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Is the Unity Wireless free tablet I see on ads online any good? First, the discounted tablet deal from Unity Wireless you may come across online is real- not a scam. And, in my opinion, it’s a good deal as you can use it to call, chat, browse the web, et cetera.
Some users may have a different opinion about this. But many also seem contented with the Unity Wireless tablet. The service provider actually has thousands of positive feedback from customers online.
In this guide, I’ve put together all the crucial details about the Unity Wireless free tablet program. It covers how to qualify, where to apply, what kind of tablet you get, and a few extra tips.
What’s the Unity Wireless Free Tablet Deal?
Unity Wireless free tablet deal is the device discount you get when approved for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP is a broadband program the government created during the COVID-19 crisis to help low-income families connect.
As the name suggests, the connectivity program primarily covers a subsidy for mobile or fixed broadband. However, it does have a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet PC.
Unity Wireless is one of the ACP providers that have the connected device discount- as not everyone offers it. The device discount it offers is a tablet.
But unlike in the case of the free Sky Devices government tablet, Unity Wireless is not a manufacturer of mobile devices. They partner with outside manufacturers for the discounted tablets they give away under the ACP program.
When I checked late last year, Unity Wireless had partnered with Benton Technology Ltd for their tablets. The provider could be giving away the same devices, albeit it seems to have a new deal with MaxWest Telecom.
What Kind of Tablet Does Unity Wireless Give You?
As just said, the Unity Wireless free tablet is part of the $100 device discount with the ACP program. A hundred bucks no doubt is not enough for a brand-new Apple iPad, Samsung Tab, or other high-end Android tablets.
All the ACP providers with tablet discounts have entry-level brands when giving away brand-new devices. Then, where the companies have high-end collections like iPad or Samsung Tab, they send certified-refurbished tablets.
As for our case here, the kind of tablet Unity Wireless gives you is OXTAB 10- at least the last time I checked. It’s a nice device, with a 10-inch display for an expansive viewing experience and ease of use.
Besides the extra-wide display, the free Unity Wireless tablet has a decent memory of 32GB built-in storage and 3GB RAM. There’s also a slot where you can put a MicroSD card for more storage of your files and apps.
Furthermore, the Unity Wireless OXTAB 10 tablet supports both cellular and WiFi connectivity. Thus, you can use the free monthly service with the tablet if you don’t have a phone.
Important Note:
In the new deal with MaxWest, Unity Wireless may give you a tablet from the brand in the ACP discount. The tablet you get is likely to be one of the brands featured on its website, including:
- MaxWest Nitro 8 tablet
- MaxWest Astro 8R tablet
The Unity Wireless Free Tablet is not a 100% Freebie
Sadly, yes, the Unity Wireless free tablet isn’t a freebie. The FCC, which oversees the ACP program, provides that all the applicants for the tablet discount should contribute a minimum copayment.
As per the FCC policies on ACP, the co-payment should be more than $10 but less than $50. Unity Wireless charges $15 for it, which falls perfectly within FCC requirements.
You’ll notice the $15 is slightly more than the $10.01 for AirTalk Wireless and other ACP providers with the tablet discount. Then again, the Unity Wireless tablet you get has better specs than the device most of these other companies offer.
What Unity Wireless Free Tablet Plan Should I Get?
When you apply for the ACP program with Unity Wireless, the tablet discount is a one-time thing. The tablet service plan you get per month is the only constant discount.
In this free monthly service plan, you’ll get unlimited talk, text, and data. However, the data is not “truly unlimited”. Instead, you starts with 10GB of high-speed data, then it drops to slower speeds for the rest of the month.
If you understand cellular terms of throttling and deprioritization, don’t expect to stream movies when the data speeds drop. The slower data speeds are only enough for sending/ reading emails, browsing text-based websites, and engaging on social platforms like WhatsApp.
In addition to talk, text, and data, the Unity Wireless tablet plan includes features like:
- Caller ID
- Call Waiting
- Three-Way Calling
- Mobile hotspot access
- Call Forwarding and Voicemail
How to Get Unity Wireless Free Tablet and Service Plan
The affordable connectivity program (ACP) with the tablet discount is a lot like the Lifeline phone program on eligibility. Any US citizen can apply, except only low-income individuals are eligible to participate.
Fast forward, the two main ways you can qualify for the Unity Wireless free tablet are:
A low income: the first way to qualify for the discounted tablet is a total household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Government assistance benefits: a second way you can qualify for the Unity Wireless tablet is to participate in a government-funded assistance benefit. The welfare benefit must be either of the choices Unity has listed on its website, including:
- Medicaid benefit
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Federal Pell Grant for the current award year
- Free or reduced-price breakfast/ lunch benefit
- Veterans Pension & Veteran’s Survivors benefit
- Food Stamps/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Unfortunately, the Unity Wireless enrollment form only has eight assistance benefits. If you’re participating in other welfare benefit, you’ll have to apply with an income-based requirement.
