Cricket Wireless soft-launched its tax season deals on 2/10/23 noted Wave7 Research in a report the firm just sent out to its subscribers. Headline offers include the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G and Moto G 5G both free online and in stores. The two Android phone deals are featured in stores with signage as are the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G ($129.99) and Moto G Stylus 5G ($89.99). The lead iPhone offers are for switchers and include a $49.99 iPhone 11 and a free iPhone SE. The iPhone 11 deal is a recycled tax-season offer from last year when it was available for $99.99.
At the time of this writing, Cricket isn't commercially advertising its tax season deals on TV. But BestMVNO believes new ads could begin airing soon. In the interim, Cricket has brought back an advertising TV campaign centered on the tagline "People who come to Cricket stay with Cricket." BestMVNO reported that the tagline was first used in TV ads last summer.
Cricket Wireless Tax Season 2023 Android Deals Fine Print
Below is a table of online free Android phone deals that Cricket Wireless is running for the 2023 tax season. The deals should overlap with what you find in stores although sometimes the store deals have slightly different requirements and may come with activation and other fees.
| Phone | Original Price | Upgrade/New Line Price | Port-In Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket Dream 5G | $189.99 | $69.99 | Free60 |
| Cricket Innovate 5G | $159.99 | $99.99 | Free60 |
| Cricket Icon 4 | $109.99 | $59.99 | Free60 |
| Cricket Ovation 2 | $129.99 | $39.99 | Free55 |
| Cricket Debut Smart | $79.99 | $19.99 | Free |
| Cricket Vision Plus | $99.99 | $29.99 | Free55 |
| Moto G 5G 2022 | $199.99 | $99.99 | Free60 |
| Moto G Power 2022 | $139.99 | $59.99 | Free60 |
| Moto G Stylus 2022 | $189.99 | $89.99 | Free60 |
| Moto G Pure | $109.99 | $39.99 | Free60 |
| Samsung Galaxy A14 | $189.99 | $129.99 | Free60 |
| Samsung Galaxy A13 | $159.99 | $69.99 | Free60 |
| Samsung Galaxy A03 | $119.99 | $39.99 | Free60 |
| TCL 30 Z | $89.99 | $29.99 | Free55 |
| TCL ION Z | $89.99 | $19.99 | Free |
55=Requires porting to $55 plan or higher
60=Requires porting to $60 plan
A majority of the free Android phone deals require you to port your number in and signup for Cricket's most expensive unlimited wireless plan billed at $60/month. However, you can switch to another plan at any time. You can also do a little better than some of the deals above by purchasing a phone at Walmart. The Moto G Pure is also free at Walmart but only requires you to activate a new line on a $40 or higher plan. The Samsung Galaxy A03 is $9.88 at Walmart instead of free at Cricket, however, the Walmart offer only requires you to signup for the $40 plan so you may save a little money on your first month of service if you don't want unlimited.
“Tax season is underway for Cricket. The carrier now has more Android devices that are free for switchers, featuring the Galaxy A14 5G and the Moto G Stylus 5G. Also new is the offer of the iPhone 11 at $49.99 for switchers.” -Jeff Moore, Principal of Wave7 Research
Cricket's iPhone Tax Season Deals
Cricket's $49.99 iPhone 11 and free iPhone SE online deals come with the same fine print as they've had in the past. Customers buying a phone online who want either device will have to pay for their first three months of service upfront on Cricket's $60 plan. Both offers require a new line with port-in and a new account. Port-ins from AT&T are excluded. The price is the same for either device whether you purchase a 64GB or 128GB model. If you buy the phones in a Cricket store, you will not have to prepay for 3 months of service in advance. But you will have to port your number in and pay for your first month on the $60 plan, plus tax and an activation fee.