Mint Mobile Plans Detailed: Pros, Cons & Hidden Costs

Mint Mobile can cut your phone bill down to as little as $15 a month, but there’s a catch you need to understand before switching.

Mint doesn’t normally sell service one month at a time. You buy three, six or 12 months in advance.

The longer the term, the lower the normal monthly equivalent. That bulk-payment model is how Mint keeps its prices low, but it also means you could be putting $180 to $360 down before you know how well T-Mobile’s network works inside your house.

Which Mint Mobile Plan Should You Get?

Our Pick: Mint Unlimited For New Customers

Mint is currently offering every main plan for the equivalent of $15 a month to new customers.

That includes:

• 6GB
• 17GB
• 23GB
• Unlimited

You can choose three, six or 12 months:

If all four plans cost the same, choosing 6GB makes no sense.

Take Unlimited.

It provides unlimited smartphone data, up to 20GB of hotspot each month and the same unlimited calls, texts, 5G access, Wi-Fi Calling and international calling features as Mint’s smaller plans.

The more difficult question is which introductory term to choose.

Choose the three-month Unlimited offer if:

• You haven’t used T-Mobile’s network before
• You want to test coverage before paying for a year
• You cannot comfortably pay $180 upfront
• You may change carriers soon
• You’re unsure whether Mint’s online support will suit you

Choose the 12-month Unlimited offer if:

• You already know T-Mobile works well locally
• You’re moving from T-Mobile or another T-Mobile-based carrier
• You can afford the $180 upfront payment
• You want to keep the promotional rate for an entire year
• You don’t expect to change carriers or move home

The 12-month offer provides the largest first-year saving, but the three-month plan carries less risk.

If you’ve never tested T-Mobile at your home and workplace, I’d start with three months. Saving another $135 upfront is not much comfort if you spend the year standing near an upstairs window trying to find a signal.

View Mint Mobile’s current Unlimited offer

Mint Mobile Plans At A Glance

Mint’s normal pricing depends on how many months you buy.

These are Mint’s standard full-price renewal rates, not its current introductory promotion.

The corresponding upfront costs are:

Taxes and fees are added separately.

How Mint Mobile Works

Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier owned by T-Mobile.

It uses T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G networks, but Mint controls your plan, billing, activation and customer support.

You don’t receive service from a separate, smaller set of towers. Your Mint phone connects to T-Mobile’s network.

However, that doesn’t make Mint identical to a T-Mobile postpaid plan.

Mint users may receive lower priority when a local tower is busy. You also miss some of the extras available directly from T-Mobile, including retail-store support, premium phone promotions, bundled streaming subscriptions and full international benefits.

Mint’s answer is price.

Instead of charging $60 to $100 every month and throwing in several extras you might never use, it sells the basic phone service in blocks.

You pay for three, six or 12 months. Mint gets the money upfront and passes some of the saving back through a lower monthly equivalent.

What Every Mint Mobile Plan Includes

All four main plans include:

• Unlimited domestic calls
• Unlimited domestic texts
• Access to T-Mobile 4G LTE and 5G
• Mobile hotspot
• Wi-Fi Calling
• eSIM and physical SIM support
• Free calling from the US to Canada, Mexico and the UK
• International calling to other destinations at additional rates
• Free roaming in Canada
• Scam Screener
• No data overage charges
• Mint Mobile app access
• The ability to keep your existing number

Mint’s free Canadian roaming includes unlimited talk and text plus 3GB of high-speed data each month.

The service is not designed for permanent or extended use outside the United States.

Mint Mobile 6GB Plan: Best For Light Users

Mint’s 6GB plan is the cheapest long-term option.

Its normal prices are:

New customers can currently get it for $15 a month regardless of term, although that is pointless while Unlimited costs the same.

After the introductory period, 6GB becomes much easier to recommend.

Six gigabytes is enough for someone who:

• Spends most of the day connected to Wi-Fi
• Uses mobile data for messaging and email
• Streams music occasionally
• Uses maps and ride-hailing apps
• Rarely watches video over cellular
• Doesn’t use their phone as a regular hotspot

The full 6GB allowance can be used for hotspot.

What happens after you use 6GB?

Mint doesn’t charge a data overage fee.

