Technologies

Google Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Which Is the Best Choice?

The Pixel 8’s biggest advantage is that Google claims it can last until 2030.

Annual phone upgrades are usually minimal, and the jump from the Pixel 7 to Pixel 8 is no exception. Google’s new entry-level Pixel phone has a fresh processor, more AI tricks to help with photo edits, macro photography mode and a slightly improved camera. Taken together, these changes underscore Google’s increased focus on artificial intelligence, further signaling the technology will play a big role in future Pixel devices.

But if you’re just looking for a reliable new phone with a medium-sized screen and a good camera, you may be wondering if it’s worth buying the $699 Pixel 8 or last year’s Pixel 7, which is $100 cheaper at $599. The answer is tricky. Although I loved the Pixel 7 when I reviewed it last year, there are better choices in Google’s lineup.

The pricier Pixel 8 may not be very different from the Pixel 7, but Google promises software updates for seven years. That’s a big deal because it means the Pixel 8 shouldn’t feel outdated until 2030 since it will continue to receive new Android version updates, security updates and special Pixel updates that Google calls «feature drops» until then. If you’re already spending hundreds of dollars on a new phone, it’s a good idea to invest in the one that will last longer.

But if you’re looking to save some cash, go for the $499 Pixel 7A instead of the Pixel 7. It has a lot in common with the Pixel 7 by offering the same processor and a similar camera, but for $100 less.

Here’s a closer look at how the Pixel 8 compares to the Pixel 7.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Design, display and software

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 look and feel similar, with each featuring a glossy back finish and a matte aluminum frame with a bar-shaped camera module that runs horizontally across the device. But the Pixel 8 has flatter edges and weighs less, which along with its more compact size make it easier to hold and use with one hand.

The Pixel 7 is available in lemongrass (yellow), snow (white) and obsidian (black) color options, while the newer Pixel 8 comes in hazel (gray), obsidian (black) and rose (pink) choices. Both devices are rated for IP68 dust and water resistance, which means they should be dust-tight and able to withstand some water immersion.

Where the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 start to differ is in their screens. The Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch display, so it’s slightly smaller than the 6.3-inch Pixel 7. The Pixel 8’s dimensions are also physically smaller than the Pixel 7’s, making it a more ideal choice for those seeking a petite phone.

The Pixel 8’s screen is also brighter since it can peak at 2,000 nits of brightness compared to the Pixel 7’s 1,400 nits. In addition, the Pixel 8 can boost its refresh rate up to 120Hz compared to the Pixel 7’s 90Hz display, although the difference may not be noticeable and depends on what you’re doing on your phone.

The Pixel 7 pictured next to the Pixel Watch

Both phones run on Android 14, the newest version of Google’s mobile operating system. The Pixel 8 comes preloaded with Android 14, and it’s available for the Pixel 7 as an upgrade. But as mentioned above, the Pixel 8 will get seven years of new Android versions, new Pixel features and security updates. If you want a phone you can hold onto for years to come, the Pixel 8 is the better choice.

The Pixel 7 will only receive new Android updates for three years following its launch, meaning it’ll stop getting new versions of Android after October 2025. That alone gives the Pixel 8 a big edge over the Pixel 7.

While the software experience is largely the same, the Pixel 8 has some new AI-powered features — many of which are photography-related. The Pixel 8’s Google Assistant is smarter and can summarize web pages. It also sounds more natural when screening incoming calls on your behalf.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Camera

On paper, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 have similar camera systems. They each have a 50-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra wide camera, but the Pixel 8 also has a macro photography mode and a newer sensor that’s more sensitive to light.

The difference is noticeable; photos taken with the Pixel 8’s main camera generally looked a little brighter than those shot on the Pixel 7. And some shots looked more colorful too.

In the images of my colleague Bridget Carey below, which I shot using Night Mode in a dimly lit room in the CNET offices, the Pixel 8 did a better job at capturing the purple lighting more accurately. However, her face does look a bit noisy in the Pixel 8’s photo.

