What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
In September 2016, Verizon added a limited-time 12GB shared-data option for $80 per month and removed the separate Safety Mode fee for eligible tiers of its revised Verizon Plan. The $80 covered the account’s data allowance—not necessarily the full bill—and Safety Mode meant data slowed to about 128 Kbps after the allowance ran out, not unlimited high-speed service. This is a historical offer: Verizon stopped allowing new accounts to add the new Verizon Plan on June 29, 2020.
What Verizon announced in September 2016
Verizon made two changes to its revised shared-data lineup: it introduced a 12GB tier at $80 per month as a limited-time offer, and made Safety Mode available without an additional fee on eligible tiers. The reported data-bucket prices were:
| Shared data | Monthly data price | Approximate price per GB |
|---|---|---|
| 2GB | $35 | $17.50 |
| 4GB | $50 | $12.50 |
| 8GB | $70 | $8.75 |
| 12GB | $80, limited-time offer | About $6.67 |
| 16GB | $90 | $5.63 |
| 24GB | $110 | About $4.58 |
These prices and tiers were reported at the time by Droid Life on September 2, 2016. Per-GB figures divide the data-bucket price by the included allowance; they do not include line charges, taxes, device costs, or other account charges.
What Safety Mode did—and what it did not do
With Safety Mode enabled, a customer who used the plan’s high-speed data allowance could continue using data at approximately 128 Kbps until the next billing cycle, rather than incur overage charges. Verizon’s Safety Mode support page describes that speed and says the feature can be turned on or off in My Verizon. Customers should check the setting rather than assume it is active; if it is off, exceeding the allowance may lead to overage charges under the applicable plan terms.
#1 Best Overall
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Verizon Prepaid and can only be used on the Verizon Prepaid network. A Verizon Prepaid plan is required for activation. Activation is simple and can be done online upon receipt of your device following 3 EASY steps.
- Immersive 6.7" Super AMOLED Display: Enjoy a vivid viewing experience on the large 6.7-inch FHD+ screen. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid gameplay, while Super AMOLED technology delivers deep blacks and brilliant colors even in bright sunlight.
- 50MP Triple Camera with OIS: Capture professional-grade photos with the 50MP main lens featuring Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for blur-free shots. Expand your perspective with the 5MP Ultra Wide lens or get close with the 2MP Macro camera.
- Long-Lasting 5,000mAh Battery: Power through your day with a massive 5,000mAh battery that keeps up with your streaming, gaming, and social sharing. When it’s time to refuel, the 25W Super Fast Charging capability gets you back to 50% in roughly 30 minutes.
- Next-Gen 5G & AI Features: Experience ultra-fast 5G speeds for seamless downloads and high-quality video calls. This device comes integrated with Google Gemini AI and "Circle to Search," making it easier than ever to find information instantly.
At 128 Kbps, basic messaging or simple text pages may still work, but many ordinary mobile tasks become frustrating or impractical. Photo-heavy websites load slowly; video, audio streaming, app downloads, navigation updates, and software updates can be impaired. Verizon specifically warns that streaming may be affected at Safety Mode speeds. It was overage protection, not a substitute for a larger high-speed allowance.
For a current explanation of the legacy plan, Verizon lists Data Boosts as an option; its legacy-plan FAQ currently states a $15-per-GB price. That is current support information, not proof that the price was the same in 2016. The same FAQ lists overages at $20 per GB, rounded up, when Safety Mode is off. Those current legacy rules should not be retroactively applied to every 2016 bill.
What the $80 covered
The $80 was the monthly price for the account’s shared data bucket. It was not necessarily the complete monthly bill. Under the revised plan structure, each line included unlimited talk and text, but the account could also owe line-access charges, device-financing payments, taxes and surcharges, and charges for optional services or international use. A practical bill calculation is:
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Verizon, which means this device can only be used on the Verizon wireless network. A Verizon plan is required to activate this device. Activating is easy, upon receipt go to the Verizon Website and select “Activate” and follow the prompts. **NOT COMPATIBLE WITH VERIZON POST PAID**
- POWER THROUGH YOUR WEEKEND – Free yourself from the outlet with a massive 5000mAh battery designed to last up to 3 days on a single charge. Stream, game, and chat for hours on end without worrying about your battery life.
- CAPTURE STUNNING PHOTOS – The advanced 50MP camera system with Quad Pixel technology lets you shoot incredibly sharp and vibrant photos, even in low light. Get creative with the Macro Vision lens for amazing close-up details and capture professional-looking portraits.
- SMOOTH & IMMERSIVE DISPLAY – Your favorite content looks brilliant on the expansive 6.6” HD+ display. Experience ultra-smooth scrolling and seamless gaming with a fast 90Hz refresh rate that makes every swipe and tap feel incredibly fluid.
- RELIABLE 5G PERFORMANCE – Experience the speed you need for buffer-free streaming and lag-free gaming on Verizon's award-winning 5G network. With an octa-core processor and 128GB of internal storage (expandable to 1TB), you have the performance and space for everything.