How to Apply for the Unity Wireless Free Tablet
It’s so easy to apply for the Unity Wireless free tablet online. You’ll only need to:
Step 1: Gather Everything You Need
Like any other recipe, the first step to applying for the Unity Wireless free tablet is to gather everything you need. The various items you’ll need for this process include:
- An internet-enabled phone, tablet, laptop, or computer PC
- Copy documents for proof of identity, eligibility, and physical address
Examples of the documents you need to prove your identity when applying for the free tablet from the government are:
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Birth certificate
- Government-issued ID
- Certificate of Citizenship/ Naturalization
- Green Card/ permanent resident card
Examples of documents to prove your income-based eligibility for the free tablet from the government with Unity Wireless are:
- A Paystub
- Income statement
- Federal/ State/ Tribal-based tax return
- Unemployment/ worker’s compensation
- Divorce decree/ child support award, or similar docs
- Statement of social security benefits, retirement/ pension, Veterans Administration benefit
If applying for the tablet discount with a government assistance benefit, you will need to have either:
- Statement of the assistance benefits you’re participating on
- A letter of approval/ participating in an assistance benefit
- Cour document/ certificate of emancipation (for student enrollments)
Examples of documents to prove your physical address are some above, such as a driver’s license, ID card, and tax return. But when asked to provide additional information about your physical address, you can use a copy of:
- Utility bill
- Lease statement
- Mortgage statement
Step 2: Fill in Your Personal Information
Once ready with everything needed, use your internet-enabled device to visit Www.unitywireless.com and click the bold “APPLY NOW” button. You’ll get the prompt to enter your area ZIP code and email address. Then, click “Continue”.
- The “Continue” button will start the enrollment stage by getting your personal information. So, enter your Name, Social Security Number (last 4 digits), Date of Birth, and valid Contact Number.
- When you hit the “Continue” button, you’ll get a prompt to enter your home address. Not Po Box, but your residence street and house number or apartment/ unit
- Confirm the address is permanent/ temporary and the same as the billing/ shipping. Then, click “Continue”
- Next, answer the quick pop-up questions. Make sure you answer the questions appropriately, as it determines if you’ll proceed to the next stage.
Step 3: Select Your Eligibility for Affordable Connectivity Program
If the personal information entered above passes the check, you’ll get a prompt to select the assistance benefit you’re on. In case the benefit you’re on isn’t listed, select the “Apply based on Income” tab and enter your total income.
Once you’ve selected your Eligibility requirement, click “Continue”. If Unity Wireless pre-approves your application, you’ll get a prompt to choose the service plans, then review the order and submit it.
However, you’ll get a prompt to complete National Verifier verification if the system is unable to find your ACP ID. The ACP ID is the unique number the National Verifier provides if they deem you eligible for the broadband program.
To get this ACP ID number, you must prove you’re who you say, how you qualify, and where you live. See the examples of proof documents in Step 1 above.
After the National Verifier approves your information, you can now complete your Unity Wireless enrollment. That means choosing the free broadband plan to have- pick the option with a tablet and submit.
Activate Your Unity Wireless Tablet for Use
Once you submit your order for the free tablet and monthly broadband plan, Unity Wireless will start processing your order. The service provider will use the physical address in the enrollment to deliver the tablet. Hence, the reason you get a prompt to confirm the address provided when filling out your personal information is the same as for shipping.
Unity Wireless claims to ship the government tablet within 1 to 3 days after receiving the orders. However, these kinds of orders can sometimes take up to 7 days to arrive, which only takes place on business days.
Once the order arrives, you can activate the Unity Wireless tablet as easily as:
- Take the SIM card and insert it into the tablet
- Power on the device and wait for it to fully start
- Next, use the onscreen instructions to set up the tablet for the first time.
After setting up the device, it should get a signal. Then, you can call, text, browse, and do other cellular functions.
Commonly Asked Questions:
Is the Unity Wireless tablet from the government free?
No, the Unity Wireless tablet from the government isn’t 100% free. The tablet discount is part of the ACP program, which the FCC requires the users to copay more than $10 but less than $50. Unity charges $15 for this co-payment fee, which falls perfectly within the FCC range.
Which towers does Unity Wireless use?
Unity Wireless is an MVNO, which means it doesn’t have its network infrastructure. Instead, the Lifeline and ACP provider has a deal with a Major Carrier to resell their network.
The towers Unity Wireless use currently are T-Mobile (GSM). In that case, you can enjoy great service in major towns. But when you start moving in the rural areas the signal is not too great.
What are the APN settings of Unity Wireless?
If your Unity Wireless tablet or phone has signal and data bundles but can’t browse, check the APN settings. The APN settings of Unity Wireless are:
| Description | Parameters |
| Name | Unity Wireless (or any name you want) |
| APN | wholesale |
| Username | (Not set – Leave it blank) |
| Password | (Not set – Leave it blank) |
| Proxy | (Not set – Leave it blank) |
| Port | (Not set – Leave it blank) |
| Server | (leave it blank ) |
| MMSC | http://wholesale.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc |
| MMS Proxy | (leave blank) |
| MMS Port | 8080 |
| MCC | 310 |
| MNC | 240 |
| Authentication type: | (leave blank) |
| APN type | default,supl,MMS,ia |
| APN protocol | IPv4/IPv6 |
| APN roaming protocol | IPv4 |
| Bearer | (Unspecified) |
| Mobile virtual network operator | (none) |
Is the Unity Wireless free tablet worth it?
Yes, the Unity Wireless tablet from the government is worth it- at least from my viewpoint. Even though you have to copay $15 per FCC policies, the tablet you get has a higher value than that.
In fact, the Unity Wireless tablet has better specs than the QLink Tablet. Some of these specs include:
- A 10-inch display
- 3GB internal RAM
- 32GB internal storage
- A slot for a MicroSD card
- Cellular and WiFi connectivity
