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PTVMan

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 20, 2012
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I bought my wife an iPad Pro from a guy on Craigslist. It had a Sprint SIM and account. Does this mean that it's locked to Sprint or can I go to my Apple Store and get an Apple SIM to use with any carrier?
 
Both iPad Pros can be used with other carriers if they've already been linked. The 12.9" has no internal SIM, so you just swap out the SIM card.

The 9.7" has an internal SIM card that will stay locked to a carrier forever (as far as I know). But it also comes with the tray that you can insert a new card in.

I think the Apple SIMs are $5-10, but carrier SIMs should be free from the Apple Store. I bought an Apple SIM in the event that I decided to sell my 12.9" Pro :p

p.s. the seller definitely should have listed these instructions in the post. It can be so worrisome to get something from eBay and not be sure if it works for you!
 
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I immediately removed his Sprint SIM and tossed it in the trash. I will go to the Apple Store today and buy an Apple SIM.
 
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Nice! I think that that should work out for you. You'll have to post back here with the results :)
 
I went to the Apple Store and got an Apple SIM, which cost $5. After putting it the iPad Pro and going to Settings>Carrier it gave me the option to choose from AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and GigSky. Interesting that Verizon is not one of the Apple SIM partners, but I could always get a Verizon SIM if I wanted to go with them. So, it looks like everything is cool.

Thanks for the help!
 
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Oh really? I was told that it was through AT&T. Is this true for all carriers?
AFAIK the original Apple sim would lock to att but you just had to get another sim. As for the embedded SIM I don't think that applies. Although I wouldn't put anything past ATT. I do know for a fact my T-Mobile iPad Pro is not locked.


EDIT:
Just did some more research on this. If you purchase the iPad Pro from ATT the embedded sim is permanently locked to them. If you purchase from any other channel. Then the embedded sim does not lock even if you choose an ATT plan. Wow how convoluted.
 
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Just did some more research on this. If you purchase the iPad Pro from ATT the embedded sim is permanently locked to them. If you purchase from any other channel. Then the embedded sim does not lock even if you choose an ATT plan. Wow how convoluted.
I was under the impression that if you bought an iPad from anywhere, choosing AT&T for the embedded SIM would permanently lock it. If what you said is true, it's good to know that's not the case.
 
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