Your high-speed allowance is exhausted until the next data reset, although limited connectivity may continue at reduced speeds. You can purchase additional high-speed data through the Mint app if needed.

If you’re buying extra data most months, move to 17GB. Regular top-ups quickly wipe out the saving.

Who should buy the 6GB plan?

Choose 6GB if:

• Your previous bills show less than 5GB of monthly use
• You work from home
• You’re nearly always connected to Wi-Fi
• You want Mint’s lowest permanent price
• You’re buying service for a basic or backup phone

Avoid it if you regularly watch TikTok, YouTube or Netflix away from Wi-Fi.

Verdict: Mint’s best long-term budget plan, but not the one to choose during an all-plans-for-$15 promotion.

Mint Mobile 17GB Plan: Best For Most Normal Users

The 17GB plan is the one I’d recommend to most established Mint customers who don’t need unlimited data.

Its normal prices are:

Seventeen gigabytes gives you enough room for:

• Social media
• Music streaming
• Maps and navigation
• Video calls
• Regular web browsing
• Email and messaging
• Some YouTube or short-form video
• Occasional laptop hotspot use

The whole allowance can be used for hotspot.

This is where Mint starts making sense for people who use their phones normally rather than treating mobile data as an emergency reserve.

Why 17GB is the sweet spot

The annual plan costs $240.

That is $60 less per year than Mint’s 23GB plan and $120 less than Unlimited at their normal 12-month rates.

If your data usage usually sits between 7GB and 14GB, Unlimited adds cost without fixing a problem.

Mint can also recommend a lower plan at renewal if your usage shows you’re paying for more data than you need.

Who should buy the 17GB plan?

Choose 17GB if:

• You use mobile data every day
• You stream music regularly
• You watch some video away from Wi-Fi
• Your current usage is below 15GB
• You need occasional hotspot access
• You want a comfortable allowance without paying $30 a month

Verdict: The best Mint plan for most users once promotional pricing ends.

Mint Mobile 23GB Plan: Best For Regular Streamers

Mint’s 23GB plan sits between 17GB and Unlimited.

Its normal prices are:

The entire 23GB allowance can be used for normal phone data or hotspot.

It suits people who:

• Watch video several times a week
• Use social media heavily
• Work away from Wi-Fi
• Use hotspot more regularly
• Consume around 15GB to 20GB in a normal month
• Want to avoid paying for Unlimited

The plan is less convincing on shorter terms.

At its normal three-month price, 23GB costs the equivalent of $45 a month. That is more than Visible+ and considerably more than Visible’s base unlimited plan.

The 12-month price of $25 is much better.

Who should buy the 23GB plan?

Choose 23GB if:

• You use between 15GB and 22GB consistently
• You want the full allowance available for hotspot
• You can pay $300 upfront
• T-Mobile works well locally
• You don’t need unlimited phone data

Avoid it if your usage varies wildly. Moving to Unlimited for another $5 a month could remove a lot of data watching and top-up nonsense.

Verdict: Good at the 12-month rate, poor value when purchased three months at a time.

Mint Mobile Unlimited: Best For Heavy Phone Use

Mint Unlimited normally costs:

New customers can currently pay:

• $45 for three months
• $90 for six months
• $180 for 12 months

All three introductory options work out at $15 a month.

Unlimited includes:

• Unlimited smartphone data
• 20GB of hotspot each month
• SD video streaming
• Unlimited calls and texts
• T-Mobile 5G and LTE
• Free calling to Canada, Mexico and the UK
• Free Canadian roaming
• Taxes and fees charged separately

Is Mint Unlimited really unlimited?

Mint’s current terms no longer describe the plan as hitting a fixed high-speed cap followed by an automatic universal throttle.

You can continue using smartphone data beyond 50GB.

However, customers who exceed 50GB in a monthly cycle may receive reduced speeds in certain locations when T-Mobile’s network is busy.

That means 50GB acts as a heavy-use threshold for congestion management, not a guaranteed brick wall.

You might use 60GB in a quiet area and notice very little. You might pass 50GB in a busy city and find streaming, downloads or video calls noticeably slower until your data resets.

Mint traffic can also slow below 50GB when the network is congested. The heavy-user rule is not the only reason cellular performance changes.

Unlimited hotspot is not unlimited

Mint caps hotspot use at 20GB per monthly cycle.

