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Republic Wireless is one of the many budget MVNOs to try when you want to cut your monthly phone bill. But not long ago, the carrier launched a new service plan that runs on AT&T only. And unless you upgrade, the older plans are only usable with specific Republic Wireless compatible phones.
For instance, phones like Google Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S22 don’t work with either of the old plans. It requires the latest plan if you need to enjoy faster 5G plans or try the performance of the tensor and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipsets.
Anyway, in this post, I’ve put together details regarding the various phones compatible with Republic Wireless My Choice 4.0 and 5.0 plans. The carrier hasn’t been very clear on this information, which has created a lot of confusion for people who want to upgrade.
What are the Best Republic Wireless Compatible Phones?
In the latest phone compatibility listing, Republic Wireless has blacklisted many devices that used to work on 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 plans. A few examples LG K30, Samsung Galaxy S6/ S7/ A20/ Note 8, Moto Z3 Play, et cetera.
If you need to have access to both the new 5.0 plan and My Choice 4.0 service, you’ll need a North American phone released after 2017. Some of the best options include:
- Best of Upgrade: Unlocked Apple iPhone 13 5G-Capable A15 Bionic
Key Features:
- It runs on the fastest A15 Bionic chip
- Has a wide 6.1-inch 2K FHD display
- Includes IP68 dust/ water protection
- Has built-in NFC for contactless payments
- Supports up to 5G Ultra-Wideband network
- Also supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax) & WiFi calling
- It can record videos in 4K & Slow-Motion quality
- Best of Design: Fully Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (SM-N975U1)
Key Features:
- It runs on Snapdragon 855 processor
- Includes IP68 dust/ water resistant
- Has built-in NFC and fingerprint sensor
- Supports up to WiFi 6 (802.11ax) protocol
- Comes with Stylus pen to scribble & sketch
- Has an extra-wide 6.8-inch 2K QHD display
- It can record videos in 4K & super Slow-Motion
- Best of Budget: Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone SE (2020 Release) LTE iOS
Key Features:
- It has a 4.7-inch HD LCD
- Includes IP67 dust/ water resistant
- Has built-in NFC and fingerprint sensor
- Supports up to WiFi 6 (802.11ax) protocol
- Also supports Qi Magnetic Wireless charging
- Can record videos in 4K & Slow-Motion quality
- It runs on Apple A13 Bionic (same as iPhone 11)
- Best of Replacement: Republic Wireless Samsung Galaxy A53 5GSuper AMOLED
Key Features:
- It has a large 6.5-inch, 120Hz display
- Includes IP67 dust/ water protection
- Runs on the latest Exynos 1280 processor
- Has a built-in NFC chip for digital payments
- Supports up to WiFi 5 (802.11ac) protocol
- Has a built-in slot of up to 1TB MicroSD card
- It captures crisp images and records videos in 4K
- Best for seniors:Republic Wireless TCL Classic Flip KaiOS
Key Features:
- It runs on Snapdragon 215 processor
- Includes a slot to insert a MicroSD card
- Compatible with M4/ T4 hearing aids
- Has a 1.44” external and 2.8” internal screen
- Supports 4G LTE connectivity w/ HD voice
- Easy to increase the screen text & brightness
- It supports up to WiFi 4 (802.11n) protocol
Republic Wireless is Retiring the Legacy Plans
As you may know, Republic Wireless is another cellular service Dish Network has added to its brands in the recent acquisition series. (Others are Ting and Boost Mobile)
One of the changes the new owner has set forward is to the phone plans, whereby we now have the new 5.0 pack on AT&T only.
If you can remember, I said a similar thing when looking at the phones compatible with Boost Mobile. But in the case of Republic Wireless, members on the My Choice 4.0 plan with GSM SIM (T-Mobile) can still use some of their devices on the 5.0 rate plan.
Several of the Republic Wireless Legacy phones are also compatible with the new Dish service. A perfect example is the Samsung Galaxy S8 (model SM-G950U1) and S8+(model SM-G955U1). The only problem is that even when they have a signal, you might lose features like WiFi calling.
Speaking of losing, the old customers still on Legacy Plans 1.0 and 2.0 will “lose all their service and cell phone number” by the end of this month (27 October 2022 to be exact). The same goes for the members using the Legacy 3.0 phones. And in that case, you’ll need to upgrade both phone and service (to 5.0).
Republic Wireless BYOP Program Is Quite Limited
Sadly, Republic Wireless doesn’t have the friendliest phone compatibility structure. Unlike the likes of Pure Talk or Cricket, the MVNO doesn’t work with devices from other carriers even when unlocked. And this includes even the phones from its carrier networks, AT&T or T Mobile.
On the official page, Republic Wireless has stated you should only use either their branded phones or factory-unlocked versions. The model numbers of the phone should also be the specific North American versions on their whitelist list.
So, when you bring a factory-unlocked international version phone of even the supported models, it will also not work with your SIM card.
On the plus side, the new Republic Wireless BYOP (bring your own phone) program does support Apple devices. You just have to make sure the iPhone supports the latest iOS version – practical with iPhone 6s and newer models. So, the iPhone 6 and earlier models are not supported.
As mentioned earlier, many phone models that were compatible with the old Republic service will not work with 5.0 plans. Others will be compatible but you may lose some crucial features, such as WiFi calling.
Tip: A factory-unlocked cell phone is a device that comes directly from the manufacturer with no network restriction.
Alternative Republic Wireless Compatible Phones for My Choice (4.0) & 5.0 Plans
| Republic Wireless Compatible Phones | Network Connectivity | ROM vs RAM |
|---|---|---|
| Unlocked Apple iPhone 13 5G-Capable A15 Bionic | 5G & 4G LTE | 128GB, 4GB |
| Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone 12 Pro 256 GB Memory | 5G & 4G LTE | 256GB, 6GB |
| Unlocked Motorola Moto G Stylus (XT2115-1) LTE Android | 4G LTE | 128GB, 4GB |
| Republic Wireless Samsung Galaxy A53 5G 6.5” Super AMOLED | 5G & 4G LTE | 128GB, 6GB |
| Republic Wireless Motorola Moto G 5G-Enabled 64GB Memory | 5G & 4G LTE | 64GB, 4GB |
| Fully Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (SM-N975U1) | 4G LTE | 256GB, 12GB |
| Fully Unlocked Google Pixel 5 (5G) 128GB (GD1YQ) | 5G & 4G LTE | 128GB, 8GB |
| Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone SE (2020 Release) LTE iOS | 4G LTE | 128GB, 3GB |
| Factory-Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G-Enabled | 5G & 4G LTE | 128GB, 6GB |
| Republic Wireless TCL Classic Flip KaiOS Phone for Seniors | 4G LTE | 4GB, 0.5GB |
| Motorola One 5G ACE (XT2113-2) 2021 Release | 5G & 4G LTE | 128GB, 6GB |
| Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone 11 LTE A13 iOS | 4G LTE | 64GB, 4GB |
| Google Pixel 3a (G020G) 4K Snapdragon Android | 4G LTE | 64GB, 4GB |
Earlier, we went through five of the phones you can comfortably use with Republic Wireless 4.0 and 5.0 plans. A few other alternatives that the company hasn’t blacklisted you can consider include:
- Google Pixel 3a (G020G) 4K Snapdragon Android
Key Features:
- It has a 5.6-inch, FHD+ display
- Utilizes Snapdragon 670 processor
- Has built-in NFC and fingerprint sensor
- Supports up to WiFi 5 (802.11ac) protocol
- It captures crisp images & videos in 4K quality
- Republic Wireless Motorola Moto G 5G-Enabled 64GB Memory
Key Features:
- It has a wide 6.5-inch, 90Hz display
- Runs on MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor
- Supports up to WiFi 5 (802.11ac) protocol
- Includes a slot of up to 1GB MicroSD card
- Supports up to 5G Sub-6 (Mid-band) network
- It can capture vivid images & videos in Full HD
- Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone 12 Pro 256 GB Memory
Key Features:
- It runs on a fast A14 Bionic chip
- Has a large 6.1-inch 2K FHD display
- Includes a sturdy IP68 waterproof build
- Has built-in NFC for contactless payments
- Supports up to 5G Ultra-Wideband network
- Also supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax) & WiFi calling
- It can record videos in 4K & Slow-Motion quality
- Unlocked Motorola Moto G Stylus (XT2115-1) LTE Android
Key Features:
- It runs on Snapdragon 678 processor
- Has a slot of up to 512GB MicroSD card
- Supports up to WiFi 5 (802.11ac) protocol
- Has Stylus pen to scribble, doodle & sketch
- Captures vivid images & videos in 4K quality
- It comes with an extra-wide 6.8-inch FHD display
- Factory-Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G-Enabled
Key Features:
- It has a wide 6.4-inch, 120Hz display
- Utilizes Snapdragon 888 5G processor
- Has a sturdy IP68 water-resistant build
- Includes an NFC and fingerprint sensor
- Supports up to WiFi 6 (802.11ax) protocol
- Also supports fast & reverse wireless charging
- It can record videos in 4K & super Slow-Motion
- Motorola One 5G ACE (XT2113-2) 2021 Release
Key Features:
- It has an extra-wide, HD+ display
- Runs on Snapdragon 750G processor
- Has built-in NFC and fingerprint sensor
- Supports up to WiFi 5 (802.11ac) protocol
- Includes a slot of up to 1TB MicroSD card
- Has an extra-wide 6.8-inch 2K QHD display
- It can capture vivid images & videos in 4K
- Fully Unlocked Apple iPhone 11 LTE A13 iOS
Key Features:
- It has a wide 6.1-inch, HD+ display
- Utilizes Apple A13 Bionic processor
- Includes IP68 dust/ water protection
- Has built-in NFC for contactless payments
- Supports up to WiFi 6 (802.11ax) protocol
- It can record videos in 4K & Slow-Motion quality
Common Related Questions
Can I use an iPhone with Republic Wireless?
In the latest phone whitelist, you can use an iPhone with Republic Wireless service plans if it has the latest iOS firmware. So, the iPhone 6 and earlier models are not supported.
What is going on with Republic Wireless?
Well, a lot has been going on with Republic Wireless since Dish acquired the brand. One of the things worth mentioning is the bad blood with T-Mobile, which we’ve even seen the company drop its network on the new 5.0 service.
Which carrier does Republic Wireless use?
Previously, Sprint and T-Mobile were the carriers Republic Wireless would use to connect its customers. In 2021, the DISH brand made a network deal with AT&T only for its new 5.0 service plans. If still on the old My Choice 4.0, you can continue using T-Mobile (for now).
Can you use unlocked phones on Republic Wireless?
Yes, indeed, you can use unlocked phones on Republic Wireless if you don’t want to purchase their branded options. But the phone you bring must be a factory-unlocked North American version. The carrier doesn’t support carrier-unlocked phones or any international version of phones.
Will Republic Wireless get 5G?
Yes, the new Republic Wireless 5.0 service plan will get 5G coverage and speeds when available and have a supported device. But your phone won’t get a 5G connection if still on the My Choice 4.0 service plan.
Apple Support is Still New
If the idea was to upgrade or replace your old device, this is everything (that matters) you should know about the Republic Wireless compatible phones. Many bloggers tend to leave some of these facts, yet are very vital- say the blacklisting of international and carrier-unlocked phones.
A few months ago, Republic Wireless SIM cards could also not work with Apple devices. The MVNO has just started supporting the brand recently on its BYOP program and also the retail department.
As you bring your iPhone, remember the carrier only supports the selections with the most recent iOS firmware. So, the latest series has the most guarantee to access all the features from the DISH brand if you don’t want to use an Android device.
