16GB 12-month for $300 how happy are you who have it?

**Aaron01** · 01-04-2023, 06:20 PM

I used to use AT&T prepaid for a few years until getting a new iPhone 14 and then switched to Xfinity Mobile (uses Verizon) because it was cheaper when going 5G. I now see the $300 plan includes 5G and hotspot along with the 16GB. The problem I have had in the past with Verizon directly and the same for Xfinity is data deprioritization, I get bars everywhere but they are useless. My AT&T prepaid was better for me for coverage and actual usable service.

Just checking to see from those with the $300 plan how happy are you with it and any issues? 5G, deprioritization, etc?

TIA

**NCTed** · 01-05-2023, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by Aaron01

I used to use AT&T prepaid for a few years until getting a new iPhone 14 and then switched to Xfinity Mobile (uses Verizon) because it was cheaper when going 5G. I now see the $300 plan includes 5G and hotspot along with the 16GB. The problem I have had in the past with Verizon directly and the same for Xfinity is data deprioritization, I get bars everywhere but they are useless. My AT&T prepaid was better for me for coverage and actual usable service.

Just checking to see from those with the $300 plan how happy are you with it and any issues? 5G, deprioritization, etc?

TIA

So far, it works just like AT&T Prepaid always has. I haven't detected any deprioritization. I have had a couple of instances where 5G didn't work indoors and switching to LTE fixed it, but that mirrors what I've observed on Verizon phones in specific, limited locations as well. Other than the 5G icon on the display, it doesn't seem any different 99.9% of the time.

**Boz1** · 01-05-2023, 08:20 AM

I've had my wife on that AT&T Prepaid $300 plan since 2020, when it was 8GB/30 days.

She loves it since it has full roaming in Canada and Mexico, hotspot for the full data allowance, as well as rollover, and she has never yet had any service issues. She doesn't have a 5G phone, but LTE has been great on her Pixel 3a.

I like it because I can pay only $256.50 TOTAL for the $300 worth of AT&T Prepaid refill cards when on sale at Target and paying with a Red Card, which comes out to only $21.38/30-days TOTAL!

If you don't need the above perks, and could use more than 16GB/30 days, you might check out the Boost Infinite plan, to see if it would meet your needs, for a slightly higher cost. https://www.boostinfinite.com

**Aaron01** · 01-05-2023, 05:37 PM

Thanks for the replies. My Xfinity mobile ends its cycle on the 20th and they do not pro rate. I am fairly sure now that I want to switch back over to AT&T with this $300 deal, I am just going to wait until I am a bit closer to the end of billing with Xfinity.

**rochrunner** · 01-07-2023, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Aaron01

Thanks for the replies. My Xfinity mobile ends its cycle on the 20th and they do not pro rate. I am fairly sure now that I want to switch back over to AT&T with this $300 deal, I am just going to wait until I am a bit closer to the end of billing with Xfinity.

A while back I switched to T-Mobile but after only 2 months decided to switch back. Since I was coming from another carrier I was eligible for the $300 plan even though I had previously been on AT&T Prepaid for a couple years.

**jlp2979** · 01-19-2023, 03:36 PM

I just signed up for this plan today, comes out to $29 a month with taxes. Was surprised to see 5G+ and mmwave data around my office; not at all the case a year ago when I last tried AT&T. Wanted to test AT&T again, only been 1 day but so far so good. Honestly compared to other prepaid offerings this is a great deal considering all the features you get.

I visited a corporate store to ask for a prepaid e-sim card and they looked at me like I had 3 heads and wanted to sign me up for a postpaid plan. I said no, they still tried to convince me so I just walked out. Only after I returned to my office did I realize I could do this all in 5 minutes on the AT&T website!

**LTENetwork** · 02-12-2023, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by jlp2979

I just signed up for this plan today, comes out to $29 a month with taxes. Was surprised to see 5G+ and mmwave data around my office; not at all the case a year ago when I last tried AT&T. Wanted to test AT&T again, only been 1 day but so far so good. Honestly compared to other prepaid offerings this is a great deal considering all the features you get.

I visited a corporate store to ask for a prepaid e-sim card and they looked at me like I had 3 heads and wanted to sign me up for a postpaid plan. I said no, they still tried to convince me so I just walked out. Only after I returned to my office did I realize I could do this all in 5 minutes on the AT&T website!

Esim is a digital technology and no longer requires a QR code. No store needed. Reps are only trained to upsell, and are mostly clueless on the technology.

**bricks1343** · 02-13-2023, 08:48 AM

Currently, I am on Cricket Wireless. The 5G speeds are not that great in my area. ATT says my number can be transferred, and I wonder if I could sign up for the $300 plan with ATT and port in from Cricket or would I have to port out to non-ATT for a month then port back to ATT?

My wife currently has ATT prepaid and should be getting 5G, but if I put her sim card in my iPhone 13 Pro Max, it does not show 5G service. I would kind of like to know if ATT 5G would be any faster than Cricket before I made the switch. Any suggestions on how I might could go about this? Ask ATT for new sim for her phone maybe??

**LTENetwork** · 02-13-2023, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by bricks1343

Currently, I am on Cricket Wireless. The 5G speeds are not that great in my area. ATT says my number can be transferred, and I wonder if I could sign up for the $300 plan with ATT and port in from Cricket or would I have to port out to non-ATT for a month then port back to ATT?

My wife currently has ATT prepaid and should be getting 5G, but if I put her sim card in my iPhone 13 Pro Max, it does not show 5G service. I would kind of like to know if ATT 5G would be any faster than Cricket before I made the switch. Any suggestions on how I might could go about this? Ask ATT for new sim for her phone maybe??

Cricket is always going to be slower than AT&T if you do a side by side by side comparison on any generation of service. AT&T sends a new sim when you order online for a Bring your own device prepaid plan. You can also swap to an esim for the phone as well without going to a store. 5G is not available everywhere yet. AT&T Prepaid does 5G where available as does Cricket.

**LTENetwork** · 02-13-2023, 09:17 AM

Just follow porting directions on AT&T website or call AT&T prepaid if you need assistance. All the info you need is online.

**NCTed** · 02-14-2023, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by bricks1343

Currently, I am on Cricket Wireless. The 5G speeds are not that great in my area. ATT says my number can be transferred, and I wonder if I could sign up for the $300 plan with ATT and port in from Cricket or would I have to port out to non-ATT for a month then port back to ATT?

My wife currently has ATT prepaid and should be getting 5G, but if I put her sim card in my iPhone 13 Pro Max, it does not show 5G service. I would kind of like to know if ATT 5G would be any faster than Cricket before I made the switch. Any suggestions on how I might could go about this? Ask ATT for new sim for her phone maybe??

Based on my experience locally, I would not expect any significant difference between Cricket and AT&T Prepaid most of the time. Also, don't necessarily expect 5G to be any faster than LTE most of the time. AT&T's LTE Advanced (5Ge) was already pretty darn fast for us.

To take advantage of much of the 5G+ mid-band spectrum AT&T has, you will need an iPhone 14 or certain newer Android device based on what I've read. I see 5G+ on my 14 in places where my wife's 13 does not. Not sure if she's ever seen 5G+ on her 13 TBH. She does see 5G though, so if you're not seeing that on the 13 Pro, then it isn't turned on yet.

**LTENetwork** · 02-14-2023, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by NCTed

Based on my experience locally, I would not expect any significant difference between Cricket and AT&T Prepaid most of the time. Also, don't necessarily expect 5G to be any faster than LTE most of the time. AT&T's LTE Advanced (5Ge) was already pretty darn fast for us.

To take advantage of much of the 5G+ mid-band spectrum AT&T has, you will need an iPhone 14 or certain newer Android device based on what I've read. I see 5G+ on my 14 in places where my wife's 13 does not. Not sure if she's ever seen 5G+ on her 13 TBH. She does see 5G though, so if you're not seeing that on the 13 Pro, then it isn't turned on yet.

I have used both Cricket and AT&T Prepaid. Cricket is definitely slower than AT&T Prepaid in NYC on speedtests. I am assuming Cricket is QCI 9 prioritization and speeds are throttled. AT&T Prepaid is QCI 8 on all plans that come with a fixed data amount.

**NCTed** · 02-14-2023, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by LTENetwork

I have used both Cricket and AT&T Prepaid. Cricket is definitely slower than AT&T Prepaid in NYC on speedtests. I am assuming Cricket is QCI 9 prioritization and speeds are throttled. AT&T Prepaid is QCI 8 on all plans that come with a fixed data amount.

OK, so it is probably dependent on location then. I never ran in to any noticeable deprioritization in the Carolinas with Cricket.

**LTENetwork** · 02-14-2023, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by NCTed

OK, so it is probably dependent on location then. I never ran in to any noticeable deprioritization in the Carolinas with Cricket.

I ran speed tests directly. If you are happy with Cricket that is fine. You might as well save money. But if you run actual speed tests on same towers with same device, AT&T Prepaid has faster speeds. Im not sure if its a hard speed cap on Cricket or exactly how they work it. In my tests, AT&T Prepaid was always faster. NYC has 5G+ coverage for both Cricket and AT&T Prepaid. Subtier brands like Cricket, MetroPCS and Visable have worse speeds and performance than their regular brands but can include more features and lower pricing..

**Digital Rules** · 02-14-2023, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by NCTed

OK, so it is probably dependent on location then. I never ran in to any noticeable deprioritization in the Carolinas with Cricket.

Going from Red Pocket AT&T (QCI 9) to AT&T pre-paid, I don't notice any difference in day to day usage.

Speed tests definitely show a difference, but performance between the 2 isn't really noticeable.

I sometimes have to toggle airplane mode when on a congested tower, just like with Red Pocket.