T-Mobile Unlimited 55+ Senior Plans

Everything You Need To Know About T-Mobile At-a-Glance

• Globally operated
• 5G coverage across the US
• Caters to Apple, Samsung, LG and OnePlus
• Offers phones, tablets and, smartwatches
• Free smartphones for new lines
• T-Tuesdays offers prizes every week
• 5,300 stores across the world
• Three senior-friendly unlimited plans

The History of T-Mobile

T-Mobile was founded in 1990 in Germany by Deutsche Telekom AG. The company is one of the only cellular carriers that operate on a global scale, with headquarters in Europe, The United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. At present, they are the 3rd most popular cellular provider in the United States, with 86 million customers2 in total.

An Overview of T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ Senior Plans

Plan Type	Monthly Cost (Per Line)	Talk, Text & Smartphone Data	Streaming Quality	Mobile Hotspot Data	International Data (Mexico & Canada)	In-Flight WiFi
Essentials Unlimited 55	$27.50	Unlimited	SD	3G	2G	None
Magenta Unlimited	$35	Unlimited	SD	3GB of 4G LTE	5GB of 4G	1 Hour
Magenta Plus Unlimited*	$45	Unlimited	HD	5GB of 4G LTE	5GB of 4G	Unlimited

*Two lines required for this plan

Essentials Unlimited 55

Essentials Unlimited 55
The Essentials Unlimited Plan is the cheapest senior plan offered by T-Mobile, costing $27.50 per month per line when you sign up for two lines. Though, unlike the Magenta plans, the price does not include taxes and fees. However, T-Mobile states users can receive 50 percent worth of savings compared with basic competitor plans. A quick glance over at the AT&T senior plan shows prices start at $40 per line (and is only for Floridians),3 so their claim certainly holds up as far as the most popular network is concerned.

A big plus of Essentials Unlimited 55 is that, as the name suggests, you'll get unlimited calls, texts, and smartphone data on the T-Mobile network, which is exactly the same across all other plans. Another helpful aspect this plan has in common with the others is a dedicated customer service team, no annual contracts, and as they put it, “free stuff every week”. This refers to their T-Tuesday offers which release different prizes every week on the T-Mobile app.

There's only $7.50 between the Essentials and the Magenta plan, so is it worth upgrading? If streaming is important to you, then yes. That's because you'll only qualify for SD with the Essentials plan, meaning the picture quality will not be as crisp. Just for reference, HD is considered anything above 720p. Plus, you only get 3G for mobile hotspot data, and this is reduced to just 2G if you visit Mexico or Canada. To sum up, if you have excellent WiFi and don't travel outside the US very often, you could still find Essentials acceptable.

Magenta Unlimited 55

Dubbed their ‘signature plan,' Magenta Unlimited costs $35 per month per line when you sign up for two lines. The Magenta plan also exists within the regular plans T-Mobile offers, so is it worth switching to the senior version if you qualify? The answer is absolutely! For the non-senior Magenta plan, you'll be paying $60 per line for two lines. That means the senior plan will save you $25 per month. The only other main difference in plan features is that Netflix is not included with the senior version, though it can be added on by switching to the Magenta Plus Unlimited 55 plan with Netflix Standard.

The Magenta Unlimited 55 plan sees an increase in your data and texting abroad, which is limited to just texting on the Essentials Unlimited 55. It will also give you 3GB of 4G LTE, and 5GB of data to use in Mexico and Canada. This is in addition to 1 hour of free in-flight WiFi, which is perfect if you live close to either border. Though, disappointingly streaming is still in SD. Hopefully, T-Mobile will upgrade this soon, especially as technology moves towards 4K/Super HD streaming.

Overall, Magenta Unlimited 55 is a good option for seniors who want to stay connected, especially those who do occasional or light travel. If you don't send a lot of picture messages and prefer to simply text while away, then you might be better suited to the Essentials Unlimited 55 instead. It all depends on whether you'd like that extra 6GB of combined data or not.

Magenta Plus Unlimited 55

Magenta Plus Unlimited 55 is the gold standard of the T-Mobile senior plans. It comes in at $45 per line for two lines, and, similar to the other T-Mobile senior plans, also features unlimited calls, texts, and smartphone data across the network. So, what do you get for the higher price tag?

