: Ordering a phone directly from the Metro by T-Mobile website allows you to receive the device and activate it online yourself, which can sometimes save you from paying in-store activation or device change fees.
: Even for existing customers upgrading, stores often charge a device change fee (typically around $20–$25) to move service to the new phone. How to Buy Without In-Store Activation can you buy a metropcs phone without activating it
: You can technically use a Metro phone as a "WiFi-only" device (like a small tablet) without a cellular plan, but you must first obtain the phone through one of the non-store channels mentioned above to avoid forced activation. : Ordering a phone directly from the Metro