The new Samsung Galaxy S21 is coming out on Jan 29. Tmo has a deal now where you can trade in a phone and get credit towards the S21. The great thing about this deal is that you don’t need to activate a new line. The deal is here.
The most interesting thing here is that you can get up to $400 off if you trade in an iPhone SE2… yes the same Xfinity ones. Here’s the catch – I’ve been getting mixed messaged on whether you can turn in a financed locked phone from another carrier. I asked 2 Tmobile store reps and both say that I CAN turn it in. I asked Tmo Twitter support and they said I couldn’t.
So who really knows what the answer is. I checked the full t&c on the Tmo site and it doesn’t mention anything about the phone needing to be unlocked or paid off. I may just go in store and try it out on one phone. I do believe once the retail store rep accepts the phone, that means you’re good to go; I don’t think they can reject you later down the road like if you mailed in the tradein.
The good thing is that if it works and you do get the S21, you can just pay off the phone, still get the credits, ask for it to be unlocked and then easily flip the phone. I realize this is a lot of steps, but this is required for you to maximize the value out of your iPhone SE’s.
I remember data points that T-mobile may stop the monthly bill credits if you pay it off
If my past experience still holds true, when trading in a phone for credit via TMO, you actually mail the phone into a processor and they credit your bill monthly. The store does not accept the phone physically but they will inspect it for damage. Unless the this process has changed since 2 years ago.
Please let us know what happens if you try it on one phone!
T-Mobile FAQs state:
” you must fully own your device”
Even if T-Mobile does accept it, I have a feeling that xfinity is going to hit you with the unpaid amount you owe them once the phone is deactivated from their system.
Xfinity wouldn’t ever know you turned it in; you’re still keeping service with them.