$49.95
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I am cheap. I'm trying to learn my new cell phone, which I just bought for $49.95.
Moto G7 Optimo Max (same thing as a G7 Power built for Straight Talk, TracPhone, etc.) I pay $35/month for unlimited text/talk and 5 gigs of data ( I almost never use 1 gig). Service runs off of Verizon towers. Where I live, you use AT&T or Verizon towers or you don't make a call.
You know I'm not up to speed on new phones, but this Motorola ain't bad.
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I've been very happy with Mint Mobile. If you BYOP ("Bring your own phone") you can get an 8 gig/month plan for about $20 a month. It uses the T-Mobile network, and has been very reliable.
With "WiFi Calling" enabled, as long as you're on WiFi, tower reception is a non-issue.
On our trip to Denver last year, I got pretty good connectivity through most of Nebraska and Iowa.
Mrs. George has a 3 gig plan - about $15 a month, iirc.
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I live on the rural route. Hotspot is something you have to treat on a dog.
If I had a T-mobile phone, the only way I could call anyone, would be to use my landline (yes, I have one) or walk out in the field and yell. Might work. Yelling, that is. Since it's gotten so crowded around here, I've got two neighbors, each one a quarter mile or so away...
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These days, with WiFi available pretty much everywhere, I'm not sure how important unlimited data is anymore.
Depends on how reliable your connection is, how much you travel, and what you do when you travel. Unlimited data saved my ass many times for work-related shenanigans in years past.