Everyone in America should have an access to Internet to help them apply for jobs, watch movies, apply for government services and reach out to relatives and friends. The government through the ACP and Lifeline programs offer household benefits that make it possible for low-income families to access free internet and a free gadget. Every eligible household may qualify for a monthly phone service discount of up to $30 and a one-off gadget discount of up to $100. The eligible households may get a free Samsung tablet and a free unlimited data plan, depending on the state and a phone service provider.
In this article, we look at the best phone providers that offer a free Samsung tablet and how you can qualify for the free government tablets.
The 5 Best Phone Service Providers That Offer a Free Samsung Tablet
1. Q Link Wireless
Q Link Wireless is one of the nationwide available Lifeline providers that offer a free Samsung tablet to eligible customers. The carrier uses the nationwide available T-Mobile network towers to deliver reliable, fast free internet and quality voice connections. All free tablets by Q Link Wireless are 4G and 5G compliant to help you optimize your entertainment experience. Q Link Wireless combines the Lifeline and ACP benefits to offer its customers free unlimited minutes, text, and data. New customers also get a free SIM card and free activation to enable them to access the widely distributed Q Link free Wi-Fi hotspots across the country.
Q Link Wireless is suitable if you travel a lot or you need flexibility as you do not have to sign a contract and you can use Q Link where T-Mobile phone services are available. The company offers a wide selection of free tablets and smartphones for eligible customers. However, you may have to co-pay an amount that is more than $10 and less than $50 to get a free Samsung tablet. The co-payment is a government requirement, but Q Link ensures most government-discounted tablets are available at the lowest price possible of only $10.01.
Call Q Link customer care at 1-855-754-6543 to enquire about the available Samsung tablets if you are ACP eligible. Alternatively, you should visit the carrier website to enroll for ACP benefits if you are already ACP approved by the national verifier or if you are a Lifeline participant. Q Link Wireless will likely send to you a random tablet unless you have specified your preferred option and it is available. Some of the free Samsung tablets offered by Q Link Wireless to ACP-approved customers include:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
2. Selectel Wireless
Selectel Wireless is not a nationwide Lifeline carrier, but it offers some of the best free internet plans and tablets where available. Call customer care at 1-877-218-5744 to find out if the services are available in your region. The company offers new customers a free $30 monthly wireless service plan and a free device when they switch. The free Lifeline plan features unlimited talk, unlimited text, and 5GB of high-speed internet. You can buy additional data if you exhaust your data allocation before the end month.
Selectel Wireless will randomly ship you a device if you are eligible to receive ACP benefits. You have to make a special request by calling customer care to request a free Samsung tablet instead of a smartphone. However, the availability of a free tablet will depend on your region and the running promotion. That said, Selectel Wireless customers who request a free Samsung tablet usually get:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A
3. Cintex Wireless
Sing up with Cintex Wireless if you are looking for a Lifeline carrier provider that offers a broad selection of tablets and the freedom to choose your preferred device. While most Lifeline carriers randomly send any of the available devices to customers, Cintex Wireless on the other hand lists all the available devices on its website for customers to choose their preferred free tablet. However, the ACP regulations require beneficiaries to pay an amount between $10 and $50 to get a free internet-connected device.
You can start your search for a free Samsung tablet with Cintex Wireless if you are living in Arkansas, Alabama, Colorado, Alaska, Georgia, California, Delaware, Kansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, and Missouri. Cintext free phone plans are also available in Minnesota, Mississippi, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Some of the available Samsung tablets you can get for free as a Cintex Wireless customer include:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
- Samsung Galaxy Tab E
4. AirTalk Wireless
AirTalk Wireless gives you the freedom to choose how you would like to enjoy the free internet plans. It offers a large selection of free smartphones and tablets from big brands like Samsung and Apple. Eligible AirTalk Wireless customers can choose iPhone 6, Coolpad Belleza, Wiko Life 2, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy S8 among others when they enroll for the ACP benefits. Furthermore, you can request AirTalk Wireless to use your ACP benefits to discount any of the available tablets in its store if you fail to get your preferred free Samsung tablet.
AirTalk Wireless is one of the few Lifeline carriers that support international calling. You can make unlimited calls to Canada and Mexico at $5 per month. AirTalk Wireless is also a good option if you are looking for a free unlimited internet plan. Customers eligible for ACP can qualify for unlimited internet with high-speed data, unlimited minutes, and unlimited texts. You can enroll for the free AirTalk ACP internet plan if you are living in Oklahoma, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Wisconsin, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Some of the free Samsung tablets offered by AirTalk Wireless include:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab E
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A
5. NewPhone Wireless
NewPhone Wireless offers similar services to AirTalk Wireless and Cintex Wireless. It is a good option for ACP-eligible individuals living in Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Maine. NewPhone Wireless free phone plans are also available in Maryland, Nevada, Mississippi, North Dakota, Montana, Oregon, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Texas.
NewPhone Wireless offers a large selection of the latest devices, including smartphones and tablets. New customers can choose a smartphone or a tablet as their ACP government device. However, you may have to co-pay an amount not less than $10 and not more than $50 if you choose the free government tablet. You may also request customer care to use the ACP benefits on any of the tablet devices available in the carrier’s store if you cannot find your preferred free Samsung tablet. Some of the free Samsung tablets available to NewPhone Wireless customers include:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A
- Samsung Tab Tab E
- Samsung Galaxy A7 Lite
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
The 8 Best Free Samsung Tablets
Different government phone providers offer new customers an internet-enabled device to help them apply for jobs. On most occasions, you will get a free smartphone, but some carriers like Cintex Wireless, AirTalk wireless, Q Link Wireless, and NewPhone Wireless offer new customers a choice between a tablet and a smartphone.
You may have to contact customer support to request a tablet instead of a smartphone with most carriers as they will most likely send a random phone with internet capability. Moreover, the government requires a beneficiary to co-pay for the device an amount that is between $10 and $50. To comply with the government ACP co-payment directive, some carriers only charge the lowest possible price, which makes it possible to get a tablet for as low as $10.01.
Other carriers allow eligible customers to use the ACP benefit to discount other tablets in their store, especially if the carrier does not have a free tablet. The availability of a free tablet depends on the carrier, region, and the running promotion but you can get some of the latest tablets such as Samsung and Apple. Some of the best free Samsung tablets offered by different ACP-approved carriers include:
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A
Samsung Galaxy Tab A is a decent, affordable tablet that can help you attend to your emails, stream movies, browse the web, and apply for jobs. It is a good option for individuals looking for a value buy that offers a balance between performance and price. Galaxy Tab A comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, which is adequate for simple day-to-day tasks. It also features a MicroSD card slot, which you can use to expand the memory by up to 512GB for additional storage of movies, images, and videos. The 8-inch screen is smaller than what you get with other tablets, but it is bigger than what most smartphones offer. The highlight of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A tablet is the 5100mAh battery that offers enough power to last an entire day.
Highlights
- 32GB of internal storage
- 8-Inch display
- 2GB of RAM
- Android 9
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
Go for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite tablet if you are looking for a lightweight, affordable device with decent performance. The tablet comes with 4GB of RAM, which offers smooth transitions between apps. The RAM memory is adequate to play lightweight games without a hitch. Depending on the carrier offering the free Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, you can have the 32GB or 64GB of internal memory option to keep your family photos. It further features a MicroSD card slot that supports up to 1TB of expanded memory. Galaxy Tab A7 Lite has a decent battery life that lets you enjoy movies for up to 10 hours.
Highlights
- 4GB of RAM
- 32GB or 64GB of internal memory
- 1TB MicroSD card slot
- 8.7-inch display
- 8MP rear camera
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
The Tab A7 is a suitable option if you are looking for a device that offers better performance without being pricey. Although its price makes it a mid-range tablet, it is powerful enough to let you multitask in your day-to-day activities. It delivers smooth operation when watching movies, browsing the web, and gaming. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 comes in two memory variants of 32GB and 64GB. The 32GB variant is suitable for basic storage needs. It also features a large 10.4-inch display for comfortable video streaming and a snapdragon processor for multitasking. The 3GB of RAM offers quick load times and smooth transitions as you switch apps. A MicroSD card slot allows you to expand your storage by up to 1TB.
Highlights
- 3GB of RAM
- 32GB or 64GB of internal memory
- 10.4-inch display
- 7040mAh battery
4. Samsung Galaxy S7
Galaxy S7 is a performance tablet with fantastic battery life, a fingerprint reader, facial recognition, and a lightweight design. The S7 tablet comes in two variants based on the network they support. You can have a 4G or 5G variant for high-speed connectivity. Samsung Galaxy S7 tablet lets you choose a 128GB or 256GB option for the storage of your videos, images, and movies. You can also choose 6GB or 8GB of RAM for multitasking and gaming.
Highlights
- 128GB or 256GB of internal memory
- 6GB or 8GB of RAM
- 13MP and 5MP ultrawide rear camera system
- 8MP front camera
- 8000mAh battery
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2
You should consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 if you are looking for a rugged device that can handle the risks and challenges of outdoor entertainment. The Tab Active 2 is IP68 water and dust-resistant, which makes it suitable for work-related tasks in the workshop or camping entertainment. An 8-inch display that supports the S Pen stylus makes the Tab Active 2 efficient for sketching, navigating, typing, and browsing.
Highlights
- 16GB of internal memory
- 8-inch display
- IP68 water and dust resistant
- 4450mAh battery
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab E
Samsung Galaxy Tab E is a budget tablet that comes in three options that include 8-inch screen option, a 9.6-inch variant, and the E Lite with a 7-inch screen. The 9.6-inch and 8-inch variants come with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which makes the E tablet ideal for lightweight uses like browsing the internet.
