things, the Super Essentials Saver and regular Essentials Saver are identical. Same 50GB of premium data before throttling, same unlimited 3G hotspot, etc.
Better than prepaid?
The new plan is seriously competing with prepaid at this price. Top prepaid plans offer unlimited service, often with better perks like higher data priority, for similar prices.
Mint Mobile, which is owned by T-Mobile, is currently offering a year of unlimited data for just $15 per month when you pay for the year up-front. That’s way cheaper than Super Essentials Saver, and includes full-speed hotspot (up to 20GB per month).
Then there’s Visible and Total Wireless, both (somehow) Verizon-owned companies. Visible currently offers a year of service for just $19 per month, and Total Wireless offers a $20/mo plan with unlimited 5G UWB and 720p video (if you bring your own device).
With all these affordable options, why go with this new plan from T-Mobile? That’s a good question.
One big reason for many will be the ability to finance a device. Even though there are no device promos available on the Super Essentials Saver plan, you can still spread out the cost of a new phone over time at 0% interest. For those with decent credit, that usually includes $0 up front (other than taxes).
Some prepaid plans offer devices, but they’re usually up-front payment only, or financed via an installment plan that isn’t necessarily 0%.
Another reason could be support. Some people still like having the ability to visit a retail location for help, and this plan would allow that (despite T-Mobile’s hard push for the T-Life app).
That being said, for most people, prepaid may still be the way to go, especially if you already have an unlocked device to bring, or you rather buy your device out-right.
Select Walmart locations only
There’s another small hurdle to getting this plan, too: location. Only certain Walmart stores in the US offer T-Mobile postpaid service at all, and it’s unclear if every single one of those locations offers this plan.
That being said, if you’re interested in signing up for this new plan, you can find a list of Walmart stores that offer T-Mobile at the link below, direct from Walmart’s website. We recommend calling the store beforehand, though, to make sure they offer the plan at all.
Oh, and the fine print says this offer is for a limited time, so if you’re interested, be sure to head to a nearby participating location before it ends.
