Apple Upgrade Program: Is it really unlocked?

[wayland1985]

I'm not getting a straight answer from the fine folks at Apple: I'm guessing they need to keep their lips sealed?

I'm looking to buy out of my AT&T NEXT plan because my 64gb 6plus is out of storage, and I'm going to be going to Europe in a few weeks.

So, I noticed the Apple Upgrade program had mentioned the phone is unlocked at one point, but when you ask an Apple rep, they say it has a Sim, but they don't say if you can swap it out with another carrier's sim (Say I go to London, can I pop in a Nano-sim from there, instead of dropping a couple hundred on an AT&T passport plan?).

So, if I decide to go with the Apple Upgrade plan with an AT&T phone, will the phone really be unlocked?

And as long as I have your attention: Since I still have 2 months on my AT&T Next 12 plan: can I still make payments on that device until I feel like I want to buy it out? Or would I need to make the payment immediately?

 

[SisterBlue22]

Yes, phones purchased on the Apple Upgrade program are really unlocked. They do have to be activated to one of the 4 major carriers, though, before you leave the store. Once you do that, you should be able to pop in any sim and the phone should work.

There is also a sim-free version for sale as of this week, and there's been some discussion around whether that version needs to be activated before leaving the store...no one seems to be sure yet.

I know nothing about your NEXT question, so I'll leave that for someone who does.

 

[wayland1985]

Yes, phones purchased on the Apple Upgrade program are really unlocked. They do have to be activated to one of the 4 major carriers, though, before you leave the store. Once you do that, you should be able to pop in any sim and the phone should work.

There is also a sim-free version for sale as of this week, and there's been some discussion around whether that version needs to be activated before leaving the store...no one seems to be sure yet.

I know nothing about your NEXT question, so I'll leave that for someone who does.

That's good to know. Apprentice the sim free isn't eligible for the upgrade program though.