With our Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) option, you can easily get Tello Mobile service on your current device, in no time.
No need to sweat about it. Chances are your device is compatible, and your wallet could use the savings.
It’s easy to go to our BYOD page and check if it’s compatible with Tello. Then choose your plan, order a Tello SIM online and pop it into the phone. You’ll be enjoying tiny phone bills in no time and catch yourself saying “Alexa, play ‘Feeling Good’” more often.
We’ve made things easy when it comes to bringing your own phone to Tello. In other words, we’ll tell you if your phone works on our network. One thing we cannot verify – is if your device is unlocked and free of contract. This check is on you, because you have the information from your relationship with the previous provider or phone vendor.
What phones are compatible with Tello? – if only we had a penny for every time we heard it.
TBH: we’d love nothing more than to provide a list of devices compatible with Tello. However, we are limited by the technical realities:
- the same phone model can have (sub)types, one compatible and one incompatible
- compatibility may depend on the network that sold the phone originally
- the same model sold in different markets (not US) may or may not be compatible
This is why our BYOD checker does the heavy lifting and gives the exact answer for the phone you hold in your hand. All you need is to provide the correct phone IMEI.
To recap, we’ve compiled a list of requirements to check before bringing the phone you love to Tello and detailed them below. Check ‘em’ out:
📲 What phones work with Tello Mobile?
Here’s the entire list of criteria that needs to be met:
✔️ 4G LTE/5G devices
✔️ Unlocked
For example, most unlocked T-Mobile, AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Simple Mobile, and Straight Talk phones work with Tello
Many 4G LTE phones used on Verizon may also work with Tello as long as they have been unlocked.
✔️ That support LTE bands: 2, 4, 12, 66, 71.
✔️ VoLTE friendly
✔️ Most models manufactured for the US market will activate on our network – phones made for overseas markets might not work
🛎️ First up: All Tello compatible phones needs to be at least 4G LTE
Starting 2021, Tello is enrolling only LTE devices that run on our new 4G LTE/5G network. If your phone is older or CDMA exclusive, it might not be a good match. Most newer phone models are compatible with both technologies – LTE & CDMA, but note that older phones may only be compatible with one of them.
Your phone is not accepted at Tello due to incompatibility issues especially when we’re talking about phones that are more than five years old. Of course, this is purely an assumption, as we have 2015 devices like iPhone 6S that work just fine. The idea is to check.
This being said, a lot of customers struck gold when looking around the house and finding a device that worked perfectly with Tello. Does Tello support iPhones? Totally! The best way to know is to check it via our bring your own device tool and see for yourself.
🔓 Only unlocked devices unlock the huge wireless savings from Tello
What is an unlocked phone? Unlocked phones are phones that aren’t tied to a specific carrier’s network. That means you can switch providers anytime you want.
What’s the difference between locked and unlocked phones? Glad you asked! Locked devices ensure you can’t switch networks until after a certain time (usually stipulated within a contract), sell your phone before the period is over, or skip on your bill and switch.
What’s the rule of thumb at Tello? You can bring your unlocked phones at Tello. We believe in freedom to choose your own phone plan, but also to come and go as you please. We have no contracts, no payments in advance and no fees. No even when you cancel a line. When we say “Try us, cancel anytime”, we mean it!
📡 What LTE bands does Tello use?
The shortest answer possible: 2, 4, 12, 66, 71.
How to know if your device checks out these requirements? Simply look at the device’s tech specs and check them off against the 2 compatibility requirements listed below:
In order to bring your device to Tello, it must support (at a minimum) the following set of LTE bands:
– Band 2 (1900 MHz)
– Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz)
– Band 12 (700 MHz)
However, for best service on the Tello network, your phone should have the following band/frequency in addition to the above 3:
*Band 71 (600 MHz)
Other bands that work:
* Band 66 (1700/2100 Mhz)
For example, if the phone has LTE bands 2, 4, 12, and 71, then that is ideal.
If you want to take advantage of the Tello 5G coverage, then you will need a device that supports 5G bands N41 and N71.
🌐 VoLTE
VoLTE stands for voice over LTE, meaning voice calls over a 4G LTE network, rather than the 2G or 3G connections that were usually used. Or a way to ensure your device is future-proof. Why? Simple, the 3G networks non-VoLTE phones work on will soon be a thing of the past. They’re shutting down.
If you want to bring your phone to Tello, VoLTE is a must.
How do you know if your phone supports VoLTE?
Android steps: Open the Settings app on your phone and go to the ‘About phone’ menu >> ‘SIM Status‘>> Tap it and a popup should appear. If the voice network type is listed as LTE, you’re good to go.
On your iPhone, go to Settings >> Cellular >> Cellular Data Options and tap Enable LTE or Settings >> Mobile Data and tap Enable LTE. If your carrier supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE), you’ll see these options: Off: Turns off LTE. Voice & Data: Allows voice calls and cellular-data use over LTE.
🤳 Bringing your phone to Tello means you have to change your number?
NO.
Once you know your beloved device checks out all the boxes and you got the “Awesome” message on our device checker, bring it over to the bright side of wireless and keep your phone number. Remember: port in is only available after your SIM is received and activated.
Here’s the carrier transfer info you’ll need to make that happen.
Have a Apple phone it is 3 G Will it work with Tello
Penny,
Given that we’re talking about a 3G device, the chances don’t look all that swell. Please check it here: https://tello.com/bring_your_own_device, thanks!
I thought this was a free 1 month trial offer. Your website is trying to charge me for it
Hi, Patricia,
We’re currently running a special holiday promo that gets you 50% OFF any phone plan above $10/mo.
That means you can test Tello for just $5/mo and get 1GB + unlimited talk & texts. If you’re not digging us, you’re free to cancel anytime.
More details, here: https://blog.tello.com/news/holiday-sale-50-off-our-best-selling-plans/ – Thanks!
Hi,
I am interested in this phone, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE SM-G781B. It says it has these bands:
NETWORK
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78
*(make sure your carrier support the 5G bands)
Will it be compatible on your network including 5G?
Thank you.
Micheal, the bands look ok to me. Here’s all the info for Tello:
The device must support (at a minimum) the following set of LTE bands:
Band 2 (1900 MHz)
Band 4 (2100 MHz)
Band 12 (700 MHz)
However, for best service on our GSM network, your phone should have at least 1 of the following bands/frequencies in addition to the above 3:
Band 5 (850 MHz)
Band 66 (1700 Mhz)
Band 71 (600 MHz)
For example, if the phone has bands 2, 4, 12, and 71, then that is ideal.
You’ll still need to check your device’s compatibility here to be sure: https://tello.com/bring_your_own_phone, thanks!
If I need a new phone number will Tello be able to give me one?
Hi Theresa,
Sure, if you don’t want to port in your number that’s fine, you can get a new one from Tello ;)
Will Tello work with samsung galaxy a13 5g
Hi Roberto, if it’s unlocked and GSM compatible most probably yes.
The easier way to find out is to enter its IMEI on our device checker page: https://tello.com/bring_your_own_phone
Please try and let us know if you need extra help,
Tello