Once you use that allowance, you can purchase more hotspot data in 5GB or 10GB blocks.

Twenty gigabytes is enough for occasional laptop work and emergency use. It is not enough to replace home broadband for a family.

Visible is a better choice if unlimited hotspot matters. Its plans include unlimited hotspot, although speed caps apply.

Video is limited to SD

Mint Unlimited streams video in standard definition, approximately 480p.

That helps reduce data use but can look soft on a large modern phone.

If you mostly watch video on a six-inch display, it may not bother you. If you regularly watch films, sports or high-resolution YouTube, it is worth factoring in.

Who should buy Mint Unlimited?

Choose Unlimited if:

• You regularly exceed 23GB
• You don’t want to monitor normal phone data constantly
• You need up to 20GB of hotspot
• T-Mobile has strong capacity locally
• SD streaming is acceptable
• You can pay $360 upfront at the normal annual rate
• You can get the current $15 introductory offer

Avoid it if:

• You routinely exceed 50GB in congested areas
• You need high-resolution mobile video
• You rely heavily on hotspot
• You want monthly billing
• T-Mobile is weak where you live
• You need premium-priority data

Verdict: The obvious introductory choice at $15. At its normal $30 annual rate, it remains good but faces much stronger competition from Visible and US Mobile.

Check Mint Unlimited pricing

Mint Mobile Unnecessary: The Hidden Heavy-Use Plan

Mint also has a higher-use plan called Unnecessary.

It is not shown alongside the four main new-customer plans and is generally made available to existing subscribers through their accounts.

Its normal pricing has been:

The plan was designed for people who need more data than standard Unlimited, with a larger heavy-use allowance and 20GB hotspot.

The name is Mint’s way of admitting that almost nobody needs it.

At $40 a month paid annually, it gets uncomfortably close to competitors offering stronger hotspot terms, included taxes or higher network priority.

I would only consider it if:

• T-Mobile works much better than Verizon or AT&T locally
• You’re happy with Mint
• You regularly exceed 50GB
• You’re seeing congestion-related slowdowns
• You don’t need more than 20GB of hotspot

For everyone else, standard Unlimited or another carrier makes more sense.

Mint Mobile Introductory Prices vs Renewal Prices

This is the most important part of the guide.

Mint’s current advertisement says every plan costs $15 a month.

That is true for eligible new customers during the introductory term. It is not the permanent price of every plan.

The renewal jump is largest on Unlimited.

A customer paying $180 for their introductory year could be charged $360 for the next year if they renew on the same 12-month plan.

That is still only $30 a month, but it is double the introductory service price.

Mint sends renewal reminders, and you can change your plan before renewal. Do not treat the first-year rate as permanent unless a specific promotion explicitly guarantees it.

The Strange Six-Month Pricing Problem

Mint’s six-month plans are frequently awkward.

At normal rates:

• 6GB costs $20 a month
• 17GB costs $25 a month
• 23GB costs $35 a month
• Unlimited costs $35 a month

In other words, the six-month 23GB and Unlimited plans cost the same.

Take Unlimited.

The six-month Unlimited rate is also only $5 below its normal three-month price and $5 above the 12-month rate.

Six months works if you want a middle ground between upfront cost and commitment. It is rarely Mint’s best pure value.

Taxes, Fees And The Real Checkout Price

Mint’s advertised prices do not include taxes and fees.

You may see:

• State and local taxes
• Federal Universal Service Fund charges
• Other government fees
• A Recovery Fee
• Federal cost-recovery charges

Mint’s Recovery Fee includes a flat amount based on the plan length and an additional 2.5% of the plan cost.

For example, the flat Recovery Fee listed for a 12-month Unlimited plan is $16.25 before the added percentage and location-dependent charges.

The exact checkout total depends on your address.

This is one area where Visible and US Mobile are easier. Their current core-plan prices generally include taxes and fees.

Mint is still cheap, but “$180 for the year” does not mean your card will be charged exactly $180.

Is Mint Mobile A Contract Carrier?

No. Mint doesn’t use a traditional service contract or charge an early termination fee.

But prepaid annual billing still creates a commitment.

If you pay $360 for a year and decide to leave after two months, you normally won’t receive a refund for the unused ten months.

