T-Mobile 55+ Cell Phone Plans Review

Pros and Cons

The Buying Experience With T-Mobile

New T-Mobile Customers

Since I was a new customer, a visit to a brick-and-mortar T-Mobile store was in the cards. Unlike some of the newer cellular providers that have web-only presences (check out our Mint Mobile review for the lowdown on that), signing up for a T-Mobile plan requires an in-person visit. It helped to talk with a T-Mobile representative in person — in my case, Greg. Avoid the stress of cell phone shopping when stores are busiest (typically at night or on the weekend). If your schedule allows it, do your cell phone shopping mid-morning on a weekday.

Greg was really helpful at explaining T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ plans and cell phone options. He alerted me to the new four-line allowance for two of T-Mobile’s seniors-only plans (I’ll get to that below). Setting up my line in-store also made transferring my number to T-Mobile totally stress-free. If you fudge this online, you may be in for some trouble!

Since I was already at the T-Mobile store, I figured I’d stick around and let Greg help set up my phone for me, too. (With the in-store setup, I could use my phone as soon as I stepped out the door!)

This turned out to be a wise choice. Within 15 minutes, I’d created my T-Mobile account and had my new SIM card in my phone and activated. But what if I already had a T-Mobile account and didn’t want to leave my house?

Actually, I wouldn’t have to. I could have done everything online, which I’m sure is good news for those with mobility issues who may not be able to shop in-store. Here’s how to do it.

Existing T-Mobile Customers

If you’re already a T-Mobile subscriber and want to take advantage of one of T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ plans, you can do so online. It’s actually pretty easy. Just log into your account with your T-Mobile ID to switch plans, upgrade your phone, or even order a new phone. If you’re not sure how to set up your new phone, T-Mobile’s customer support is only a phone call away to walk you through the whole process.

Being persistent pays off! Don’t be afraid to ask representatives about special promotions if you're in a store. You’d be surprised at how many in-store incentives there are that you won’t find on websites. And not just deals on cellular services, but seniors-only discounts on groceries, restaurants, and even cruises.

Choosing a Cell Phone

With T-Mobile, you can either bring your own phone or purchase a new one. Below, I’ll walk you through the process for both options and give some recommendations if you’re looking for a phone upgrade.

Bringing Your Current Phone

One of the first things I checked with Greg was that my current phone, my trusty iPhone 14 Pro, was compatible with my new T-Mobile plan. Fortunately, it was. If you have an AT&T phone plan or a Verizon 55+ package and you’re switching to T-Mobile, and you want to bring your phone along, you’ll have to do the same.

My advice? Before heading into a store, visit the T-Mobile website and use their phone compatibility checker. It couldn’t be easier. Plus, with this info handy, you’ll know from the get-go whether you’ll have to budget in a new phone for your new T-Mobile plan.

To check whether your phone is T-Mobile compatible, you’ll need your phone’s unique ID, or International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). It’s not tough to find at all! Here’s how:

• For iPhones: Go to Settings > General > About.
• For Android phones: Go to Settings > About Phone > Status.
• For Windows phones: Go to Settings > About > More information.

Buying a New Phone

If you are shopping for a new phone for your new T-Mobile Unlimited 55+ plan, you’ll have plenty of options, including our favorites for seniors like the Apple iPhone 14 Pro and REVVL 6 5G.

After careful research, I decided to test T-Mobile's REVVL 6 5G and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro. Here’s what I found.

Photo Credit – T-Mobile. REVVL V+ 5G

 T-Mobile REVVL 6 5G

Actually, I was surprised here. T-Mobile’s own REVVL line could definitely give iPhones and Samsung Galaxies a run for their money. The REVVL 6 5G is one of T-Mobile's more affordable cell phone options, offering great tech and storage (64 GB) for its sleek $169.99 price tag. Right now, you can even get one free when you trade in any eligible phone or add on a new line, slashing that price down to $0.

For older adults, the latest REVVL may be a particularly good fit. The REVVL 6 5G has a TalkBack feature that converts text to speech. It’s M3/T4 hearing aid compatible, and for seniors prone to tired eyes or with eye issues, the REVVL 6 5G’s pretty massive 6.5-inch screen is virtually squint-proof.