$80 shared-data price + line-access charges + device payments + taxes and fees + optional or usage-based charges = account total.
Verizon’s current new Verizon Plan FAQ describes the legacy structure as including such features as mobile hotspot on capable devices, Carryover Data, Safety Mode, and Data Boosts. It is a present-day explanation of a discontinued plan, not a complete reconstruction of every September 2016 billing detail.
The period announcement also associated the 12GB tier with Carryover Data and calling and texting to and from Mexico and Canada. Treat those as features of that 2016 plan structure, not universal Verizon benefits today. The announcement does not establish that the calling and texting benefit meant roaming while physically in those countries; it should not be read as a promise of free international roaming. Verizon’s 2016 investor materials also identify Safety Mode, Carryover Data, and Canada/Mexico calling or roaming among features of the new Verizon Plan: Verizon 2Q 2016 investor materials.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Verizon Prepaid and can only be used on the Verizon network. A Verizon Prepaid plan is required for activation, not compatible with Verizon POSTPAID. Activation is simple and can be done online upon receipt of your device following 3 EASY steps. *NO CONTRACT NECESSARY * NOT COMPATIBLE WITH VERIZON POST PAID*
- Next-Gen 120Hz Entertainment: Immerse yourself in movies and games on the massive 6.7-inch HD+ display. With a fast 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling is incredibly smooth, and the screen is protected by durable Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to withstand daily wear and tear.
- 50MP Quad Pixel Camera System: Capture sharp, vibrant photos in any light with the 50MP main camera featuring Quad Pixel technology for 4x better light sensitivity. The system includes a dedicated Macro Vision lens for extreme close-ups and a 32MP front camera for crystal-clear selfies and video calls.
- Unbeatable Battery Life: Go longer than ever with a massive 5100mAh battery designed to last up to two days on a single charge. When you need to fuel up, 30W TurboPower charging gives you hours of power in just minutes.
- Powerful Performance & Storage: Experience the speed of 5G with the efficient MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor and 4GB of RAM. Store all your apps, photos, and videos with 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB with a microSD card.
Was 12GB a better choice than 8GB or 16GB?
The 12GB tier sat between 8GB for $70 and 16GB for $90. Moving from 8GB to 12GB cost $10 more per month for 4GB more allowance; moving from 12GB to 16GB cost another $10 for 4GB. On data-bucket price alone, the larger tiers offered a lower nominal price per GB, but that only mattered if the account could use the extra data.
- 8GB could suit an account that usually stayed below its allowance, especially if usage varied and Carryover Data helped bridge a lighter month into the next one. Verizon’s current FAQ says unused data carried over for one month, not indefinitely.
- 12GB could suit a family or shared account that often approached 8GB but did not routinely need 16GB, particularly if avoiding surprise overages mattered more than maintaining normal speeds after the allowance was used.
- 16GB or more could suit accounts with consistently heavier usage. Video and music streaming or regular large downloads are poor matches for relying on Safety Mode as a fallback.
The price comparison is only for the data bucket. To decide whether switching made sense, an account also had to compare its line charges, device costs, promotion terms, and actual usage—not just the headline per-GB figure.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat existing Verizon customers needed to check before switching
A customer moving from an older Verizon plan could risk losing a legacy benefit or promotion. Period Verizon community discussions include reports and warnings about bonus-data offers being affected by plan changes, including switching among similarly named tiers. Those posts are customer reports rather than universal contract terms, but they make the practical precaution clear: confirm the effect on bonus data, legacy pricing, and device-related promotions before changing plans. See the discussions at Verizon’s new-plan discussion and the 12GB promotion warning.
Rank #4
- NEW built-in stylus. Jot notes, edit photos, sketch artwork, and navigate effortlessly with an improved stylus and updated software.
- 6.7" pOLED display and Dolby Atmos. Experience cinema-quality entertainment with over a billion shades of color and multidimensional sound*.
- 50MP Ultra Pixel camera + OIS. Capture sharper low-light photos and smoother videos with an unshakable camera system featuring Optical Image Stabilization.
- 30W TurboPower charging + over a day battery. Get hours of power in just minutes of charging, then work and play with unbelievable battery life**.
- Standout design. Make a statement with its stunning look, modern color, and soft, vegan leather finish.
Verizon’s current legacy-plan FAQ says customers cannot switch from a current plan back to an older one. That makes it especially important to check the full consequences before migrating; plan names or size labels from different generations do not guarantee the same allowance or terms.
Can a new customer get the 12GB/$80 plan now?
No. Verizon says the “new Verizon Plan” has not been available for addition to accounts since June 29, 2020, though existing customers may still have legacy versions. See Verizon’s shared-data plan availability page. Verizon’s current support materials point legacy customers toward current unlimited options, including Unlimited Ultimate, Unlimited Plus, and Unlimited Welcome; the historical 12GB offer should not be treated as a current signup option.
Quick Recap
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.