Mint provides a seven-day money-back period for eligible plans purchased directly through its website or app. You can cancel within seven days of activation and receive the plan cost, taxes and fees back. Shipping is not refunded.

After that window, your prepaid balance is generally non-refundable.

So yes, Mint is contract-free. No, paying for a year is not the same as having month-to-month freedom.

Mint Mobile Coverage: Will It Work Where You Live?

Mint uses T-Mobile’s 5G and 4G LTE network.

It is usually a strong choice in:

• Cities
• Suburbs
• Areas with T-Mobile Ultra Capacity 5G
• Places where T-Mobile already performs well
• Homes with reliable Wi-Fi Calling
• Major highways and populated travel routes

Its weak spots can include:

• Remote rural areas
• Some indoor locations
• Regions where Verizon or AT&T has older, denser coverage
• Buildings with poor T-Mobile signal penetration

A national percentage cannot tell you whether Mint works in your bedroom, office or local supermarket.

Check Mint’s coverage map, ask local T-Mobile users and use the trial before moving your number.

If Verizon works better locally, Visible is the more natural low-cost alternative.

Will Mint Mobile Be Slower Than T-Mobile?

Sometimes.

Mint operates on T-Mobile’s network, but that doesn’t mean every subscriber receives identical priority during congestion.

When a tower has plenty of capacity, Mint can be extremely fast. Its broadband labels list typical downloads between 79Mbps and 357Mbps.

When the network becomes busy, higher-priority traffic may be served first. Mint customers can experience lower speeds at:

• Concerts
• Airports
• Sports stadiums
• Festivals
• Busy downtown areas
• Tourist destinations
• Rush hour in dense cities

That is deprioritization, not a permanent speed cap.

Your phone can be fast in the morning and slow in the same spot during a packed evening event.

If dependable priority matters for work, don’t assume Mint will behave exactly like T-Mobile’s most expensive postpaid plan.

Does Mint Mobile Include Hotspot?

Yes.

On the 6GB, 17GB and 23GB plans, hotspot use comes from the main monthly allowance.

That means:

• 6GB plan: up to 6GB can be used as hotspot
• 17GB plan: up to 17GB
• 23GB plan: up to 23GB
• Unlimited plan: separate maximum of 20GB

Oddly, the 23GB plan gives you more potential hotspot data than Unlimited.

That could make 23GB the better plan if most of your data use happens on a connected laptop or tablet.

Once Unlimited’s 20GB hotspot limit is used, you need to buy more data.

Does Mint Mobile Include International Roaming?

Mint includes free roaming in Canada:

• Unlimited talk
• Unlimited text
• 3GB of high-speed data per month

For other destinations, Mint sells Minternational Passes covering more than 180 countries.

Passes are available for:

• One day
• Three days
• Seven days

The exact data, call and text allowance depends on the pass.

Passes are prepaid and stored in your Mint Wallet. You can activate one when needed.

Mint also includes free calls from the US to:

• Canada
• Mexico
• The United Kingdom

Calls to more than 160 other destinations are available at per-minute rates.

Mint is fine for occasional trips, but Google Fi or US Mobile Premium may be better for someone traveling abroad every month.

Mint Mobile Family Plans Explained

Mint Family supports between two and five lines.

It is not a conventional family plan where every person shares one allowance.

Each person keeps their own:

• Phone number
• Data plan
• Data allowance
• Renewal date
• Usage record

The primary account holder manages payments, plan changes, add-ons and roaming passes from one account.

The best feature is payment flexibility.

Family members can receive Mint’s lowest 12-month rates while paying in three-month installments instead of paying for the entire year at once.

For example, four 6GB lines cost the equivalent of $60 a month at the annual rate, but the household pays quarterly rather than handing over $720 on day one.

Family-plan catches

• The primary account must use Auto Renewal
• A Mint Family can contain a maximum of five people
• Existing lines may retain separate renewal dates
• Members don’t share data
• Leaving the family can increase the remaining quarterly payments
• There is no traditional per-line discount beyond access to annual pricing
• The primary account holder controls many billing decisions

The ability to mix plans is useful.

One household could use:

• One Unlimited line for a heavy user
• One 23GB line
• One 17GB line
• Two 6GB lines

That is often cheaper than putting everyone on the same unlimited plan.

Mint Kids Explained

Mint Kids isn’t a separate network or cut-down child service.