Pixel 8

Pixel 7

While photos generally looked the same between both phones, the Pixel 8’s images sometimes looked slightly more colorful. Take a look at the photos of the fish market in Wegmans below, and you’ll notice the reddish color in the fish’s scales looks a little bolder, especially in the tail.

Pixel 8

Pixel 7

Macro mode also makes it easier to capture closeup details on the Pixel 8. The photo of an artificial flower below was taken on the Pixel 8 in macro mode, and below it you can see the same photo without macro mode taken on the Pixel 7.

Pixel 8

Pixel 7

My colleague Patrick Holland, who reviewed the Pixel 8, also said photos looked generally similar between both devices. However, he did notice more shadow detail in the Pixel 8’s photos when looking closely, which you can see in his review.

The bigger difference between the two phones comes down to their photo editing features. The Pixel 8 has a handful of new AI-powered editing tools that aren’t available on the Pixel 7, like Best Take and the Magic Editor. The former lets you change a person’s expression in a group photo after you’ve taken a bunch of shots, while the latter makes it possible to move and resize people and pets in images.

Best Take is meant for moments when you can’t get everyone smiling or keeping their eyes open in a group photo at the same time. While it works impressively well and I can see the appeal behind it, Best Take also feels a little inauthentic to me. It’s easy enough to ignore this feature if you don’t want to use it, but it doesn’t feel as practical as previously introduced photo editing tools like the Magic Eraser and Face Unblur.

The photo below was edited with Best Take. CNET’s Jessica Fierro (left) and Abrar Al-Heeti (right) weren’t smiling in the original image.

My opinion on the Magic Editor is largely the same, although I’m sure some people will have fun customizing their images and finding creative use cases for it. With the Magic Editor, you can resize people, delete certain objects and move people and pets. Patrick has a great example of the Magic Editor at work in his review.

After capturing a photo of two of our CNET colleagues jumping off of a giant rock, he used the Magic Editor to remove the rock entirely, making it look like they were just jumping in the air really high. However, these edits aren’t as smooth as Best Take; you can clearly tell the image was altered. As my colleague Sareena Dayaram points out, tools like the Magic Editor also raise questions about the authenticity of the photos we snap on our phones and potentially share on social media.

Two people jumping off a rock with the rock erased

While the Pixel 7 doesn’t have these new features, it does have other handy editing options like Face Unblur, Photo Unblur and the Magic Eraser.

Overall, the cameras on both phones are similar enough, although the Pixel 8’s generally feels like a small step up.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Performance and battery

The Pixel 8 runs on Google’s newest processor, the Tensor G3, while the previous-generation Tensor G2 powers the Pixel 7. Both phones are responsive enough when scrolling around the operating system, swiping through social media posts, launching apps and the camera and playing games. The new chip’s benefits really kick in when it comes to those AI-powered features mentioned earlier.

I also ran two benchmarks on each phone: one for testing general performance in everyday use (Geekbench 6) and another for measuring graphics power (3DMark Wild Life Extreme). In both tests, the Pixel 8 scored higher, especially on 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, as you can see in the table below.

Geekbench 6 Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7

Geekbench 6 (single core) 1,605 1,481Geekbench 6 (multicore) 4,134 3,971

Pixel 8
Pixel 7

Note: Higher scores are better

3DMark Wild Life Extreme

3DMark Wild Life Extreme 2,381 1,711

Pixel 8
Pixel 7

Note: Higher scores are better.

3DMark Frames Per Second

Frames Per Second 14.3 10.3

Pixel 8
Pixel 7

Note: Higher scores are better.

Both phones offer roughly the same battery life, even though the Pixel 8 has a slightly higher battery capacity. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 can each last for around a day on a single charge, and they performed very similarly during CNET’s three-hour battery test. During this test, we stream a YouTube video with the screen brightness turned up to its maximum level for three hours and note the battery percentage at each hour.

