While Mint Mobile offers some of the most generous phone deals around, it’s rare to find bundles that come in under $500. This week’s deal, however, is an exception because Mint is practically giving away the cheapest new Galaxy phone on the market for free.
Normally, the Galaxy A16 retails for $170, but an instant discount of $169 drops the price to just $1 for a limited time. The catch? It requires you to prepay for one year of unlimited data at $180. This brings your total to $181 at checkout, which is still an incredible value considering the unlimited plan alone usually costs $360 per year. In total, you’re saving $349.
Even though Samsung has plenty of flagships to consider, the A16 remains the most affordable entry point in the lineup. When it launched earlier this year, it retailed for $200. That’s a significant benchmark because many of the best cheap phones I’ve tested tend to hover closer to $500. For Mint Mobile to offer the device and a full year of service for $181 is a level of savings rarely seen outside of lengthy, expensive postpaid contracts.
Don’t dismiss the Galaxy A16 as just another cheap phone. It offers incredible value while mirroring many features found on premium devices. For example, it boasts a sizable 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, an IP54 rating, six years of guaranteed software updates, and a versatile triple-camera system.
For a budget handset, I’m impressed by the hardware: a 50MP main shooter, a 5MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro lens. The 13MP front-facing camera should more than suffice for selfies and vlogging. For those who want more control, the ‘Pro’ mode provides access to manual settings like ISO, shutter speed, and focus.
A common pitfall of ultra-cheap phones is their short lifespan due to a lack of software support. That isn’t a concern here. Samsung’s pledge of six years of updates is unheard of at this price point. Combined with a 5,000 mAh battery and 25W wired charging, this phone is built to go the distance.
When you consider that you’re getting a brand-new handset and a year of unlimited data for just $181, it’s a deal you simply won’t find at Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile.