Mint sells Pixel 10 for $299

Mint Mobile is pushing a very specific kind of phone deal right now. The headline number is real — a Google Pixel 10 for $299 — but the catch is that you only get there by bundling the phone with a year of Mint’s Unlimited plan and paying upfront. That makes this less of a pure handset discount and more of a subsidized carrier bundle. Still, if you wanted a new Pixel mainly to get Google’s latest AI features without paying flagship money, this is one of the cheapest ways in. ### Is the Pixel 10 really $299? Yes — with conditions. Mint’s product page shows the Pixel 10 at a $500 instant discount from its $799 list price, bringing the phone itself to $299. But Mint’s separate Google deals page makes the bundle clearer: new customers have to buy a 12-month Unlimited plan at the same time, discounted to $180 upfront, for a combined total of $480 before taxes and fees. (mintmobile.com) ### So what do you actually pay today? Basically, $480 plus taxes and fees. That is the number that matters more than the ad. Mint breaks it down as $299 for the device and $180 for a year of Unlimited service, which works out to $15 a month for the plan if you spread it across the year. The sticker shock is lower than buying the phone unlocked at full price, but this is not a “walk out with a phone for $299 and decide later” situation. (mintmobile.com) ### Who qualifies for the deal? New customers. Mint labels it a limited-time new-customer offer, and the device page says the promotion requires purchase of a new device with a 12-month Mint plan sold separately. In plain English — this is meant to acquire subscribers, not reward existing ones. If you are already on Mint, you should assume this offer is not built for you unless Mint says otherwise at checkout. (mintmobile.com) ### What’s the catch on “Unlimited”? The big one is the data cap hidden inside the branding. Mint says Unlimited customers who use more than 50GB in a month may notice reduced speeds for the rest of that monthly cycle in busy locations. So the plan is unlimited in the usual carrier-marketing sense, not in the “full-speed forever” sense. If you stream a lot, tether often, or use your phone as a laptop backup, that detail matters more than the $15-a-month framing. (mintmobile.com) ### Why does the Pixel 10 matter right now? Because Google is using Pixel as the front door for its latest Android AI push. The Google Store is pitching the Pixel 10 around built-in Gemini and ongoing Pixel Drops, and Google just rolled out “Gemini Intelligence” as the umbrella for new AI features debuting on premium Android devices, including Pixel. So this Mint deal is really a discounted ticket into Google’s newest software story, not just a cheaper slab of hardware. (mintmobile.com) ### Is this better than buying direct from Google? Depends on what you value. Buying direct gives you more flexibility — unlocked device, no forced prepaid bundle, and potentially trade-in promos instead. Mint’s version wins if your goal is minimizing upfront cost on a new Pixel and you are fine committing to a year of service. It loses if you want carrier freedom or were planning to shop plans separately. (store.google.com) ### Should you think of this as a phone deal or a plan deal? A plan deal wearing a phone-deal costume. The savings are real, but Mint is funding them by locking in a new subscriber for 12 months upfront. That does not make it bad — just means you should compare the full $480 bundle against whatever phone-plus-service combo you would actually buy otherwise. (store.google.com) The bottom line is simple. If you already wanted Mint service, this is a strong Pixel 10 entry price. If you just want the phone, the advertised $299 number is true but incomplete. (mintmobile.com)