Despite its brighter screen, the Pixel 8 delivered results that almost matched those of the Pixel 7.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7 Battery Test

	Pixel 8	Pixel 7
1 Hour	95%	95%
2 Hours	88%	88%
3 Hours	79%	81%

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7: Which should you choose?

The Pixel 8 is a better investment overall for the simple reason that it will last longer. Its modest camera and display improvements are a step up, and the Pixel 8’s new AI features make it a bit smarter and therefore more convenient to use than the Pixel 7. But it’s really the long software support that makes the Pixel 8 the better choice. However, I’d only recommend upgrading if you’re coming from an older device like the Pixel 5 or earlier.

Google Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 7

	Google Pixel 8	Google Pixel 7
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness	6.2-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate	6.3-inch OLED, FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) , 90Hz
Pixel density	428 ppi	416 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	5.9 x 2.8 x 0.4 in	6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 mm
Dimensions (millimeters)	150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm	155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	187 g (6.6 oz)	197 g (6.9 oz)
Mobile software (at launch)	Android 14	Android 13
Camera	50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)	50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide),
Front-facing camera	10.5-megapixel	10.8-megapixel
Video capture	4K	4K
Processor	Google Tensor G3	Google Tensor G2
Storage and RAM	8GB + 128GB, 256GB	8GB + 128GB, 256 GB,
Expandable storage	None	None
Battery	4,575 mAh	4,355 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	Under display	Under display
Connector	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	None	None
Special features	5G (Sub 6, mmWave); VPN by Google One; 7 years of OS, security and Feature Drop updates; front-facing camera has autofocus; 13W Qi wireless charging; 30W wired charging; USB-3.2 speeds via USB-C; IP68 dust and water resistance; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back	5G, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Long Exposure Mode, Action Pan; Hold For Me, Wait Times, Direct My Call Live Translate
US price off-contract	$699 (128GB)	$600
UK price	£575 (128GB)	£599
Australia price	AU$1,100 (128GB)	AU$999

Technologies

Nintendo Switch 2: Everything We Know About the Console, New Games, Release Date

The $450 console will get Mario Kart World at launch, 4K gaming when docked, Switch 2 Edition game enhancements and new mouse controls.

The Nintendo Switch 2 console’s biggest reveal yet arrived Wednesday morning as part of the company’s Nintendo Direct event. This teed up a day of Switch 2 reveals that include its June 5 release date, a $450 price, its specs, and its initial game lineup that extends from launch into 2026.

The console will be further buoyed by having Mario Kart World as a launch title, which will go on sale in either a $500 bundle with the Switch 2 or on its own for $80 — making the open-world racing game one of Nintendo’s most expensive yet. Other games announced, such as Donkey Kong Bananza, are being priced around $70, which matches the cost of 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That Zelda game and Breath of the Wild are among the original Switch titles that will get enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, a premium upgrade allowing players to get new features, modes and graphical enhancements that take advantage of the newer system’s capabilities.

Here are the top highlights from Nintendo’s console event, all of the games we’ve heard about so far (including new titles, Nintendo Switch 2 Edition titles and GameCube games coming to Nintendo Switch Online) and all of our coverage so far. You can also check out our Nintendo Switch 2 live blog for even more updates about the Switch 2 as we learn them.

Nintendo Switch 2 console

The Nintendo Switch 2’s specs saw a noticeable technical bump over the Switch. The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch, 1080p resolution LCD that supports a 120Hz refresh rate — matching what we now see on most Android phones. When the Switch 2 is docked, compatible games can run in 4K resolution. The new dock also includes a cooling fan.

The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, and the new Switch 2 Game Cards will load games faster. For digital libraries, however, the Switch 2 will only work with microSD Express cards, which are different from the microSD cards that are compatible with the prior Nintendo Switch. Nintendo will have a Software Transfer feature available to help move games and data from the original Switch to the Switch 2.

The new Joy-Con for the controllers will support mouse controls, and a new C button will be part of a new GameChat communication feature that allows both voice and video chat. There’s also a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing players to see each other.

The Switch 2 also adds a second USB-C port to the top of the system, which Nintendo says can help connect its new camera accessory or charge the console when playing in tabletop mode. Nintendo also revealed a new Switch 2 Pro Controller with the C button and customizable GL and GR buttons on the back.

Following the presentation, Nintendo unveiled the system’s price of $450 in the US. It will also sell the Switch 2 bundled with a digital version of Mario Kart World for $500.

Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World removes its traditional boundaries and lets drivers roam freely across an entire world of race courses. The game will get its own Nintendo Direct later this month, where we’ll see additional details, but we already know it’ll include traditional races and a Free Roam mode, much like in the Forza Horizon series.

Getting the game bundled for an extra $50 on the cost of the Switch 2 might be the move if you are interested in the game, because Nintendo announced on its website that standalone copies of Mario Kart World will cost $80.

Joy-Con 2 C button and GameChat

Nintendo’s rolling out its new C button across several new Switch 2 controllers. The button will be used for the new GameChat communication features without a headset. The button will be used alongside a microphone on the console itself, which Nintendo says can be used whether it’s docked to a TV or in handheld mode.

In its teaser video, Nintendo promises the microphone will be able to cancel out loud background noises. GameChat will also work with a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing video chat and various camera-based game modes in supported titles. GameChat will be free at launch through March 31, 2026.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games upgrade titles

The Nintendo Switch 2 will play three types of games: original Switch games, Switch 2 games and Switch 2 Edition games that will receive substantial enhancements. For many of these Switch 2 Edition games, you’ll need to buy an upgrade pack if you own the original for Switch. Many of them will get more than just enhanced graphics in the upgrade; for example, Super Mario Party Jamboree will get new games that support the new Joy-Cons’ mouse controls, audio recognition and video camera gameplay options through the Switch 2 Camera.

Other Nintendo Switch games that are getting Switch 2 Edition options include The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Enhancements vary: The Zelda games will start working with a companion phone app for maps and sending schematics to friends, while Kirby will get a new story that’s exclusive to the Switch 2 Edition. On the third-party side, Civilization 7 will get mouse controls.

Nintendo did not announce what upgrade packs will cost. However, some Switch games will get free updates that will improve performance or enhance features when playing them on the Switch 2. The Switch games getting these updates include:

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a new game set in the world of Zelda that tells the story that leads into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This appears to be similar to how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity told the story of a war that led to the events of Breath of the Wild. The teaser shows Zelda discovering that she’s arrived in the past of Hyrule, and the game will expand on how she gets involved in the corresponding Imprisonment War.

Nintendo Switch 2 games

Several other first- and third-party games were spotlighted during the Switch 2 Direct. These include Donkey Bananza, one of the first 3D platforming games featuring DK since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64. Kirby will also return to the racing genre in Kirby Air Riders, which comes more than 20 years after the GameCube racer Kirby’s Air Ride. DragXDrive will use mouse controls to control a futuristic wheelchair basketball game in which players will simulate push and pull motions to control their character.

An onslaught of Switch 2 third-party games were quickly shuffled through during the Direct, which I list below. An unnamed James Bond game is in development at Hitman studio IO Interactive, as is a darker title from Elden Ring creator FromSoftware called The Duskbloods, which will be exclusive to the Switch 2.

The full list of announced Nintendo Switch 2 games includes:

Borderlands 4
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Deltarune
Donkey Kong Bananza
Drag x Drive
EA Sports FC
EA Sports Madden NFL
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Enter the Gungeon 2
Fast Fusion
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
Fortnite
Hades 2
Hitman World of Assassination — Signature Edition
Hogwarts Legacy
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Kirby Air Riders
Kirby and the Forgotten Land — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Star-Crossed World
Kunitsu-Gai: Path of the Goddess
Mario Kart World
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
NBA 2K
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
Pokemon Legends: Z-A — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Project 007
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Split Fiction
Star Wars Outlaws
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
Street Fighter 6
Super Mario Party Jamboree — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Jamboree TV
Survival Kids
The Duskbloods
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4
WWE 2K
Yakuza 0 Definitive Edition

Among these titles, you can see the full list of June 5 Switch 2 launch day games here.

