iPhone X Activate Unlocked iPhone with just a SIM?

[Traverse]

Hi. I plan to purchase and iPhone Xs this year. In the past I’ve always used Apple’s store app and selected “Replace this iPhone” on Verizon.

If I buy an unlocked phone (assuming it comes with the SIM-ejection tool) do I just swap out the SIM from my iPhone 8 into the X and it should be good to go?

Thanks!

 

[flyinmac]

Yes. If the phone is unlocked, just put a working sim in it.

 

[Traverse]

Yes. If the phone is unlocked, just put a working sim in it.

Wow, that was fast. Thank you. I talked to Verizon once and they said I had to apply or something like that.

I think I’m gifting my phone to a friend on T-Mobile so I wanted to unlock this iPhone and just figured I’d go unlocked going forward.

 

[mattguy10]

(assuming it comes with the SIM-ejection tool)

The sim ejection tool is just a convenience. A small paper clip will work just as well.

 

[bruinsrme]

Every phone is unlocked.
That is until the Apple specialist activates it when configuring the phone with a carrier.

Only sim free phones come this a sim popper.

 

[Wags]

Every phone is unlocked.
That is until the Apple specialist activates it when configuring the phone with a carrier.

Only sim free phones come this a sim popper.

Putting a sim in activates it with the carrier so what is the difference? Both unlocked.

 

[bruinsrme]

Putting a sim in activates it with the carrier so what is the difference? Both unlocked.

Putting a sim in activates it with the carrier so what is the difference? Both unlocked.

Yes and no.
If the phone is tied to a carrier.
On the back of the iPhone box
4 bar codes is a sim free
5 bar codes is carrier locked

The 5th back code is the sim number which means it belongs to a particular carrier.
During the purchase the retailer selects the type of finance plan to be used.
All that info is sent to the carrier and it locks the phone to the carrier not necessarily to the user.

When the IMEI/MEID is locked by the carrier, it prevents other carriers from authorizing the phone on the network.

In an Apple store you cannot get a sim free phone and an att sim and get Next fianancing