On the Apple website I selected AT&T as my carrier, but now I want to switch to T-Mobile. Can I do this without buying a new phone? I also saw a selection for "Connect to any carrier later", Are there different chips in these phones depending on which option I select?
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iPhone 15 Pro Max Can I change carriers from AT&T to T-Mobile if I purchase a AT&T iPhone?
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This is a good question!
Do the carrier phones have different chips ?
I remember a couple of iPhone generations before that there were 2 basic chips: GSM and CDMA.
Do these newer iPhones have the same chipset, meaning they can be used on any carrier ?
Do the carrier phones have different chips ?
I remember a couple of iPhone generations before that there were 2 basic chips: GSM and CDMA.
Do these newer iPhones have the same chipset, meaning they can be used on any carrier ?
You still can change to T-mobile, if you payoff the balance.
When you select a phone with a payment plan, it will be locked to that carrier until the phone is paid off. Once the phone is paid off, you have to request the carrier to unlock the phone.
CDMA is a thing of the past with the advent of 5g and carriers shutting down their legacy networks.
The key now is, is the phone locked to a carrier? That is what prevents you from taking your phone to another carrier.
The phone hardware will work fine with any USA carrier.
As to whether AT&T will allow you to do that - take a look at the locked phones article.
As to whether AT&T will allow you to do that - take a look at the locked phones article.
At Apple's site only the ATT Installment variant is locked. If you have T-Mobile and buy the phone, it is unlocked.
Note, if you buy using ATT Installments you can't unlock until you pay it off, and also 60 days will have had to pass after activation. The last time Apple had different variants in the US was the iPhone 8/X days, I believe, when they used the Intel modem for ATT/T-Mobile to save licensing fees for CDMA when using the Qualcomm modem.