Before switching phone carriers, compare the full cost of equivalent plans, check coverage where you actually use your phone, confirm your handset will work on the new network, and find out what you still owe your current carrier. If you want to keep your number, start the transfer with the new carrier and leave your old service active until the transfer is complete.
Compare the full cost, not just the advertised monthly price
Build the comparison around the same household: the same number of lines and a similar pattern of calls, data use, and features. A lower headline price may not mean a lower bill once fees, taxes, device payments, and switching costs are included. The CFPB’s family plan worksheet prompts consumers to compare budget, coverage, data, streaming, features, and fees or costs. The FCC’s wireless billing guidance identifies recurring charges, taxes, surcharges, and activation fees among the categories that can appear on a wireless bill.
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- Compare the monthly total for all lines, including recurring charges, taxes, and surcharges.
- Include one-time activation or setup fees.
- Check what happens to any promotional device credits if you leave before the required term ends.
- Add any remaining phone installments or contract termination charges to your switching calculation.
- Compare relevant plan features, such as data allowances, hotspot access, international use, and streaming benefits.
Use this calculation for a chosen comparison period: expected savings = (current comparable monthly total − new comparable monthly total) × number of months − one-time switching costs. It is a way to organize your own figures, not a guarantee of savings. The result depends on your actual bill, remaining obligations, and the new plan’s terms.
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Look at coverage for home, work, your commute, and places you visit often. The FCC National Broadband Map lets you compare reported mobile coverage, and you can also consult the prospective carrier’s own coverage map. Treat both as estimates rather than promises: the FCC’s mobile map layers show expected connectivity outdoors or in a moving vehicle, not indoor coverage. Actual service can differ with your phone, local cell-site capacity, terrain, and the assumptions used to model coverage. See the FCC’s guide to using the National Broadband Map and its explanation of what the map shows.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
If available, a trial period or reliable local experience can help you judge service beyond what a map predicts. Do not assume that a coverage indicator guarantees a usable signal inside your home or at a particular time.
Make sure your current phone can move with you
Keeping your handset is possible only if it is both eligible to work on the new network and compatible with that provider’s technology. Check the precise model number, not just the phone’s brand or product name, and confirm its compatibility with the carrier before ordering a plan or relying on it for service. Also ask whether the phone is unlocked; unlocking eligibility and steps depend on your carrier and account. The FCC Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Center points consumers to information about unlocking and technical compatibility.
Rank #2
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
An unlocked phone is not automatically compatible with every network. The SIM type and activation method also depend on the specific handset and provider, so verify those details before switching.
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Find out what you still owe your current carrier
Number portability moves your phone number; it does not erase account obligations. Check your latest bill and agreement, then ask your current carrier for an account-specific payoff amount and details about any device installments, promotional credits, or early termination charges. These costs can change the economics of switching even when the new monthly plan is cheaper.
Rank #3
- Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB**** of RAM.
- Fluid display + immersive stereo sound. Bring your entertainment to life with an ultrawide 6.5" 90Hz* HD+ display plus stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, and Hi-Res Audio**.
- 50MP*** Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- 64GB**** built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps—and add up to 1TB more with a microSD card*****.
- Unbelievable battery life. Work and play nonstop with a long-lasting 5000mAh battery.*****
The FCC’s number-porting guidance explains how to keep a number when changing providers. Its Local Number Portability FAQs state the general principle that a valid port does not remove an existing balance or early termination fee, and that an old carrier generally may not refuse a valid port solely because money is owed. Because that FAQ is old, confirm current account obligations and procedures directly with the carriers.
Transfer your number in the right order
If you want to keep your number and are staying in the same geographic area, FCC consumer guidance says you can generally take it with you. Start the transfer with the new carrier. Do not cancel the old service first: the existing account needs to remain active until the port is complete, and a cancelled or deactivated number can put your ability to retain it at risk.
Rank #4
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
- Gather account details. Have your account information and a recent bill available. Matching the information supplied to the new carrier with the old account can help avoid transfer mismatches or delays.
- Ask the new carrier to initiate the port. Follow its instructions for the number and account information it needs.
- Keep the old service active while the transfer is pending. Do not independently cancel it before the number has transferred.
- Confirm the transfer and review the final bill. Check that the number works on the new service, then review the old account for remaining charges or balances.
Protect your account during the switch
Use the security controls your current carrier offers, such as an account PIN or password, to help guard against unauthorized account changes. The FTC’s SIM-swap scam guidance recommends setting a PIN or password on a cellular account as a protective step. Contact carriers through official channels you already trust, and do not share account credentials in response to an unexpected request.
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Write down the following for both your current service and the prospective plan. A comparison is useful only when it reflects your household’s actual needs and the costs attached to your account.
Best Value
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with Verizon, Spectrum, AT&T, Total Wireless, other CDMA carriers, it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- 4G LTE Bands: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28/B38/B40/B41
- Display: Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
- Monthly total for all lines after recurring charges, taxes, and surcharges
- One-time activation or setup fees
- Remaining device payments, credits that could stop, and contract exit costs
- Coverage at home, work, along your commute, and during frequent travel
- Data allowance and applicable rules, hotspot access, international use, and included extras you actually value
- Phone unlock status, exact-model compatibility, SIM requirements, and activation method
- Number transfer steps, account information required, and when the old account will close
For an official perspective on why unlocking can expand consumer choice, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez wrote in a 2024 statement: “Consumers who can afford to purchase an unlocked phone outright have the freedom to choose and switch between providers as they please.” That is a policy statement about choice, not a guarantee that any unlocked phone will work on any network. See FCC 24-77.
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