Nintendo GameCube library coming to Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch Online game library will add GameCube games to the Switch 2. On launch day, these games will initially include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur 2 and F-Zero GX, with each game getting enhanced graphics. Online multiplayer will also be added to certain titles. Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Strikers and Luigi’s Mansion are among the games set to arrive later. At launch, Nintendo will also sell a GameCube controller, which will be wireless and include a C button for GameChat.

Technologies

Which Nintendo Switch Accessories Will Work With the Nintendo Switch 2?

The next-gen Switch console has many physical changes, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to get rid of all your gear for the original Switch.

Nintendo detailed the highly anticipated Switch 2 on Wednesday. We still have to wait a few more months before we can actually get our hands on it — June 5, to be precise — but that gives us plenty of time to make sure we have all the extra accessories we’ll need. On the upside, many of the accessories for the original Nintendo Switch will work with the Switch 2, but some important ones won’t.

Controllers

Joy-Con

The Switch 2 will come with its own set of updated Joy-Cons, but you can still use the original ones. They won’t attach physically to the Switch 2, as the new Joy-Cons are larger and attach magnetically, but you can pair the original Joy-Cons wirelessly. That way, you can still play with your family and friends without buying extras.

Pro Controller

Nintendo’s excellent Pro Controller also got an upgrade for the Switch 2, but as with the Joy-Cons, the original Pro Controller will work fine with the Switch 2. It will pair wirelessly with the console and can be charged via a USB cable from the Switch 2 dock. The new Pro will have some decent upgrades, like enlarged buttons and triggers, GameCube-esque ergonomics, and programmable back paddles, but it will also cost $80, so if you don’t feel you need to upgrade, you won’t have to.

Other Nintendo controllers

Nintendo also clarified that all the wireless versions of the NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis controllers will work wirelessly with the Switch 2. However, it also said that not every game would be compatible, but we don’t know yet which games those would be. It’s probably safe to assume all games supporting those controllers (also compatible with the Switch 2) would work, but we’ll update this once we know more.

Third-party controllers

This is the big question mark at the moment. We have not been able to confirm anything from either Nintendo or other controller manufacturers if third-party controllers will work with the Switch 2. I assume that since the original Pro Controller will work with the Switch 2, at the very least, officially licensed third-party controllers will work, but as of publish time, we have not had any confirmation about support for third-party controllers on the Switch 2. One vendor I spoke with confirmed it is currently in talks with Nintendo about compatibility but couldn’t share any details.

MicroSD cards

One of the biggest (and most welcome) upgrades to the Switch 2 is an 8x increase in internal storage from 32GB to 256GB. That means a microSD is no longer an immediate must-have accessory. That’s also good because not every microSD card that worked with the original Switch will work with the Switch 2.

Nintendo specified that only microSD Express cards will work with Switch 2. You can still view screenshots and videos from your non-Express microSD cards, but you won’t be able to save or load games or save data to them. You can tell if your microSD card is Express because it will have a little EX printed on it.

Bluetooth headphones

The original Nintendo Switch infamously did not have Bluetooth capabilities, so you had to plug in headphones or buy an adapter. Nintendo remedied this with updated Switch versions and kept that functionality for the Switch 2. That means all your favorite Bluetooth headphones should work just fine with your new Switch 2.

Docks

The Switch 2 dock is also getting a big upgrade. It’s larger with rounded corners and now supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, a welcome upgrade for a modern game console. That being said, for households with multiple Switch consoles and TVs, you may not want to buy extra Switch 2 docks to use around your home.