Parents can choose from Mint’s regular data allowances and manage the child’s line through their own account.

It provides:

• Unlimited calls and texts
• T-Mobile coverage
• 6GB, 17GB, 23GB or Unlimited data options
• Parent-managed account details
• Usage monitoring
• Plan adjustment
• Scam Screener
• No marketing messages sent to the child

For a child’s first phone, start with 6GB.

You can move to a larger allowance if needed. Mint lets you upgrade data during the current term by paying the difference, while downgrades normally take effect at renewal.

Mint 55+ Explained

Mint 55+ is aimed at customers aged 55 and over.

It pairs Mint’s entry plan with assisted activation and additional technical help.

The main difference is support rather than data.

Mint’s MINTech Advisors can help with:

• Activating service
• Installing a SIM or eSIM
• Transferring an existing number
• Dealing with the old carrier
• Device setup
• Account problems
• General troubleshooting

The plan starts at the equivalent of $15 a month, with upfront payment required.

This can be useful for someone who wants Mint’s price but doesn’t feel comfortable moving a number and setting up eSIM alone.

However, Mint still has no nationwide chain of retail stores. Support is handled remotely.

Customers wanting regular face-to-face assistance may prefer Consumer Cellular or a major carrier, even if the bill is higher.

Can You Bring Your Current Phone?

Yes, provided it is:

• Unlocked
• Compatible with T-Mobile
• Supported by Mint
• Capable of VoLTE
• Equipped with the required US LTE or 5G bands

Modern US-market iPhones, Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy phones are generally safe choices.

Imported Android phones need more care. The device may fit a Mint SIM but miss T-Mobile bands used for indoor, rural or extended-range coverage.

Use Mint’s IMEI checker before buying service.

If your current carrier financed the phone, confirm that it is paid off and unlocked first.

You can also cut the hardware side of the bill by pairing Mint with a refurbished phone. Our Phone Finder compares current refurbished Apple, Google and Samsung models, while the main refurbished smartphone guide explains warranties, condition grades and retailer checks.

Can You Keep Your Number?

Yes.

You’ll need:

• Your current account number
• A number-transfer PIN or porting PIN
• The billing ZIP code
• The account holder’s details
• An unlocked phone

Do not cancel the old service before transferring the number.

The number must remain active for the port to work. Your old line normally closes automatically once the transfer completes.

Does Mint Mobile Support eSIM?

Yes.

Compatible iPhones, Pixels and Samsung phones can activate Mint using eSIM without waiting for a physical card.

That makes switching much quicker, but do it while connected to reliable Wi-Fi.

If eSIM activation goes wrong after your old number has started transferring, you’ll need internet access to contact support and reinstall the profile.

Mint also provides a free physical 3-in-1 SIM for compatible phones.

Does Mint Mobile Support Apple Watch?

No, not as a normal cellular companion plan.

Mint does not currently provide the type of shared-number Apple Watch service available from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Visible or US Mobile Warp.

Your Apple Watch will still work over:

• Bluetooth
• Your iPhone’s connection
• Wi-Fi

It won’t have an independent Mint cellular connection when you leave the iPhone at home.

If Apple Watch cellular service matters, Visible+ Pro includes compatible smartwatch service in its monthly price.

Can You Change Mint Plans?

Yes, but upgrades and downgrades work differently.

You can upgrade to a larger data allowance during the current plan by paying the difference.

You cannot normally downgrade immediately and receive money back. A move to a smaller plan takes effect at renewal.

You also cannot shorten an active three, six or 12-month term. You can schedule a different duration for the next renewal.

My advice is to start slightly lower once promotional pricing ends. It’s easier to pay the difference for an upgrade than to recover money from a plan that is too large.

Mint Mobile Customer Support

Mint support is available through:

• The Mint Mobile app
• Website chat
• 611 from a Mint phone
• 800-683-7392 from another phone

Human phone support is available seven days a week from 5am to 7pm Pacific Time.

There are no Mint Mobile stores.

That won’t matter to someone comfortable activating eSIM and managing an account online. It could be a nuisance if you prefer walking into a shop whenever something goes wrong.

MINTech Advisor support costs $15 a year for standard customers and provides more guided setup and troubleshooting.

