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Cricket Wireless has launched a new budget 5G smartphone. The Cricket Magic 5G is a $140 Android phone (excluding taxes) that gives you access to the carrier‘s 5G network nationwide. You can grab the device for free with an eligible new line of service. The company is also offering Samsung and Motorola phones for free with the same caveat.
Cricket Magic 5G specs and features
The Cricket Magic 5G is an entry-level Android smartphone featuring a 6.6-inch scratch-resistant display with an HD+ resolution (1612×720 pixels) and a 90Hz refresh rate. The company hasn’t specified the processor, only saying that it’s an octa-core chipset featuring 2.2GHz of peak CPU frequency and “5G speeds.” The handset comes with 64GB of internal storage, but the RAM amount is not known.
The device sports an AI-powered dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 13MP primary shooter and a 2MP secondary camera. We can see a dual LED flash as well. The back panel also has room for a capacitive fingerprint scanner. On the front, we have a 5MP camera for selfies and video calls. It sits within the centered V-shaped notch at the top. The phone has its power and volume buttons on the right and the SIM tray on the left.
Fueling the Cricket Magic 5G is a 4000mAh that should support some sort of fast charging. Other key features include NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 5, mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi calling, USB Type-C port, face unlocking, and hearing aid compatibility (M3/T3). The handset runs Android 13 out of the box. Cricket doesn’t specify how many Android OS updates the phone will get, but it promises two years of warranty.
Available in-store and online, the new Cricket phone comes in a single Gray Plaid color option with a patterned design. Normally priced at $139.99 (plus taxes), the device will not cost you a penny if you activate a new line of service on the carrier’s $60 per month unlimited plan. Note that you might still have to pay activation charges and other fees.
Cricket Wireless is also offering other 5G phones for “free”
If the Cricket Magic 5G doesn’t fit your needs, the carrier is also offering the Moto G 5G (2023) and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G smartphones for free with a new line of service on its $60 per month unlimited plan. The phones are normally priced at $179.99 and $189.99, respectively. The company says it’s a limited-time deal, so you might want to hurry up. You can visit the official Cricket Wireless website to find more prepaid cell phone deals from the carrier.