However, Nintendo confirmed that the original Switch Dock is incompatible with the Switch 2, which also means it’s likely the original Switch will not work in the Switch 2 Dock.

Third-party docks

Several docks not made by Nintendo work just fine with the first-generation Switch, so there’s no reason to expect they would not be compatible with the Switch 2 as long as they provide adequate power. However, once again, we’ve not had any confirmation, so we can’t say for sure.

Chargers, cables and adapters

Chargers

The first-generation Switch was notoriously fickle with non-Nintendo chargers, particularly when docked, and the Switch 2 looks likely to continue that trend. The Switch 2 has a different power input from the original Switch so that the original Switch charger won’t work for TV mode with the Switch 2. You can still charge the Switch 2 with it by plugging it in directly, but that’s it.

We also don’t know anything about third-party chargers for the Switch 2 yet. There were several that worked perfectly fine with the original Switch, but we don’t yet know the power draw of the Switch 2, so we can’t say for sure which chargers will work. Hopefully, we’ll find out more closer to launch, but for right now, the only charger that we know will work for TV mode with the Switch 2 is the charger that comes with it.

Cables

The Switch 2 most likely supports HDMI 2.1, which means the HDMI cable that came with the original Switch won’t work. Nintendo has confirmed as much, though, as with most other accessories, it hasn’t given specifics as to whether third-party HDMI cables will work or not. We’ll have to wait to find out. The Switch 2 will have an HDMI cable, so at least there’s that.

Adapters

Nintendo has confirmed that the only adapter that works with the Switch 2 is the GameCube Controller adapter. This lets you connect a wired GameCube controller to the Switch Dock, and Nintendo says it can be used in TV mode while connected to a Switch 2 Dock. We don’t know anything else about any other adapters at this time.

Nintendo did give us quite a lot of information about the Switch 2 today, including the price, most of the key upgrades, and the launch date, but as you can see, there’s still a lot we don’t know. We’ll continue to update this list and our other coverage of the Nintendo Switch 2 as we learn more.

Technologies

Save Up to 20% on Your Phone Plan Thanks to Ultra Mobile’s Spring Sale

Need to lower your monthly phone bill? Switching to Ultra Mobile could be a wise decision. We’ll explain why.

If you’re looking for more ways to decrease your spending, switching to a cheaper phone plan could be just the ticket. Many cellphone providers lavish perks on new clients, so making the switch could be a smart financial decision. For those looking for a new cellphone plan, we’re glad to announce that Ultra Mobile is offering up to 20% off on select phone plans until May 18.

Ultra Mobile is also offering 10% off its three- and six-month contracts as a part of this deal. These discounts are available for deals providing 5GB, 10GB or 15GB of data per month. The carrier also has two Unlimited Plans you can choose from to nab this discount. Note: Ultra Mobile has a Talk & Text plan and a 3GB plan, but they aren’t currently eligible for any discounts.

The biggest savings right now are for 12-month plans. You can save 20% on Ultra Mobile 5GB, 10GB, 15GB, Ultra Unlimited and Unlimited Plus Plans. The Ultra Unlimited plan includes unlimited 5G, 4G and LTE data, international calls to more than 90 countries, unlimited national and global texts and a $5 credit for international calls and roaming per month. You’ll also get 10GB of hotspot data per month.

The Unlimited Plus Plan includes 20GB of hotspot data, as well as all the aforementioned features. You’ll also get a $10 credit for international calls and a $10 credit for roaming per month. Keep in mind that your device and SIM must be compatible with Ultra Mobile, so make sure to confirm that before making the switch. Finally, these are prepaid plans, which means up-front payment is required.

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Why this deal matters

Your phone bill can strain your monthly budget, but prepaid plans like these are a great way to save. Ultra Mobile’s plans are already relatively inexpensive, but these deals can shave 10% to 20% off per month. Though three- and six-month plans are available, its biggest savings are on 12-month plans.