[tuankiet65]

I'm feeling this pain right now. I was forced to switch to my backup phone after my main one broke. Data is okay over LTE, but it doesn't support VoLTE, and calls over 2G is miserable. Connection is super spotty unless I take the call outdoors, and even then, quality isn't great. Couple that with T-Mobile shutting down 2G in April 2024, and guess who's forced to purchase a new phone just to keep up.

[MrRadar]

I'd recommend buying a phone from Tracfone (or one of their sub-brands) with a bundled year of service, and then unlocking it after 60 days. They frequently have sales of those bundles for $100 or even less. You should be able to take it to T-Mobile if the model isn't proprietary to Tracfone/Verizon (though you will be stuck with the Tracfone customized firmware). According to this page which tracks prepaid phone deals, QVC and HSN both have Tracfone bundles on sale with lower-end Samsung phones for around that price, and even one with a Pixel 6a if you're willing to spend a little bit more: https://prepaidcompare.net/deals/