Americans paying $80-plus a month to AT&T or Verizon can cut that bill to $10 right now — if they move before October 22. Mint Mobile just launched a promotion offering any of its plans for $10 a month for the first six months, including the Unlimited tier, which 9to5Google reports comes out to a 71% discount off normal pricing. After the promotional window, rates revert to standard Mint pricing, which still undercuts the Big Two by half or more.
This matters because the AT&T-Verizon duopoly has spent decades squeezing working families with bloated bills while lobbying state and federal regulators to strangle cheaper competitors. Mobile virtual network operators like Mint lease capacity on the same towers and use the same infrastructure but charge a fraction of the price — proving the major carriers' markups are choice, not necessity.
The deal is straightforward: pick eSIM or a physical SIM, pick your plan, and pay $10 monthly for six months. 9to5Google notes the offer expires October 22.
Mint is also bundling hardware. A Pixel 11 drops to $399 — over 50% off the $899 list price — paired with 12 months of Unlimited service at $15/month. The total bundle runs $579 upfront for a new phone and a year of service. Other Pixel models see similar cuts: the Pixel 10 Pro falls to $429 from $999, the Pixel 11 Pro to $594 from $1,099, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL to $794 from $1,299. The catch is you pay for the 12 months of service upfront. The $399 Pixel 11 is currently out of stock, though the 512GB model and other variants remain available, per 9to5Google.
The other three outlets in this cycle — The Verge, Gizmodo, and Android Police — focused on browser warnings, earbud discounts, and a Gboard mod respectively, ignoring the consumer savings angle entirely. Gizmodo pitched Pixel Buds Pro 2 at $180; Android Police showcased a workaround to get Google's Rambler AI voice typing on older phones without upgrading. None connected the dots between what Americans pay for wireless service and the cheaper alternatives the carriers don't want advertised.
Every dollar funneled to an overpriced carrier plan is a dollar not going to rent, groceries, or a kid's school supplies. The duopoly counts on inertia and brand familiarity to keep the money flowing. Deals like this one are how ordinary people push back — not with a petition, but by walking away.