Our favorite features for seniors:

• Big 6.5-inch HD+ display
• M3/T4 hearing aid compatible
• 30 hours talk time and 26 days standby time
• 5G speeds where available
• Fingerprint and Face ID unlock
• Fast charge
• Front camera (5 MP)
• High-resolution triple rear cameras (13 MP)

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

For older adults looking for a smartphone with a little more style and chutzpah, I’d recommend the iPhone 14 Pro. Even with its many advanced features, I found that the iPhone was still a cinch to use. It’s so easy to use that it’s the phone I purchased for myself! And when I say the iPhone 14 Pro is easy to use, I’m talking about more than finding my way around its many cool apps and settings.

The iPhone was designed for easy swiping with minimal hand pressure. For the one-in-four adult Americans suffering from arthritis2 — about 15 million people — pain-free messaging will be as useful as the iPhone 14 Pro’s other well-known senior-friendly accessibility features, such as hearing aid compatibility (M3, T4 rating), emergency SOS features, and a water- and dust-resistant design. New and existing customers that trade in an eligible device on T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus plan can get a free iPhone 14. Restrictions may apply.

Smartphones like an iPhone can provide a great way to stay connected with loved ones.

Using the iPhone 14 Pro

Benefits for seniors:

• 23 hours talk time
• 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
• 48 MP main camera
• Long-lasting battery life
• Water-, dust-, and splash-resistant
• 5G coverage
• Emergency SOS

Nationwide Coverage

T-Mobile can’t quite nudge Verizon off the 4G/LTE throne, but with 62 percent coverage of the lower 48 states,3 it takes second place, right above AT&T. But what it lacks in spread, T-Mobile makes up for in speed and affordability. T-Mobile has faster upload speeds than its competitors, which is great for all you family photographers out there, with lower-priced plans on average.

That’s 4G. T-Mobile’s 5G coverage is a different story. T-Mobile has quickly shot up to the top of the pack here, covering 41 percent of the U.S. Compare that to 18 percent 5G nationwide coverage with AT&T and 11 percent coverage with Verizon. Combine your T-Mobile plan with a 5G-compatible phone, like a REVVL or iPhone, and you can expect some serious speed.

If any of your friends who live nearby have T-Mobile, I’d highly recommend asking them about their experience with T-Mobile and the quality of coverage in your area before you sign up. This is important regardless of the carrier you choose, as every carrier has better quality in certain regions than others. For example, I get solid T-Mobile coverage in my neighborhood, but during a trip to Disneyland, I noticed I had poor reception throughout the park and the parts of Anaheim we visited. Meanwhile, my friend with AT&T had solid reception all day.

Contracts and Warranty

Contracts

Like Lively cell phone packages for older adults, T-Mobile plans are month-to-month, so you won’t need to sign a contract of any kind. But that doesn’t mean T-Mobile doesn’t give you incentives to save. We’ll take a closer look at T-Mobile plan savings opportunities in just a second.

Warranty

If you purchase your phone through T-Mobile, you’re covered with a standard 12-month warranty. To take your device protection to the next level, enroll in T-Mobile’s Protection<360>, which gives you perks like cheap screen repair, AppleCare (for iPhone users), and, for the time being, McAfee Security for T-Mobile with ID Theft Protection. Protection<360> starts at $7 per month.

T-Mobile 55+ Senior Phone Plans at a Glance

Choosing the right T-Mobile 55+ plan boils down to your personal needs. Since most cellular carriers offer unlimited talk and text these days, the basic factors you’ll want to be aware of are data allowances (and caps), streaming quality, and price per line.

Of course, if you have family in Canada or Mexico (or anywhere else outside the U.S.), you’ll want to see what types of allowances and restrictions your cellular carrier has on international calls and data.

As you read through your T-Mobile pricing options below, you’ll notice that the more lines you purchase, the cheaper each line will be. So, if you’re a 2+ household, you’ll definitely want to consider becoming a “T-Mobile family.”

It’s important to note that T-Mobile’s 55+ plans don’t offer any medical alert features. If you’d like access to an urgent response team, on-call nurses, and features to keep caregivers and loved ones in the loop, you may want to consider Lively’s mobile plans. Visit our Lively phone plan review to learn more.

*Prices listed require AutoPay billing and exclude taxes and fees for Essentials 55 plan.