Not only do you get texting and data abroad, but the data is 2x faster versus the other senior plans. If you travel often, then data speed matters—especially if you are trying to work or frequently enjoy streaming videos and sending pictures. After all, nobody wants to sit there for hours waiting for images to send properly while on vacation! The increased data speed is backed up by HD streaming, making the Magenta Plus Unlimited 55 the only T-Mobile plan to offer this.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of Magenta Plus Unlimited 55 plan for seniors is the inclusion of Name ID, which identifies calls and texts from unknown numbers. Knowing who is trying to speak to you could help prevent you from falling victim to a scam, especially as seniors are unfortunately targeted often.4 There's also voicemail to text, allowing your voicemails to be transcribed should you be too busy to answer, or have any problems with your hearing.

Another perk of Magenta Plus Unlimited 55 is that it includes Netflix or Quibi. Combined with 20 GB of 4G LTE data per month, that makes it perfect for streaming your favorite shows. You'll also get unlimited in-flight WiFi which is ideal if you regularly travel, though could be overkill if you don't.

T-Mobile Senior-Friendly Phones

In the old days, senior-friendly phones were anything that had large buttons and didn't involve a touch screen. These days, practically any phone can be adapted for accessibility if needed. That being said, there are some cell phones that T-Mobile sells that cater to being easier to use for seniors more than others. Out top two picks include:

• Apple iPhone SE: The SE doesn't have as big a screen as some of the newer iPhones. However, it's the ease of use including a home button and headphone jack make it the go-to version. At $16.67 per month with no down payment, it's ideal for seniors who are looking to try an iPhone for the first time, without the expense of the iPhone 11. Other benefits of this model include Touch ID, which is essential for any seniors who bank through their phone or have any other confidential information stored on there.

• Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G: For anyone thinking of opting for the Magenta Plus Unlimited 55 plan, you'll want a phone that makes the most of the data and streaming, especially when it comes to Netflix. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is on the pricier side of things at $58.34 per month. However, it does offer a 40-megapixel camera, 37 hours of talk time, a 6.9” infinity screen, and is also 5G capable. For tech-savvy seniors who want to connect with loved ones in HD, it's the phone of choice.

Comparing T-Mobile to Competing Providers

Posted on the company's YouTube channel,5 T-Mobile's CEO gave an impassioned speech about how other companies patronize seniors with their mobile offerings. He rightly points out that the majority of seniors do want a smartphone and not a “brick with large numbers”. So how do competitor brands match up to this?

T-Mobile vs. AT&T

AT&T senior plans sstart at $29.99 though they don't include data, which is quite limiting for anyone who enjoys streaming. Data plans start at $40, which is almost as much as T-Mobile's top senior plan. Also, AT&T requires in-person verification to qualify for senior plans, which may not suit older customers with mobility problems. However, one advantage with AT&T is that customers can use their existing unlocked phones.

T-Mobile vs. Sprint

Sprint's senior offering comes in the form of the Sprint Unlimited 55+ and costs $35 per month with an additional $30 activation fee. One downside with Sprint is that plans can only be activated in-store, and early cancellations will incur a $350 fee. The biggest perk with this plan is the unlimited calls, texts, and data.

T-Mobile vs. Verizon

The Verizon Go Unlimited 55+ plan is only available in six states, making it inaccessible for most of the US. However, if you do qualify you'll get unlimited calls, texts, and data for $40 a month. There are also special perks for veterans and military families, and Verizon as a whole has a much larger selection of smartphones to choose from.

Our Final Thoughts

All of T-Mobile senior plans offer unlimited calls, texts, and data across the network. For any seniors who prioritize communication first, that's perhaps one of the biggest advantages especially as plans start at just $27.50 per line, making this far cheaper than rival brands.

That being said, the T-Mobile senior plans do focus more on the travel side of things, which is great for older adults or couples who vacation often, but not specifically for everyday use. If you are looking to travel internationally, opting for a cellular company that operates globally can offer some reassurance. That's because many cellular companies do not operate outside the US, making it trickier to contact them should you run into a problem with your phone while abroad.

The 3G data coverage is pretty average, and you'll only receive 4G with the Magenta plans. Though, as 5G is currently being rolled out, it's likely this will improve in the future. On that note, HD streaming is only available on Magenta Plus Unlimited 55 plan. While this ties in with the free Netflix, for anyone streaming videos on the other plans, you may be disappointed with the picture quality. In peak times, T-Mobile states streaming can be reduced to 480p, and 1080p on Magenta Plus Unlimited 55.

Overall, T-Mobile's Unlimited 55+ Senior Plans are impressive, not least because they don't exclude Netflix and data perks altogether as some rival companies do for older customers. Their customer service also spans phone, email, social media, and live chat, making it very easy to get help should you need it. While it favors the travelers, T-Mobile's senior plans are certainly worth considering.