Highlights
- 1.5GB of RAM
- 8-inch or 9-inch display
- 16GB of internal memory
7. Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
The Galaxy Tab S3 is a unique entertainment device with an amazing design and powerful features. It comes with an HDR-ready screen, which offers an immersive entertainment experience indoors and outdoors. Four powerful speakers produce a theater-like sound as you play music or stream movies. An upgraded S Pen makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 a reliable device when typing and browsing. The tablet has a 9.7-inch screen that offers a large viewing angle.13MP camera lets you capture detailed images for your social media platforms.
Highlights
- Upgraded S Pen Stylus
- HDR-ready screen
- Four powerful speakers
- 9.7-inch display
- 13MP rear camera
- 4GB of RAM
- 6000mAh battery
- 32GB of internal memory
8. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2
The Galaxy Tab Active 2 is suitable for business people looking for a rugged tablet with good performance. The tablet is waterproof, which gives you the confidence to use it outdoors without worrying about accidental spills. It also comes with an S Pen that helps to improve performance and productivity when typing. An 8-inch high-resolution screen is bright enough for comfortable outdoor viewing. The screen also supports a glove mode that lets you use the tablet as you work with nitrile and latex gloves. The Tab Active 2 further features an 8-inch screen that offers clear images and videos. The 3GB of RAM ensures smooth transitions as you switch apps while the 16GB of internal memory lets you install your preferred apps.
Highlights
- 3GB of RAM
- Glove mode
- 8-inch display
- Waterproof
How to Qualify for a Free Samsung Tablet
Samsung is one of the best smartphone and tablet brands with exciting performance-related devices. It is an innovative company that offers the latest technology in lovely designs. Unfortunately, Samsung tablets are some of the pricey options in the market with some costing more than $1000, which makes them out of reach for low-income families. Nonetheless, you can get a free Samsung tablet if you are eligible for the government ACP programs. Several ACP-approved carriers like Q Link and AirTalk Wireless offer eligible low-income households a free tablet when they enroll in the ACP program.
The ACP program is a federal initiative that seeks to ensure that every household has an access to the internet that they can use to apply for jobs, contact emergency services, and complete homework. The ACP program offers eligible households phone internet service discounts of up to $30 per month and a one-off gadget discount of up to $100. Eligible households in the Tribal Lands can qualify for up to a $75 per month internet plan discount.
The ACP discount allows beneficiaries to access free internet plans or discounted plans at their homes. They can also get an internet-connected device to help them access the internet. Some ACP-approved phone providers offer new customers a free smartphone or tablet and unlimited data, minutes, and texts. However, you must get government approval to qualify for a free Samsung tablet. You can qualify for the ACP program if:
1. Your household income is 200% below the Federal Poverty Index
A household refers to people who share a house and income. They do not have to be relatives, but they must be sharing income. People living in a shelter home but do not share income such as the elderly are separate households. You can qualify for the ACP program if the entire income of your household is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Index.
You can show proof of income using your three consecutive pay stubs, tax returns, income statement, retirement/pension statement of benefits, Social security statements of benefits, and Veteran Administration statement of benefits. You will also need a government-issued identification document like a driver’s license as proof of identity. Use the table below to see the Federal Poverty Guidelines for different states and households.
2. You are participating in an eligible Lifeline assistance program
Americans already participating in the Lifeline program do not need to reapply for ACP benefits. You will also qualify for ACP if any of your household members are receiving Federal assistance from any eligible program. You can show proof of participating in a government assistance program using the benefit award letter, approval letter, statement of benefits, benefits verification letter, or school documentation. The ACP qualifying government assistance programs include:
- Medicaid
- Head Start
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
- Food Distribution on Indian Reservations
- FPHA (Federal Public Housing Assistance)
- School Breakfast or Lunch Program
- Tribal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- Current award year Federal Pell Grant beneficiary
Conclusion
You may qualify to get a free Samsung tablet if you come from a low-income household. The government through ACP offers a gadget discount that carriers use to provide a free tablet. Nonetheless, the availability of a free Samsung tablet depends on the carrier, state, and running program. Contact phone carriers in this article to get a free tablet.
FAQs
Yes. You may get a free Samsung tablet if you meet the 200% Federal Income Guideline or if you are a Lifeline assistance program beneficiary.
Q Link Wireless, AirTalk Wireless, NewPhone Wireless, Cintex Wireless, and Selectel Wireless are some of the phone carriers that offer a free Samsung Tablet.
The Samsung tablet models you can get for free vary among carriers but they include Samsung Galaxy Tab E, Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2, and Samsung Galaxy Tab A.
The government discounted gadgets are not entirely free. You will have to make a co-payment of between $10 and $50.