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What Phones Are Compatible With Family Mobile

 Family Mobile operates a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) without its own cellular towers but has a service partnership with T-Mobile to offer coverage. However, this provider is ideal for people who reside and work in locations where T-Mobile’s coverage is robust. Walmart rose from being a single store to one of the world’s biggest retailers. You can buy almost anything from this company, including family mobile-compatible phones. 

Interestingly, you can currently buy mobile plans through Walmart Family Mobile. You can have the best deals on cell phones right now when you switch to Walmart Family Mobile. If you are ready to switch, Walmart Family Mobile provides a quick and easy way to purchase a SIM card kit online and receive your new plan up and running within a few days.

On the other hand, you’ll get affordable bring-your-own-phone plans that can save you numerous dollars on your cell phone bill. If you decide to change your current carrier and come to Walmart Family Mobile, in addition to keeping your number, you can bring a compatible device or buy a new one. If you opt to purchase a new phone, you can do so online or walk to your local Walmart. 

What Phones Does Bring Your Own Phone Support?

Walmart Family Mobile provides support for bringing your own device for any cell phone out of contract. However, T-Mobile-compatible devices will work on this carrier. Most AT&T cell phones are also compatible provided they are out of contract, paid off in total, and not reported lost or stolen.  

Additionally, universally unlocked cell phones from manufacturers such as Samsung and Motorola are compatible. To ensure that your existing phone will function on the service, you can text BYOP to 611611. You’ll need either a phone compatible with T-Mobile or an unlocked GSM device.

Most importantly, the compatible devices include the latest Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices, plus several brands carried by this carrier like LG and ZTE. If you’ve already bought an unlocked GSM phone, it will likely work smoothly with Walmart Family Mobile. If your device is locked to other carriers, you may request to be unlocked before the switch.

What Plans Does Walmart Family Mobile Have?

Walmart Family Mobile provides a basic plan that comes with a generous amount of data. Besides, there’s a myriad of set-data options and several unlimited plans to choose from. However, bear in mind that, on average, someone uses 5GB of data per month. 

Therefore, before paying a chunk of money for your unlimited data plans, you can use a data calculator and save more cash with a set-data plan. Currently, there are four cell phone plans to choose from as listed below, all of which cost under $50 per month. 

  • $24.88 per month for unlimited text, talk, and 2GB 4G LTE data
  • $29.88 per month for unlimited text, talk, and 5GB of 4G LTE data
  • $39.88 per month for unlimited text, talk, and 20GB of 4G LTE data
  • $49.88 per month for unlimited  text, talk, and 4G LTE data, plus a 30GB hotspot

Interestingly, there are no overage fees for reaching your data threshold. On the downside, the speeds get throttled to 2G bandwidth for the remaining days of the billing cycle. Walmart Family Mobile, compatible phone users, may experience reduced speeds if the network becomes congested.

Pros

  • Unlimited data plan available
  • Affordable family plans
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Mobile hotspot capability
  • International calling and roaming
  • Customer assistance is available 7 days a week

Cons

  • Mobile hotspot cap of 5GB

Phone Selection at Walmart Family Mobile

The current selection of phones provided through Walmart Family Mobile is Android devices from Motorola, LG,  and Samsung devices. However, the selection focuses heavily on affordability and not power. When purchasing a phone for use on Walmart Family Mobile, there are various Cell Phone Deals No Contract options to consider.

 You can opt to bring your current T-Mobile device to this carrier for new customers. Or, you can purchase an unlocked phone on Walmart Family Mobile. If your current phone is incompatible, you can still get affordable prepaid cell phones at Walmart. The cell phone range starts from basic cell phones to the latest flagship smartphones.

