Cricket Wireless refers to a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in the United States owned by AT&T. This provider currently has millions of subscribers, having served more than 20 years in the US. As a customer of Cricket Wireless, you can easily be eligible for a phone upgrade to a new top-notch device.
In this case, you must have used the network for at least six months. However, Cricket Wireless phone upgrade is not free of charge since you will have a $25 fee. You also must meet the company’s upgrade eligibility policy to be eligible for the device upgrade.
Benefits of Upgrading Your Phone with Cricket Wireless
- Despite the small fee of about $25 for upgrading your phone with Cricket Wireless, you will receive a smartphone with better and more advanced features than your current one. Moreover, you will also enjoy discounted rates on data plans, calls, and texts.
- Comprehensive phone protection: Thanks to Cricket Protect, besides the advanced features and specifications of your new upgraded phone, you will also be guaranteed phone insurance in case of phone loss or accidental damage.
- Access to high-speed 5G network: You can experience a high-speed 5G network with a Cricket Wireless phone upgrade, hence effective streaming and downloading of content.
Eligibility Criteria for Cricket Wireless Phone Upgrade
There are several rules included in the eligibility policy, and these can be listed as follows;
- Have an existing line of service with Cricket as the service provider.
- Have a monthly service plan that costs at least $30.
- Own at least a new phone, which will be eligible for the upgrade.
- Have the upgrade phone purchased from a Cricket store or online.
- The phone is upgradable once every 365 days.
- You will need at least $25 as the upgrade fee since it is not free.
Procedure for Cricket Wireless Phone Upgrade
There are several things you ought to put into consideration before applying for a phone upgrade, such as;
i) Review Protection Options
An upgraded phone is a valuable asset; thus, you should protect it. You can consider securing your phone using Cricket Protect, provided you qualify. This coverage protects your phone against theft, loss, or accidental damage. However, checking whether your phone is eligible for this protection plan is also essential. Certain pre-owned and less expensive phones may not be suitable for this plan.
ii) Plan and Add-On Features
A phone upgrade from Cricket Wireless requires a qualifying plan that costs at least $30 a month. If you need to change your plan or features, you can do that after activating your new Cricket Wireless upgrade phone. You need to sign in to your My Account or use the Cricket App, then select the plan that best fits.
iii) Activation
After your new phone from Cricket Wireless, you’ll need to choose Activate from the top of the navigation bar at cricketwireless.com to get your upgraded phone up and running. In this case, ensure you insert your new SIM card into your new device before activation. Immediately after you’re activated, you can view or change your existing plan and features in My Account online.
How to Upgrade your Cricket Wireless Upgrade Phone?
1) Online Upgrade
Once you have all the phone upgrade requirements in place, you can easily upgrade your Cricket phone online through the following process;
- Visit the Cricket Wireless website, then sign in to your My Account.
- Navigate to the ‘Account Summary Page’ after logging in, then scroll down to “Phone Numbers,” then click on the blue arrow to the right of the line you wish to upgrade.
- Scroll to ‘Device’, then click on ‘Upgrade device.’
- The next page will need you to review information about the upgrade process.
- Select the option ‘Shop Smartphones,’ which will enable you to start shopping for a phone of your choice.
- Select the smartphone device you wish to purchase, then tap ‘Add to Cart.’
- Review its insurance plans if you want Device Protection.
- Confirm everything is in the cart, then select ‘Check out’. Once you have confirmed your billing/ shipping address and payment info, you can agree with the terms and conditions, then tap on ‘Continue.’
- Confirm your order once more, then tap on ‘Place order.’
- The receipt screen will appear on your display. Print or save the confirmation number. You will also get an order confirmation email and a text for payment confirmation.
2) Physical Upgrade
Alternatively, you can upgrade your phone physically at a Cricket Wireless Store through the following;
- Find the nearest Cricket store by visiting, then enter your zip code or city and state.
- Once you identify a store, you can then visit the store and request to speak to a sales representative agent who will direct you through the phone upgrade process.
- After upgrading your phone, you will automatically receive a new SIM card for use with your upgraded phone.
- You can then input the SIM card into your new device to activate it. If your old SIM card is lost or damaged, you can replace it online or at your nearest Cricket store. You must log in to your account on the Cricket website and select ‘new SIM card.
Types of Upgrade Phones offered by Cricket Wireless
Upgrade phones will be better models than your current device and equipped with advanced or better features. Cricket Wireless provides different smartphone models to choose from, and you can select and buy whichever upgrade phone of your choice, provided the device is new. Some of the smartphones offered for upgrade can be listed as follows;
- Samsung Galaxy A53
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S21
- Apple iPhone SE 2022
- Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G
- Apple iPhone 12
- TCL Classic
- Cricket Icon Z
- Cricket Vision Plus
Conclusion
Upgrading a phone on Cricket Wireless is very easy, provided you meet the requirements for eligibility and have the right mobile plan of at least $30 a month. However, the service is not free, and you must be ready to part with $25 for the upgrade fee. You must also ensure the upgraded phone is new or purchased from the Cricket store. The good thing is that the upgraded phone can get insurance coverage against theft, loss, or any damages.