T-Mobile 'Phone Freedom' brings back two-year contracts & more hotspot data

Phone Freedom by T-Mobile

As Verizon and AT&T have shifted from two-year plans to contacts that last three years, T-Mobile bills its update as another "Uncarrier" move that it says will free people from carrier lock-in and hidden contract changes. The Phone Freedom program includes three measures to support new and existing customers.

First, the new Go5G Plus rate plan promises customers the ability to upgrade to a new phone every two years. As a version of the company's Magenta MAX plan, it provides 50GB of high-speed hotspot data and 15GB of high-speed data in Mexico and Canada monthly.

If customers choose the autopay payment method for the Go5G Plus plan, they can save approximately $120 yearly for two lines. Customers can also receive free Go5G Plus with a third line for a limited time.

Next, Easy Unlock lets people turn in their carrier-locked smartphone to T-Mobile and receive a new device. The carrier will still pay off the phone up to $650 via a prepaid card from Mastercard.

For example, new and existing customers can receive an iPhone 14 when they trade in an eligible device on the Go5G Plus plan via 24 monthly bill credits.

For customers who switch to T-Mobile but aren't satisfied with the service, the carrier's Go Back Guarantee will help people change to a different company by offering $50 back per voice to help cover the cost of bills if people decide to leave within 30 days.

Finally, alongside Phone Freedom, which is available starting April 23, T-Mobile is dropping prices on its Essentials plan. It will soon cost $25 monthly for a family of four or $50 monthly for a single line.