Essentials 55 for Basic Users

Cost

T-Mobile’s basic senior plan is a great choice for budget-conscious older adults on a fixed income. At $40 per month for a single-line plan or $55 per month for two lines, the Essentials 55 plan’s price point is substantially cheaper than close competitors like AT&T, whose Unlimited 55+ plan starts at $60 for one line. AT&T’s comparable plan offers unlimited talk, text, and data in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, just like T-Mobile. However, this plan is only available to Florida residents, while T-Mobile’s plan is available in all 50 states. Overall, we believe the T-Mobile Essentials 55 offers better value for money than AT&T’s similar plan.

A quick heads-up here because this may get lost in the fine print. If you go with the Essentials 55 plan, taxes and fees aren’t included, remember to factor the additional cost into your budget. Separate taxes and fees may apply for certain T-Mobile offerings and features on all three T-Mobile 55+ plans.

All of T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ plans come with a Price Lock guarantee. That means your bill will never increase unexpectedly.

Plan Features

As with all of T-Mobile’s 55+ plans, you’ll also get unlimited talk, text, and data with the Essentials 55 plan, so you can chat with your friends and grandkids all day long. One caveat on the data with this plan: After you use 50 GB of data in a month, you may experience slower speeds during high-traffic times. If you’re a light internet user, 50 GB of monthly data should be plenty. While T-Mobile can’t match the 19 million Wi-Fi hotspots of an Xfinity prepaid plan, you can turn your phone into a mobile hotspot to power your laptop if you’re on the go and need Wi-Fi in a pinch.

This plan also comes with unlimited texting in over 210 countries, perfect for older adults who love to travel. We don’t see this rare perk with many providers, so take advantage! All in all, this plan comes with the least bells and whistles, making it best for those who just want a basic plan. If you want extra features like in-flight Wi-Fi or free Netflix, check out one of T-Mobile’s other two plans below.

Go5G Plus 55 Plan for the Best Value

Cost

T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus 55 plan is the middle-tier 55+ plan. Starting at $70 per month for one line or $100 for two lines, the Go5G Plus 55 plan is nearly 75 percent more expensive than the Essentials plan. This plan falls in the middle of the price range for T-Mobile plans, and it has an extensive list of perks, which is why we believe it offers the best value for money. On top of several data and usage limit increases, it has a unique two-year renewal offer that most phone companies do not provide.

Plan Features

The most unique selling point of the new Go5G Plus 55 plan is T-Mobile’s phone device renewal policy. Here’s how it works:

1. Go5G Plus 55 subscribers can switch out devices every two years, as opposed to three (three years is the standard for competitors).
2. When selecting your new phone, you’ll have access to all the same deals that new customers get. Rather than having to add an extra line or fulfill some other requirement to upgrade to a new phone, the Go5G Plus 55 plan allows you to receive a new device as if you were a new customer.

The Go5G Plus 55 plan has several upgrades from the Essentials 55 plan, especially if you plan on traveling. The Go5G plans come with more high speed data options while traveling, unlimited in-flight texting, high-speed mobile hotspot data, and extra perks (like a free Netflix subscription).

Go5G Next 55 Plan for New Phone Lovers

Cost

The Go5G Next 55 plan is the best of the best when it comes to T-Mobile’s 55+ plans. That also means it’s the most expensive plan by a pretty large margin. The Go5G Next 55 plan starts at $80 per month for one line and goes up to $240 for four lines. If you’re a heavy mobile user, the high cost could be worth the features and services you’ll get.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more affordable unlimited plan, we’d recommend considering other carriers like Consumer Cellular. Consumer Cellular’s unlimited plan costs just $50 per month for one line. You won’t find any of T-Mobile’s extensive perks like free Netflix or service abroad, but it’s an excellent choice for the budget-conscious user looking for unlimited data.

Plan Features

The Go5G Next 55 and Go5G Plus 55 plans are very similar. The main difference is that you can upgrade your device every single year with the Go5G Next 55 plan as if you were a new customer (with no additional requirements or strings attached).

Other than that, the Go5G Next 55 plan has nearly identical features to the Go5G Plus plan. The Next plan also offers unlimited Wi-Fi on flights, data usage in over 200 countries, 4K UHD video quality, and a lot of mobile hotspot data.

Thanks to all of these features and yearly phone upgrades, the Go5G Next 55 plan is our pick for those who love getting new phones every year. Whether you want the latest iPhone or an Android upgrade, you can get a new device once a year. Plus, you can use data all day to your heart’s content, even in other countries! If you love being on your phone and want to get a new phone more often, this is the plan for you.

Check out our YouTube review to learn more about our experience with T-Mobile’s senior plans.