In early August, Boost Mobile updated its phone promos with one of the lead offers featuring the 32GB iPhone 7 for $29.99. The in-store only offer was supposed to remain in place until 10/5/2020. But Wave7 Research noted in a recent report sent out to its subscribers that on 8/27/2020, Boost Mobile increased the price of the phone to $49.99 with the same promo end date as before. Surprise, surprise.
Unfortunately, the iPhone 7 price hike wasn't the only deal to move in the wrong direction for consumers. Several other phone prices got increased affecting both Androids and iPhones.
iPhone Boost Mobile Switcher Promo Pricing Increases
Boost Mobile increased the price of 3 other port-in iPhone switcher offers. The following iPhone models and variants also had their prices increased on 8/27.
- iPhone 7 Plus 32GB increased from $129.99 up to $149.99
- iPhone 8 Plus 64GB increased from $129.99 to $149.99
- iPhone 8 Plus 128GB increased from $129.99 to $149.99
The pricing changes are less notable than the base iPhone 7's change. Boost Mobile's website was not actively highlighting and promoting the other iPhone offers like it was for the $29.99 iPhone 7. Online dealer mentions of the other offers were also scarce. Still, they are changes that adversely impact consumers.
Android New Line Upgrade Pricing Increases
Boost Mobile also increased the in-store pricing of two Android devices. The LG Monarch and Moto E both went from $49.99 up to $59.99 for new lines and upgrades. The prices now match what's available online directly from Boost.
Both phones are still free in-store to those who switch to Boost with a number port-in. The LG Monarch is also still available for $10 to current customers who add a line to Boost's $50 and $60 plans with 35GB of high-speed data or to the newly launched family plans.
Editor's Take
From a consumer perspective, the iPhone 7 price hike is a disappointment. It also puts Boost Mobile at a competitive disadvantage to Metro where the iPhone 7 remains priced at $29.99. Metro also has the much newer iPhone SE 2020 available to switchers for just $49.99. Boost Mobile's pricing change does however match the one that just occurred at Cricket Wireless. On August 28th, Cricket increased the price of its iPhone 7 switcher offer from free to $49.99.
Jeff Moore, Principal of Wave7 Research provided commentary to BestMVNO on the pricing updates:
"Under Dish management, Boost is true to its heritage of being a scrappy competitor that seeks to 'own the mile' in urban America. That said, Dish is more focused on profitability than Sprint was."