Mint Mobile Pros And Cons

Pros

• Very low introductory pricing
• 6GB plan remains $15 at the normal annual rate
• Unlimited currently available for $15 to new customers
• T-Mobile 5G access included
• All plans include hotspot
• No data overage charges
• Free calls to Canada, Mexico and the UK
• Free Canadian roaming
• Wi-Fi Calling
• eSIM activation
• Family members can mix data allowances
• Mint Family can pay annual pricing quarterly
• Seven-day refund period for eligible direct purchases
• No service contract

Cons

• Payment normally required for several months upfront
• Taxes and fees are extra
• Introductory pricing rises at renewal
• Prepaid service is usually non-refundable after seven days
• Network performance may dip during congestion
• Unlimited users above 50GB may be managed more heavily
• Unlimited video is restricted to SD
• Unlimited hotspot stops at 20GB unless you buy more
• No cellular Apple Watch plan
• No physical Mint stores
• Coverage depends entirely on T-Mobile
• Phone promotions are less generous than major-carrier bill-credit deals

Mint Mobile vs Visible

Mint wins if T-Mobile is good locally and you’re happy to prepay.

Visible wins if you want predictable monthly billing, taxes included, unlimited hotspot or cellular Apple Watch support.

Visible’s base plan costs $25 a month. Mint Unlimited costs the equivalent of $30 after the promotion if you pay $360 for a year.

At normal prices, that makes Visible cheaper before Mint’s added taxes and fees.

Read our Visible recommendation and current plan offers before committing to Mint Unlimited.

Mint Mobile vs US Mobile

US Mobile is more flexible. Mint is easier to understand.

US Mobile lets you choose between Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile-based service, but features change depending on the selected network.

Mint gives you T-Mobile. That’s it.

If T-Mobile works and the price is right, the lack of choice doesn’t matter. If it doesn’t, Mint cannot move you onto Verizon without you leaving the carrier.

How Much Could Mint Mobile Save You?

Suppose you currently pay $75 a month for one line.

Your annual service cost is $900 before any extra fees or device installments.

Moving to Mint could reduce that to:

A new customer getting Unlimited for $180 would save $720 during the introductory year.

That is real money.

But check whether your old bill includes a financed phone. Mint’s price normally covers service, not the cost of a new iPhone or Galaxy.

Also check whether leaving means losing:

• Remaining trade-in credits
• Device promotions
• Streaming bundles
• Insurance
• Watch service
• Tablet lines
• Home-internet discounts

A cheaper phone plan can still cost more in the short term if you must pay off a $900 handset before leaving.

Who Should Choose Mint Mobile?

Choose Mint if:

• T-Mobile coverage works well in your area
• You want to cut your bill
• You can pay for several months upfront
• You use an unlocked compatible phone
• You’re comfortable with online account management
• You don’t need physical stores
• You don’t need cellular smartwatch service
• You can tolerate occasional congestion-related slowing
• You want hotspot included
• You’re willing to check renewal prices

Who Should Avoid Mint Mobile?

Avoid Mint if:

• T-Mobile coverage is poor locally
• You need monthly billing
• Paying $180 to $360 upfront would strain your budget
• You rely on mobile data for time-sensitive work
• You regularly use data at packed venues
• You need more than 20GB of hotspot
• You want HD or 4K cellular video
• You need Apple Watch cellular service
• You want in-store assistance
• You frequently change carriers
• You’re relying on major-carrier phone promotions

Final Verdict: Which Mint Mobile Plan Is Best?

Get Mint Unlimited if you’re a new customer and every plan is available for $15.

There is no reason to select 6GB, 17GB or 23GB when Unlimited costs exactly the same during the introductory term.

Choose three months if you need to test coverage. Choose 12 months if you already trust T-Mobile locally and want the largest first-year saving.

At renewal, reassess your actual usage:

• Stay on Unlimited if you regularly use more than 23GB
• Drop to 23GB if you need lots of hotspot but less than 23GB overall
• Choose 17GB if you use mobile data daily but remain below 15GB
• Choose 6GB if you spend most of your time on Wi-Fi

Mint is one of the cheapest ways to access T-Mobile’s 5G network.

Its low prices are real. So are the upfront payment, renewal increase, added fees and congestion rules.

Go in knowing those four things and Mint can save you hundreds of dollars a year without making your phone noticeably less useful.