You’re probably standing in a crowded aisle or refreshing a tab until your finger goes numb. Everyone does it. Black Friday hits and the panic sets in because you don't want to overpay for a slab of glass and silicon that'll be "old" in twelve months anyway. If you've been hunting for black friday phone deals cricket is usually where the real, unpretentious value hides, but most people mess this up by looking at the wrong numbers. They see a "free" phone and jump. Big mistake.
Free isn't always free.
Cricket Wireless, which is basically AT&T in a green tracksuit, plays a different game than the big carriers. While Verizon or T-Mobile try to lock you into a 36-month "installment plan" that feels more like a mortgage, Cricket usually just wants you to switch your number. That’s the golden ticket. If you're an existing customer, the deals are okay, but if you're porting in from a competitor? That's when the prices crater. Honestly, it’s a bit of a slap in the face to loyal customers, but that’s the industry for you.
The Reality of the Cricket Wireless Hardware Buffet
Let's talk about the actual devices. During the November madness, you’ll see the iPhone SE or some flavor of the Moto G series advertised for $0 or maybe $19.99. Sounds incredible, right? It is, provided you're okay with the $60 unlimited plan. If you try to drop down to a cheaper $30 plan, that "free" phone suddenly costs $150. You've got to do the math on the total cost of ownership over six months.
Most people ignore the mid-range. That's a mistake. While everyone is fighting over the latest iPhone Pro Max, the "previous gen" models or the Samsung A-series often see the most aggressive price cuts at Cricket. These phones do 95% of what the flagships do. They take great photos of your dog. They scroll TikTok without lagging. They have batteries that actually last until dinner.
The iPhone 13 or 14 often becomes the "hero" deal during this window. Because Apple keeps these in production specifically for prepaid carriers, Cricket can slash the upfront cost to almost nothing to lure people away from Metro or Boost. If you see an iPhone 14 for under $200 on a port-in, grab it. It's a workhorse.
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Why the "Free" Phone Trap is Real
I’ve seen it a thousand times. A buyer sees a shiny sign for a free Samsung Galaxy A15. They sign up, pay the first month's service, and the activation fee—yeah, don't forget the $25 activation fee in-store—and they think they won. Then they realize they're stuck on a high-tier plan they don't need.
Cricket's $60 plan includes Max (with ads). If you already pay for streaming, maybe that justifies the cost. But if you just wanted a cheap phone and cheap service, you’re basically paying for the phone through your monthly bill over the next six months. It’s a hidden installment plan. Kinda clever, kinda annoying.
Navigating the Black Friday Phone Deals Cricket Online vs. In-Store Mess
There is a massive divide between what you get on the website and what you get at a physical Cricket store. Retail stores are often franchises. They have different overhead. Sometimes they'll throw in a "free" case that’s actually built into a bundle price you didn't ask for.
Shopping online is cleaner. Usually, the web-only deals waive that activation fee.
- Web deals: Often have better "New Line" pricing.
- In-store: Good if you need the phone today or want to trade in a crusty old device that might not pass a mail-in inspection.
- Target/Walmart: These retailers often sell Cricket-locked iPhones with gift card bundles.
Last year, the big winner wasn't even a phone—it was the service credit. Sometimes Cricket or third-party retailers like Amazon will offer a "Buy a phone, get a $50 gift card" deal. That’s often better than a direct discount because you can use that for your second month of service.
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The Porting Requirement Nightmare
You cannot port a number from AT&T to Cricket to get these deals. Period. They are the same company. If you’re currently on AT&T and want that $49 iPhone, you’re out of luck. You’d have to port your number to a non-AT&T carrier (like Tello or Mint) for a few days and then port it back to Cricket. It’s a "burn-and-turn" strategy that’s a massive hassle, but it saves hundreds.
Is it worth it? Probably not for most people. But for the deal hunters? It's a rite of passage.
What to Expect This Season
Based on how the market is moving, the Google Pixel 8a and the Samsung Galaxy A54 (or A55) are the ones to watch. Google has been aggressive. They want market share. Cricket has been leaning more into Android lately because the margins are better than they are with Apple.
Don't sleep on the "Cricket" branded phones either. The Cricket Innovate or Outlast series are usually rebadged models from manufacturers like TCL or Motorola. They aren't "cool." You won't brag about them at a party. But they have massive screens and big batteries. If you’re buying a phone for a kid or a grandparent, these are often literally $0 on Black Friday with any plan.
Hidden Costs People Forget
- Sales Tax: Even if the phone is $0, you usually have to pay sales tax on the full retail price of the phone in many states. If the phone is "worth" $400 but you're paying $0, you might still owe $30+ in tax at the register.
- The 6-Month Lock: Cricket phones are locked to Cricket. You can't just buy a cheap one and stick a T-Mobile SIM in it. You have to stay active on Cricket for 6 months (and usually on a specific plan level) before they’ll give you the unlock code.
Strategy for the Win
If you want the best black friday phone deals cricket can offer, you need to be a "new" customer. If you’re already on Cricket, your best bet is usually a "Upgrade" discount, which is significantly smaller—think $50 off instead of $300 off.
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Honestly, the smartest move for existing customers is often to buy an unlocked phone directly from the manufacturer (Samsung or Apple) and just swap your SIM card. You miss out on the Cricket-specific promo, but you aren't tied to a specific plan or a locked device.
The "port-in" deals are the only reason to really stress over Black Friday at Cricket. If you see a flagship-tier device for under $300 with a port-in, that's the "buy" signal. Everything else is just noise.
Actionable Steps for Your Shopping Trip
- Verify your porting info: You need your current account number and a Transfer PIN. If you wait until you're in the store to find these, you'll be there for three hours. Get them now.
- Check the coverage map: Cricket uses AT&T's network. If AT&T is spotty in your basement, Cricket will be too.
- Compare the "Total 6-Month Cost": Calculate (Phone Price) + (Monthly Bill x 6) + (Activation Fees). Compare that number across different carriers.
- Ignore the "MSRP": No one pays the $800 MSRP for a two-year-old iPhone. Look at the actual out-of-pocket cost today.
- Look for "Limit 2 per customer": These are the real deals. If Cricket is limiting how many you can buy, it means they’re losing money on the hardware to get your subscription. That’s the deal you want.
Stop looking for the "perfect" time. The deals usually go live the Sunday before Thanksgiving. By the time Friday actually rolls around, the best colors (usually the blacks and silvers) are sold out, and you’re stuck with the weird neon purple one.
Log in to your current account or prep your porting details by mid-November. If you see a price drop on a device like the iPhone 13 or Galaxy A35 that hits the $0-$99 range, pull the trigger immediately. These units are refurbished or "overstock," meaning once they're gone, the deal reverts to a much worse price on a newer, more expensive model.
Next Steps:
Go to the Cricket Wireless website and check the "Bridge Pay" or "Device Upgrade" section in your current account. If you aren't a customer yet, identify exactly which carrier you are porting from to ensure you qualify for the "New Line" promotional pricing. Once the deals go live, prioritize the online store to avoid the $25 in-store activation fee and potential retail "bundle" upsells.