Three T-Mobile phones worth waiting for (roundup)

In addition to taking the full plunge into prepaid territory, T-Mobile has lined up some highly anticipated top-tier phones. Here's the lowdown on the three handsets that are worth considering.

by Lynn La

March 25, 2013 1:39 PM PDT

Earlier this year at CES, T-Mobile unveiled its $70 no-contract unlimited data plan.

(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)

Now that T-Mobile has done away with its two-year contract model, we take a look at the three hottest handsets that are destined for the carrier.

Based on its new options, you will be able to get these phones alongside a monthly $50 unlimited talk and text plan (and 500MB of data thrown in for good measure). If you want unlimited data, you'll need to pay $20 more, totaling up to a reasonable $70 per month.

For more on what the carrier has in store, join CNET tomorrow at 8 a.m. PT as we live blog its "Uncarrier" event in New York.

The Samsung Galaxy S4.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Samsung Galaxy S4, expected in Q2 for T-Mobile
As if the Galaxy S4 doesn't have enough things going for it, the device will also pack a vividly bright 5-inch full HD Super AMOLED screen, either a 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor or a 1.6GHz octo-core Exynos 5 Octa CPU (though chances are the U.S. model will get the former), and a 13-megapixel camera. Read the full review.

The HTC One.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

HTC One, expected mid- to late March for T-Mobile
Not only is the One just a fine-looking, all-aluminum-cased handset, it also has room under the hood for some impressive specs. It was one of the very first phones to be announced with a (1.7GHz) quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, it has a 4-megapixel "Ultrapixel" camera that can record 1080p full HD video, and its 4.7-inch LCD screen boasts a whopping 468ppi. Read the full review.

The BlackBerry Z10.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

BlackBerry Z10, pre-registration available now for T-Mobile
As the Hail Mary phone from BlackBerry, you can bet the company filled its Z10 flagship to the brim with high-tech specs and features. In addition to running the novel and heavily gesture-based BB10 OS, the handset also sports an HDMI port, an 8-megapixel camera, and a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Plus processor. All packaged in a handsome, sturdy construction.Read the full review.

Compare these phones head-to-head.

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ggreenwood33

11 hours ago

Why is everyone forgetting about the upcoming Motorola phone or phones. "Motorola X" This is supposed to be the game changer.

kool_skatkat

8 hours ago

@ggreenwood33 Until it's out, it's not out.

Westoncito

13 hours ago

The blackberry? HAHAHA That wouldn't be a smart buy unless you're a huge blackberry fanboy.

zackKon

10 hours ago

@Westoncito And my other choices are a bunch of android phones running the same thing, or an outdated ios device. I think I'll take the Z10. RTOS for the win.

nuculerman

13 hours ago

Note III will be coming out as well. August is probably a reasonable estimate, though I'm personally hoping earlier.

Nexus 5 should be coming out before year end.

IPhone 5S as well.

I'd probably take any of those over the one's listed here, with the exception of the S4, obviously. Nexus 5, assuming it's made by LG and hits a price sweet spot again (under $500 w/o contract), is what I'm most excited to see. If it doesn't get announced soon though, I may just jump on the S4... getting sick of my G2x... newer apps are eating up that 256kb of memory like nobody's business.

This comment has been deleted

EazyBBRGs

15 hours ago

@natmaxx I'd take t-mobile's LTE 4G/HSPA+ over any carriers LTE 4G/3G

mastertaco

12 hours ago

@EazyBBRGs @natmaxx i would too, but at some weird moments i can have no signal in like some of the biggest cities? and the best signal in a mine 500 feet under the surface of earth? i dont get it sometimes but hey WTFN!?

nikecar

1 hour ago

@EazyBBRGs @natmaxx I have friends who can walk across the street with their TMo phones and lose all connection.

No thanks.

Ratnok

15 hours ago

@natmaxx It's amazing to me how idiotic people can be. HSPA+ 42 (T-Mobile's 4G) was officially classified as 4g by the standards body - the ITU at the same time and with the same exemption as WiMax and LTE. NONE of these 3 network types classify as 4G under the original definition, which was 1 Gbp/s.

Either all three are called 4G or none of them are. You don't get to pick favorites to make yourself feel better. LTE is no more "4G" than HSPA+ 42. LTE-Advanced (Release 10) won't be available for retail use for at least another year or two and fully in use until around 2017.

So if you want to try to be a tech snob, at least understand what you're talking about.

cryofpaine

18 hours ago

The problem isn't contracts, the problem is that I'm paying for stuff I don't need. At the most, when I was out of the office after a surgery for nearly a month and calling in every day, I used less than 200 minutes. Typically I don't even reach 100. Yet the lowest anyone offers is 450, for $50 a month. I'd gladly pay $25 for 200 minutes instead of wasting so much money per month on minutes I'll never use. If someone had a low minute, low text, 2GB data plan for a reasonable price, I'd gladly sign a 20 year contract, let alone a 2 year one.

Caerolle

17 hours ago

@cryofpaine You're in luck: T-Mobile has a plan for $30/month with 5 Gb at 4G, 100 minutes talk, and unlimited text. It seems to still be available, as it is still on their Plans page.

nuculerman

13 hours ago

@cryofpaine

Way to inform yourself.

Step 1: Go to TMobile's website

Step 2: Find the prepaid plans

Step 3: Pick a phone

Step 4: Add the $30/month contract that does exactly what you asked

Step 5: Stop wasting your time on cnet forums rambling about things you haven't even bothered to research

nubwaxer

19 hours ago

it'll be a long wait but the nexus 5, which seems like a perfect match for t-mo's network, is rumored to have a 13 mp nikon camera. anyway, i use t-mobile and reports of their imminent death being premature i hope they prosper, especially beating at&t.

McHale72

19 hours ago

Yah, they're lining up already for the blackberry. LOL

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annunakimaster

Tuesday, March 26, 2013