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T-Mobile Galaxy S24 Preorder Deal: The “Free” Phone Required a New Line

T-Mobile’s “free” Galaxy S24 offer required a new line on Go5G Plus or Next and 24 months of bill credits. Here’s what the expired January 2024 promotion required.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
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T-Mobile’s January 2024 Galaxy S24 preorder promotion offered up to $800 off the base phone through 24 monthly bill credits—but only when a customer added a line on Go5G Plus or Go5G Next. No trade-in was required for that base-S24 offer. It was not an instant, unconditional free phone: customers paid tax on the phone’s pre-credit price, could owe a device connection charge, and risked losing remaining credits if they left or changed qualifying service. The preorder deal has expired.

What T-Mobile’s Galaxy S24 preorder deal included

Item January 2024 offer
Phone Base Samsung Galaxy S24
Maximum discount Up to $800, advertised as “on us”
Qualifying plans Go5G Plus or Go5G Next
Required action Add a new voice line
Trade-in Not required for this base-S24 offer
Discount method 24 monthly bill credits
Preorder window January 17–30, 2024
Retail release January 31, 2024
Current status Expired; T-Mobile’s 2024 offer archive lists the main S24 promotions as ending April 3, 2024

T-Mobile’s launch announcement described the base S24 as up to $800 off for customers adding a line on Go5G Plus or Go5G Next. The headline “free Galaxy S24” therefore described the result of completing the credit schedule, not the price at checkout or an offer available to every T-Mobile customer.

How the 24-month credits made the phone “free”

The customer financed the phone through T-Mobile’s equipment installment plan, while promotional credits were applied over 24 months to offset up to the eligible retail price. The full benefit depended on receiving the credits over time; it was not an upfront discount. Taxes were calculated on the pre-credit price, and T-Mobile’s published 2024 offer terms listed a $35 device connection charge for relevant promotions.

Those terms also warned that cancelling required service or paying off the device early could end future credits. A remaining installment balance could still be owed even if the credits stopped. A plan change could also affect eligibility if the replacement plan did not qualify. Anyone evaluating a similar carrier-credit offer should check the specific terms before cancelling a line, changing plans, upgrading, or paying off a device.

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#1 Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, 128GB - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, 1900nits Peak brightness, 1080x2340px, 4700mAh Battery, Android 14, One UI 6.1
  • 128GB, 8GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Exynos 2400e (4nm), 10-core CPU, Xclipse 940 GPU, Bluetooth 5.3
  • Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + + 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 8MP, f/2.4 (telephoto), 3x Optical Zoom, Front Camera: 10MP, f/2.4
  • CDMA 800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/32/38/40/41/66, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28/38/40/41/66/75/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Nano-SIM and eSIM
  • US Model. Compatible with Most GSM and CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.

Who qualified—and how other S24 models differed

Base Galaxy S24

Both new and existing T-Mobile customers could qualify, but they had to add a new voice line and use Go5G Plus or Go5G Next. The base-S24 offer did not require a trade-in. Customers also needed approval for T-Mobile’s equipment financing and had to maintain qualifying service while receiving credits.

Customers on Go5G or Magenta

T-Mobile announced a separate offer of up to $600 off the S24 series when adding a line on Go5G or Magenta. That was not the same as the up-to-$800 base-S24 offer on Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, and the maximum discount did not mean every model would be free.

Rank #2
SAMSUNG Galaxy S24 5G Dual SIM | 128GB, 8GB | 6.2" AMOLED 120Hz, 10-Core Processor | International Model Unlocked for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Global | S921B/DS | 25W Super Fast Charger Bundle | Black
  • 6.2" Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, 416ppi, 2600nits (Outdoor Peak), 1080x2340px, 4000mAh Battery
  • 128GB, 8GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Exynos 2400 (4 nm), 10-Core Processor, Xclipse 940
  • Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 + 10MP, f/2.4 + 12MP, f/2.2, 30X Space Zoom, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, Android 14, One UI 6.1
  • CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: Global Bands 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28/38/40/41/66/75/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Dual SIM and eSIM (Max 2 SIMs or ESIMs Combined)
  • International Model – Global Connectivity – Plug & Play with an active SIM on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and most U.S. carriers. New activations are only supported on T-Mobile, AT&T & Verizon in the U.S., as some carriers may not recognize International IMEI's as Compatible. (No U.S. manufacturer warranty; Seller Return policy applies.)