Walmart Family Mobile BYOP Benefits

Bringing your own cell phone to a low-cost carrier like the Family Mobile plan provides several benefits that include:

i) Lower prices: with this carrier’s affordable plans, you can save more than $600 per year with an MVNO.

ii) Keep your number: when you switch to Family Mobile, there is no need to change your number. You can make it simple by porting it across.

iii) Flexibility: there are no contracts with these prepaid plans, so you can amend or cancel your plan anytime if your wireless needs change.

iv) Easy to switch: it’s simple to switch carriers, you can select your plan, and your SIM card kit will get sent to you in the post.

v) Excellent coverage: this carrier is powered by a major US network. Thus, you’ll enjoy excellent coverage on the nationwide T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G network.

What Are Walmart Family Mobile Compatible Phones?

You can ascertain whether your phone is compatible with Walmart Family Mobile using the IMEI checker. If you bought your phone through a payment plan with AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, you’d have to confirm if the phone is unlocked. 

Generally, cell phones bought with the big three come locked to their network, but immediately after the contract ends, and the phone gets paid off, they’ll unlock the device for you. A mobile phone is compatible with Walmart Family Mobile if the device is an unlocked GSM phone operating at 1,900 MHz and LTE-ready.

You can check quickly if your mobile phone is supported online by selecting the blue “Check Compatibility” button on the Walmart Family Mobile website. Alternatively, you can text BYOP to 611611 to confirm and receive a quicker response. Additionally, cell phones from T-Mobile and AT&T can be compatible since they are GSM-enabled.

Walmart Family Mobile Sim Card Activation

You can follow the below few easy steps to have your phone set up with Walmart Family Mobile service:

  • Confirm that your phone’s compatible and unlocked
  • Select and order your Walmart Family Mobile SIM card kit online
  • When you receive your kit, insert your SIM card into your phone and follow the provided activation instructions.

Does Walmart Family Mobile use CDMA or GSM?

CDMA and GSM are the two network technologies found in cell phones and replace the gap when 4G is available. However, GSM is an abbreviation for Global System for Mobile Communication, while CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. If your cell phone is only a few years old, it’s probably compatible with both technologies, which allows it easy to switch carriers.

However, T-Mobile utilizes the GSM network, so Walmart Family Mobile is compatible with all GSM cell phones. Nevertheless, if you want to confirm your mobile phone’s compatibility, you can utilize the IMEI checker.

How to Identify a GSM or CDMA Cell Phone

  • If you purchased your phone from Verizon or Sprint, it is likely a CDMA phone.
  • If you purchased your device from AT&T or T-Mobile, it’s probably GSM.
  • See your phone’s ‘About’ settings.
  • Check your cell phone’s model number online.

How is Coverage for Walmart Family Mobile?

T-Mobile’s network provides coverage for this carrier service. Walmart Family Mobile is a wireless service provider that operates as a mobile virtual network operator. However, you cannot visit a dedicated Walmart Family Mobile store, but customers can pay for their service at Walmart locations. Moreover, if you proceed to Walmart’s website, you can go shopping for phones and SIM cards.

Since this MVNO employs T-Mobile’s network, it allows customers to switch using their own devices. If you’ve already bought an unlocked GSM device, the chances are high that it will work just fine with Walmart Family Mobile. However, the locked devices to other carriers may require unlocked before you make the switch.

Moreover, T-Mobile covers 280 million people across the United States. Family Mobile will enjoy the same coverage from a primary carrier as parent company customers. However, it’s recommendable to check T-Mobile’s coverage map before signing up for any plan to ensure your area will get proper signals. If you reside in a rural area far from any large cities, the Walmart plan may not offer the coverage you’ll require.

Bottom line

Walmart Mobile Family carrier is suitable for customers looking for something affordable without signing a contract.  The company offers services through T-Mobile’s network, so customers enjoy the same coverage. On the other hand, this carrier has a decent selection of Walmart-compatible phones if you want to switch to a new device or don’t want to bring your current cell phone. You will find an affordable, dependable option for every shopper on a budget.

Karissa Bell

Karissa is a senior editor, covering all things Smartphone for Compatible Phone. Prior to joining Compatible Phone, she was a senior reporter at Mashable, where she wrote about Smartphone Reviews, big tech companies and internet culture. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, traveling and watching too many cat videos on Instagram.

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