Do not buy if you have a sprint account with t-mobile access.

[TheAngryToaster]

The title pretty much sums it up. I am one of these unfortunate souls that is now getting shafted by the merger. To break it down if you have sprint you can access tmobiles network using the tmobile next SIM card.

That SIM card is not compatible with the pixel 5. You also have zero option to use an esim with the pixel 5 as well with tmobile. The only way I would be able to use this service is to activate it on sprint. Which is a terrible network that I faced a ton of issues with and I imagine is only going to degrade as time goes on.

For us customers that are still with sprint but use tmobile service. You are forced to only use phones purchased via sprint. My only choice is to pay a bunch of money to cancel sprint and move to another carrier or send the phone back. Unfortunately sending the phone back is the economical choice at this point.

Nothing like waiting over a month to get a phone and not be able to use it. In future news I will be switching carriers as soon as I possibly can.

 

[swebb]

My only choice is to pay a bunch of money to cancel sprint and move to another carrier or send the phone back.

I'm surprised to hear that there still is a plan that has significant cancellation charges in today's world.

 

[TheAngryToaster]

It's cause my current devices are through Sprint lease. I have 2 lines mine and my sons. I have would have to cancel both lease agreements and pay the remaining amount on both devices.

I would switch to Google Fi but my son is an iphone lover and Fi doesn't work well on an iphone.

 

[swebb]

I'm not familiar with Sprint lease terms so the following may not be possible. Could you payoff the phones and sell them somewhere, like Swappa, and at least break even? Then you can move on. Of course, you'd need to get them unlocked.

T-Mobile's network is really good now. They've deployed some of Sprints' bands to fill in gaps and upgrade to 5g coverage. They've also extended their 600mhz coverage. If you don't want to support TMo directly, there are many MVNOs that run off their network.