Galaxy S24+

The S24+ promotion was different: T-Mobile advertised up to $1,000 off with an eligible trade-in on Go5G Plus or Go5G Next. Eligible trade-ins on Go5G or Magenta could receive up to $500 off the S24+ or other devices. Do not apply the base S24’s no-trade-in condition to the S24+ promotion.

Other models and business offers

T-Mobile’s launch announcement also described up to $800 off any device in the S24 series with a new line on Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, but that ceiling did not guarantee that every model was fully covered. Business promotions were published separately, so consumer eligibility should not be assumed to apply to business accounts.

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Rank #3
SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 5G, US Version, 128GB, Phantom Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • Galaxy S23 sports a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X flat display with adaptive 48–120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a peak brightness high enough for strong outdoor visibility — giving you vibrant, crisp visuals and smooth motion while staying compact.

Contemporaneous SamMobile coverage said the $799 credit could be applied toward an S24+ or S24 Ultra, with the customer paying the difference. That detail was reported by SamMobile; T-Mobile’s announcement confirms the series-wide “up to” discount but does not establish that every model configuration would be fully covered.

Preorder storage bonus and dates

For the preorder period, T-Mobile said buyers could get the 256GB Galaxy S24 for the price of the 128GB model. Samsung separately described a double-storage promotion on select U.S. S24-series purchases from January 17 through January 30, 2024. The offer was limited to select devices and subject to terms and availability; it was not a permanent feature or a current promotion. Samsung’s storage-upgrade FAQ gives the promotion window.

Rank #4
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G, 256GB, Titanium Violet - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Was the carrier deal better than buying from Samsung?

There is no universal winner without comparing a buyer’s line needs, plan cost, trade-in value, and preferred ownership terms. The relevant T-Mobile comparison is not simply “phone price: $0.” It is the cost of 24 months of qualifying service and applicable fees, minus the value of credits, while accounting for any more expensive plan or extra line the buyer would not otherwise need.

  • T-Mobile could make sense for someone who genuinely needed an additional line, was already on or preferred Go5G Plus or Go5G Next, and expected to keep qualifying service for the full credit period.
  • It could be poor value for someone who needed only a phone, would have to move from a cheaper plan, expected to switch carriers, wanted to pay off the phone early, or wanted an unlocked device without a carrier credit schedule.
  • Samsung direct could fit better for someone prioritizing an unlocked purchase or whose trade-in made a direct offer attractive. Samsung’s trade-in conditions included requirements such as a working device, no prohibited damage, removal of personal information, and disabling software locks; see its Galaxy S24 buying guide.

No model-specific Samsung pricing or trade-in values were published here to support declaring one route cheaper. Those figures vary by device and offer, so a fair comparison requires the actual quote and the service cost for the buyer’s situation.

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Best Value
Samsung Galaxy S24 5G, 128GB + 8GB RAM, Onyx Black - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.2 Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, 416ppi, 2600nits (Outdoor Peak), 1080x2340px, 4000mAh Battery
  • 128GB, 8GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 750
  • Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 + 10MP, f/2.4 + 12MP, f/2.2, 30X Space Zoom, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, Android 14, One UI 6.1
  • 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/30/25/26/28/29/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/12/26/28/30/41/66/70/71/77/78/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM and eSIM
  • No Warranty. Compatible with Most GSM and CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint.

Availability: this was a historical promotion

The preorder window ran January 17–30, 2024, with retail availability beginning January 31. T-Mobile’s 2024 promotion archive lists the main S24 offers as ending April 3, 2024. The old terms should not be treated as an offer available in 2026; current device deals, plan names, and trade-in values can change.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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